tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post1361769628806549843..comments2023-06-10T07:25:21.226-04:00Comments on Sewin' Steady: Thoughts on Pattern "Testing"Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-24977571959145410892016-08-15T07:12:43.380-04:002016-08-15T07:12:43.380-04:00I read this blog after reading your culottes patte...I read this blog after reading your culottes pattern testing post. Wow, I didn't know how much went into it! It can seem a great glossy thing to do at first, but I guess it depends who you work with and whether they see it as a marketing ploy or genuinely want their patters tested by people. I didn't realise you could have such strict deadlines and the pattern maker being so picky with who they pick or what tester pictures they put on their website. I didn't realise you'd practically have to give the a whole CV of what you've done to test them either! Such a great interesting article, thanks so much for all the info! XxxX Second Hand Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12937657828552984478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-83775764391847664072016-07-10T03:34:17.491-04:002016-07-10T03:34:17.491-04:00I volunteered for a pattern company who frankly ne...I volunteered for a pattern company who frankly needs all the help they can get! They wanted blog stats and examples of garments I've made and a whole load of other hoops to jump through.<br /><br />Sod that, I thought, I just wanted to help out, their patterns and instructions are pretty bad despite what they (and their fangurls think) drPmakes.wordpress.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437044069013983378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-34992763279470372972016-05-24T18:36:40.532-04:002016-05-24T18:36:40.532-04:00My pet peeve in reviews is when someone says a pat...My pet peeve in reviews is when someone says a pattern is great even after describing having made major alterations to the pattern in order to make it work. Not the normal altering to fit ones particular body, but a basic fix to an awkwardly angled armscye needed in order to construct a wearable garment. A blogger I follow wrote about how she had to fix this and how bad it was yet at the end still gave the pattern a thumbs up. No! If a sewer without her extensive pattern drafting experience can not fix the pattern themselves then this pattern should not get a great grade, right?lsaspaceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17058968076601943527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-20757899246484554812016-05-24T08:21:28.622-04:002016-05-24T08:21:28.622-04:00Thanks for sharing, Charlotte!! You should give te...Thanks for sharing, Charlotte!! You should give testing a try and see what you think. We'd all benefit from another honest reviewer to add to the ranks!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-936912536699210342016-05-24T05:20:59.805-04:002016-05-24T05:20:59.805-04:00Wow! I think I agree with everything you say! I...Wow! I think I agree with everything you say! I've just started my sewing blog after a few failed attempts - mainly I gave up because I felt silly writing something that wouldn't get read, 'talking' to no-one. But the thing is, when I see a pattern I like, or a sewing book I'm interested in, I want to get other people's opinions. And with loads of blogs around, some of them sponsored, I'm not sure the reviews are always honest! I mean, someone gives you a free book in exchange for a review: is the review really unbiased or do you feel so grateful you overlook some of the flaws? So I thought I'd start my own blog on the off chance some people might be looking for a review of the patterns I'm making.<br />As for pattern testings, they should be a real test. There should be several testings across the process: you can't get things right from the start, the feedback should be used to improve the pattern. It shouldn't be part of the advertising and "launch". I haven't tested anything yet. I might do, because I am genuinely interested in the planning and helping improve things, and I get really cross when a pattern is released and there are all sorts of things wrong with it and you read that people have all made the same alterations!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15093872184642466939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-81836808125501415962016-05-23T20:19:53.282-04:002016-05-23T20:19:53.282-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500274358905362685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-56288507896953770402016-05-23T17:20:31.246-04:002016-05-23T17:20:31.246-04:00YE$! :)YE$! :)Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-33902876077353596952016-05-23T15:10:44.635-04:002016-05-23T15:10:44.635-04:00You raise some excellent issues about pattern test...You raise some excellent issues about pattern testing. I've only tested one pattern. I decided to apply because I knew it would be easy to sew and I could do it by the deadline. I was asked to give feedback on the pattern as well as corrections to instructions, and to not say anything negative because it was not the final version. We were allowed to post photos in advance of the pattern release if we wanted to. The designer asked for photos, which I did send. I posted photos on my blog but didn't review the pattern because it was not the final version. I've also had the experience of applying to be a tester and not being selected. <br /><br />Private testing seems like a good way to approach it. Perhaps one reason why there is an overwhelming number of positive reviews is that you can't properly review a test pattern because it's not the final version. Thus people say positive things about it. But if you are testing, you really shouldn't be reviewing the early version. Ginger Makes is correct about needing a clear distinction between testing and reviewing. <br /><br />I like the idea of two levels - private testing and then when the pattern has been corrected, a promotional/public level where people make the final version and provide an honest review of it. Or here's a thought - pay your pattern testers. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874294059248490592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-10973993596985851332016-05-23T07:09:31.126-04:002016-05-23T07:09:31.126-04:00Thanks! YES to your note about missing negative re...Thanks! YES to your note about missing negative reviews. I think a lot of sewers online are still in the earlier stages of learning to sew well-fitted garments (myself included; fitting adjustments are often mind-boggling to me), and don't always recognize the drafting shortcomings in some patterns, or even their own errors in sewing/fitting. Those bloggers aside, there are also some people who you'd think would know better who gush about a pattern that just makes you go "what?"Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-53648103116066955702016-05-23T06:32:51.405-04:002016-05-23T06:32:51.405-04:00Glad to hear it! I like the idea of designers offe...Glad to hear it! I like the idea of designers offering other pdf patterns to their testers. Sounds like a win-win.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-7238921343506672482016-05-23T05:59:22.277-04:002016-05-23T05:59:22.277-04:00Thanks, Emily! I really appreciate your thoughtful...Thanks, Emily! I really appreciate your thoughtful approach. For what it's worth, you're one of the designers who seems to do things the right way. I would love to read about your thoughts on the whole process, from a designer's perspective!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-74025894207856682182016-05-23T05:00:41.662-04:002016-05-23T05:00:41.662-04:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts Sue. I really enj...Thanks for sharing your thoughts Sue. I really enjoyed reading it! As well as the comments... I have been thinking about writing something about pattern testing lately too (for obvious reasons), but haven't managed to find the time. I think this may be shove I need to do it! Always good to have a conversation and question whether or not things can be done better. As a designer I think it's really important that testers feel appreciated and like they are really contributing to the creation of a pattern and that it's not a marketing ploy (well for me at least). EmilyEmily Hundthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02494219003047291390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-25620291172881026752016-05-23T03:33:25.288-04:002016-05-23T03:33:25.288-04:00i agree with a lot of what you have said sue. ther...i agree with a lot of what you have said sue. there is (and should be) a distinction between pattern testing and promotion. pattern testing should not be about blogs and pictures. i think i know the "application" to be a tester that you mean and i was quite shocked. is giving your time, experience and fabric (at no cost to the designer) that much of a privilege? of course some of the larger cos give fabric but that is very much at the promotional end rather than pattern testing!<br /><br />i don't test any more although i have a few times in the past (i still would for a friend though if i liked the pattern). i don't want to spend my limited sewing time in making a pattern that isn't something i would buy. also the deadlines are often ridiculously tight which dont work for me. but while people are lining up to test I'm sure I'm not missed!<br /><br />for me, lack of honest negative reviews are an issue across the whole community. i saw a "tester review" of a pattern where the blogger raved about it, said how well drafted it was etc. it was a mess of draglines and clearly didn't fit well at all. that makes me think less of both the blogger and the pattern co. Sew little timehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04027164681383524032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-66078047640390456322016-05-23T00:54:11.463-04:002016-05-23T00:54:11.463-04:00I've tested bag patterns as well as children&#...I've tested bag patterns as well as children's clothing. Most designers are interested in honest feedback. I don't even have a blog, let alone a top blog so that obviously wasn't a consideration for them :-). I quite like testing patterns when I like the design and the pattern. I find the motivation to finish within the time range is good for me. I only had one bad experience with a badly drafted pattern. I have been very happy with the other things I made and some designers are very generous and will give you free PDFs of their other patterns as well. All in all, it has been a good experience for me. green23https://www.blogger.com/profile/06685952429084129195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-45835498440949352132016-05-22T22:13:08.749-04:002016-05-22T22:13:08.749-04:00Yeah! It can really seem to devolve into a blatant...Yeah! It can really seem to devolve into a blatant popularity contest sometimes.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-40755547539805715782016-05-22T22:10:10.469-04:002016-05-22T22:10:10.469-04:00Sue, this has been the most interesting read on a ...Sue, this has been the most interesting read on a sewing topic I've read in a while! I can definitely relate to how frustrating it is to have to apply to be chosen. It certainly feels like I am not part of this "elite" sewing club...and that is definitely not the reason why I started my blog! I saw how some bloggers were online friends and part of this really cool community, and yet things like what you've mentioned above make me feel like I'm back in high school. UGH.Carleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14356064748101319191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-86994417994938418502016-05-22T21:18:53.326-04:002016-05-22T21:18:53.326-04:00Thanks, Sonja. You're right, they are two diff...Thanks, Sonja. You're right, they are two different things!<br />I do like review posts (I do the same thing with google images), but I think some indies are rolling the test and review process into one thing, and just calling it pattern testing, which is confusing!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-60516746306323269002016-05-22T20:34:16.096-04:002016-05-22T20:34:16.096-04:00I feel like there's sometimes confusion betwee...I feel like there's sometimes confusion between pattern testing and pattern reviewing. To me those are totally different things and should be treated differently, with testing being something that's done to identify problems with the pattern or instructions during the development process and reviews being of a finished product. I don't do much pattern testing these days as I've found the deadlines that people want me to work with are too hard for me to fit into my schedule, but when I do, I generally just test with a muslin and give notes from that (although, now that I'm thinking about it, I can't think of the last pattern I tested... it's been a few years!). I accept review copies of patterns from time to time, and when I do, I try to follow the instructions exactly as written to give the most accurate review possible. I'm not sure if anyone finds reviews helpful or even not annoying, but I do look at them before buying a pattern (I usually do an image search for the pattern and look to see if multiple people have the same fit issue or something like that). <br /><br />Also, I think there are people doing things differently, but their processes aren't as visible and obvious as the tester roundup, so we don't know about it. I'm friends with a woman here in New York who designs children's patterns, and they're always tested by her colleagues in the Broadway costume shop where she works. I'm sure there are huge benefits to professional testers, but there are also benefits to using amateurs, especially since the majority of people who will buy the pattern are amateurs. It's an interesting topic, for sure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-33033132701745176982016-05-22T19:16:33.260-04:002016-05-22T19:16:33.260-04:00I know what you mean, Masha!
And, the FB group (E...I know what you mean, Masha! <br />And, the FB group (Emily's? :)) is great, too.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-85837620960281408322016-05-22T18:04:41.135-04:002016-05-22T18:04:41.135-04:00I just did my first pattern test. Your comment ab...I just did my first pattern test. Your comment about it being insanely hard to just get CHOSEN to test a pattern hit home with me - I have actually volunteered a few times and only been chosen the one time. In the instances where I was not chosen, once I saw who was testing, it did seem like the people with the blingiest blogs were the ones who got the opportunities. But my recent test was a good experience - there was a deadline but it was all done through a private FB group and the designer took our critiques/suggestions into account as she updated things.Mashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364861545043732582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-81009996164501497582016-05-22T17:17:05.529-04:002016-05-22T17:17:05.529-04:00That IS a great idea; instead of one or the other,...That IS a great idea; instead of one or the other, just do both a private and a public test. <br />I appreciated having a facebook group like that, too.<br />Sewing under a deadline gives me mixed feelings. Depending on how the project is going it either gets me excited and forces me to see it through, or stresses me out and makes me want to give up, haha.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-51095287508655514632016-05-22T17:09:02.227-04:002016-05-22T17:09:02.227-04:00What Donna said.
I think that testing should mor...What Donna said. <br /><br />I think that testing should more or less be behind the scenes. It should be quick and dirty. Muslin choosing your size per the pattern's size chart, following the instructions and reporting errors/glaring issues. <br /><br />Not that no one should ever get a wearable garment out of it. If you do -- great. <br /><br />But I know one designer who does testing (in the background) and then puts out a second call for the marketing aspect. <br /><br />I think that's a great idea. I see nothing wrong with getting the pattern in the hands of people who have decent amount of followers -- but call it what it is. <br /><br />I've tested a couple patterns. For one we had a private Facebook group and it was real time discussion and pattern adjustments. Everyone was making comments and the designer was adjusting as we went along. It was a good experience. <br /><br />I don't volunteer to test anymore but mostly because I find that when I have to sew on a deadline I get disinterested. :)SewCraftyChemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07971798108420431518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-67102949616017539472016-05-22T17:08:23.039-04:002016-05-22T17:08:23.039-04:00I agree; save the style changes for round 2! It ma...I agree; save the style changes for round 2! It makes me wonder how much some pattern designers really depend on the testing, or if it really is 100% promotional. I've seen evidence of both, so I suppose it's just a case by case thing. Thanks for weighing in!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303837420300176952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938936179596176735.post-81829198448549840372016-05-22T16:56:30.368-04:002016-05-22T16:56:30.368-04:00Sometimes it can just seem like a marketing ploy. ...Sometimes it can just seem like a marketing ploy. And I get a wee irritated when the testers alter the pattern for style, not just fit. To me they aren't truly testing the pattern then. If they want to alter it for style, okay, but do that in the second version. It's also a bit irritating when they confess that they didn't read the directions because - again - where's the testing part? It sounds like they just got a free pattern and put it on the blog to promote it.niddetissushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15675473136978180192noreply@blogger.com