Test Knitter of the Month - May

Each month I feature a test knitter from one (or more) of my designs!

This month, I have a very important guest feature for Test Knitter of the Month! It’s one of my best friends, Priya! She’s test knit for me A LOT, which I am SO, SO grateful for. She’s funny and the life of the party so enjoy the answers to the questions because I personally really enjoyed them!

My hope for a part of this blog is to feature the knitters who spend their time helping me execute a hand knitting pattern. Test knitting, especially garments, are a critical part of the design process and I wouldn’t be able to do it without their valuable feedback.

Test Knitter of the Month - May Feature: Priya

How do you identify? Geriatric millennial in crisis.

How many years have you been knitting? What’s your knitting origin story? About seven years, but I didn’t really make projects bigger than hats/gloves until about 2019. I taught myself to knit (and crochet) in grad school one very cold winter out of boredom. It was a good mix of homebody-friendly and a relatively cheap hobby to get into since I found a grab bag of yarn for $1 at the local goodwill.

Which pattern did you test knit? What size, if garment, and yarns did you use? This is a long, very good list: golden horizon, then eleven twelve, colorful keepsake, brush of color and wavelength! The size I knit is usually whatever corresponds to 40” bust. Shout out to Shobha of Serendipitous Wool, who is one of my favorite dyers. Her colors and a Tina Tse pattern? A match made in knit heaven.

What is your favorite thing about test knitting or why do you test knit? I don’t test knit anymore, but I always did it for selfish reasons. I loved making new friends through the shared experience and for a time I felt it was important to provide good feedback to designers for people with my body shape/size. Mostly I test knit to support my friend!

What other making superpowers do you have? I don’t know if it’s a superpower but I hyperfixate on tv shows/movies. Ask me about character studies, immensely useless encyclopedic background knowledge of said characters, and scene by scene metatextual analyses. Something more relevant? I crochet and spin, the latter of which has been giving knitting a run for its money in terms of Fun Factor.

Where can readers find your makes? Physically, in my home, under my snoozing cat. Online, @hotpinkvibes on Instagram

What other aspects of life are you passionate about besides making? Not being single. Hit me up 🤙🏽

Test Knitter of the MonthTina TseMay 24, 2021test knitter