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All designers, knitting magazine editors, yarn companies, and writers of knitting books need Technical Editors. They depend on their tech editors to help them produce error-free patterns and articles that knitters can enjoy knitting and reading. In this course, the goal is to help you learn the skills needed to become a knowledgeable and astute technical editor for knitting. If you are a Master Knitter, you already have demonstrated that you have mastered advanced knitting skills, and technical editing is one way of applying those skills. Certification will mean that you have acquired these necessary skills and can market yourself as a Technical Editor. Your name will be listed in Cast On and on Ravelry and will be added to the list of Certified Technical Editors at the TKGA website. This course is taught by Sharon Levering, the technical editor of Cast On magazine and our K2TOG newsletter.

Who should take this course?

You will benefit from this course if you are a good knitter and would like to work for other designers as a technical editor, or if you enjoy writing your own patterns but want to learn how to edit them for publication.

Whether working for another designer or for yourself, a tech editor should have basic knitting skills and a solid understanding of knitting techniques, construction, and terminology. One should also be comfortable with math, competent with computers, and possess good language skills.

Certification Course Requirements

In this three-lesson course, you will write book reviews, answer questions, edit a knitting article and lesson, and edit actual patterns, often by following specific Style Sheets. All course materials will be sent via email, and each succeeding lesson will be emailed upon completion of the previous lesson. Microsoft WORD is used for nearly all of the documents. The course should be completed in 18 months but extensions may be granted. Upon successful completion (and membership verification), you will receive certification as a Knitting Technical Editor.

The fee for this course is $185.00. Since this course is done through email, there is no shipping or handling fee.

What course graduates are saying about TKGA’s Certification for Technical Editors

“The wealth of information provided in the Technical Editor Certification Course has allowed me to assist several Canadian knitwear designers in ensuring their work is error-free and publication-ready. On a personal level, it also gave me a deeper understanding of my own knitting and the technical background that goes into those words on a pattern page.” 

—  Gail from Ontario, Canada

“After completing the TKGA Technical Editor Certification Course I utilized the skills I had learned in my role as the in-house technical editor for a yarn company and retailer. The skills proved invaluable as designer and pattern writer as well, enhancing my ability to write patterns that are accurate and easy to follow, setting knitters up for success.”

— Susan B. from South Deerfield, MA

If you are not yet a Member, JOIN NOW to take advantage of all our course offerings.