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KNITERATE TEMPLATE EDITOR

Ariadna Pons

This feature in the Kniterate Design App is in its early development stages. The initial version can generate pattern pieces for a round-neck, fitted single jersey women’s sweater with ribbing at the waist, cuffs, and neckband, available in three standard sizes. It also includes options for customizing measurements, although this is recommended only for users with pattern drafting knowledge. 

Before using the template, it is essential to knit one or two tension swatches (one in single jersey and one in a rib structure) and input the tension values in the designated tab. This ensures the program accurately calculates the required number of stitches and rows for each pattern piece.


 

How does it work?

To access the Template editor, go to the Design App home page and click the white "Template editor" button on the top black bar.


 

Once inside the Template editor, the screen is divided into two sections: a table of measurements on the left and a preview of the pattern pieces on the right.

Preview

The preview shows the representation of the different panels that will form the garment: rear, front, sleeve (1), and ribbed collar

Zoom in and out on the image using the scrolling wheel on your mouse or using a trackpad. You can also click and drag to move around on the image.

The preview images automatically change shape as you select the different standard sizes or individually edit any measurements.

Table

Let’s review the measurement table starting at the top:

  1. Template name: a text box to enter the name of your project. It’s not possible to save the project for the moment, so we recommend taking a screenshot of your settings when exporting a template. This way, you can recreate it if you need to make any edits later.
  2. The table has three tabs: one for Dimensions, one for Tensions & Stitches, and another called Jacquard and Yarns.
    1. Dimensions
      1. Dimensions:  list of body measurements necessary for the creation of the patterns. When moving the cursor over the items on the list, a red mark will appear on the pattern preview to show the place where the measurement refers. Dimensions are in cm.
      2. S/M/L: standard dimensions for sizes SMALL/ MEDIUM/ LARGE (women’s).
      3. Custom: editable measurements for custom size (IMPORTANT NOTE: Editing measurements can lead to distorted shapes and mismatched dimensions between the body and sleeve panels. Proceed with caution to avoid these issues.)
      4. Panel asymmetry checkbox: When selected, this option adds one row to all points on the right side of the panels. This offset adjusts the panel sides during different passes, ensuring smoother transfers and cleaner edges. However, it will result in longer knitting times. (Recommended).
      5. Even rows checkbox: When enabled, the row count is rounded to the nearest even number. This ensures that the main feeder ends up on the left-hand side of the machine when it needs to perform the first armpit bind-off. (Recommended)

    2. Tensions & Stitches

      This is where you enter the tensions of the swatch you have previously knitted.

      1. Body: type in the number of stitches per 10cm and rows per 10 cm. Pick the Type of stitch from the dropdown (Front/ Rear)
      2. Ribs:  type in the number of stitches per 10cm and rows per 10 cm. These values will only determine the number of stitches and rows of the collar. The ribs at the waist and cuffs will use as many needles as needed to achieve the body width so that they will be based on the “Body” tensions. Pick the Type of rib stitch from the dropdown (1x1/ 2x1/ 2x2). The Rib visible checkbox is selected by default. You can uncheck it to export your pattern without ribs at the waist and cuffs.

    3. Jacquard and yarns: This is the section where we’ll assign the yarns to our pattern. 

      Ground and Ribs show yarn n. 4 by default. This can be changed by clicking on the feeder number to open the dropdown and picking a different feeder. 

      Waste is set to n.1 by default, referring to the bits of waste yarn before and after the collar.

      1. Import Image: Click the button to upload an image from your device. You can upload any image, but it will be turned into a 2-color image  and it will be automatically dithered. (Please note that this dithering will be a default and can not be adjusted in this app. For optimal results, it’s advisable to prepare images beforehand to contain only two colors). Once the image is uploaded, you can assign the feeder number to the colors in the table. 

        1. Pencil icon: Click it to enter image edit mode. The icon will be highlighted in yellow, and the uploaded image will show a yellow frame. You can edit the image’s size with the mouse scrolling wheel or the laptop’s trackpad. Click on the image to drag it.

        2. Eye icon: Hide or unhide your uploaded image.

        3. Trash icon: Delete the uploaded image.

          It’s possible to upload multiple images that will layer up in order (the higher in the image stack, the further behind on the canvas). The layer order can not be edited.

      2. Color table: after importing an image, the color table adds the lines for the Jacquard colors, which are set to feeder 1 by default. 

        Make sure to assign different yarn feeders to the jacquard colors. The feeder assigned to the rib should be one of these 2.

 

 

Export template

After completing your edits, click “Export Template” in the top black bar to generate the .txt files to load into the design app. A pop-up box will appear, allowing you to select the panels you want to export. Once you click “Export,” the saving process will repeat for each selected panel.


Click the Designs button on the top black bar to exit the template editor and return to the Design App home page.


 


 

 

 

 


 

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