Purlgrid vs Stitchart for Colorwork Charts

Drawing: yarn colours or stitch symbols?

Purlgrid’s Knitting Chart Maker opens the colourwork editor through “Open the chart maker”. Its controls include “Paint”, “Rectangle”, “Fill area”, “Pick colour” and mirror tools. The editable grid supports up to 400 × 400 stitches and 40 colours. It suits an original geometric border or a motif drawn in yarn colours.

Stitchart’s official creation guide describes custom palettes and horizontal, vertical and double-mirrored drawing. Its website also confirms symbol charts through symbol palettes. That gives Stitchart a documented advantage if your design needs knitting symbols as well as colour cells. Purlgrid’s colourwork editor does not provide a lace-symbol palette.

Previewing fabric and checking the chart

Purlgrid renders the design with yarn textures while you draw. “Front” and “Back” switch between the fabric face and a diagram of floats and catch points. “Colour options” offers alternative palettes, while “Colour test” includes “Greyscale (contrast)”. These are design aids; the preview does not guarantee how your own yarn will knit up.

The editor flags floats using your gauge. The separate Knitting Chart Checker also checks colour counts and whether a repeat fits the project stitch count. Stitchart’s Google Play listing confirms chart previewing, but the official pages reviewed do not establish equivalent textured-fabric, reverse-side or gauge-based float checks. Check the current app if those are essential to your choice.

Outputs: distinguish the image from the chart

In Purlgrid’s colourwork editor, “Download image” saves the selected fabric-side preview as PNG. “Download another format” offers “Chart table (CSV)” and “Written instructions (TXT)”. The CSV contains numbered colour cells and a yarn key; the TXT describes colour runs row by row. Neither is a complete garment pattern.

For a numbered chart image or a printable check report, use the separate Chart Checker’s “Download PNG” or “Print or save as PDF”. The latter opens browser printing. These are checker outputs, not additional buttons in the colourwork editor.

Stitchart’s official website documents “Export as Image” for printing or sharing with someone who does not have the app, plus “Share Chart” for other Stitchart users. If you require PDF, CSV or written-row export from Stitchart, inspect its current export menu; the official pages reviewed here do not confirm those formats.

Following rows and keeping your work

Stitchart’s website says it keeps the current row centered, lets you move between rows by swiping and remembers your row and repeat count between sessions. Choose it when following the chart during knitting is central to your workflow.

Purlgrid’s colourwork editor does not have that row-following mode. “My designs” stores designs locally. “Save to My projects” adds a project record where you can enter yarn, gauge, notes and “Completed steps / rows” manually. This is a limitation if you want the active chart row highlighted as you knit.

Purlgrid projects stay in the same browser on the same device, with no automatic account sync. Clearing browser data removes them. Use “Export backup” in My projects to preserve or transfer project records; use the editor’s “Share” link to pass along a design.

Compare them with one small design

Try an original two-colour diamond on a grid 12 stitches wide and 8 rows high. In Purlgrid, set “Stitches” to 12 and “Rows” to 8, then set their “× repeats” fields to 5 across and 2 vertically. The arithmetic is 12 × 5 = 60 stitches and 8 × 2 = 16 rows for the repeated panel.

The base chart has 96 cells; the repeated panel has 960. Purlgrid’s CSV exports the base chart with a repeat note rather than expanding it into 960 cells. Check which representation you need. In Stitchart, use the same motif to assess drawing, row tracking and image export before committing a larger design.

Choose by the task you will do most

Choose Purlgrid when you want to work in a browser, compare yarn-texture previews, review chart warnings or retain colour data in a spreadsheet. Choose Stitchart when its symbol palettes and saved row-and-repeat position match how you design and knit. A chart image alone will not answer every one of those needs.

Purlgrid’s chart maker is free without an account. Google Play lists Stitchart as a free download with ads and in-app purchases. The listing does not establish whether every purchase is a one-time unlock or a subscription; check the purchase screen and included features before paying.

Before you continue

1. Decide whether you need colour cells, knitting symbols or both.
2. Check an exported sample in the program or print workflow you will actually use.
3. Choose between saved row tracking and manually recorded project progress.
4. Keep an editable design and a backup before moving devices.