falling in love with your tech editor

Technical editor love.

I wrote an article for The Tech Editor Hub a while back laying it out what is happening in a tech edit, and what the role of a tech editor is. You can find it here. It’s one of my favorites.

Getting back to basics, the bones of a tech editor’s job are pretty simple. And it’s a job that requires great attention to detail, and patience. A tech editor is the person who goes through your pattern with a fine tooth comb, checking every word, every number, every punctuation, every line, to be sure it is error-free, clearly stated, and includes all the necessary information that the knitter will need.

The relationship between designer and tech editor can be incredibly meaningful and close in a way nothing else is. Trusting someone with your personal work is no small thing. Designers are very brave, and a good tech editor will be a safe place.

Let’s get into the basics.

The essentials.

· They will check that the gauge given matches up with the dimensions provided; they will look at all grammar and spelling and check for any typos or errors, as well as any inconsistencies with the style of the pattern, to be sure everything is a clear as it can be.

· A tech editor will double check all the math involved in determining stitch counts and row counts to be sure it is correct, and all numbers given are accurate. They will look to see that all necessary components of a pattern are there, what skills are needed, what materials are needed, and any glossary information the knitter may need.

· They will scrutinize any pictures you give, to be sure the pattern matches exactly what is shown. Any charts or schematics included will be checked by your tech editor to be sure that they match up with all the written instruction, also. And this is all done for every size given, and every line, every number, every word of the pattern.

· They will check the grading and the fit, to be sure your finished measurements match your gauge and your ease intentions, that all the sizes make sense.

Bear in mind that it is still your pattern, and your style and intentions will not be disturbed by having your pattern edited. Most tech editors work hard to be sure that your unique style and vision remains unchanged, even if edits need to be made. It is your baby after all! And if you have a style sheet, that can serve as a great guide for your TE. If you don’t, they can probably help you make one, or head here.

Tools and process flow.

· Tech editors use spreadsheets, graph paper, note paper, online editing software, different pens and pencils, lots of different books and online resources, as well as any ideas or comments you have, to do their job well.

· Tech editors work very hard to be sure they don’t make any errors; after all, you are counting on that! Then keep in mind, errors may get made (we are all only human, after all), but we will do whatever we need to do to make it right before your pattern is published. If you find an error after an edit, or during a test, let your tech editor know so they can help you resolve it. This possibility is part of my guarantee to my clients, and any checks due to my errors are on my own dime.

· After sending the pattern back to you with their edits, your tech editor will check it again once you’ve made corrections, to be sure you are good to go. And most tech editors will give you an estimate when you first submit your pattern, so you don’t have any surprises about what the cost will be. A lot of new tech editors offer lower rates, and are happy to work with brand new designers, who are just starting out, like they are.

There are a lot of tech editors with all kinds of skills and personalities - a designer should be able to find a tech editor that they can work with easily, who is friendly and helpful, and above all, accurate, and adheres to their style.

The whole point.

A good tech editor really is indispensable: Consider that if a knitter buys your pattern, and it’s a struggle to knit because of many errors, they aren’t likely to buy more of your patterns.

Things can get missed, even on simple patterns, and having a trained second set of eyes going over everything can be very helpful. Even the cleanest patterns I edit, where most things are correct, have many markups. There are just so many components to a pattern that need to be accurate and clear, for a good pattern. It can be a lot to keep track of while you are busy designing, so it’s a great idea to have someone to check it all over.

A new pair of eyes.

· Most tech editors I know, if they design also, always hire fellow tech editors to edit their own patterns; because it is always a good idea to get a fresh pair of eyes on something you are too close and personal with. Someone else will always think of something you didn’t. And a professional knitting tech editor is your best choice.

· You also may find you’d like someone to help you figure things out, or resource things, or bounce ideas off, and with how in depth your TE will know your pattern, they are the perfect person to ask, and they will have a fresh perspective that you can’t have on your own work.

· When you’ve lived with a design long enough, and spent a lot of time building the pattern, it’s tough to catch every little thing. Your eyes are just too used to seeing it all, and it looks just fine.

For happy knitters.

It is very difficult to come at your own work in a completely objective way, allowing you to see those mistakes, even if you are a whiz at proofreading and editing, reading patterns and math. If you want your design worked the way you want, so knitters can get the result you intend, hiring a tech editor to go over it first with a fine-tooth comb, even before you send it out for test knitting, can assure that you are putting out the product you want, and that the knitter can easily reap those rewards.

Most of all, knitters buy your patterns and are excited to make them, and we want knitters happy doing that, so the pattern needs to be right, easy to understand and follow. Getting it tech edited is your best safeguard for that. So, do you need a tech editor? Absolutely. They are the person in your corner to help you create clear, correct patterns and get you some happy knitters.

Not sure where to find one? If you’re stuck, ask a designer you admire who they work with. :)