Do accessory patterns need to be tech edited?
I’ve come across many accessory patterns on social media that clearly haven’t gone through the tech editing process, and it often makes me wonder if there’s a misconception behind what a tech editor does.
Sometimes I think people assume tech editing is only needed for complex patterns where there are multiple sizes to be checked or complicated stitch patterns involved. After all, how much could go wrong in a simple scarf pattern? Now that I’ve been tech editing for nearly four years, I can confidently say A LOT.
To illustrate my point, here are just a few examples of errors I’ve pointed out in “simple” accessory patterns over the years:
The final row of the first chart didn’t flow into the first row of the next chart
Written instructions didn’t match chart
A pattern with multiple different yarns referred to the wrong color throughout the pattern
Pattern notes said a certain number of rows were repeated throughout the pattern, but the instructions indicated a totally different number to repeat
Measurement conversions from inches to cm or g to oz were incorrect
Yarn information was incorrect
Stitches (or sometimes markers) were missing from the row instructions
Stitch counts were not matching up with the number of stitches listed out in the row
Rows have been improperly numbered
Stitch patterns were shifted over by one or two stitches and that made the pattern not line up the way it was supposed to
Repeat didn’t work over the number of total stitches in a row
And that’s not to mention all the normal copyediting errors like style inconsistencies, missing punctuation, misspelled words, etc.
Another part of a tech editor’s job is to improve the clarity of the instructions, and unclear wording is something that can affect any pattern, whether it’s a complex set-in sleeve sweater or an easy garter stitch triangle shawl.
I used to tell newer designers that they could probably get away with not getting their patterns edited if they were really careful about double checking their work and they had it test knit, but now I feel differently. Given all the errors I’ve caught over the years that definitely would have impacted the ability for someone to knit the item correctly, I think it’s non-negotiable now. I also now understand that it’s not a tester’s job to catch errors, especially since they are volunteering their time for free. They should at least be given a pattern that is verified as correct, so they don’t waste their knitting time on something they’ll have to undo to resolve an error that was in the pattern.
So there you have it. Even though accessories don’t have the complexity of something like a sweater, there are still so many areas for things to go wrong.
Ready to take your knitting patterns to the next level?
As a knitting tech editor, I can work with you to ensure your patterns are clear, accurate, and easy to follow. Visit my Tech Editing Services page to learn more and get started today!
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