Charting colourwork on square graph paper means mentally squashing every motif, and that is how snowflakes end up oval and hearts end up flat. Here, the grid is drawn at your gauge from the first stitch, so a motif that looks round on screen will knit up round.
How it works
- Create a grid. Set the width and height in stitches and rows, or open an existing project, PDF, OXS file or photo.
- Set your gauge. Enter stitches and rows per 10 cm, and the cells take on the proportions of your knitted fabric.
- Draw your motifs. Pencil, eraser, fill, line, rectangle and filled rectangle, plus left–right, top–bottom or four-way mirroring.
- Export. A PDF chart with numbered rows every 10, a colour key with stitch counts, and written rows for flat knitting.
Tips for designing a great knitting chart in the editor
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Chart one repeat, not the whole garment. For a yoke or a hat band, find a repeat that divides evenly into your stitch count, for example 8, 10 or 12 stitches, and chart just that width. It is far easier to check and to knit from.
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Count floats as you draw. In a two-colour stranded design, any run of more than about five stitches in one colour creates a long float behind. Breaking long runs with a single contrast stitch, a traditional trick in many colourwork styles, keeps the fabric even and avoids catching floats.
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Keep to two colours per row for stranded work. You can change which two colours you use from row to row, which is how many Fair Isle-style designs get their rich look. Use the highlight feature (click a colour in the key) to check that no row holds three.
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Use four-way mirroring for snowflakes and stars. Draw a quarter and the rest appears. Because the cells are not square, a motif mirrored here stays visually balanced in the knitted fabric.
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Test colourways with replace colour. Swap the background from Cream to Navy and the motif colour from Scarlet to Butter, then compare. Unlimited undo means you can try several versions without losing the original.
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Merge near-duplicates. If you have opened a photo or an older chart, two almost identical shades often sneak in. Merge them so you only buy and manage one yarn.
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Look at the knitted view. The realistic view renders each cell as a knit V, which shows how diagonal lines step and whether a thin outline will read in the finished fabric.
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Leave a plain row between bands. When stacking several motif bands, a row or two of plain background between them gives the eye a rest and makes it easier to keep track of where one chart section ends.
Saving your designs
Everything autosaves in this browser, and after ten minutes of editing you will be prompted to download a .cpat backup. Your charts also appear under My projects, and the stitch tracker can open them when it is time to knit.
What you get
| Sizes | 10–300 stitches wide from a photo; editor up to 2,000 × 2,000 |
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| Colours | 2–20, matched by CIEDE2000 colour difference |
| Palettes | Generic yarn (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 |
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| 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
Can I change the gauge after I have started drawing?
Yes. Changing the stitches or rows per 10 cm reshapes the cells but keeps every stitch where you put it, so you can see how the same motif looks in a lighter or heavier yarn.
Is there a repeat tool for allover patterns?
There is no automatic repeat. The usual approach is to chart one repeat on a grid exactly that many stitches wide, then note the repeat in your pattern. Mirroring left–right and top–bottom handles symmetrical motifs within a repeat.
Can I import a chart from another program?
You can open .cpat projects, CraftPatterns PDFs (which carry the editable project inside them) and OXS files, as well as photos. Charts saved in other formats would need to be redrawn or opened from an exported image.
How do I chart a design that will be knitted in the round?
Draw it exactly as it should look from the right side. The PDF's written rows alternate RS and WS for flat knitting; for knitting in the round, follow the chart itself and read every row from right to left.
Can I track my progress row by row?
Yes. Open the saved project in the stitch tracker, highlight the current row and tap stitches off as you knit. Progress is saved on your device and the tracker works offline.
How do I count how many stitches of each colour I have used?
The colour key lists the stitch count for every shade, along with an approximate yarn length based on your gauge. Check it before you shop, so you know whether an accent colour has crept beyond the single ball you have.
Why does the editor open in a dark theme?
The editor uses a dark studio theme so the chart colours stand out and long design sessions are easier on the eyes. The chart itself prints on white in the PDF.
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