Testing...testing...
I love it.
I hated tests at school, I hated my driving test and uni exams but pattern testing...love it!
I've been thinking about it quite a bit lately because recently I've been lucky enough to test a sewing pattern, two crochet patterns and a couple of knitting patterns.
I'm not sure if I love it so much because of the excitement of getting to work on a pattern only a few people have seen before, because I feel like its only a step away from the actual design process, because I like the interaction with the designer and sometimes the other testers or because in some cases I get something for free that other people will have to pay for.
Its probably a bit of all of the above.
I have seen pattern testing go a bit bad. I have been on testing forums where there are so many problems with the design. Where the designer has to constantly change the pattern to fix up the problems. Where other testers get cranky with how many times they have to rip back their knitting and start again. When testing times have been lengthened to accommodate all the issues and testers have sometimes dropped out.
Not me though, that's what the testing process is there for after all.
And most of the tests I have been involved in have finished happily ever after.
Miss Pepper is wearing The Bobolink test knit in these photos. It is a great little light weight knit with pockets. I love it as a t'shirt and I think it'll look great over a stripey long sleeved top in winter. And did I mention it has pockets!
When I asked the designer about a tunic length version she even explained how I should do it.
Have you ever tested a pattern or had a pattern of your own tested? Or maybe have you proof read or edited something? Did you enjoy it? Do you think you would? Do you understand my obsession?
So today I am grateful for pattern testing.
And I'm grateful for visits from friends we hadn't seen for about eight years, for drinking coffee outside cafes, for a house full of giggling girlies playing Twister, for pizza dough rising, for knitting, for health, for love.
I hope your weekend is all kinds of wonderful.
Love Kate X