Authoring patterns
Knit in Time has four ways to add a pattern. They all compile down to the same underlying form, so a pattern added one way can be tracked the same as one added another way. Pick whichever path matches the pattern you have in front of you.
Visual Builder
A nested-box editor. Click to add segments, rows, repeats, rule blocks, and notes. No syntax — everything is a button or a number input.
Best for: Patterns where you can describe each section by clicking. The most approachable path; great if you're not a programmer.
AI Import
An assistant-driven import path. The wizard gives you a chatbot prompt to take to your favorite AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) along with your pattern file. You paste the assistant's reply back in to get a trackable pattern.
Best for: Patterns you already have as a PDF, photo, or transcribed text, where retyping by hand would be tedious.
Text DSL
A small text language for patterns. Write segments and rows as plain text; the parser turns them into a trackable pattern.
Best for: Power users who want to type patterns fast, copy-paste between patterns, or version-control them as files.
JavaScript SDK
Author a pattern as a tiny JavaScript file. You get loops, conditionals, and template literals — the file runs at import time and produces a flat, trackable pattern.
Best for: Patterns whose shape depends on math: stitch counts that branch on parameters, repeating sections whose length varies, generative or parametric designs.
Not sure which to pick?
Start with the Builder. Most patterns fit it comfortably, and it's the only path you can use entirely in the app. If you already have a pattern PDF, try AI Import. If you find yourself fighting the Builder — wanting variables, loops, or conditionals — graduate to the DSL or JS SDK.