Top 5 Free Knitting Apps

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 January 2011 06:41 Written by Victoria Thursday, 27 January 2011 06:41

1. Knitting Daily

Knitting Daily is a magazine app to help serious knitting fans keep on top of all that’s new in the world of wool-crafts. You’ll find it in the App Store as the most popular free knitting application for iPhone and it has a cute logo with ball of duck egg blue wool with criss-crossed needles.

Basically, this has everything you need for those in-between moments, not enough time to pull out your latest project and work on a few rows, but long enough to check out the three tabs worth of content. The first, latest updates from knitting blogs; the second, video how-tos and tutorials; and the third, an extensive glossary for jogging your memory on those more out of the ordinary techniques. There is also the option to sign up to the Knitting Daily mailing list to receive all this to your inbox, but with it handy on your phone for bus journeys and coffee shop queues, you’ll probably find that this is all you need.

2. Knit Counter Lite/StitchMinder

Counter style apps have been long available in Apple and Android App stores and do the job quite nicely, thank you. However, there are two specific free apps aimed at knitters that you can take a look at and try. Obviously, you’re unlikely to need both, but there are a few handy extras that may swing your attention to one or the other.

Knit Counter Lite is the most popular in terms of number of downloads and although it looks quite simple, it does its job very well. Inside the app, you can create numerous personalised and custom counters to suit your projects, each with specific information that you can keep handy for reference, such as which yarn and needles you’re using. You have the option to link two counters together and the ‘frog’ button help you to get back to where you want to be if you find yourself having to go back to correct an error.

StitchMinder may have a more elaborate design scheme, but actually appears to do less than its competitor, with only four counters available for customisation. Nonetheless, you can still keep a good track of your projects using this app and the user ratings are very positive.

3. Lion Brand Yarn

The Lion Brand Yarn app allows you to search specific criteria to find the right pattern for your project. Once you find the right pattern you can bookmark it, make notes and even use the handy map to see your nearest Lion Brand stockist to get what you need.

4. KnitMinder Lite

My personal favourite app on the list and one that I’ve found myself using at home, KnitMinder Lite allows knitting hoarders like me to audit and organise all of their equipment, patterns and ‘part-way through until I got frustrated and threw it under the bed/on top of the wardrobe’ projects.

Inside the app are four tabs: projects (subdivided into planned, in-progress, finished and on-hold categories), patterns, yarn (arranged by weight, colour or brand) and needles (types and size). This app really helps you to see which projects you can manage with the equipment you’ve got, when you could do with stocking up and when you need to stop starting new projects and finish what you’ve started!

5. Knitted Cam Lite

This is just a fun little app for anyone who enjoys crafts. You’ll find it with the cool retro camera on the logo and once you’ve downloaded it you can have lots of fun turning your photos into images worthy of a Christmas jumper! Just tap the bottom-right corner of the screen when you open the app and choose a picture from your albums, take one or go for a demo shot. Then, the app will manage to transform the image into a knitted swatch while you can tamper with the colour ways to make it look perfect. It’s sometimes a bit hit-and-miss, and pictures that are too light or dark can be tricky to perfect, but this app definitely survived the delete-list just for kitsch value!

About the Author: Victoria Crowdell writes articles on family, home & garden and crafting – her passion is decorative candles.

Spread the Love November 2 – November 8

Last Updated on Thursday, 5 November 2009 01:32 Written by InvyStudios Monday, 2 November 2009 06:15

Time to Spread the Love for the first week of November. We are getting into the Christmas shopping season, lets help this weeks HAFTeam members get their names out to the masses to make this the best shopping season for everyone.

Monday, November 2 http://mailleetc.etsy.com/

Greetings, and welcome to Maille Etc, where you’ll find kits, tools, jump rings, and, when available, ready-to-wear jewelry.
We’re Green! All of our sterling silver jump rings are made from 100% reclaimed silver – no mined sources here! We feel good about that, and so will you and your customers.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31739892

Everything you’ll need to create this stunning chainmaille bracelet is included in this kit, including a jump ring tool and a very handy triangle scoop! Weave this bracelet for yourself or for your friends – they’ll love you, and, be warned, they’ll demand more of your talents!

Tuesday, November 3 http://colettesboutique.etsy.com/

Beautiful selection of handcrafted sterling silver and semi precious stone jewelry. This shop also has a selection jewelry tutorials for learning to make your own.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30906932

Sleeping Beauty turquoise, sterling silver, and Swarovski crystal handcrafted chandelier earrings.

Wednesday, November 4 http://eiriel.etsy.com/

Welcome!
          Eclectic jewellery includes chainmaille, pearl and unique jewellery that make fantastic gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries or for yourself after a hard week! I love custom orders, so please feel free to convo me if you have any special requests.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27725340

Something for the boys! Aluminum and rubber chainmaille bracelet. Suitably rugged for wearing during ‘manly’ activities such as hiking, chopping down trees, manning BBQs or just being your own blokish self, these will compliment any man’s wrist!

Thursday, November 5 http://shapedbyhand.etsy.com/

Our jewelry is made with a love for creativity and a desire to provide each person who purchases one of our pieces with a one of a kind work of art. Most of our jewelry is made using various wiring materials such as sterling silver, copper gold filled, gold plated, and color craft wire. Wire is one of the best mediums to work with because it is so malleable and lends itself to endless possibilities. Wire working allows for us to create truly unique pieces.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27349625

Iridescent Swarovski Crystal cube beads in shades of blues and greens.

Friday, November 6 http://yaffaknit.etsy.com/

W E L C O M E ! Scarves, slippers, socks, gloves and hand warmers, hats and bags – it is all for you! COZY, SOFT AND WARM WELCOME to Yaffa’s Neat Knitting Shop!

I am a creataholic for as long as I remember myself.
Always hungry for challenge of making, learning, designing something new using paint, fabric,yarn, wood, metal,beads and crystals,ceramic…you name it!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20399740

Deliciously loving gift for your beloved to keep the hands as well as the heart warm and tender.
The gloves are made with world famous 100% pure Merino wool from New Zealand and decorated with tiny pearls.

Saturday, November 7 http://pennyfarrow.etsy.com/

Handmade leather accessories. Beautifully crafted handbags, small cases/coin purses, journal covers, and bible covers.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28901058

This matte black leather purse is another of my black on black series, it features a gorgeous variety of texture and line and compliments the black clutch and the moon-flower shoulder bag. It is stitched with fine caramel brown linen thread,which provides a subtle highlight, and is fully lined in black pigskin

Sunday, November 8 http://torajewelry.etsy.com/

Carefully and lovingly handcrafted colorful chainemaille jewelry.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27419886

Lovely double spiral weave front clasp necklace with Swarovski Crystal heart.

Lots of great items in this weeks team shops! I hope you have an easier time than I did choosing one as your favorite to Spread the Love. Don’t forget to post your favorites on the Etsy thread at http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6334537

Featured Artist – Mamma 4 Earth

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 October 2009 12:56 Written by Manic Butterfly Wednesday, 21 October 2009 06:00

 I am a home-schooling mother of four wonderful children. I love working with natural materials and really enjoy creating knitted and felted treasures for my family and my shop….

My mom was always knitting when I was little and she taught me how to knit when I was 5 years old and I have always loved knitting since then. I was always keen to try and knit whatever she was busy making and she always took the time to show me how to make my own version. Fond memories…

At Mamma 4 earth you will find the most delightful hand knitted treasures. All my items are knitted with the most beautiful pure Merino sheep wool from the Cape in South Africa and they are filled with pure fleece. The wool I use is very precious to me because it has been handspun and hand dyed. It has such a lovely soft texture and the most beautiful hues and colour variations that knit up into the most wonderful farmyard characters and gnomes.

In my shop you can expect to find all types of Waldorf inspired creations, farmyards, gnomes, ribbon sticks, farm animals etc… I will add new items often, so be sure to check back on my stores soon.

Visit my Etsy shop.
Find yarn supplies at Mamma 4 Earth Supplies.