Purlgrid editorial team
Free Knitting Chart Maker: What Is Included?
A free editor is useful only if you can finish the job: draw the chart, keep an editable copy and get the output you need. This comparison covers browser tools and separates editing limits from asset libraries. Competitor details were checked against their own sites on November 5, 2026. Purlgrid is not affiliated with Stitch Fiddle or Chart Minder.
The short answer
Purlgrid’s free knitting chart maker includes charts up to 400 × 400 stitches, 40 colours, yarn previews, local saving and PNG, CSV and TXT exports without an account. Other free makers have different chart, storage and export limits, so check the whole workflow before drawing a large design.
Compare the limits that affect your project
Start with your required stitch width, row count and number of colours. Then check saved-chart allowances, account requirements, export formats and whether your work follows you between devices. A large free grid does not necessarily include a printable vector file or cloud storage.
Compare the free tier with the free tier. Keep paid options in view when they solve a specific need, but do not count a paid export or a preview-only motif as part of the free workflow.
What Purlgrid includes for free
The Knitting Chart Maker page opens the editor at Colourwork. You can paint and fill cells, add text or a photo, use available motifs, set repeats and preview the fabric with a library of 188 yarns. The editable grid supports up to 400 stitches wide and 400 rows high, with up to 40 colours in its palette. These tools require no account.
The editor also flags long floats. The separate Chart Checker adds technique-specific checks, text-chart input and suggested repairs. Its own grid is limited to 80 × 80, with up to four colours in pasted text. Do not assume a full-size maker chart fits the checker; use a smaller repeat there.
Saved designs and project records are different
In the editor, My designs and Save current design keep editable designs in your browser. There is no fixed design-count allowance in that list, but browser storage can fill up. Once a design is saved there, changes to it save automatically.
Save to My projects creates a separate workspace record for the design and your yarn, gauge, notes and progress. My projects supports up to 120 tool-project records. Export backup and Import backup let you keep or transfer those records. Both systems store work in this browser on this device; clearing browser data removes local copies, and there is no automatic account sync.
Check the actual export you need
In the maker, Download image saves the knitted preview as PNG. Download another format offers Chart table (CSV) and Written instructions (TXT). CSV contains cell colour numbers and a yarn key; TXT lists colour counts by row. Share creates a link carrying the design. A very long link may be cut off by a messaging service.
The maker has no dedicated PDF or SVG export. The separate checker offers Download PNG and Print or save as PDF, which opens the browser’s print dialog. Keep an editable design as well as your output files; an image is not a substitute for the saved editor state.
Check motif availability separately
A free editor does not mean every library item is available to add. Purlgrid currently includes the Christmas pack of 35 motifs. The other seven displayed packs are marked Coming soon: you can preview them, but cannot add them to a chart yet.
The yarn library is available for previews, and its yarns are not tied to a particular yarn brand. Choose materials that suit your project and swatch them. Judge the editor’s free limits separately from the availability of any additional motif or yarn pack.
How two other browser tools compare
Stitch Fiddle’s own plan comparison lists 15 charts, 50 unique colours or symbols per chart and a maximum free grid of 300 × 300. It runs in a modern browser and stores charts in the cloud with device synchronization, an advantage if you switch devices. Its Account help says most features need an account. Vector exports, including PDF and SVG, are Premium features. Premium is a time-limited subscription paid once for the chosen period, without automatic renewal.
Chart Minder describes itself as a free online maker. Its homepage offers drawing, photo conversion, gauge-based measurements, image export, a personal library and on-screen progress tracking. That combination is worth checking if you want to design and follow a chart in one place. The homepage does not state numerical grid or saved-chart limits, or promise a dedicated PDF export; check those in the editor before relying on them.
Purlgrid suits work where yarn-texture previews, local storage and chart checks matter. Its lack of automatic device sync and dedicated maker PDF or SVG export may matter more to you than its grid size. Choose around the task you need to complete.
Try a small chart before committing
For a concrete trial, draw your own two-colour geometric motif on a grid 40 stitches wide and 30 rows high. That is 1,200 cells, calculated as 40 × 30. It fits Purlgrid’s maker and separate checker limits, and Stitch Fiddle’s published free grid limit.
Save it, reopen it and download the output you plan to use. If you need another device, test that transfer too. This short trial reveals whether the free workflow meets your needs before you spend time on a larger chart.
Before you continue
- Confirm stitch width, row count and palette limits.
- Check whether saving needs an account or uses local storage.
- Reopen an editable copy before closing your working session.
- Download the required format and inspect it.
- Test backup or device transfer, and check motif availability.
More questions, answered
What happens to Stitch Fiddle charts after Premium expires?
Stitch Fiddle says your charts remain accessible and basic design tools remain free, even if you have more charts than the free allowance. Renewing is needed for Premium features.
Will a Purlgrid share link update when I edit the design?
No. It carries the design as it was when you created the link. Create a new link after revising it; someone editing a shared design works on their own copy.
Does Export backup include my entire My designs library?
No. It includes My projects records and Studio projects, rather than every design in the editor’s My designs list. Save share links for additional editor designs you want to keep.
Does Written instructions (TXT) include a complete sweater pattern?
No. It describes the chart’s colour sequence row by row. It does not supply garment sizing, shaping or assembly instructions for a sweater you have designed.
Can I pay to exceed Purlgrid’s chart-size limit?
The current maker has a fixed limit of 400 stitches in each dimension and no paid size upgrade. Plan within that limit or choose a tool that supports your required dimensions.