Ok folks, I’m dipping my toes ever so slightly into knitwear design. Just for fun, at this point. I’ve created simple designs for myself before, but nothing complicated or, really, written down.
I’ve just completed a rough draft of instructions and a chart for a pair of colorwork mittens. For the charts, I used the spreadsheet software that comes with Libreoffice (a free MS Excel clone for Mac).
Having done this, I’m left with the earnest desire to see if there’s a better solution out there.
What do you like to use? Have you found knitting design software that has truly made your life easier? Do you have different software you use for different purposes?
All She Wants To Do Is Knit 
I haven’t yet but I ask you…Do you try to match the symbols that are out there or have you used your own preferences for charting?
I’m a big believer in standardization.
Are you able to match pretty well via that Excel like program?
I write mine out long hand, not graduated to excel
I use Envisioknit to help with designing, it’s really easy to use and automatically creates a written pattern when you design a chart. It’s good for colourwork too. http://www.envisioknit.com
I’ve also heard good things about Stitchmastery.
Thanks for the recommendation. Too bad it looks like envisioknit is for Windows only. It looks great and I like that it’s an unlimited license.
Looks like stitch mastery is available for Mac though.
I think they do pretty much the same thing from what I have read. Good luck with your designing 🙂
I had Sweater Wizard on my old PC and it worked very well. I took a class at Stitches and bought a different one, but now I have no clue what it is. Gah! I am such a dunce. The 2nd one I bought is very detailed and does all kinds of things, but I just never learned to use it well.
I use Intwined Studio. It’s simple, inexpensive and to the point. Not as functional as it could be but it works. I liked the idea of Envisionknit but at the time it was not available for Mac.
I used Knitting Chart Maker for a long time (http://jacquie.typepad.com/charts/knitchart.htm) but eventually had to graduate to Stitchmastery (http://www.stitchmastery.com/). I’m pretty happy with it; it’s well worth the money.
I have really wanted to graduate from writing to something that would make it easier to create my patterns!