Poll: Do you print out patterns or follow them on screen while crafting?

Dear users and authors,
here’s a quick survey for you.
Do you print out patterns, read them on screen, or do you do both? 

I print everything out so I can make notes right on the page.

It depends on how long the pattern is. But I do both.
Most patterns, though, are printed out because my previous computer broke down, and I hadn’t backed up quite a few of them to an external drive or USB flash drive yet. I’ve been careful ever since.

Print them out, then you can also take the patterns with you if you want to do crafts somewhere else.

Best regards, Inge

I have all my patterns on my tablet, so I can take it with me, and I can also take notes in the reader 😊

It varies—I’ve printed out some of them. But I’ve saved most of them to my Dropbox. That way, I can quickly check what comes next even when I’m on the go. I also print out really complex ones… but I only do that at home. 

I print them out 😉. Then I clip the pattern to my clipboard along with my calculator, add a few notepads, and pop the right yarn into my knitting basket. That way, I always have everything together and don’t have to rely on my tablet… which is busy playing an audiobook anyway 😁 

I print most of them out. If it’s not too long, I copy it into a notebook.
With the printed versions, I only include what’s needed for the project and skip all the extra pages (to save paper and printer ink). That way, you can save a lot of pages on many patterns.

Many patterns are too long for me to print out. Most of the time, I create my own short version in an Excel spreadsheet—complete with a column for checking off steps—and then print it out in A5 format.

To save on ink, I don’t print out entire patterns. I have the PDF pattern on my phone or laptop, so I can look it up anytime and zoom in on the pictures. That works fine for me. I only print out crochet charts, tables, or overviews that I need throughout the entire project. I also write my handwritten notes directly on those.

I used to always print out the entire pattern. With a paper pattern, I wasn’t dependent on any technology. But the ink for my laser printer would run out so quickly because of the photos that I stopped doing that.

For complicated projects, though, I sometimes print out the entire pattern. In those cases, I set it to eco-print mode (less ink), print in black and white only, or print two pages on one sheet. It always depends entirely on the pattern.

I use the Knit Companion app. The free version already offers a lot of features. I can mark where I’m currently at, take notes, etc.
That way, I always have my patterns with me and don’t have to print them out anymore.

I always print out my patterns because my computer isn’t exactly brand-new anymore. That way, I can keep them in a folder or take them with me.
Maria

I usually open the patterns on my smartphone.
I haven’t printed anything in a long time. Just sewing patterns—I can’t really avoid that :) 

I print everything out—no exceptions. 

Of course, I meant “print”… 

I crochet almost everything using my smartphone or tablet. I use the Pocket Crochet app, which has a row and round counter, and lets me easily load PDFs and add all the important details about the yarn, hook size, etc. I very, very rarely print out a pattern or parts of it—only when I want to take notes or if the project is a bit more challenging.

I prefer to print them out. That way, I don’t need a charged battery and can knit anywhere—even on the train.

Since I can’t do crafts on the computer and my tablet doesn’t always work as it should (something’s wrong with the settings, but I can’t change it), I usually print out the patterns, but I try to use as little paper as possible (knitting and crochet charts, more complicated steps). I’m grateful to all the authors who also offer a quick guide!

I also use Pocket Crochet—it works great—and the audiobook plays easily on the same device :) 

I usually print them out. When I’m on the go and might be able to knit a few stitches here and there, I have them on my device. Just in case, so to speak.

I always print them out.

I print out what’s necessary.

• That way I can make notes:< ヽ/li>
• which needle I’m using,
• when I started,
• and with amigurumi patterns, I also like to pull yarn samples through the paper or write down the color code from the label. 

Would anyone else like to add anything?