Testing a pattern is a group effort, requiring a team of volunteers to sew trial garments, proofread, and tech edit.  Every person is unique in the testing process, each bringing their own particular skills to the table.  I’ve been thinking a lot about how all these different types of testers work together to become an amazing machine, doing all the different jobs that need to be done.
I thought it would be fun to identify some categories, or labels for the different types of testers I have identified and how each is uniquely beneficial.
The Machine: Â Cranks out garment after garment with seemingly no end to her productivity. Â Super helpful for multiple revisions and testing options.
The Early Adopter: Â Finishes in record time and then is ready for more. Â Perfect for pre-testing or getting that early feel for fit of a pattern.
The Sweeper:  Sits back and patiently waits for the early rounds of revisions to be made.  She is still fresh at the end when other testers are getting weary of sewing the same item.
The Construction Guru: Â She has a great solution to every method. Â It’s awesome to learn from testers!
The Nani Iro/Cotton & Steel/Liberty of London: Â She’s a bold one, using precious fabrics on an early round of testing. Â She gives me a panic attack, but if it works it’s fabulous!
The Stashbuster: Â Crazy character prints and plaid? Â It’s just a test, let’s use up those stash fabrics instead of our precious fabrics – at least until the end.
The Editor: Â Wields her red pen with the greatest of ease. Â Every pattern needs multiple rounds of editing to catch as many errors as possible.
The Photographer: Â She submits perfectly staged and coordinated photos taken at the Golden Hour. Â Really great photos are never a bad thing!
The Technician: Â Checking metric conversions, every seam and notch to make sure everything is as it should be. Â Even an accountant needs a double-check.
The Beginner Glasses: Â Puts on her “Beginner Glasses” to provide the perspective of someone who has less experience. Â Absolutely essential to be sure all levels of sewist/seamstress/sewer are being addressed.
Some people are several of these “types”, and some bump around each time they test.  I’ve put in my time as a pattern tester, and I’d say most times I was an Early Adopter, but there were definitely some that I was the Sweeper!  I’m sure there are other types out there as well.
So, which type of pattern tester are YOU?
Too funny! I definitely bounce around in the kind of tester I am. And I felt bad that I wasn’t able to test your Haven Acres Mini Collection…I just had too many things going on and wouldn’t have been able to give it the attention it deserved.
These are so great! I am definitely a sweeper for this round of testing 🙂
This is great! I prefer to be in early, but there have been times when that did not happen. So the sweeper it is!
The EDITOR is what I like doing, The Sweeper, I love testing, I just don’t have the opportunity unless it’s for adults b/c my grandchildren live in another state…Testers are AWESOME, it is a lot of work…but oh so worth it…:o}
Love this list! I think I fall into technician / editor mode mostly with my engineering background! I love for new people to get excited to sew, so I always try to look for spots were they might get hung up and frustrated.
I’m the worst at testing. I’m the one that can’t sew a pattern the way it was meant to be. I always add my own flair or leave something out, so I’m not really good at testing. That’s why i never sign up because i don’t help much in preparing the pattern.
I’m an Editor and a Beginner Glasses. I always feel like I’m slightly annoying when I submit my feedback. “Step 9 should be 8” “you didn’t mention anything about pressing the seams” “button sizes would be helpful!” “There’s an extra “the” in your instructions here” oh ya, the fit is great. Haha!
I was an early adopter but soon learnt the benefit of being a sweeper 😉
Melanna, you sound EXACTLY like me and I’m always apologizing for being annoying, but I hope I’m being more helpful than annoying.
Editor, for sure! I’ve only tested one pattern and I felt like I was quite useless at it, *except* when it came to editing all the text in the instructions and pattern!
Oh Jen, I loved reading this. I guess I am several of this as a tester. And at different times I was actually one or the other. I love testing, I learn so much from it, so I always try to give my best and if I feel like I fail, I will never forgive myself.