What is a Tech Editor Anyway?
TL;DR:
In the design process, a Technical Editor (TE) reviews new patterns to ensure they’re error-free and easy to follow. They bring a fresh perspective that catches mistakes designers might overlook due to mental fatigue. Think of them as a pattern’s safety net.
What is a tech editor?
What does “tech” have to do with knitting or crochet? The name can be misleading, especially in the world of fiber arts.
The term technical editing might sound intimidating—or even foreign—to those of us with a creative, right-brained mindset. Many designers know that technical editing is essential, but they don’t always understand what it actually involves. Let’s break it down.
Tech Editors: A Broad Definition
In the broadest sense, a tech editor reviews any document of a technical nature. This could include textbooks, standard operating procedures, legal documents, reports, knowledge bases, or infographics.
Think of the instruction manual that came with your new iPad or the building instructions for the new bedframe you purchased. Those little booklets, often tossed aside, provide instructions and crucial information that must be accurate and easy to understand. A tech editor ensures that accuracy and clarity.
Typically, a tech editor has deep expertise in the topic they’re editing. Just as the person who edited your iPad manual understands the device inside and out, a tech editor in fiber arts understands stitches, yarns, and construction.
Where Tech Editing Fits in the Fiber Arts
So, how does this relate to knitting and crochet? Glad you asked!
A pattern—whether knit, crochet, cross-stitch, or sewing—is a technical document. It’s a set of instructions that, if followed correctly, produces the finished item as described. Accuracy is key: even one wrong stitch can affect fit or outcome.
For designers, a technical edit is an extensive review of a new pattern before publication. The goal is to ensure instructions are clear, consistent, and error-free. A technical editor carefully examines the pattern line by line, checking for:
Grammatical and punctuation errors
Logical organization
Consistency of abbreviations
Accuracy of measurements, gauge, and stitch counts
Accuracy and clarity of charts and diagrams
Overall clarity of directions
To do this effectively, a fiber arts tech editor must:
Know how basic stitches are made and how they interact
Be familiar with advanced techniques
Understand sizing, measurements, and yarn amounts
Recognize the characteristics of different yarns and materials
Identify what information needs to be included and how to phrase it clearly for the target audience
Since they are subject experts, technical editors can visualize the pattern in their minds, often without physically making the item. This allows for quick edits, helping designers publish their patterns sooner. They are also familiar with credible resources to verify information when needed.
Many technical editors also offer additional services to support designers, such as size grading, chart and diagram creation, schematic development, and photo editing—all of which increase a pattern’s value.
Why Tech Editing Matters
At the end of the day, a tech editor is a pattern’s safety net. They ensure everything adds up, flows smoothly, and is easy to follow. Think of them as the bridge between a designer’s creative vision and a maker’s finished project.
In the world of knitting and crochet, where one wrong stitch can throw everything off, having a tech editor means designers can publish with confidence. They catch small errors, clarify tricky parts, and polish instructions so makers enjoy a smooth, frustration-free experience.
A good technical edit doesn’t just make a pattern accurate—it makes it better. It protects your reputation, supports your creativity, and ensures your designs are a joy for makers to follow. And that means happier makers, fewer questions, and more time for you to create your next beautiful design.
