• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

Next Steps with knitCompanion

December 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by knitCompanion. Opinions are my own.

Next steps with knitCompanion: Learn how to knit more and frog less with one of the best apps out there for crafters.

Last spring, I introduced you to knitCompanion, and I’ve been hooked ever since. As a designer and knitter partial to working with charts, I love an app that lets me keep track of my notes and is specifically designed with craft patterns in mind. (There’s only so far the built-in note-taking app on my phone will take me, you know?) In particular, I love how easy it is to keep track of my place in a chart & to note modifications I’m making. Since these are features I love so much, why not show you how they work?

How to knit garments with knitCompanion

In an effort to experience working with knitCompanion as a non-designer, I knit a garment from a popular contemporary pattern and used knitCompanion to track my notes.

HandsOccupied's take on the So Faded sweater by Andrea Mowry
My (pre-blocked) take on the So Faded sweater by Andrea Mowry.
Yes, there will be a Handmade Wardrobe post about this garment, but not until January. Hold tight, momma’s got some deadlines to make and holidays to celebrate! ;)

With a lot of fingering weight in my stash from various yarn reviews over the last couple years, the yarn-mixing-friendly So Faded pattern caught my eye. After buying it on Ravelry, I was able to load it into my knitCompanion app with just a click.

Note: Thought was given to images chosen for this tutorial, and in an effort to protect the Designer’s intellectual property, information has been obscured using Photoshop. If you like this pattern, you should purchase it directly from the Designer.

Next steps with knitCompanion: Learn how to knit more and frog less with one of the best apps out there for crafters.

My fingering weight knitting tension has been a little loose recently, so after lots of swatching, I confirmed I was going to need to work with noticeably smaller needles than listed in the pattern to get gauge. Once I confirmed I was at gauge, I knew I could work with the third size this pattern comes in, a 38″ bust, to fit my 37″ bust with an inch of (as recommended in the pattern) positive ease.

Back in the day, I might have scribbled down a note about my needles in my printed out pattern margins, hoping I wouldn’t misplace it at any time during knitting an entire fingering weight sweater. I might also have circled or highlighted my size/relevant pattern sections too. I used to labor under the delusion that the well-worn piece of scrap paper featuring my pattern and scribbly bits wouldn’t get accidentally recycled without a second glance. What a dummy I was! 😂

With knitCompanion, here’s what my notes look like now. And you know what’s NOT gonna get thrown away by accident? Digital patterns (and their totally important notes) on my dang iPad.

Next steps with knitCompanion: Learn how to knit more and frog less with one of the best apps out there for crafters.
The above information is publicly available on the So Faded pattern page.

As you can see above, I am able to use knitCompanion’s highlighting tools to make my pattern PDF more easily scannable and tailor the pattern to suit my knitting workflow. I was also able to ensure that if I ever make this pattern again in the future (which is likely with a stash-friendly pattern like this), it will be very clear what needles I used to get gauge on this first go ’round.

Speaking of notes, knitCompanion has released a super cool new feature for note-taking lovers like me. It’s called Scribble, which you can read more about here. In older versions of the knitCompanion app, note-taking was available by opening up a note-taking pane and add your notes. The pane could be hidden or open, and you could type your notes in with your keyboard. That feature is still available, but with the new Scribble feature, you can hand-write your own notes right on the page as well, like this:

Next steps with knitCompanion: Learn how to knit more and frog less with one of the best apps out there for crafters.
Portions of the above have been Photoshopped to protect the Designer’s intellectual property.

Are you thinking my notes are redundant? You’re not wrong! There’s just something about really, REALLY needing to remind yourself of a few things as you work a pattern. Maybe we knitters just get too cocky or eager to cast on or reach the next section of a pattern sometimes, but it’s amazing the kind of mistakes we’re liable to make without proper reminders. (As a Designer, believe me, I love you all, but every single knitter throughout history has made some seriously dumb mistakes in their knitting. It happens.)

But I digress. The great thing about the Scribble feature is that it’s easy to make a digital pattern feel like YOUR copy of the pattern, plus it gives you a great canvas for reminding yourself to avoid silly mistakes, like casting on one size and accidentally working from another because you didn’t remember which size you cast on. (That’s the dumb mistake I was avoiding with the Scribble above, in case you were wondering what dumb mistake I wasn’t copping to. 😉) Last but not least, Scribbled notes are also a great way to remind yourself which page the note about ease is on so you can compulsively re-read it as you second guess your sizing choices…

Finally, here’s another example of how you can use the Scribble tool to easily keep track of where you’re at in a written pattern, and what size you’re working:

Next steps with knitCompanion: Learn how to knit more and frog less with one of the best apps out there for crafters.
Portions of the above have been Photoshopped to protect the Designer’s intellectual property.

Notes like these are great for focusing in on the parts of a pattern that affect you personally as a knitter. They also help the pattern not seem quite so long, which is always nice if you’re an impatient stitcher!

You don’t have to take my word for it!

It’s clear I’m a fan of this stitching-specific app, for both charted and written patterns. After my initial knitCompanion review, an Android user shared her useful two cents in the comments. Since I’m rather steeped in the Apple universe, I figured it could be useful for folks to hear from the other side of the tech fence:

I absolutely agree! I don’t knit without it anymore. You can even move the row marker by voice hands free.
The only reason Android doesn’t have all the tools is google doesn’t have the tools Sally needs and will get it all as soon as possible.
I agree only a skilled knitter could have developed something like this. Not only that but her group on Ravelry is a great source of help with answers coming amazingly fast from her team or her followers.
I also use her chart making App, Pattern Genius to make written instructions into a chart and slip it easily into KC.

Lois (woolwizard), May 23, 2019
Next steps with knitCompanion: Learn how to knit more and frog less with one of the best apps out there for crafters.

This post is sponsored by knitCompanion. Opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored, Knitting Tagged With: knit design, knitcompanion, knitting app, knitting charts

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

Previous Post: « Picks of the Week
Next Post: Triangle Rib Baby Hat for Charity Knitting (plus a Charity KCAL!) »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • An intro to knitCompanion, a knitter’s best friend!An intro to knitCompanion, a knitter’s best friend!
  • 2022 Mood Board / What is a mood board in knitting?2022 Mood Board / What is a mood board in knitting?
  • It’s 2022 already?It’s 2022 already?
  • Faded Flare Wrap in Zen Yarn Garden’s New Impressionist CollectionFaded Flare Wrap in Zen Yarn Garden’s New Impressionist Collection

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Never miss a tutorial with these short & sweet monthly updates.

Find Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
❤️ Email preferred

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches on my home studio. After losing my studio space last fall, it’s feels really great to *occupy* this new space all the way. 😉
.
I started by removing general clutter & returning straggler supplies from various WIPs, videos & design deadlines to their homes. Next, I hung a third peg board in the space - this one is mostly for display and less for organizing tools or projects. For the first time ever, I’m displaying projects from my book, plus a couple other faves. (The best thing about designing more yarn crafts besides knit & crochet is that I have some really fun -and delightfully pettable 😆- samples around.) I finished by adding a square dowel to my small supply storage tower to keep it from tipping over, plus re-arranging and de-cluttering the closet. 
.
This cleaner space already has me feeling so much more creative and less overwhelmed. Now to find a safe spot in the basement for the tower of project samples in Rubbermaid tubs I liberated from my WIPs closet. Also why are there five?! 
.
Here’s to keeping it clean for a few weeks! 🧶 
.
#handsocupied #handsoccupiedstudio #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #yarncraft #knitter #crocheter #latchhook #latchhookbook
It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone isn’t cooperating, but it could be worse! How’s your day? 
.
(If we haven’t yet met, I’m Heidi and I’m a pattern designer and tutorial creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting & latch hook. You can learn more about my work and regularly find new tutorials in my profile. ☺️👋🏻)
.
#handsoccupied #craftstudio #knitter #yarncrafter
How to knit a one-row buttonhole 🧶 . Sweater k How to knit a one-row buttonhole 🧶 
.
Sweater knitters, listen up! Learn how to knit a buttonhole over the course of a single row of knitting, a.k.a. a one-row buttonhole. In this technique, a combination of binding off and casting on stitches on opposite sides of the work creates a symmetrical, stretchy buttonhole. 
.
The time limit on these is 90 seconds, so this quick tutorial is perfect to save for future reference. (Did you know you can make folders of saved items like tutorials? 👩🏼‍🏫) 
.
If you’re brand new to the technique or want to see this demonstration slower and more in-depth, my bl0g and You/2be are the place to be. Thanks for watching & let me know if you have any questions or requests for future tutorials in the comments. ☺️
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #onerowbuttonhole #learntoknit #sweaterknitting #knittutorial #knitting_inspiration
One-row buttonholes are one of a few common ways t One-row buttonholes are one of a few common ways to knit a buttonhole. Created using a combination of binding off and casting on stitches over the course of a single row, this technique is one you’ll come back to again and again, and bonus: it’s not wildly challenging. 
.
Find a brand new video tutorial for knitting one-row buttonholes and a post with other useful buttonhole resources on the bl0g, 🔗 in bi0.
.
#handsoccupied #onerowbuttonhole #knitting #sweaterknitting #buttonhole #knittersofinstagram
It was quiet last week as I’ve been working on a It was quiet last week as I’ve been working on a few behind the scenes projects, including filming a bunch. The goal: tutorials most weeks!
.
I also put some time into neglected design projects, in particular the pattern collection I began working on back in 2022. As I work on the samples, you’ll be seeing some sneak peeks here and there in my feed. ☺️
.
The other thing occupying my time: I got an iPad to try digital planning and keep my design notes more organized, not to mention digitized. (Paper scribbling just ain’t it after 12 years.) If anyone has tips for how to make the most of digital planning as a crafter / knitter, I’d love to hear them! Accounts to follow, apps, must-know hacks for crafters - I’m excited to learn it all! 👩🏼‍🏫
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #knittingtutorial #digitalplanning #knitdesign
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy