Knitters — Custom grid to match yarn & needle

A knitter wrote asking for help to create a very specialized sheet of graph paper. She wrote, "To match the pattern for my knitting project I need to create a graph paper with a grid of bold divisions of 3 across and 4 down."

GridMaker was created for exactly this sort of project! This tutorial has two approaches — use the one that fits the way you like to work:

• Specialized Divisions that closely fit the pattern
• Regular Divisions that make counting easier

Approach 1:  Specialized Divisions that closely fit the pattern

Before actually creating your grid, you must decide if you want to create a paper that

• matches your knit pitches or
• simply has one square per stitch​

To match knit pitch: For example, using cm, multiply by the number across & down to determine the size of the major grid. For example, a knit pitch of 0.284cm x 0.145cm in a grid 3 across and 4 down would require a major grid of 0.852cm x 0.58cm. Use a similar approach for an inch grid.

With this settled, you can create the grid you want for your project — with bold divisions for the blocks — 

this example uses inches — 
1. Create a new grid.
​
Set to the Grid to heaviest line weight to make counting easier.

Set the major grid -- In this example we'll use a less precise size and set the grid to 1” x 1” using
​the +/—  buttons.

• Want the 'match knit pitch' option? Tap 'Custom Grid Size' switch to set the grid to your knitting pitch (Use Settings gear in upper right on the main page to switch to metric, then you'll be able to set the grid in cm.)​
• Want to change the grid color? (Use the Palettes switch on the menu.)

​NOTE: To work with rectangles, leave the grid 'unlocked'.

2. Adjust the Division.
​
Tap color buttons to make Division active.

​Leave Grid set to lightest line weight.
​
Set to 3 across per major and 4 down per major.

3. Use Page Settings to adjust final layout of the PDF.
​
Page Settings can be set to inches or metric, independent of the grid. This example shows the metric settings — 

Choose paper size.​

Adjust margins to:

• Add more rows & columns by reducing margins
• Reduce number of grid rows & columns by increasing margins
• Adjust placement of grid on the page — to adjust for binding, etc.

---

Approach 2:  Regular Divisions that make counting easier

Some projects require a more standard layout. Here is how to create a layout that would be easier to count because it has a 10x10 grid.

Again, before creating the grid, you must decide if you want to create a paper that

• matches your knit pitches or
• simply has one square per stitch​

To match knit pitch: Multiply by 10 to determine the size of the major grid. For example, a knit pitch of 0.284cm x 0.145cm would require a major grid of 2.84cm x 1.45cm

With this settled, you can create the grid you want for your project — with easy to see divisions at every 10 & 5 blocks — 

1. Create a new grid.

Set the Grid to the heaviest line weight to make counting easier.

Set the major grid — in this example we'll set the grid to match the kitting pitch. Tap 'Custom Grid Size' to replace
the +/— buttons with input boxes and enter the knitting pitch proportions (Use Settings gear in upper right on the main page to switch to metric, then you'll be able to set the grid in cm.)​

• Prefer a less precise size? Set using +/— buttons.

​(Leave the grid 'unlocked' to keep working with rectangles.)

2. Adjust the Division.

Tap color buttons to make Division active.

Set line to medium weight line.
​
Set to 2 across per major and 2 down per major.

3. Adjust the Subdivision.
Tap a color to make Subdivision active.
Leave line at the lightest weight line
Set to 5 across per major and 5 down per major.

4. Use Page Settings to adjust final layout of the PDF.
​
Set to inches or metric.

Tap paper to reveal picker & choose paper size.​

Adjust margins to:

• Add more rows & columns by reducing margins
• Reduce number of grid rows & columns by increasing margins
• Adjust placement of grid on the page — to adjust for binding, etc.