Totally okay to enjoy the knitting process more than the product you create. In 40 (gulp!) years of regularly knitting, I only have 2 items I made for myself. Everything else has been gifted to people or made for charity. I just like to knit. As long as someone can use it, I’m good.

How about a make-along to celebrate 200 episodes? It would be good fun to know that lots of us are working on the same pattern! I enjoyed todays episode so thanks Natalie x btw nice to see Toaster!

I always thought a "test knitter" was like an "internship" to create the design from a pattern. You get to try it for free and have access to the designer when you get into trouble. Wishing you safe travels!

What you were using was a Hostess Cupcake. That is the name. A Ding Dong looks like a hockey puck.

@kerriskrudland3387

Жыл бұрын

Yes! Plus, the Hostess Cupcake has the squiggle of icing on the top. It’s been a long time since I’ve had either, so I’m not sure if their flavor or texture is different. They both have a cream filling, so I’m not sure what the point is of both varieties. They seem pretty similar to me.

@annettewiggins2220

Жыл бұрын

@@kerriskrudland3387 And neither should be confused with the Yodel, which was the mini jelly-roll version of the same ingredients :-)

Testing compensation - if you want compensated, work with a designer that needs sample knitters - as they are compensated. Testing is definitely voluntary and not compensated, but most good designers will offer another of their existing patterns when you complete the test and provide feedback.

In reference to the test knitting conversation. It really is about the community. If designers had to pay testers , we would quickly run out of new and innovative designs,

I have to say, I'm really enjoying how much less yarn knitting uses; the fabric has such a nice drape and a very professional, finished look. It'd been a year or two since I made anything knitted & I'm really glad I was inspired to knit again. In the beginning I used a lot of size 4 worsted yarns but now I'm using size 1 light fingering weight. It does take longer but the resulting fine fabric is totally worth it! Thank you Natalie for sharing your WIPs & FOs with us & inspiring us. I still crochet (mostly blankets although I do have a knit blanket planned!) and I nalbind 100% virgin wool clothing (lovingly referred to as "woolies") for my family to wear & keep warm in the cold weather here in the north. Does anyone else knit while watching these podcasts? 🤣🥰

I'm really glad someone asked the test knitting question. I've never test knit before, but I follow a lot of people who do, and it clearly requires a lot of work, time and dedication, and as the person said, isn't typically financially compensated. Yes you get a free pattern, but as you said the $7-$12 isn't equal to the hours of work put into making a whole garment, on a deadline, and with no major modifications allowed (or for the cost of the yarn when there isn't yarn support). Test knitters are also typically expected to have a public platform with pictures of their completed projects, presumably as a means of advertising the pattern. Some patterns i've only ever _heard_ of because the test knitters had big followings. To me that is definitely grounds for compensation, because not only is your pattern being tested, it's also being advertised. This is even more the case with designers who don't tech edit the pattern, and there is an (sometimes unspoken) expectation that testers find and report sometimes very large and time consuming mistakes. I think it is beneficial on a volunteer basis if you want to support a designer, it's an item you would make anyway without needing to modify it, and it's basically just an extension of your knittng hobby, you do it for fun. There's also exposure, community, and other benefits that may be enough for some people. But I do think there should at least be an avenue for that work to be paid for. To me that only seems fair in a conversation where we are saying it is unfair to expect people to do creative work for free. Like maybe some testers are volunteer positions with fewer expectations and the ability to drop out, and some testers are paid, with higher expectations. Designers get paid for their work, and to my knowledge so do most Tech Editors. So it's weird that it's so unheard of for testers to get paid too, especially if they do so repeatedly for the same designers and also have a sizeable following. Especially when test knitting is such an indispensable service to most designers. If we want to make fibre arts a sustainable business and career path for more and more people, then we have to talk about people getting paid in ALL directions. I don't think there's an easy answer because like you said, paying commission rates for every tester isn't possible for most designers. And even if designers paid a fee that was more affordable to them, it would have to be reflected in their prices, and that would make their patterns more expensive and less financially accessible to more people. It's really complicated. But it is something to at least think about.

@averytroester7364

Жыл бұрын

i think “test knitters” should definitely be paid when they’re being used as advertisers. you see test knits due and then the pattern released 1-2 days after and can kinda tell the turnover rate is all wrong for the designer to make changes for fit for different sizes based on feedback, for instance, so they’re definitely using test knits for marketing. i think if you’re not paying test knitters your expectations of them should be very very minimal (use whatever yarn you like, make whatever modifications, etc etc)

I’m watching this while working on a test knit for Tania Barley, and I totally agree with everything you said about the tester/designer relationship!!! I have never expected to be paid for test knitting, I test knit because it’s fun for me to be one of the “chosen ones” to knit a pattern first lol, and of course, to help check for any errors. Also, a free pattern never hurts!!!

Many test knits I’ve done I’ve benefitted by receiving the pattern to knit and many times designers also send a code for you to choose another pattern from their shop. I try to work with designers I really like, and I always feel really honored to be chosen, but also it’s a nice treat for me to receive the pattern in exchange for testing it. It is a tricky subject, but I feel like smaller designers and other fiber people work well together to figure things out. I have a colleague who will actually send wool to test along with their pattern and that person usually gets to keep the object and the pattern in the end. There always seems to be a beneficial exchange 😊.

I finally watched. So exiting to win a prize. ❤ thanks so much!

On paying teat knitter: The Skeiniac recently did a blog post of this topic that goes into detail on what she thinks should be expected of testers as well as compensation. I highly recommend it.

I am knitting my tessellated pullover with the same spincycle color as you! I was looking at the kits but I didn’t want a dark main color so I took a page from your book and did a virtual shopping appointment with FDF! This is my first time splurging on spincycle and I sound just like you trying to justify it to myself 😂

You can add a secondary pattern or “incorporates” which I use when I knit my musselburghs with any color work patterns from other makers

When you get to Montana-Farmer's Daughter and Yarn and Honey are in Great Falls. They both are storefronts and Yarn dyers. Farmer's Daughter you are familiar with. Yarn and Honey is the new home to Mountain Colors. Mountain Colors was one of the first yarn dyers in the country. They just retired and sold their business to the owner of Yarn and Honey. Two wonderful shops in one city.

Your Affinity Socks turned out SO good!! It was such a pleasure to be a Sock Week sponsor 🩷🦈

@cindymswyo

Жыл бұрын

Love your pattern, I will do another pair soon.

Another great video. Thank you!

Was so bummed to have missed out on the yarn pockets before they sold out. But then, last night, Cottontail bags posted on IG that they found a small stash of sock week yarn pockets. I snatched one up right away!😊

@HelpMeMissAllen

Жыл бұрын

Me too. I was super fast getting on Etsy!

On the testers topic, I think there's no one answer! If it's a new/newer designer, testers are voluntary as a support to the new designer. I'd also expect the designer not to have the highest of demands for the testers, like having a large following or previous testing experience. If the designer is well established, they would probably also prefer to have knowledgeable testers, and their knowledge and experience (and probably even platform) should be compensated. And by compensation I don't even know if that necessarily means monetary compensation. Like you mentioned: giving them a sense of community, making it fun, maybe even considering them for a recurring tester, can make a maker feel valued and validated, and like they've been paid for their work. I appreciate the person asking the question and you for answering it truthfully!! As a hobby that's growing more and more notoriety, it's important to have these conversations with open minds :)

You actually can tag additional patterns in ravelry. It's under the "pattern for" line, it says "additional patterns" and you can link the FLK. I do it whenever I knit a patterned sock but use that heel 😊

Really appreciate your thoughts on test knitting and that it has to be considered volunteer work for fun, community, pattern support, first dibs on a great design - not paid work. Like you said a fun intimate makealong (with a deadline which helps me actually finish things!) My absolute worst experience with a designer was someone who didnt make it fun at all. We were treated like unpaid employees - little cheering on or excitement about our work just given extremely stringent requirements (like calculating exact yardage and then asked to *recalculate* if it didnt match the designer's estimates because we weren't believed. Annoyance at feedback they didnt like that exposed flaws with design or materials. Annoyance at questions/struggles from less experienced testers. Expected to measure every part of the finished knit to the schematic and needing to have an explanation/being basically in trouble if our measurements/gauge weren't perfect. Testing a design that the designer assumed would have 6-7 mistakes or more and it was our job to find them plus all the typos. Doing all that to get "paid" by the pattern plus the designer would throw in another pattern as a thank you. Often with a brief timeline. And then the designer would complain about getting crappy testers or people not testing enough/being unreliable. Ugh. But designers who make the test knitting experience a blast is a whole different experience and so much fun. Bottom line: if a designer makes you feel bad or guilty for not being the "perfect" tester despite you doing your best, and you're not having fun, don't work with them again, they are not your employer. Try again with someone else. It will be so much fun with a designer who knows how to make it a great community experience.

On disclosures: Ths FTC recently updated their guidelines (Jen Luv did angreat video breakdown if anyone is interested) and if Little Wolf Knits was paying Natalie she would legally have to disclose that, so I'm glad she answered that question. In general, if an influencer shows a product that they got for free, they have to say so. If they show a product and they have a relationship with the company (whether that's friends, family, or even if they just get regular PR) they have to disclose that. If theyre getting paid to talk about something, they definitely have to disclose that. There's a lot more requirements, but yes, influencers are supposed to disclose EVERYTHING. And I highly recommend anyone who makes content at least watch Jen's video, if not read the entirety of the guidelines.

I test knit sweaters several times a year and other than the test pattern and perhaps another pattern from the designer that I get to choose, there is no other payment. For me I only agree to test knit from designs/designers that I enjoy and would buy anyway.

I’m an avid test knitter. I just love the process and feeling like I’m helping the designer. It’s absolutely a volunteer basis and I never expect anything in return. However, many designers will give a code which allows you to choose an additional pattern for free. I’ve also tested for designers who are also yarn dyers who will give a discount on their yarn (usually 20-25%).

30 min of knitting a day…brings so much joy. Enjoy all of your blogs. I LOVED 7 husbands…what a great story!

For episode 200 you should do a bloopers reel longer segment... Kinda like a bunch of the intros all in one long segment

I loved the AFFINITY SOCK. Maybe I am just getting better but this pattern was so fun and easy.

@jeffersonmorant

Жыл бұрын

That’s so thoughtful of you Cindy, Thanks for your positive review,How are you and how’s the weather over there?

@wooldashery-kerrycoganbrown

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your kind words, Cindy 😊 I'm glad my pattern helped you gain some sock knitting confidence!

I have heard of some designers offering or wanting to offer yarn support…. Providing the yarn for the test knit. I think that is a wonderful idea if the designer is able to do so. The time given might still be on a volunteer basis, but the tester wouldn’t have to give time and supplies to the project. To me that seems like a nice way to say “thank you” for the valuable information and advertising testers provide to designers.

I love the Rising Tide colorway. The colors are amazing.

I’m making the pullover and I was lucky enough to grab a kit from The Farmers Daughter. This will be my first time going to Rhinebeck and my first bottom up sweater. Excited and apprehensive all at the same time. Love your podcast so inspiring and fun, thank you.

So love your tank, the color is fabulous!

Hi Natalie, you can put the FLKH as additional pattern to your project page

Kent’s written comment was so funny! I’m thinking the real reason is that if you changed the e to i in his name, you could spell ‘knit’ 😂

Just sat down to drink my coffee and your video popped up. Feeling very lucky at the perfect timing and excited to hear what you've been up to. ☺

I had yarn ready to start a sock with you but it didn't happen. I have had 3 socks on the needles for summer sock camp with the crazy sock lady. I am making myself try new techniques and working on gifts socks. I also started the Stephen West sock along and I am trying to complete both socks in the time frame. I am enjoying this very much as I don't think I will ever do a mystery shawl. I still feel part of the sock week community and I am looking forward to your upcoming adventures! ❤

Maybe Someday is book 1 in a trilogy

Julianneknitter (twin stitches designs) just put a video out of how much designers make. This gives a good look at how test knitting can’t be paid at this point

This podcast was such good company as I worked on knitting my Queens Cami!!

I'm super excited for your van life! I have a limited amount of personal space where I live so I keep my yarn stash and tools limited to one small box and I try to have only one WIP at a time in a tote bag. So like getting to see you and how you deal with your knitting/crochet/yarn space in a van will be inspiring and interesting.

Talking about working through to become stashless unlocked a core memory of a note I took in my phone from a video you filmed back in Texas 😅 What to do with Leftover Yarn 🧶 More than 60 g, back on shelf 🧶Less than 60 g, heels/toes, scrappy granny 🧶Less than 10g, cozy memories blanket 🧶Scrappy magic knot ball 🧶Shadow box yarn piggy bank thing

To add the FLK heel to a pattern on your Ravelry project page, set up the page as usual and then under the pattern name, you have a button for "+ additional patterns." I use this to add the heel type i use if rodent to the pattern

Hello from Mounds, Illinois.

Still not finished with this episode, but Natalie you are not alone in all the considerations for once again purchasing and knitting the Tesalation! I too had a similar experience seeing the kits, even thought which would you pick😂 and wondering if you would do it again! I’m in yarn is all arrived!!😊

@andreacrazy4knitting

Жыл бұрын

Since I don’t live in Tennessee and can’t go to SSK, I am looking very much forward to your video!

As more of a tester, I really think it can go either way. I think the terms needs to be outlined immediately. I think compensation is appreciated but I don’t think we should expect it necessarily. If the designer is able to compensate then that’s amazing. If not, I do think they need to specify the testers are not paid monetarily. I like testing because it helps me break up my usual go to patterns and gives me new ideas and teaches new skills sometimes.

SSK is on my husbands birthday!

you can add more than one pattern on a ravelry project, you add the primary one, and then in the project page there is an option to add an additional pattern.

helical all 3 skeins it is so easy (for your dress)

I love that you said it's OK to just enjoy the process of knitting and that you don't always have to love the end result. It IS kind of like knitting for other people!! Good to hear someone say that out loud. Also as a Test Knitter I choose to do a test knit and help a designer out, I would never expect compensation. I test knit because I love to knit and totally enjoy the process. I agree that designers definitely couldn't afford to hire testers. Enjoyed this episode as always.

@divinelyengineered

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I agree! However I've seen sample knitter applications from dyers and since you have to send in your sample for photos and don't get to keep the item, the dyer compensates you with a giftcard to their shop.

@OldeThymeKnits

Жыл бұрын

@@divinelyengineered Yes, I sample knit for my LYS and that is how it works. Store credit for compensation. But for a Test knit I don't expect compensation...it's a choice I make to voluntarily knit a design. Plus it feels good to help a person out! In a world where there is so much uproar, I like the feeling of helping, while enjoying the process! 😀

#question what are you most excited to see as far as sightseeing when you're on your van adventure? Can't wait for you to get to Minnesota!

I have done test knitting for socks, hats and sweaters. I’ve never been paid except for the pattern and maybe an extra pattern of my choice. I however do not like when designers penalize testers if they don’t finish on time and require you to pay for the pattern of you don’t. I understand some people may sign up just to take the free pattern and that’s not ok. However someone who has maybe done a sweater but hasn’t finished the second sleeve shouldn’t be penalized. I have also done sample knitting and have usually been paid through yarn which I think is a great way to get hand dyed yarn

I personally view being given the pattern to test as the "payment" for testing. Although, I'm not someone who is often paid for the items I make. I'm more of a home crafter & make projects to give as gifts. I have been commissioned to make things and usually am compensated mostly for the upfront cost of the materials.

#question - My question is about yarn storage. Right now my stash is in a plastic tub with a lid. I am in the process of setting up a room specifically for knitting and sewing and have been trying to decide if I want to continue with the tub/lid, display in open shelving or repurpose an old curio cabinet for yarn storage. We don't have a huge moth issue in the area where I live, but I am keeping that in mind and also wondering how much I need to worry about fading from natural light over time. I am drawn to the idea of choosing a method that allows me to be able to see the yarn in order to appreciate and experience the beauty of the fiber. Thank you!

Hi Natalie. Your knitted tank top is looking great I love the colour. For an idea for celebrating your 200th episode why don't you have a live chat and have people show the projects they are making whether it is knitting or crochet. Also if you want to do a give away maybe a skein of year with a choice of one of your patterns. Hope you have had a great week and enjoy the market on Saturday.

200 knitted items to donate for charity or organizations supporting refugees.

I think the giveaway should be a collection of all your patterns!

Maybe the leftover pink skein could be another Musselbourough hat? :)

We should do a like make along! I always try and work on a project while I watch the podcast.

My view on test knitting as a designer who rarely uses test knitters. Test knitters are, let's admit it, preview promotional knitters. Most designers barely cover their expenses. Apart from very few big names like Stephen West.

Min wage in Illinois is 13/hr and in Jan. it will be 14/hr. Min wage around here hasn't béen 7.25 since I was a teenage lol and that was 25-30 yrs ago. But I love your channel and because of your musselborough hat discussions I bought the pattern and I love love love your tutorial on the crochet pinhole caston. I'm making the adult large for my husband do you think it will fit on 16's? I'm new to knitting and thanks to you I finally got brave enough to knit a shortie sock so naturally I dive in to the hat now. Thank you for all you do.

#question : Are you thought to make a temperature blanket for your van journey, but instead temperatures to separate the colors in groups based on the miles traveled that day?

I go into test knitting as I get an exclusive opportunity to knit something that will be mine too. If I am not in a place to test knit, I don’t volunteer

Hi Natalie. I was wondering of you could discuss knitting/crafting burnout. Im still working on my sock from sock week. The first sock. I dont know if im going to make the mate.

A comment on weighing your yarn for heels/toes/cuffs...You also want to note what the yarn base was, generally a 75/25 has 464 yds/100g but an 80/20 has 400 yds/100g.

#question Hi Natalie 😊 now that your business and livelihood revolves around knitting and podcasting etc has it taken any of the ‘joy’ and fun out of it for you? Also as a new sock knitter (completely your fault that I’m now obsessed! Hehehe!) I am so confused by all the different heel options……afterthought, forethought, FLK, short row, heel/flap/gusset argh!……..the choice blows my mind……..do they have different functions or are they purely personal taste? I adore your podcasts and can’t wait to have another one to follow when you start you new adventures ❤

#question I'm making some good progress with a pullover made with commercial wool - the company is called 'Gründl', if that says anything to you. Thing is, there's quite a few knots in some of the balls of yarn. How can I best hide their existence in my knitting?

I'm working on a pair of self stripping knee socks. They are beautiful but I'm so tired of working on them. Seeing your sock week shortie socks makes me want to make those next. They'll seem so much easier and faster. Another 2-3 days and I should be finished with the knee socks. Remind me never to make them again!

Wasn’t it the point of stashing down, to be able to make a yarn purchase for a new project!? No need to have guilt I think. Enjoy your beautiful yarn and the new project! 🧶

#Question: When the pattern says 15 stitches per 4 inches. How many stitches do you cast on for the swatch? Two or Three times required stitches for the 4 inches or more? I never know how many to cast on. Love your Q&A segment.

#question: Hi Natalie! I wanted to ask if you're planning on having another class (or access to prior content) for knitting perfect socks. 🥰 I missed the class you had before but would love access to the information. Thank you so much!

#question How do you keep your knitting mojo up with all the big life changes? I'm normally knitting every day, but ever since I heard we're moving and selling our current home I haven't knit a single stitch. My head is just so full, I don't know how to keep up with knitting while so much change is happening.

Have you ever do a musselburgh hat with 80 merino, 10 cashmere and 10 nylon. I would like your input if I should use smaller or bigger the the paid pattern? I really like you podcast here in Canada.

#question. When a pattern asks for a 16 inch cable is that the measurement from needle tip to needle tip or just the cable measurement? Thank you. Love your podcast. Mary🧶

#question Do you do anything special to your socks to easily differentiate between the left and the right sock?

As a test knitter, I'm very particular about who I will test for. I do not test for designers who require me to post on instagram - mainly because i don't have a public account, but also because 'advertising' is not a role i align with testing. Testing is exactly as it sounds; you are testing a pattern, not promoting a pattern.

I have stopped to give my opinion on the question about compensating test knitters. I think this depends on several factors. The amount of yarn involved in the project. The amount of income the designer makes from sales of the pattern, not counting yarn sales (see the exception below). First, who is the designer and seller (likely the same)? Is it a new designer who does not sell many patterns yet but wants to make sure their item works the way they want it to and fits a variety of body shapes? Then compensation is difficult. New businesses often have very low cash reserves and don't yet have relationships with others who may be able to help with yarn discounts and the like. So compensation for their testers' knowledge and experience is a free version of the pattern and the finished object. If the designer is working for a larger, established company, or sells large numbers of their patterns, then we need to look at a different solution. Is there a way to get yarn at a discount or at cost (which includes labor if appropriate)? If the designer is profiting off sales of the pattern and also from associated kits, offering yarn to the testers at cost so the designer is not profiting from their testers would be appropriate. I think that testers perform an important function. Multiple people working through the same pattern is not a job that could every be fairly compensated. I'm about to start a test knit for a large project. The designer has a working relationship with a yarn dyer who offered a discount on their yarns. While I can afford the recommended yarn, I wanted to go off script (with permission from the designer) and choose a less expensive alternative to show what can be done with other brand yarn. My investment is not small, but I'm a fiber crafter and don't expect inexpensive at this point. I'm looking forward to working on the project and realize I will have a pathway to help other knitters find yarn that fits their budget and still looks amazing. Finding the right path, is more about equity than equality in this situation, and I don't believe there is a straightforward answer.

#question : have you tried the shadow wrap heel? If so, how does it compare to the fish lips kiss heel? I like the shadow wrap heel a lot, just curious if there's any reason to try the fish lips kiss heel instead.

It ALWAYS hurts to look at the colors! Once you look at the colors you're a goner! 😂😂😂

@maryfoster5189

Жыл бұрын

I am neither a knittng designer nor a test knitter. I am a knitter who likes well written patterns. Test knitting is a specific skill and requires more than just being a good knitter who is not a lot of patterns. Those folks are great and they can find mistakes, but testners also need to be able to put themselves in the position of being a new knitter or new to this kind of pattern. Good knitters are very familiar with the specific language and meaning of patterns. New knitters or occasional knitters are not. A direction or set of directions may be perfectly clear to the" test" knitter but maybe the consumer isn't. Some people I know who do test knitting will also alter the pattern so that they can use the final garment which may not help or might even hinder for the people who are knitting it. If a designer wants a friend or a volunteer to knit through the pattern and that person is willing to do it for free, that's their decision. But the designer may find that they are getting many complaints about mistakes or misunderstood directions. If most of the designers today are using good knitters but not technically trained. Knitters I can see why I am finding so many more patterns with mistakes or confusing or misleading directions than I ever used to. If the designer is hiring someone who has the skills to really test knit a pattern. They should be paid accordingly. The reason you give that the designer may not be able to afford. That is the reason that women's work has been undervalued through the ages. My mother was a seamstress and she was never paid an appropriate amount for the time she put in because if she charged that nobody would hire her. This is insidious and has a background in the idea that a woman's time, skills, and effort are not worth compensating fully. Fully. I realized this is NOT your attitude and I understand that a small designer would not be able to pay a fair hourly wage because they are not being paid. A fair hourly wage themselves. But it's something to be aware of. Again, if the designer is satisfied with the quality of testing she's getting, and if the knitter chooses to volunteer, I don't see anything to comment on there. That's a purely personal decision. One person decides to donate her time and the other person to decide to possibly come out with a slightly less perfect pattern. I think this is a very interesting discussion that you've opened up.

#question I am new to sock knitting. I keep hearing the term "short row heel". What exactly is that?

#question Firstly, are you the creator or sock week and are you ever going to write more crochet patterns? Love your videos by the way! ❤

For the 200 episode, could you do a live movie night ?

#question Do you think Xavier is actually a knitter? In the "candid" shots where he's knitting it doesn't look very natural. I am a crocheter so I could be completely off, but wanted to see your thoughts. So excited to be following along this season of The Bachelorette, it's my first one!

I've only done a handful of test knits/crochets, but it's not something I want to do going forward. The community element was fun, but on two of the tests there were lots of errors. I found that most of the testers didn't raise the mistakes and when I did I was made to feel that I was being an annoyance. Neither of those test knits was tech edited. The third test i did was tech edited and was a much more pleasant experience. Now when purchasing a pattern of it's not tech edited its a deal breaker for me. I don't expect this from a free pattern. #question Do you think that all paid for patterns should be tech edited? If not, should those patterns still cost the same as a pattern which has not been tech edited? I learn so much from your podcast!

Hi Natalie! Has anyone mentioned your video being harder to hear since you've moved or is it just me? Love your podcast!!

#question This is a bit of a strange question, but I have had this thought more then once so I thought I would ask. Keeping in mind I am Canadian and I have no idea how taxes work in the US, can you claim any of the yarn that you purchase as a business expense? 😁

I agree with your stance on test knitting in general. I do think it’s nice when designers are able to offer some kind of incentive (a code to get another one of their patterns for free or a discount on the recommend yarns for example) but appreciate that this isn’t always possible. I really appreciate the transparency on your business decisions and would love to hear more about the process for example #question have you revisited the cost of your perfect socks course now that it is a pre-recorded video series rather than a live video call course? I’m really interested in understanding how you decide the pricing as whenever I’ve been approached for knitting services I get lots of pushback on my pricing even though I charge significantly less than the minimum wage in my country for my time 🙁

Hey Natalie, I understand your feelings of guilt, but you have to remember that all of us are hoping that you will knit and share that experience with us! So even if you don't keep the finished object, we learn along with you and enjoy the process, too! 🥰 So glad that you will be knitting Andrea's sweater this year!

#question Do you know of any non-wool advent calendars out there? I'm allergic and have looked online but haven't had much luck. I can't be the only yarny person with a wool allergy!

@wooling.around

Жыл бұрын

I know De Draadzaak does plant based advents! Not totally sure if they ship internationally but maybe an option😊

I don’t really understand why testers feel they need to be compensated for the fun and enjoyment of knitting a pre-release pattern. Test knitting is not tech editing and testers are not expected to dissect a pattern looking for errors. If a tester feels they are due compensation, they have the option of not testing. 🤔 Andrea Mowry spoke to testing on one of her recent podcasts. eta: I have done multiple test knits and am thrilled whenever I’m selected, and do it for the pure enjoyment.

@TherapyByCraft talked about testing last month: kzread.info/dash/bejne/k6qTsdOvkcepoLQ.html

RE test knitting: It's worth noting that, according to US labor law (specifically the Fair Labor Standards Act), it is illegal for for-profit businesses to accept volunteer labor. There are some exceptions, like for unpaid interns, and the law itself is pretty complicated. But the gist of it is that US labor law generally requires for-profit businesses to pay those who do work for them, no matter the size of the business. Would test knitting count as doing work for a designer? I think that probably depends somewhat on the circumstances and I'd defer to an actual lawyer to answer that definitively. But if I were a designer, I would compensate my test knitters in order to stay on the right side of the law.

@brkjaw

Жыл бұрын

But the testers are compensated with a pattern. Would this then not be considered “free labor”?

@hopefulshinnguards

Жыл бұрын

@@brkjaw As Natalie pointed out, the $6-9 that a pattern would normally cost is well below the value of a whole knitted item (considering the cost of the yarn and the amount of labor that went into creating it). So I would not consider a free pattern adequate compensation for test knitting. But ultimately that's really only a question a lawyer or a court could answer.

@Izzabellaa

Жыл бұрын

But (some) these designers aren’t operating as “businesses” so this law wouldn’t even apply to them, no?

@hopefulshinnguards

Жыл бұрын

@@Izzabellaa Many designers are actually businesses, particularly those who do it as a full time job. I'm not super familiar with US tax law, but I know that it is often to a designer or other seller's benefit to be formally registered as a business (typically an LLC) and they may even be required to be registered if their income from those sales is above a certain dollar amount per year.

@alekfelis

Жыл бұрын

This opinion is so heartless and capitalistic! You can't expect to be paid for practising your hobby no matter how much time and effort it's required! It's your HOBBY! Tech editors are educated and registered for doing their job, so they do get paid, because designers reach out to them. But test knitter offer themselves to become a part of the process based on some of these reasons: 1.their admiration to the designers, 2.the pride of having 'test kniter' as a title in your profile or 3.parasocial relationship. It's a friendship situation beneficial for both of the sides, designers get your feedback, you get recognition by being mentioned as a contributor to the finished object. Not every situation in this life is for and about money! Most of our actions are from passion and interest, not just pragmatic. I assume you are not a lawyer, or at least not at financial law, because your arguments are very superficial?! I don't want to offend you! But your lack of empathy makes me very frustrated, so I think it is necessary to give my viewpoint as a counterpoint.

#You did an excellent job answering that question about test knitting! I have a question about when you all are in the van, what are you gonna do with toaster? Say, for instance, if you go eat for two hours or if you go to a yarn store or an event. Are you going to leave him in the van by himself for that long? Is he a mental health service dog that you can take him wherever you go? It’s gonna take him a while to get used to the traveling. I am just wondering how you are preparing to handle this. Lots of love! Dianna 1:27:36 I don’t watch the bachelorette, but I heard a episode of the”why I knit”audio podcast and the guest, a lion brand designer, talked about the mental health benefits of knitting. And sometimes she just walks around knitting squares. For nothing else but the mental health benefit. And when you said you didn’t recognize what he was knitting, that brought that to mind. 😉1:52:05

Libby is a bit confusing. The tabs confuse me.

My grandson is over the moon for Pokémon if you could share???

had a hard time hearing you today speaking really soft , had volume on 100 and air pods in