Test Pages: Knitting App

Version 1.0 - Last updated January 4, 2010

This application will make it possible to create pattern charts for details on knitwear e.g. a reindeer on a winter sweater or a geometric pattern on a scarf. The image to the left shows a design made with the application as it stands. Essentially it's a pixel art program but the pixels are knit-stitch-shaped rather than squares.

What you see below is the first fully working version of the application. So far, you can change the background color by selecting from the palette at the bottom of the screen. You can change the color of individual stitches by selected a foreground color from the palette at the bottom of the screen then clicking on a stitch. Changing the background color after you have changed the color of individual stitches will not affect those stitches (so you won't lose what you've created). By turning selective mode on, you can click on a foreground stitch to select all stitches of the same color, then change the foreground color to change all of those stitches at once.

The scale buttons (the plus and minus buttons only) allow you to adjust the proportions of the stitches as well as how many stitches show on screen. The horizontal and vertical scales are independent of each other.

As you might expect, the clear button clears all of the foreground colors so you get a blank slate to start over.

The print button opens a new browser window with a (color) printer friendly chart of your design that can be formatted to fit your printer.

Details of what's to come can be found below the application.

What's missing...

• A save option
• A paint brush tool that allows you to change large numbers of stitches more easily
• More ways to adjust the scale i.e. by dragging the slider or clicking on the scale bar
• The ability to drag the canvas - it is currently possible to 'lose' stitches off screen by changing the scale
• The ability to rotate the canvas

Wish List

Thanks to the wonderful members of ravelry.com

• Stitch and row numbers along the sides, top and bottom of the screen
• A way to copy and paste sections of the design to make repeating patterns
• The ability to change stitches from knit to purl
• An undo function
• The ability to constrain the horizontal and vertical scales so you can resize both at once without changing the proportion

Thoughts and suggestions?

Please send your thoughts and suggestions to abi at abievans dot com.