🧵🌸 LET'S TALK ABOUT PATTERN TESTING with Kendall McCollum - KAREN’S QUILT CIRCLE

Have you ever thought about becoming a pattern tester? How to start, where to start and what are the benefits. My next guest Kendall McCallum has been a pattern tester for many years and has worked with many different designers. And she is generously sharing all sorts of tips for why, how and when you should be a tester.
You can find Kendall at
@simcoestitchcraft
[e-mail]
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[@JustGetitDoneQuilts]

Karen's Quilt Circle is back. I met Kendall in Atlanta and consider her part of my Quiltcon haul 😎 She is a very experienced pattern tester and loved that she shared all her tips. So grab your sewing and your beverage of choice and ENJOY!!!

[@wendystout7060]

I absolutely love your saying, "comparison is the thief of joy"! So impactful!

[@GriswaldDingens]

So true!!

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

I tell myself this often! It's an important reminder for me!

[@scrapsandcats]

I learned paper piecing many, many years ago. (its important to know that English paper piecing is different from this type of paper piecing.) I haven't done it in quite awhile because I had cancer, but, after watching this video I'm inspired to try it again. I got involved with machine embroidery and other quilt making projects. Thank you!

[@margaretswan5466]

I don’t drink tea (never, thank you!) but I still prefer “cup of tea” - it’s a nice saying and need not be taken literally

[@drewrichardson8789]

Agree

[@jkscott5865]

Agree

[@monataylor2600]

Woo hoo! Welcome back! Love this series, Karen. What a cool and lovely guest! Thank you, both!

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

What a joyful young woman. Thanks to both of you for the interview!

[@trac6009]

Fantastic interview Karen, Thank you to you both! I learned a lot❤

[@annerankin1191]

Pattern makers expecting their testers to carry costs is not acceptable. I’ve tested several times and have experienced both positive and negative aspects. I won’t test again until I either get paid or receive a gift in kind e.g. fabric.

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

I completely understand this perspective. For me, I've gained a lot from pattern testing, but as I become more experienced (and way better) I'm being much pickier. There are some designers who make things I always want to sew, so getting a free pattern is enough but I'm sure this will change as I become more of a "professional".

[@sandramyer7081]

Love her Quit ART- exciting and interesting

[@shellyculver4239]

What a wonderful interview! I’ve always been curious about pattern testers & wondered how they got so lucky as to do it! Ha! I thought they were just personal friends of the designer. Never realizing there was a “need” or an application process. I love the enthusiasm & professionalism of this lovely artist. Thanks Karen

[@melissad1395]

I loved this interview. One thing that really stood out was a statement that Kendall made it made such an impact on me I’m embroidering it as a sign to hang I. My quilting studio. It is “Comparison is the theft of joy!” And we all need joy. Thank you Karen for a wonderful interview. Regards, Melissa Dempsey

[@cc83jc85]

I'm astounded at her CAT quilt!! I've always worried about paper piecing....never was any good..or I was OK only...she is great!!

[@OKLisa]

My mother in law lives in Barrie. It’s such a cool town. Lots of festivals in the summer.

[@reglindiseckhardt9777]

OMG, I grew up in Midhurst just north of Barrie. It is such a surprise when I hear a familiar name of a place online.

[@joannah6126]

Interesting interview. I enjoyed hearing Kendall’s motivation and process.

[@bettyl8635]

I really enjoyed this interview. Very interesting.

[@staceyrothchild3450]

This was an amazing interview and very inspirational. Being a relatively new quilter, this sounds right up my alley. I was a knitter for a long time until an injury and did pattern testing for many artists (I still have all the knitting books I was mentioned in as a tester) but for some reason had not thought about it for quilting. I'll definitely be exploring this option to build my skills and meet some new people.

[@Linda-fs3ex]

Welcome back. Love this interview and also that it’s available as a podcast. Thank you for all you do for us..

[@rbanker76]

Very interesting! Love your videos, especially the monthly Q&A ones !!

[@ElinT13]

Very interesting interview, thank you Kendall and Karen!

[@sabrinabuoniconti5008]

Wow, was always curious about pattern testing. Good info but would like to know more what pattern designers want back in the way of feedback. Pictures, notes etc. Do they actually want to see the finished project? Thanks Karen for great interesting interviews.

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

This is a great question! It really depends on the designer. I'm working with one currently who is mostly looking for pictures of the finished product. She already has them up on her etsy shop but wants photos of them done in fabric. Most designers I work with are looking for a few things: 1. find their mistakes (in both the pieces and the way the pattern is written), 2. feedback on how the pattern comes together (i.e. this technically works, but would be easier if you tweaked this), and 3. good photos of the finished product so they can share. Usually when you commit to testing a pattern the designer will let you know what they're looking for. Some even have contracts!

[@karencutchey2905]

thanks ladies! I have tested 4 patterns since Christmas! love it!

[@lorettahenderson8979]

Lovely interview ❤

[@rachelburgener819]

Very interesting topic!!! So the tester generally gets to keep the pattern and the quilt top!?! When would they get to show it off or share? My guess would be after release of pattern…? Thank you so much Karen and Kendall ❤️😀

[@suziehemmer6116]

I have never paper pieced or anything similar to that. But I really enjoyed watching this interview.

[@sarahsherman3810]

I am having a bit of trouble finding the website and am not much for instagram. Thanks for having a professional on. I love that she is choosing to look at the art of quilting as the valuable skillset. So many focus on the precision.

[@jo-annefalconer6280]

Facinating interview. I have just made a quilt label using the lettering on my new sewing machine.

[@jessicamilburn5585]

Here, I am lessening to this working on a charming circles quilt and a 2 inch epp quilt from the scraps. They seem easy to me, but all the seasoned quilters I talk to say I'm crazy. There are both denim and both ful/queen size made from denim 😅

[@IRISHLASS273]

Would like to see you interview Canadian quilter Terry Aske. Useful info for people who want to become pattern testers

[@MarvinNL]

You’re the one that inspires!

[@gquilter36]

Great interview as usual.

[@yvethemetriccrafter688]

Loved this interview,thank you karen .

[@kimhannah1632]

Comparison is the thief of joy….. I need to embroider that!

[@sherimcgill5139]

Wow! I learned a lot about pattern testing!

[@elizabethcollins8817]

Very interesting interview 🤗

[@suzisaintjames]

Now that designers are asking you to test... you are in demand... asked to be compensated for fabric. If they provide fabric but they don't ship to my area... ask for the cash they would have paid for fabric & shipping... even if you're shopping your stash. Use that money to replenish or to buy fabrics for another test. 💖🌞🌵😷

[@sherriejohnson508]

Thank you

[@sewterie]

Thanks for the interview. I LOVE HOBBY LANDING BIG CATS. I am making my fourth one now. The Lynx. I have been telling everyone who I know who is getting into FPP to try out her patterns. I too, sewed in my 20 and 30's and got away from it. I am now back to it in full force. Thanks again for sharing.

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

I ADORE Julie's patterns. They're so well-written and the finished product is gorgeous. Have you seen her "Raven, Skull and Roses" pattern? it's a bit of a departure from the cats, but it is soooo cool.

[@sewterie]

@@SimcoeStitchcraft I have. I think all of her patterns are so well written. I just finished the LYNX. They really come to life when people see them. You can get lost in their eyes. Thanks for this. I a have been sharing her shoppe with everyone who will listen. Thanks for doing this interview with Karan. Love her channel.

[@rosalindhb]

I love circles. I get tired of half square triangles and straight lines. If you don't get paid or fabric to test the designers patterns, whats the point?

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

I get free patterns! But I see your point, which is why I'm much pickier than I used to be about choosing which patterns I test.

[@audreyterry1428]

Interesting… kona vs. batik. I’m a HUGE fan of paper piecing, fairly new (three Violet Craft Jungle abstractions and one Judy Niemeyer under my belt) but thinking now about my next paper piecing project & using batiks… I think I shall. Machine embroidery is my preferred play, but I quilt w/ batiks! This was fun to listen to. Wish I had a huge stash to pattern test with. 😢

[@lizkopala1209]

Welcome to Canada Kendall.

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

Thank you! I LOVE it here. So glad we made this move.

[@karenshlemkevich2591]

I'm in Barrie too! Yay!!!! Maybe one day I'll run into you. 😊

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

Really?! That's so neat! I spend a lot of time downtown, and with my rainbow hair I'm sort of hard to miss. If you see me, please introduce yourself!

[@karenshlemkevich2591]

@SimcoeStitchcraft , I definitely will! Ohh I was at Country Concessions yesterday (in Cookstown)...that shop is AWESOME if you haven't ever checked it out!

[@ragathnor326]

Interesting topic. I can see why pattern writers can't afford to pay for materials

[@bethg7931]

I think expecting pattern testing to be done for zero compensation, and not even having the fabric provided, is completely unacceptable. I can’t imagine why this is appealing. I understand doing things for the joy and the experience, but this doesn’t compute for me. Great interview, and Kendall is very interesting.

[@SimcoeStitchcraft]

Thanks! I completely understand your perspective. I generally believe that artists should be paid for their time and effort, but this feels different to me, somehow. I honest and truly just like making cool things, so, if a pattern looks like something I'd like to make anyway I'm open to testing it. I love a free pattern and a deadline. I also have a pretty substantial fabric stash and I don't need to buy fabric for most of what I test. One of the designers I work with sends me fabric gift cards, but I always look at that like it's a bonus not an expectation. HOWEVER, I would not test for free for a big company. If Amazon (as an example) started designing quilt patterns and asked me to test for free it would be a big no. I'm testing for small designers, many of whom have become my friends.

[@bethg7931]

@@SimcoeStitchcraft I’m happy you get to do what you love.

[@sewitall7395]

Will you be doing a video about quilt Canada please?

[@JustGetitDoneQuilts]

I did not go to Quilt Canada

[@jayneterry8701]

Doyou know of anyone that did?

[@dianestyk5909]

Need to back to “…grab a cup of tea…” it’s more genuine.

[@JustGetitDoneQuilts]

If you only knew how many people complain

[@astorybookfinish5055]

FYI: The frequent commercial breaks makes it hard to follow the interview. That’s a setting on the administrators side. I intentionally watch ads so the KZbinr is compensated for their time that I’m benefiting from. I’m not offering this from the perspective of not having a tolerance for ads.

[@mariaastafyeva1426]

I agree with other commenters. This sounds like unpaid labor and I don’t like that the community supports that.

[@stitchann]