No time to read through the other pages? Just want to get a couple straight-forward, no-frills answers to your questions? Here are some of the most common (and blunt!) questions I’ve received from people regarding tech editing:
Why would I want to spend more time and money to have my pattern tech edited?
Because you want your pattern to look professional. Because you don’t want a lot of comments on your pattern page complaining about errors. Because you don’t want to spend a lot of time supporting your pattern for those silly errors you overlooked. Because everyone has trouble finding every error or discrepancy in something they wrote themselves. Everyone. Even you. And yep, even me.
What is tech editing?
Technical editing, or pattern editing, is proofreading and editing a knitting or crochet pattern. It’s checking for misspellings, grammar, math, ensuring charts match written instructions, making sure all the parts are there, and a whole host of other things vital to making a pattern look professional and worth its purchase price.
I’ve got a great pool of testers, they’ll catch all my errors.
Mmmm…maybe. Maybe not. Their priority is to ensure they can replicate your finished item, not to catch all your misspellings or math snafus. They help determine if that exciting new technique you devised for shirttail hemlines is understandable and can be successfully repeated by someone other than you. That your yardage estimates are close. They can give you an idea of how your pattern will work with self-striping yarn or variegated yarn or eyelash boucle yarn. They may overlook some errors, not because they’re careless or not attuned to detail, but because most testers are experienced knitters/crocheters and often “get a feel” for how something should be constructed and often correct it themselves. They might forget to mark an error and bring it to your attention. Also, if you don’t get at least one tester per size on a graded garment, there’s a chance any errors will be completely overlooked for the size that wasn’t tested.
How much do you cost?
My rate is $32 (USD) per hour and I bill in 15-min increments. All my services (tech editing, charts, schematics, grading) are subject to this rate. I’ll give you an estimate beforehand, and once that’s approved and I complete the work, I’ll issue you a final invoice with the exact cost. You’ll then have 30 days to pay that invoice.
That seems pricey, what am I paying for?
You’re paying for a trained and experienced professional. If you want details of all that I do, please check here for the long answer.
How can I save some money?
Become a new client! I offer all my new clients 15% off their first service, regardless of size or complexity of the pattern.
Give me some feedback after I complete a service for you! If it’s nice or a well-worded constructive comment, I’ll put it on my Testimonials page (with your permission). If you’re tearing me a new one, I probably won’t publish it, but I still welcome it and will address your concerns the best I can. No matter the feedback, I will still give you 10% off your next service with me.
Refer me to your friends! They’ll get 15% off for being a new client, and after I complete their invoice, I’ll give you 15% off your next service with me.
Bring me multiple patterns at once! It’s actually quicker and easier to edit several patterns from the same designer at one time than doing them individually, and so I offer 10% off for 2 patterns, 15% off for 3 patterns, and 20% off for 4 or more patterns.
Can I credit you as my tech editor on my finished pattern/document?
I would LOVE that! I appreciate that you’re extending me the professional courtesy of crediting me for the editing work I did to help get your pattern ready to launch. I only ask that you let me see the final copy before you add my name to it.
Why would I want to credit you as my editor on my pattern? It’s my design.
Yep, it IS your design. I’m not taking any credit for it whatsoever. I come from a corporate and academic background, so I spent over 20yrs ensuring I credited those who contributed to my papers, reports, and successes. As mentioned above, by putting my name on your pattern as the tech editor, it is extending professional courtesy and giving me credit for the editing work. It also lets your customers know that they can trust that the pattern will be free of errors and worth the price you’re charging. You don’t have to put my name on it, either, if you don’t want to. That’s entirely up to you and I won’t ask you to do so.
Why do you want to share my social media posts for the pattern(s) you edited for me?
One: it shows that I have actual clients and it increases my credibility as a tech editor (and yes, can hopefully keep me employed); and two: I am legitimately excited for your pattern launch and want to help get it in front of as many eyes as possible to help increase your sales and standing in the knitting/crocheting community. I think we should all be supporting one another and celebrating each other’s accomplishments.
How can I trust you will do a good job?
Well, I am a professional, and this is how I’m trying to support my family and my yarn habit, so for the sake of my good name, my brand, and my stash, I promise to do my absolute best for you. However, I am human, so I am putting the disclaimer out that I may miss something at some point in my career. The best way for you to find out is for you to be the judge. Contact me to schedule your edit.
How do I know you won’t steal my design and sell it yourself?
To reiterate some earlier answers: I am a professional, and this is how I’m trying to support my family and my yarn habit, so for the sake of my good name, my brand, and my stash, I will not steal your design. I will absolutely not take the pattern you’ve sent over for editing and then ghost you and sell it myself. Besides being wrong, I have too much pride in my work, too much invested in my brand, and it’ll only hurt me in the long run to do something so dishonest.
If you’re only quoting me a few hours of work, why does it take you 3-5 business days to complete the work?
Two main reasons: eye fatigue and other time commitments. A quote for 4 hours doesn’t mean I’m going to do a straight 4 hours and then move onto the next client. Most tech editors need breaks every couple hours to give their eyes a rest, so while they might do most of the 4 hours of work in one day, they’ll still usually sleep on it and come back in the morning with fresh eyes to see if there was anything they missed. If there’s a lot of heavy editing involved, additional services, and/or it’s a lengthy pattern, then they may need a couple mornings of fresh eyes to make sure they got it all.
You are probably not my only client, and I may have kid activities or other appointments and family commitments impacting my calendar that week. I also try to keep weekends for family and to give me some time away from my desk. If you don’t like my turn-around timeframe, I’m happy to negotiate an escalated due-date charged at my Rush Rate. If you don’t like that, I will attempt to help you find another tech editor who may be able to meet your deadline. Hopefully we can work together on another project when you have a little more time available.