Knit Design vs Sashiko
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Knit Design
Create intricate knitting charts using traditional Japanese symbols and a flexible grid canvas. Design patterns with color, add annotations, and export your work. Offers premium features for unlimited saves and cloud synchronization.
- Japanese knitting symbol system
- Grid canvas for stitch design
- 80 dedicated knitting symbols
- Annotation tools for notes and dimensions
- Flexible canvas up to 160x160
- iCloud Sync (Premium)
- Export as image or PDF (Premium)
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- Japanese-Style Knitting Charts Create charts using the traditional Japanese knitting symbol system, renowned for its clarity and precision. - Grid Canvas Draw stitches on a grid, with one square representing one stitch. Use the paint tool to design patterns and motifs in color, or work with line, rectangle, and circle tools. - 80 Knitting Symbols Place stitches, cables, and increases/decreases with dedicated tools. - Flexible Canvas Up to 160 stitches × 160 rows Save up to 2 files - Annotation Tools Add notes, dimension lines, and text directly to your charts. - iCloud Sync & Export Save to iCloud (Premium) and export as images or vector PDFs (Premium). - Dark Mode Support Comfortable editing day or night. Premium Upgrade - Unlimited saves - 320 × 320 canvas - Unlimited symbol usage - Unlock save patterns - Vector PDF export - iCloud sync across devices Whether you’re designing original patterns, practicing Japanese knitting charts, or converting between symbol systems, Knit Design helps bring your ideas to life. For information on the subscription (monthly Premium) terms and conditions please see here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Sashiko
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Turn a photo or idea into a project you can stitch. Sashiko brings embroidery patterns, knitting charts, fabric and thread choices, animated needle guides and printable designs together on your iPhone. FROM PHOTO TO PATTERN Import a photo or illustration, choose the subject and review the result. Create a running-stitch outline, colour-fill embroidery design or knitting chart. Refine the design, match threads or yarns and preview the stitches. On supported devices, you can prepare artwork in Image Playground before converting it. DESIGN YOUR OWN Create grid patterns, edit stitch routes and adjust dimensions, spacing and colours. Paint and refine knitting charts, set the gauge and repeats, and carry your edits through to previews, guides and exports. CHOOSE YOUR MATERIALS Browse branded fabric, embroidery thread and yarn collections by colour family, shade code and material details. Record your own supplies with a name and colour, then add fibre, measurements and notes. Choose materials for a swatch and carry them into a new pattern. Keep those selections in saved designs and exported material lists. FIND A PATTERN TO START Explore 20 free sashiko patterns. An optional one-time Sashiko pattern book purchase unlocks 50 more, including nine original geometric designs. Browse before buying and use the bundled patterns offline. Selected patterns include background stories and source links. FOLLOW THE NEEDLE Watch animated stitch routes, compare the front and back, and mark your progress. Try the first three stitch lessons free. The optional Complete stitch course provides step-by-step films with playback speed and subtitle controls. Downloaded films can be watched offline. PRINT AND SHARE Export actual-size transfer charts for A4 or US Letter, needle steps and pattern specifications. Share knitting charts, material lists, previews and editable designs. Print at 100% and check the scale before transferring to fabric. Export PES files for compatible Brother embroidery machines, check the selected hoop size and include a thread list. Convert knitting swatches to cross-stitch embroidery using your gauge and repeat settings. KEEP YOUR PLACE Save projects, reference photos, notes and stitching progress on your device. Keep reusable designs in My patterns. Saved patterns, attached reference images and favourites sync through your private iCloud account when available. No app account is required. Core design and export tools work offline. Image Playground requires a supported device. Video downloads and iCloud syncing require an internet connection. The Sashiko pattern book, each themed book and the full stitch course are separate in-app purchases. Available in English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Thai. THEMED EMBROIDERY BOOKS Choose Flowers, Plants, Animals & Insects, Food, Objects or Decorative Motifs: six books with 73 different patterns. Each book is a separate one-time purchase and includes previews, transfer diagrams and written stitch references. Browse, buy and read purchased books in Shop, including offline access after installation. FREE CREATION PLANS Explore four free wave studies under Advanced, with finished references, stitched swatches, guides and printable transfers. Find the free Cat Christmas Tree starter kit in My patterns, with a palette, practice sampler and editable design. The wave studies are suggested plans and have not been physically stitch-tested. YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY Save 10 personal patterns and 20 swatches free. Separate one-time purchases unlock unlimited saved patterns or unlimited saved swatches. You can always open, edit and export existing saved work.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Sashiko at daily against Knit Design's fortnightly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Knit Design sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Sashiko sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Knit Design ships an update fortnightly, Sashiko daily. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | Knit Design | Sashiko |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 289 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chizuru Kondo | A.D LONG & J ZHU |
In-app purchases
Knit Design
- Monthy Premium7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Unlock symbols pack$5.99
- Pro features pack$9.99
- Knit design Premium$14.99
Sashiko
- Unlimited personal patterns$2.99
- Unlimited saved swatches$2.99
- Flowers pattern book$5.00
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- Sashiko pattern book$5.00
- Plants pattern book$5.00
- Food pattern book$5.00
- Objects pattern book$5.00
- Animals & insects pattern book$5.00
- Decorative motifs pattern book$5.00
- Complete stitch course$10.00









