Raspberry Cheesecake Capelet Test Knit Report

 The Raspberry Cheesecake Capelet test knit is completed and reported to the designer.  I am so glad I was able to complete it.  It took many many hours.  I thought it was a success.

Test knitting has been something I have enjoyed doing these past few years.  In case anyone else would like to participate here is some information you need.

What is test knitting?  Knitting designers create knitting patterns.  In order to be sure their patterns are in good order and that Josephine Knitter will be successful knitting the patterns, the designers invite other knitters to make the project and give feedback on how the pattern worked for the tester.

There is a website called Yarnpond.com where more and more knitting designers are inviting testing of their patterns.

This is the process:

1. Go to Yarnpond.com and create and account.  You will be invited to share your knitting experience.

2. Look at the current testing calls.  If one looks like you would like to knit it, then

3. Look at the specifics of the pattern, i.e. what yarn, what needles, what deadlines, etc are required.  If this still looks good then

4. Apply for the test knitting.  Sometimes you will receive a response the same day.  Usually it is longer.  The designer states how many testers of each size.  If there are more sizes and testers wanted, you have a better chance of being selected.  

5. Check your knitting "stash" to see if you already have the yarn you need for the project.  I personally do not usually buy new yarn for the project, though I did for the Raspberry Capelet since I wanted white yarn and did not have it.

6.  You will need to keep going back to Yarnpond to see if you have been selected.  Once selected, go to town on the project.

7. Now is the fun part:  knitting, and finding errors in the pattern.  Or finding it perfect.  You give feedback to the designer through the Chat Room option on Yarnpond.  You also get to post your pictures there and on Ravelry.com.  Most designers want you to put up a page on Ravelry for photos and notes.  After all, they are trying to get a pattern ready for sale and it needs exposure.  That is your job.  Many designers want you to share on social media as well, but not all so you have to watch the test call for that.

8.  When you have completed the knitting, and completed your Ravelry page, you go back to Yarnpond and complete the final feedback page and you are done.  Plus you have a nice new knitted project to enjoy yourself or gift to someone either now or later.

This is something I enjoy, though the most recent one was taxing because A.  I had several other critical knitting projects ongoing and B. there were actually problems with the pattern which I discovered which meant I had to start over since one very crucial error was that the cast-on stitch count for the size I was making was wrong!  That was quite good to find out, though I had done a fair amount of knitting when I realized there was an issue.  The designer was fabulous and immediately realized what the problem was, corrected it, and notified all who were knitting the sizes where there were issues so they could start again.

To see my Ravelry projects where I have put photographs (and sometimes notes) of some of the knitting I have done over the last fourteen years, click here.

If you go to my Ravelry page, you will see that the personal information is outdated!  We now have 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild!  When you get there, to see the pictures I mentioned, click on Projects.  Have fun!  Please try not to laugh too much at some of the projects.  Sadly, many of the pictures are not there as I was storing them on Flickr but my account there vanished and so did the pictures.  Now I just put them on my phone/computer/cloud so I have control.  At least some control...!