kCDesigns – Ready, Set, Knit!
We’re excited to announce that kCDesigns are now available for the Android and Kindle platforms! You can find kCDesigns at shop.knitCompanion.com.
Now Android and Kindle users can engage with the generous selection of knitCompanion-ready designs available on kCDesigns. Apple users have enjoyed access to kCDesigns patterns for some time now. We’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to ensure everyone has access to knitCompanion’s growing design library and we’re very happy the feature is now available to all!
The kCDesigns collection comprises more than 140 designers and 1,400 specially formatted designs that make crafting so much easier. Using kCDesigns, crafters need only choose their size and knitCompanion takes care of the rest, creating a customized pattern to follow. More and more patterns are being added to the kCDesigns library every day. And because we understand how difficult it can be as a knitting pattern designer in this industry, we guarantee that each of our designers receive 110% of the pattern price on Ravelry.
To get started exploring the kCDesigns database, simply visit shop.knitCompanion.com with your browser.
Quick Jump Links
Jump down to any topic in this post with the links below:
Getting Started
Designs purchased through the shop automatically sync with Ravelry, so rest assured that the PDF version of any kCDesign will also live in your Ravelry library. To get started purchasing kCDesigns patterns, navigate via a web browser to shop.knitcompanion.com. If you have a Ravelry account, log in to sync your purchases (seen below).
Your stash of purchased kCDesigns can be accessed from right inside your knitCompanion app under Designs.
The button for the kCDesigns platform is on the right hand side of the screen. Then tap Create2Thrive at the top to view your stash and download kCDesigns. Staci Perry of VeryPink Knits also demonstrates this below:
Browsing the Shop
It’s easy to search for patterns in the kCDesigns database using different criteria (seen above). Use the dropdown menus on the right hand side of the page to search via Designer, Publisher, Clothing type, Accessory type, Yarn Weight, and more. There is also a Ravelry Match button which will show you all kCDesigns that are available for your purchased Ravelry patterns. VeryPink Knits shows the expansive search functionality below:
Using a kCDesign
Once you’ve purchased a pattern on shop.knitCompanion.com, it’s time to start a new project. If you haven’t downloaded your kCDesign, open the knitCompanion app and click the Designs button on the right side of the menu. Tap Create2Thrive at the top. Tap on your kCDesign to download it from your Create2Thrive Stash. Once downloaded, the purchased pattern will appear in Local (or iCloud).
To start a project, click on the kCDesign in Local (iCloud). Enter the name for your project, then choose Standard Charts or Guided Charts. Guided Charts will include written instructions along with any charts in the pattern. Click Knit Now to start.
Knitting from your New Project
When you make a project from a kCDesign, you’ll notice a variety of automated customizations. For instance, the pattern’s Abbreviations auto-populate the Key at the base of the menu.
For sized patterns, once you select your size, the pattern will automatically highlight instructions pertinent to your choice. Reminders, repeats, shaping instructions, and one tap markers are all set for you.
Across the top of the screen, you’ll notice the individual sections of the pattern. Look for any speech bubbles in the pattern, which indicate links to videos or websites with additional information and instructions.
We’ll return in a future blog post with a deeper dive into all of kCDesigns fantastic features. For now, watch the video below for a quick primer on the platform’s functionalities.
We hope our Android users are excited to explore the new kCDesigns platform on knitCompanion! We’re still working behind the scenes to add more updates to the Android platform. Look for the Setup tools in the future and sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss the next update.