Pattern Testing with @Capital.Crochet

I am so excited to introduce Janine of @capital.crochet for today’s Tester Tuesday feature! You may recall Janine from the Tech Editing versus Pattern Testing blog post she guest authored. That’s right, Janine does it all! She tests patterns, tech edits patterns, and designs patterns! Please enjoy this interview as we get to learn more about her maker journey and experiences.

Janine is pictured above wearing the Larry Air Headband by @noodlyknits; below wearing the Lantana Shawlette by @hookedhazel, the Dappled Tee by @1dogwoof, and the Puffy Kerchief Cowl by @therealjourneychaneldesigns

Tell us about @capital.crochet! How and when did you get into yarn crafts? When and why did you start your account and business?

When I was a kid, my Mom and Gramma always made us hats, scarves and mittens. They weren't fashionable, but they were so warm and snuggly and it was awesome to go from watching them knitting and crocheting to wearing the items the next day. It blew my mind! When my daughter, Violet, was born, I wanted to be able to make things for her, too. I had learned basic single crochet when I was around 10 years old, but I had never done anything more complicated than that. I checked out some youtube stitch tutorials for double and half double crochet, and voila, I was literally hooked. I started my Instagram account in 2017, I think after someone on Facebook mentioned that there was a big yarny community there.

Did you start out as a pattern tester or a designer? What were the benefits of starting out as you did? What do you think you could have benefited from by starting out as the other?

I started out just making things for Violet, then for other people, then opened an Etsy shop to sell finished items. I started testing shortly after starting my Instagram account, and after testing for a few months, ventured into designing my own patterns.

I think testing first gave me quite a bit of experience in different ways to construct things, and different ways basic stitches can be worked to achieve unique textures. I have always had difficulty expressing my creativity, so I don't think I could have started by designing first - until I did some testing, that network and process in my brain just wasn't accessible to me.

What is your favorite thing about pattern testing from a tester's perspective? What is your favorite thing about pattern testing from a designer's perspective?

Ooooh, from the tester's perspective, two things: I love having early access, it feels like I'm in a special club with a bunch of awesome people. Also, this is going to sound pretentious, but I love finding and correcting mistakes. It's like solving a puzzle to me. When I first started testing, I apologized so much: "I don't mean to be rude, but it's spelled like this..." I quickly realized that most designers appreciate the nit-picky little things, and I've become much more comfortable in pointing out errors and offering suggestions. It comes from a place of caring, because I want people to buy that pattern and be impressed by how professional and organized it is.

From a designer's perspective, my favourite part of the process is seeing the yarn and colours everyone chooses. Oh, and also when they style it in their own unique way! When I design something, it takes on a bit of my personality, but it really comes alive when each tester's personality comes through in their version of the pattern.

Same questions, but least favorite thing!

Oh man... when I'm testing something, I hate when the yarn I've chosen doesn't cooperate (like splitting or just doesn't feel right for whatever reason). I'll adjust and push through, but it makes the process much less enjoyable.

As a designer, I get really disappointed in myself when I have to rework something mid-test, because sizing didn't translate properly or for silly reasons like I didn't pay attention to a small detail that had knock-on effects (I may or may not be suffering through this exact scenario with a design right now, haha!).

You are also a tech editor! How did you get into tech editing? How has your tech editing gig improved your pattern testing skills? How has it improved your design skills? Are there any downsides to being both a tech editor and a designer/tester?

I started tech editing after being encouraged by a few designers for whom I tested regularly. It has definitely exposed me to more complex grading and construction techniques, and again it's kind of like a puzzle. It has definitely sharpened my attention to detail, as well as given me a good idea of different layouts and best practices for organizing information. I often offer that kind of feedback when I am testing a pattern as well, if I feel the designer could benefit from it, and most people are thankful for the suggestions.

I am super careful not to copy any designs that come across my desk, so I don't know if it has directly improved my design skills. I have definitely seen some interesting and forward-thinking skills and techniques that help broaden my understanding of the craft, so I suppose it has improved my approach to design in that way.

If you could have an extra 4 hours per day, uninterrupted by any other obligations, to dedicate solely to yarn crafts, how would you prefer to spend it?

Of course I would love to test more patterns! The fomo is real just about every day when I see a new tester call, especially now that I'm branching into knitting as well as crochet and Tunisian - there are so many good patterns coming out these days! I would also love to spend more time just playing with different stitches and yarns and swatching without pressure to make something useful. I struggle with swatching for new designs because it feels like a waste of time if it isn't usable on the very first try. The Stitch Exploration Series on my blog is intended to help me with that struggle - each month I make a new dishcloth pattern using new-to-me techniques or skills, and it gives me chance to experiment while avoiding that unproductive feeling.

Do you have anything coming up or that you’re excited about and want to share with us?!

I am really trying to dedicate more time and attention to my blog. I want to start offering more free patterns, but also engaging with the community more. It's still in the planning stages for now, but I look forward to developing more of a regular posting schedule with a variety of relevant and exciting content.

♡♡♡

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Janine of @capital.crochet! Please be sure to head to her Instagram page and her blog to show her some support. And if you’d like to get on her pattern tester email list, click here!