Knitrino co-founder Andrea Cull demonstrates the app.
Today’s consumer is used to having the world at their fingertips. From two-hour deliveries to an endless supply of streaming video, we’ve come to expect instantaneous and seamless content, whenever we want it. When it comes to knitting patterns, though, little has changed since the advent of digital patterns in the early 2000s.
PDF patterns may have more external links to video tutorials, but otherwise, they look pretty similar to the way they were when Ravelry first took off in 2007. At a time when a seamless experience is a holy grail, the piecemeal state of knitting patterns is ripe for another market disruption. That’s where Knitrino comes in. This new app hopes to change the way knitters knit by harnessing the power of technology.
The current state of knitting patterns
Knitting patterns are a set of line by line instructions, not unlike lines of computer code. There are inherent limitations built in.
First, the knitter needs to follow each line of the instructions in order. A knitter needs something to mark her place amid distractions and pauses (remember, knitting a sweater can take months). Options include things like a sticky note, a mechanical counter, a magnetic pattern place-holder, or a counting app.
Second, when a knitter purchases a pattern for a sweater, all the sizes are embedded inside. In order to knit a size small, she needs a system to ignore the extraneous information. She could use a highlighter or PDF editor, but without a system the pattern information gets very confusing.
Third, a sweater contains hundreds of lines, and for brevity, a designer doesn’t write out every single line individually. In most patterns, lines of instructions are condensed into repeating sections. These repeats are above and beyond what a mechanical counter can handle. Yet another mechanism is required to manage this aspect of pattern-tracking.
Now, what happens when a pattern contains an unusual stitch, or simply one the knitter is unfamiliar with? Many designers include descriptions of stitches at the front of the pattern or links to videos on the inside, which is very helpful. But basic stitches are often not given additional instruction, leaving newer knitters to also require a knitting instruction book or to scroll through online tutorials looking for help. Toss your phone or tablet in with the knitting must-haves.
Clearly we live at a time when countless hours of video tutorials are available, as well as hundreds of thousands of patterns. But with so much at their fingertips, a knitter looking to ‘just sit and knit’, managing the menagerie of paper goods and notions required to follow along with a pattern is frustrating. The experience lacks integration. It’s a problem ripe for innovation.
From PDFs to an interactive app
Knitrino aims to integrate all of this information by creating an app for interactive knitting patterns that’s designed from the bottom up with the knitter’s needs in mind.
Inspired by “tales of heartache, like sweaters with massive errors because the knitter looked at the wrong size instructions,” sisters and founders Alison Yates and Andrea Cull explain:
“The surprising piece to us was that in a market where people spend hundreds of dollars on beautiful hand-dyed yarn it’s often an $8 PDF pattern that’s the major source of their pain.”
Sisters Alison Yates and Andrea Cull are co-founders of Knitrino.
The Knitrino app features a marketplace of specially-designed, interactive knitting patterns that allow knitters to engage with the pattern in a completely novel way.
Designed to be an all-in-one knitting pattern experience, the app shows row-by-row pattern instructions of only the current size being knit, alleviating an issue that has caused much knitting-heartbreak. There’s also a progress keeper, a note-taking feature and a colorwork option that shows color charts in the knitter’s selected yarn colors. Every stitch is active, meaning that users can click on a stitch and head to a tutorial or video while inside their pattern.
By creating interactive knitting patterns that combine tutorials and videos with place-keeping and note-taking tools, in addition to a marketplace, Yates and Cull have no doubt Knitrino is the future of knitting.
“Technology continues to shape the way we learn. We think technology can enhance knitting while still honoring its roots; we can be nimble about the different ways people learn while providing smarter tools that remove barriers,” the sister’s say. “As a small example, imagine how much simpler it will be if you’re just learning and you can simply click on a stitch to view a tutorial.”
Behind the app
Cull is a knitwear designer who has been featured in Interweave Knits, knitscene, and Pom Pom Quarterly among other publications. Yates didn’t even knit when the project began, but with a passion for innovation and business experience, she knew there was a start-up opportunity when Cull regularly discussed the frustrations in her knitting life.
The sisters fully understand have taken on a massive development undertaking. When asked about the technology, they say, “There’s a reason most of the knitting apps out are just PDF readers. That’s easy. What we’re building is difficult. Not only do we have to build the framework for Knitrino, creating and defining every stitch type, every motif, every pattern, but we also have to build new tools just to create the interactive patterns. We’re actually creating multiple pieces of software – one to generate the pattern on the back end and one that knitters will use on their phones.”
Even though each pattern needs to be built from scratch (as it’s not possible to simply ‘convert’ a PDF pattern into an interactive one), the sisters know they’re on the right track.
“Each pattern we offer has to be manually built by us. But every time we show Knitrino to knitters and we see their jaws drop and hear audible gasps, our hearts do tiny backflips, and we know it’s completely worth it.”
The app is scheduled to enter beta testing in late Spring and be released Summer 2020 for IOS and Android. The app is free, with users paying only for the patterns they purchase.
A focus on community
Aside from the technological achievement, Yates and Cull are keen harness technology’s ability to connect others. “Knitting is community-oriented. We think community is a vitally important part of craft, in particular for those who live in ‘yarn deserts’ or isolated areas. Technology empowers us to connect people from all walks of life, and to give us a common thread in an increasingly disconnected and polarized society.”
To keep up with Knitrino’s developments follow along on Instagram and join the waitlist to get notifications about its release.
Stacey Trock
contributor
Stacey Trock helps small businesses in the craft industry put their best foot forward in the digital world. She specializes in developing a company’s branding, marketing + social media to build customer-loyalty, community-building and engagement. She writes, teaches and consults on a variety of small business marketing topics.
I find the major source of “pain” in knitting a sweater is knowing your accurate gauge and picking the right size, right amount of ease and right silhouette for your figure to be flattering. No app, at this point in time, is going to help with that.
Couldn’t agree more. I don’t think this will be as successful as the designers anticipate. In my experience, knitters love the printed word. This might appeal to absolute beginners, but will make little impact on the world of knitting overall.
Never say never, Caroline and Lesley! I agree that there are a whole lot of us established knitters right now who would never consider using this app. But never forget that the next generation of knitters are, for the most part, young people who have always used digital technology for every aspect of their lives. A screen is their written page, and they are as comfortable with that as we are with printed patterns on pieces of paper! I wish Allison and Andrea much success as they reach out in this new direction. Good for you, go for it, and all the best!
Peggy
Hi there Leslie, Caroline, and Peggy!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! First, we agree that there are tons of people who are totally happy with print. We know Knitrino is not for everyone. But in the same way Google Maps redefined directions (remember using a paper altas when driving?!) we feel like technology can help improve the experience when knitting!
First, we’re a lot like a publisher. We’re offering curated collections from independent designers, and paying what we think are the highest rates in the industry for their designs. Our whole model is about lifting people up, celebrating and supporting all these awesome designers & indie yarn companies.
Customization is something that’s already in the works, though it won’t be available right away. We have functioning prototypes that generate customized sweaters. It’s pretty neat! Of course, this is a much bigger problem than it may seem on the surface, and the algorithm development takes time.
We love hearing ideas! We’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of knitters and designers and indie dyers to really try to solve the biggest problems in the right way. But you can always let us know what you think! We love that.
Thanks so much,
Alison
Such a sweet reply to the two examples of resistance, Peggy! Good job! Also for applauding the inventors! They deserve it, whether it takes off or not……..which I figure it will soar.
I think this is a brilliant idea. I am just a bit beyond beginner and I get really frustrated when the patterns assume you know what the terminology means. Having to stop, find a tutorial online is helpful and usually the way I can progress but to have it right there at the point where I need it will be great. I usually buy patterns a store preferring to support them but will definitely take a look at this when you have it up and running.
Good luck with it all. Lynne
I’m with you Lynn – I know the basics and then just enough more to get myself in over my head. I end up with a plethora of references books and my iPad to look up the stitches or terms that are unfamiliar me. An “all-in-one” place for patterns and the necessary instructions to be able to complete a project without frustration is an awesome idea!!!
Actually, there are a couple of apps that can help with that: Amy Herzog’s CustomFit and the Bellish app.
To illustrate how revolutionary this app will be: I’m currently working on a cabled sweater from Laine magazine (which is a beautiful publication, but they don’t automatically include a digital download with the expensive purchase). In order to knit the sweater, I had to photocopy the pages from the magazine, spread them out on my couch, and I have two row counters going on in my counter app. To top it all off, the pattern doesn’t even provide instructions for the cable crosses.
The Knitrino app promises to significantly improve the knitting experience and I’m very excited to try it!
Lisa, thanks so much for your comments! We really appreciate the encouragement!
I think this sounds amazing!!! I get so confused when following paterns. Especially lacey ones. Also the size thing can be tricky!
Thanks, Marsha! We’re excited about it (and are 100% hooked! It’s so hard to go back to paper patterns now that we’re used to Knitrino!) We’d love to hear what you think once we launch. 🙂
“Each pattern we offer has to be manually built by us.” Does that mean they are transcribing individual patterns into their app, line-by-line? Are designers responsible for formatting? Seems to add another level of tech-editing/quality control into the process. Who is responsible for that?
I knit a lot of lace and charted patterns, and phone screens simply aren’t big enough to handle most charts. This is one area where I feel analog (printed pdf) is better!
That said, I’m very curious to see what this looks like once it’s available.
Hey Allison!
Yeah, it’s complicated! Right now, we get the submission from designers as a document, and then we build it in our back end tool. Essentially, we have to create and define every stitch and motif that gets used in the pattern, and then create it. We actually triple-edit every pattern (and are working with some of the best tech editors out there!)
Longer term, we think designers will be able to submit their designs directly in our builder! The nice thing is that by doing that, we can automatically incorporate our style guide and formatting. And it’s also just easier than any other way of creating a pattern that we know of, and it’s only going to get better as we build out the functionality.
One of our key areas of focus is on BIG CHARTS, and we think we have created a really nice experience. We’ll be super interested to hear what you think!
As a budding designer, I’m super excited about the future of this app. There are so many different ways people use to organize themselves, and I think this will appeal to a lot of knitters, new and experienced. I’m looking forward to the big charts. I think charts are great but many seem to almost fear them. Maybe this will take that fear away? Good on you and best of luck!
I consider myself “old school” in many ways and have a penchant for many things analogue. However, this doesn’t preclude me from moving out of my comfort zone and having a look at the tech tools that can make life more convenient! It’s an effort to adopt something new, but it’s interesting to keep up with what’s different and innovative. This totally dates me, BUT… I remember back in my corporate days in the early 90s when we first implemented company-wide email. OMG, game changer for communication back then.
Anyway, I’m very excited for you, Alison and Andrea! Way to go for coming up with an app that aims to enhance our knitting adventure. Wishing you guys the best!
Josie, what an awesome note, thank you! And yes, I too remember getting my first “pinemail” email account my freshman year of college. How exciting that was! Thanks.
I think this sounds fantastic! I would love to edit out all the info I’m not interested in seeing in patterns. I have spent hours rewriting instructions many times myself for this purpose. It would love to have the option to see a cable stitch demoed right before I have to do it without looking it up on you tube if I don’t understand the written directions.
I’m knitting a sweater now and have done several internet searches for things like how to make a strong yarn join when knitting with non wool fibers. I hate making knots in the yarn when I have to start a new skein and love the Russian join for wool, but I’m knitting with cotton and had to search for options. I also did a search to remind myself how to do a 3 needle bind off since it has been about 15 years since I last did it. Having that info in one app along with the pattern I’m working on would be wonderful.
Good on you girls! Technology can be a marvelous thing, you’ll have me as a customer.
Judy, thanks so much for the kind words – it means the world to us! And you’re not alone – these are the kinds of things we’ve heard from hundreds of knitters: tales of woe about accidentally looking at the wrong size instructions, or finding just the right video on you tube and never being able to find it again, or abandoning a sweater after setting it aside for a while and having no notes of where you left off! Yep, we’re big fans of the little things that make a big difference. We can’t wait to show you Knitrino!
I just want to say I turned forty 2 weeks ago and I have been wanting this app at least the last 13 years I’ve been knitting. Everything you mentioned in the article I’ve had an issue with. Of course there will be knitters who prefer the analog/old school way of doing things. But please know you have a large built in audience ready willing and waiting for this! I am so happy I just happened to stumble across you on Instagram! Can’t wait to have the finished product in my hands.
LAUREN!!! You’re seriously about to make me cry! Thank you so much for the encourage – I can’t tell you what it means to us. ❤️
Yippee! I’m so excited for this to launch! I’m a bit of the old and the new styles. I think nothing new comes without a smidge of resistance and sadly Ive found that most people don’t like change which is so sad lol. I’m sure it will evolve as demands evolve but I am so ready for something new and innovative. Count me in! I would be thrilled to test out anything you want. Congrats and knock ‘em dead
Thanks for the note Hilary! We have a beta tester sign up on our website, if you’re interested! Just go to https://knitrino.com/sign-up and scroll to the bottom of the page.
We really appreciate your encouragement!
I’d love to be a tester for you. Also, as a designer, I’d love to know how I can work with you.
Brenda (goodstuff on Rav).
Brenda, sure thing! Just go to https://knitrino.com/sign-up and scroll to the bottom of the page to join the beta tester pool!
Right now, we’re not doing open calls for submission, mainly because we’re so tiny and getting too many patterns is a bit overwhelming for us now! If we open up our calls in the future, we’ll be happy to let you know. 🙂
Hi! I think this is great! We are all wired differently and therefore learn in our own unique ways. Using Google Maps as an example- some like to see the map for directions, some like to listen, others like to see step by step written list instruction. All are available to the user. Google (and others)make all of these available to the user.
This app will create a following for those who learn best without the clutter of too many words, dyslexia, vision issues and many others. Thanks!
Katherine – you’re exactly right! Part of our process has been to get a big sampling of many different knitters to understand how different people work, what they like to see (or not) and what hacks they’re using with their current patterns. We have people with learning disabilities and visual impairments who have helped us understand the kinds of things they need for a pattern to truly be accessible.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! ❤️
I’m almost totally deaf and being able to have an app that will allow to keep my place easier while still socializing with my group seems heaven sent. I’ve only recently been comfortable in group settings with hearing artists but long to be included in the process without causing a hearing artist to have to stop while I look away to mark my spot. I’m hoping this will be released soon I’ve signed up to beta and look everyday for an email. Thanks for making it inclusive for all of us.
Shannon, good on you for tackling group settings! We’d love to get your thoughts on where we are now and what could make Knitrino work even better/easier for you. If you don’t mind, could you drop me a line at support@knitrino.com? Thanks so much!
I have used two separate iOs apps where I can upload the .pdf of any pattern, and from the screen highlight the rows I am currently knitting. The first was JKnit H Pro, which is no longer usable on v13, and Knit Companion. With Knit Companion, my entire Ravelry library of saved free and paid patterns is synced with the app, or I can upload my own .pdf. There are tools that can be used for editing, highlighting size, adding notes. Charts can easily be enlarged. It is easier use on an iPad than the iPhone screen. One feature I would like to see is a charting feature for lace and patterned features. There are patterns I have purchased in the past that the lace or pattern stitch is not charted. It would be nice with in an app to be able to chart. Or as a amateur designer, to be able to have a format for writing my own patterns with charts.
Will your app be able to sync with Ravelry, or allow the user to upload a .pdf? Also, there are very few apps available for Microsoft for knitting, period.
I wish you the best success, I think there is plenty of room in this niche.
BTW, I am totally in love with using digital. I prefer knitting from my iPad. I love tech. I am 62.
Hey Elizabeth, thanks for the note! We have a different approach than Knit Companion, and we each offer a different value. With Knit Companion, you can use any PDF, which is great if you have a lot of PDFs or a big library! However, we feel the PDF is really what limits the User Experience. PDFs were never designed to be used on your phone. (I’ll also just point out, we wish the folks at Knit Companion the best! We don’t think our app will take any business away from them – we’re doing such different things.)
Because there are no standards for patterns and PDFs present unstructured data, there’s no way to “convert” a PDF to make it interactive. So instead of working with existing PDFs where we can’t control the quality, our strategy is to offer a small quantity of super-high-quality patterns. We put together curated collections of beautiful patterns from independent designers. Each of our designs is selected by us, professionally knit and photographed, and triple tech edited by the best tech editors in the industry (in my humble opinion!), so you can feel confident that you won’t hit a roadblock. While in some ways it’s a little bit of a bummer that there won’t be infinite patterns, it’s also kind of nice, if you’ve ever felt that deer-in-the-headlights sensation trying to find just the right sweater pattern on Ravelry, for example. Hope that makes sense!
Hi Alison, thank you for your reply. As I said, there is a lot of room in this niche. Your platform with its interactive capabilities sounds very intriguing. Can you share who your designers are?
I am an experienced knitter. Before discovering markup on my phone, I had to enlarge lace charts . I also made several copies in case I forgot transparent tape and had to use pen to mark row. I feel like I saved a forest. That being said markup does have limitations. Looking forward to reviews when the app is out. I am in my 70’s and have no issues using my phone for knitting
After reading the patterns will be limited to those you choose I do not think the app is for me. I am currently taking pics of my charts or instructions, transferring them to books and using markup to keep track of my place. I have a large library and pattern book collection . I will keep an eye out for further reviews
I hope that as you build your app, you will keep in mind some of the mistakes Ravelry has made with their recent update. The NuRav, as it has been dubbed has caused issues with its new font, colors, excess cool tones that allow blue light & lack of contrast. The new form of Ravelry has caused migraines and even seizures. Ravelry denies their is any issue. They refused to make changes for needed accessibility and refuse to acknowledge the knitters who have made complaints. Quite a few designers, including Hunter Hammerstein, WoolyWormhead and Louise Tilbrook have put their entire catalog of patterns on platforms that will not cause the physical pain that Ravelry has. I cannot look at the Ravelry website without wearing special tinted glasses that filter out blue light. Even with the glasses I only have about 5 minutes of viewing before the onset of a painful headache.
Hi Elizabeth! Even before NuRav, accessibility was on our minds. Because our technology can do so much more than a PDF, it gives low vision knitters capabilities that they’ve never had before, as just one example! In our minds, getting input from a big cross section of users is vitally important (and of course, adapting accordingly.) We’ve got testers with visual impairments, learning disabilities, as well as testers who had adverse reactions to NuRav. We’ve even made a number of changes based on their input. Of course, we won’t have everything we want at launch, but we do have a roadmap that will allow us to offer flexibility for all types of knitters.
If you’d like to take a look and share your thoughts, I’d be happy to get you access to the beta! Just let me know at support@knitrino.com.
I love the idea of this. I’m a crocheter not a knitter but hopefully a crochet version will follow from yourselves or another developer. Good luck with the app, I hope it’s a great success!!
Nicky, yes! Crochet is on the roadmap! Can’t wait to get there, and thanks for the note.
It sounds intrigiuing – I’m very interested to see what it looks like when launched.
Can I just say though, something that jarred in the original piece that not all knitters are female? Some of the most gifted knitters and designers out there certainly aren’t, and referring to a hypothetical knitter as “she” is a bit exclusive.
Also, I can’t help but wonder about the range of designs and designers that will be available to me as an avid knitter. There’s mention of designs being carefully selected and triple-tested, but whose taste will be catered for?
Good luck with the enterprise!
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for your comment. We definitely agree that not all knitters are female – both of our boyfriends are knitters too! Of course, we didn’t write the article or even see it before publication, but we’ll be sure to share your thoughts with Stacey.
We work similar to other publishers and try to get a cross section of designs from diverse designers so that there’s generally something for everyone. We also listen to our users to hear what kinds of things they’re looking for in terms of objects, techniques, features. And new patterns will be available every month or more, so the selection will change. (We also love feedback, so if you don’t see patterns that you like, please let us know.)
Thanks Alison.
Please can I give a little feedback about accessibility across your different pages and sites?
I’m one of the people who was adversely affected by the changes to Ravelry’s site. I don’t have sight issues, dyslexia or migraines, but I do have cognitive processing issues which make certain sites really difficult to navigate.
The background here is causing me similar issues to NuRav. White background, small, spidery font that fades in and out as I’m trying to read it. This reply box I’m typing into has a better font size, but it’s medium grey writing against a dove grey box. I’m hoping that I’m not making too many typos as I go, because I’m struggling to read what I’m writing.
The sign up page for the new app is the worst, though, I’m afraid. Pale grey background with a white font? I *think* I’ve signed up, but I have no way of knowing. Please, please consider making accessibility a priority. A website doesn’t have to be clunky or look dated to be accessible, but I really doubt that I’ll be able to use this site any more than Ravelry if changes aren’t made. You’ve put so much work into your product, one or two tweaks would make it perfect.
Hi Jennifer,
First, thanks so much for this feedback! It’s really helpful to us when people tell us about their experiences and what they need.
We recognize that our website has issues – we built it using a default template that our web hosting platform provides. It’s on our roadmap of things to improve. But until we’re able to actually redesign it, I think there are probably some quick improvements I can make (especially updating fonts, etc), and I’d love to bounce some of those changes off you if you wouldn’t mind emailing me at support@knitrino.com.
Last, I just want to reiterate that ours is a roadmap for accessibility. We’re definitely not where we want to be right now, but we have a vision for where we can be. We use an agile development methodology of continuous improvement – build something quickly, get feedback, and improve it. So even when we launch, Knitrino will be a long way from “finished.” Will we make mistakes along the way? I absolutely guarantee it! But will we continually iterate and improve? Yep. And we can only do that when people like yourself take the time to share where we’ve fallen short. We really appreciate it.
Sounds interesting. It sounds as if there is a lot of work hours needed for each pattern – is this, along with the higher rates you will be paying designers, likely to make patterns a lot more expensive?
You mention that knitters pay a lot for yarn but sometimes only $8 for a pattern but there are a lot of knitters who can’t pay a lot for their yarn either, if the pattern price triples (for instance) that counts them out too.
I also wonder at the curation side of things. It will mean that users will only get to see what you like/choose…..rather than choosing for themselves as they can now. Your offerings will be guided by your taste, not theirs.
Lastly, when promoting it or giving interviews, it might be worth remembering that not every knitter is a she/her. That could limit your potential customers.
Hi Janey!
Thanks for the note. Right now, each pattern is a lot of work, but that’s constantly improving as we build our tools. A lot of our early research involved listening to designers to understand their needs, and we hope to eventually make these tools available more broadly!
In terms of pricing, our prices reflect the value that we believe knitters are getting. That said, we will always offer one or more free patterns, and we have some other ideas of how to ensure affordability for everyone.
As mentioned in my earlier comment, we definitely agree that not all knitters are female – both of our boyfriends are knitters too! Of course, we didn’t write the article or even see it before publication, but we’ll be sure to share your thoughts with Stacey.
We work similar to other publishers and try to get a cross section of designs from diverse designers so that there’s generally something for everyone. We also listen to our users to hear what kinds of things they’re looking for in terms of objects, techniques, features. And new patterns will be available every month or more, so the selection will change. (We also love feedback, so if you don’t see patterns that you like, please let us know.)
Hope this helps!
How do you sign up for this app.?
Hi Leslie! We haven’t launched yet, but are hoping to launch Real Soon Now! You can sign up for the waitlist on our website Knitrino.com (or if you’re following us on Instagram through the link in our bio.) thanks!
Hello. I am a coder but a knitting beginner. I was thinking how good it would be to have an app that could allow you to follow instructions for just your chosen size – without taking a highlighter pen to paper. I think this is exactly what Knitrino does! One question. Can I convert any PDF or equivalent into customised instructions? Or does knitrino only work on its own patterns?
I was excited to find out about this app and downloaded it right away. It is amazing true but it has one major flaw-I can’t upload a pdf pattern and work on my own projects. I’d also go crazy if it linked and interacted with Ravelry. I know kinda crazy ask but dreaming big because this is such a huge step forward!