YarnBuddy — The Project Tracking App for Knitters and Crocheters
I am neither a knitter nor a crocheter. I would quite easily confuse knitting needles for chopsticks, and a crochet hook for a dental pick. However, I do consider myself a maker — I spend an inordinate amount of my free time in my garage/wood shop working with my hands to turn an idea into a physical good. Although my crafting medium is wood, makers of all stripes are quick to appreciate the tools of other disciplines — and YarnBuddy from developer Becky Hansmeyer deftly demonstrates how digital tools can be as invaluable to hobbyists as the physical tools of their trade.
A Tailor-Made Task Manager
YarnBuddy is what happens when you take a general-purpose task manager like Todoist or Things and tailor it to an extremely specific use-case — specialization that pays dividends for those so-specialized. At its core, YarnBuddy allows you to create a list of knitting and crocheting projects with custom fields geared specifically towards aspects of needlework like “Yarn Selection” or “Needle Size”. The ability to tag a given project with categories or project types allows even the most prolific knitters to quickly organize their many works-in-progress using YarnBuddy. In addition, the ability to upload an instruction sheet for a given project complete with a movable line highlighter is super convenient for both keeping your place and accessible use for those who have more difficulty reading small text.
Custom project due dates, an image uploader for either examples or the finished product itself, and a notes field for helpful hints or useful links all make for an extensive project management system entirely centered around knitting and crocheting.
Built-In Tools of the Trade
Beyond the feature-rich project tracking components of YarnBuddy, a number of useful tools and quality-of-life conveniences are stitched right into the app. Customizable counters — for specific projects or one-off use — allow the user to keep track of rows as they knit a given design. These counters can be configured to automatically repeat a given increment — for instance, if there are a given number stitches in a row — and automatically display notes on a preset interval to help remind you of the pattern at the beginning of each row.
YarnBuddy also includes features that allow users to keep track of their yarn inventory, and utilities for deciding on a yarn to use on a given project. The “Yarn Stash” serves as a repository of what yarn you have on hand, and can quickly import the specifications of that yarn into any project in YarnBuddy. The Yarn Substitution tool allows you to quickly determine what amount of a substitute yarn you need to adequately replace another yarn of perhaps different length/skein or weight/skein. As a woodworker, I am constantly checking my hardwood and scrap wood stash to figure out what exactly I have available to use on a given project — I imagine the Yarn Stash will be the favorite feature for many YarnBuddy users who also want to keep track of what raw materials they have on-hand. Adding a built-in unit conversion tool is the cherry on top of the long list of utilities that make YarnBuddy an invaluable resource for needleworkers of every description.
Utility, Embroidered With Whimsy
Beyond being an incredibly feature-dense app in terms of project management, YarnBuddy still manages to have an inviting aesthetic, with the developer’s design flourishes shining through brightly. The Quick Tips page serves as both a delightful iMessage conversation between balls of yarn and as a friendly introduction to the basics of using YarnBuddy — frankly, I would suggest this page be shown to every first-time user of the app!
Custom app icons are becoming table-stakes in the iOS development community, and YarnBuddy’s numerous app icons so clearly evoke the personality of the app itself — a smiling yarn ball symbolizing the many knitters and crocheters who find their joy in a box of yarn.
Closing the Loop
Beyond my jealousy towards a project management app specifically made for a given hobby, nothing beats the experience of using an app made by someone who actually uses it, and has lovingly injected so much of their passion into the app’s design. It’s this sewn-in consideration and care that explains how this app still connects with me, despite my lack of knitting knowledge — it subtly evokes the feeling of joy that crafting inspires in so many. From planning of a project, to carefully selecting the appropriate materials, to documenting the finished product in your Project Archive, YarnBuddy manages to capture both the important details and the powerful emotions that knitters and crocheters undoubtedly feel when working with their hands.
YarnBuddy for iPhone and iPad is available for free in the App Store, and unlimited projects, tags, project reminders, and custom icons can be unlocked with YarnBuddy Pro for $14.99/year or $49.99 as a one-time purchase.