This is the fifth in a series of blog posts featuring the fabulous sponsors of Indie Untangled, taking place on October 18, 2024, in person in Saugerties, NY, and online. In-person tickets are available and selling fast! You can also register for the free online event here.
Knitting is the epitome of an analog activity, but I’m not sure what kind of knitter I’d be without all the digital resources out there. Fellow knitter Anne Emilie Fosse, based in Norway, felt the same way launched the app Knit & Note as a digital version of a knitting journal.
Knit & Note gives you the ability to track your projects, purchase patterns, upload your own PDFs and also have access to a library of video tutorials and tools like a ruler and yarn calculators. There’s also a built-in shop with yarn and tools from Knit & Note’s private label and other brands. (Those attending the 10 a.m.-12 p.m. shopping slot will receive a ball of Knit & Note’s yarn in their swag bags!)
The app is available to download in the Apple App Store and Google Play. Representatives from the company will be on hand at Indie Untangled in the Knit & Note Nook, near the tented lounge, to answer questions. We spoke to Ann Emilie about the app.
Tell me the story of how Knit & Note came to be?
Almost four years ago, I was on maternity leave and knitting more than ever before. I was sitting in my usual knitting corner on the couch, about to start a new project. As I was searching through my email inbox, Dropbox, and files on my phone to find out where I had saved the pattern I wanted to use, I started thinking about how great it would be to have a place to organize all my knitting. I thought about all the knitting journals I had seen recently and started searching the App Store because a physical knitting journal felt cumbersome and difficult to keep updated for me. I found separate apps for row counters, knitting calculators, etc., but none where you could gather EVERYTHING the way I envisioned. I started thinking, maybe I have to create this myself? I pitched the idea to my husband, and we decided to give it a try. With help from a few more talented people, we launched the first version of the app about a year later.
How long did it take to develop the app?
It’s hard to say since it’s still under development. I imagine we’ll never really be finished. But the first version of the app took about three months with one developer. Things have built up since then, and now we have a full development team with five developers!
What makes Knit & Note different from other knitting apps?
We stand out with a strong focus on user-friendliness and aesthetics. Additionally, many people love the statistics and overview you get in the app. For example, it summarizes how many projects you’ve knitted in a year and how many meters of yarn you’ve used. You can also upgrade to a premium subscription and get unlimited access to 1,000 patterns from various designers featured in the app — similar to streaming movies on Netflix. In September, we’re also launching a yarn shop in the app, so our users can finally get EVERYTHING they need for knitting in one place. Premium subscribers will receive exclusive prices on all yarn!
Tell me about the yarn that Knit & Note offers.
As we began working on developing the yarn shop in the app, we also wanted to offer our own exclusive yarn collection. Initially, it consists of three different qualities: a fingering weight non-Superwash Merino, a DK-weight highland wool, and a laceweight cashmere mohair. The yarn is produced in a fair trade factory in Peru, where quality and sustainability are the focus. The yarn will be launched in 22 colors, and all the qualities can be mixed and matched for different thicknesses and expressions. We at Knit & Note knit a lot ourselves, and so far, we love the yarn!! The Merino will be featured in goodie bags at Indie Untangled.
How did you learn to knit?
In Norway, many people knit, and when I was 7 years old, I learned to knit from a friend’s mother. I remember knitting clothes for myself in elementary school, and lots of gifts for family — some nicer than others.
What are some of your favorite FOs?
It definitely varies with the season and changes constantly, but right now, it’s probably the Emily Sweater, which is the first sweater I’ve designed and written the pattern for myself. It will be available in the Knit & Note app later this fall.
What crafts does the Knit & Note team enjoy?
We like to be creative and are open to trying new things, but knitting is definitely the biggest. Several of us also do a bit of crochet.
