Designing C2C on squared paper works until you need to move a motif three blocks left or try the whole thing in a different colourway. This editor keeps the grid, the yarn list and the written diagonals in sync, so every change you make is reflected in the instructions you print.
How it works
- Start a grid. Enter a width and height in blocks, or open a .cpat file, a CraftPatterns PDF or a photo.
- Build your palette. Add shades from the generic yarn chart by name or family, or use “nearest to” to match a colour you already own.
- Draw. Pencil and eraser for single blocks, fill for backgrounds, line and rectangle for borders and stripes, and mirror for symmetrical designs. The editor opens in a dark studio theme that is easy on the eyes during long sessions.
- Save and export. Download a PDF with the graph, yarn amounts and diagonal rows, or a .cpat file to keep working later.
Tips for designing a great C2C graph in the editor
Plan the shape before the picture
Decide on the finished size first. The material list estimates block size at 2.5 cm, so a 40 × 50 grid suggests roughly 100 × 125 cm; adjust by eye if your swatch differs. Draw a rectangle outline at that size, then design inside it, rather than letting the picture decide how big the blanket becomes.
Design with the diagonal in mind
C2C blocks sit at an angle within the fabric, so true diagonal lines come out remarkably clean while long horizontal edges can look slightly stepped. Use the line tool to try a diagonal stripe or a diamond motif; these often look sharper in crochet than they do on screen.
Use mirroring for symmetrical motifs
Draw one quarter of a medallion, snowflake or geometric tile and turn on both mirrors. The other three quarters fill in as you draw, which keeps the motif perfectly balanced and saves a lot of counting.
Keep colour sections chunky
Each separate patch of colour in a diagonal needs its own bobbin. Where two small patches of the same colour sit close together, consider joining them into one shape. If you end up with two near-identical shades, merge them so the yarn list stays short.
Check the realistic view often
Switch to the realistic C2C block view every so often. It shows the stepped texture of the blocks, which can reveal that a curve needs one more block or that a thin line has disappeared.
Build in a border
A border of two or three blocks in one colour frames the design and gives you somewhere to start and finish neatly. Draw it with the rectangle tool (R) once the picture is done, so you can try a few widths and colours without disturbing the motif, and remember it adds to both the block count and the yarn list.
Keeping your work safe
Your design lives only in this browser. Download the .cpat file at the end of each session, and find earlier designs any time in My projects.
What you get
| Sizes | 10–200 blocks wide from a photo; editor up to 2,000 × 2,000 |
|---|---|
| Colours | 2–30, matched by CIEDE2000 colour difference |
| Palettes | Generic yarn, DMC (48 named yarn shades) |
| Downloads | PDF (cover, colour key, numbered chart pages, optional colour pages), PNG, SVG, shopping list CSV, .cpat project |
| Files accepted | JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, AVIF, iPhone HEIC; .cpat and OXS patterns; PDFs made by CraftPatterns |
| Privacy | Runs in your browser. Images are never uploaded. |
| Price | Free — no sign-up, no watermark |
How it compares with other free tools
What you can expect here, every time — no tiers, no trial.
| Free printable PDF | Yes, with no watermark |
|---|---|
| Sign-up needed | No |
| Image uploaded to a server | No — processed on your device |
| Editor | Yes — pencil, fill, line, rectangle, mirror, undo |
| Progress tracker | Yes — free, works offline |
| Switch the same pattern to another craft | Yes — one tap |
Frequently asked questions
How large a grid can I draw?
Up to 2,000 by 2,000 cells, far beyond any blanket. For C2C most people work between about 40 and 150 blocks a side; very large grids are mainly useful if you are designing a panel that will later be split into several pieces.
Does my design save if I close the tab?
Yes. The editor autosaves to your browser's storage on this device, so reopening the page brings your graph back. Browser storage can be cleared, though, which is why a reminder appears after ten minutes to download a .cpat backup file.
Can I edit a graph I made with the photo generator?
Yes. Every generated pattern has an edit option that opens it here. You can also open a .cpat project, a CraftPatterns PDF (the editable project is embedded inside it) or start from a photo directly.
How do I try a different colourway without redrawing?
Use replace colour. Pick the shade you want to change and the new one from the yarn palette, and every block of that colour swaps at once. Undo is unlimited, so you can compare several colourways and step back to the one you liked.
What do the keyboard shortcuts do?
B is the pencil, E the eraser, G fill (Shift+G for every block of a colour), I the colour picker, L the line tool, R the rectangle, O the ellipse and S the select tool for moving, copying, flipping and rotating blocks. [ and ] change the brush size. H and V toggle left–right and top–bottom mirroring, the number keys 1–9 pick the first nine colours in the key, X steps to the next colour, and Ctrl or Cmd+Z undoes (add Shift to redo).
Will the editor write the diagonal row instructions for my own design?
Yes. When you download the PDF, the written diagonal rows are generated from whatever is on the grid, starting at the bottom-right block and alternating direction, exactly as for a photo-based graph.
Can I use real yarn brand colours?
The palette is 48 generic shades with descriptive names rather than one brand's range, so you can match them to any yarn you have. If you prefer numbered codes, DMC colours are available as a proxy and the add-colour search finds them by code, name or colour family.
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