Test Knitting

You know your knitting and designing talent is appreciated and known when you're asked to test knit an item or when you volunteer and are accepted for a test knit group.

What is a test knit you ask? When a designer has new patterns they want to publish they gather a group of knitters such as volunteers, other designers or knitters in their own knitting circle. These knitters knit the pattern and look for the following:

• An overall edit of the pattern
• Matching written and chart directions
• All the math and numbers of the pattern work out as written
• Accuracy in the information like yardage and stitch description
• Continuity in the pattern

The same for designers above goes for yarn companies. However a yarn company may also want a test knit for the following reasons:

• Change of yarn weight from the stated pattern
• Change of yarn base
• Color changes

I have had the privilege of being asked and volunteering to test knit several items for  designers and yarn companies. Check out my Designer Test Knits and Yarn Company Test Knits below.
 

Designer Test Knits

Tickle by Jeanette Estee Famulari

My Test Knits

             

  

Original

 

Yarn Company Test Knits

LYDIA Yarn is a local Indy Dyer that has a number of luxury yarns all hand dyed in gorgeous colors.
 

Angela's Dream Scarf

 My Test Knit                                   Original

                                     

 

Coosaw Cowl

 My Test Knit                                  Original

               

 

Dagney Hat

This test knit was a special one for me. I was asked to knit the Dagney Hat in worsted weight yarn with 1 color, instead of DK weight and 3 gradient colors. The company liked my test knit so much that they asked me to knit another for the company to keep as a display item for when they go to knitting shows.

 

My Test Knit                                                      Original