IPhone App Review: Needles App

The iPhone and the iTouch are wonderful tools to have, regardless of your interests and hobbies. Like to work out? Are you an avid birdwatcher? Maybe you do hand crafts such as embroidery, sewing, or knitting. No matter what you like to do, there is most likely more than one app to keep your interests piqued.

Keeping Track of Your Knitting Needles Using the Needles App

If you are a hobbyist, you know how quickly your necessary tools and materials can build up and get out of hand. It's easy to lose track of what you do and don't have. For avid knitters, the Needles app by Zen Thrash is an answer to prayers. The purpose of the Needles app is to provide an inventory of all your knitting needles. The user simply enters information regarding every set of knitting needles she has. The app sorts them in order by the size of the needle and groups the needles according to type--circular, straight, or double-pointed. Is this app heaven or what?

A user of the Needles app will no longer be forced to experience buying a pair of needles, "just in case" you don't have that size at home. Since you always have your iPhone with you, you will have your listing of knitting needles and sizes with you. No more trips back to the store later to purchase those needles you thought you had but didn't. Now, that's handy.

One downside of the Needles app is that, although it includes a "Stores" search function for the user to look for knit shops nearby, it only includes a total of 5 knit shops for the entire U.S. This reviewer, therefore, recommends the makers, Zen Thrash leave out this option unless they vastly increase the number of knitting shops to access.

Cost of the Needles App

The Needles app by Zen Thrash is available to all iPhone and iTouch users for free. That's right, this app costs $0.00.

ITunes Reviews of the Needles App

Out of about 80 reviews, the Needles app averages a 3 star rating out of 5 stars. Several reviewers would like the Needles app to allow the option to enter specific needle measurements rather than pick from the choices of standard sizes of needles the app offers. Other reviewers want the app expanded to include a crochet hook inventory as well as an inventory for miscellaneous knitting tools. One reviewer lobbied for including the option to inventory the material the needles are made from (metal, bamboo, or plastic). This input was confusing as the Needles app this reviewer has actually includes this option.

Entering Your Knitting Needle Information on the iPhone Needles App
The Needles app is user-friendly. All you need do to begin entering your needles is tap the "+" sign and then tap needle type (circular, double-pointed, or single-pointed). Next, a screen appears with the options, "Material," "Size," and "Length." Just tap the option and enter the info for each category. This app even offers the choice to sort your knitting needle inventory by type, size, or material.

Entering the needles goes relatively quickly. This reviewer has 28 pairs/sets of knitting needles and entering the entire inventory of info took about 45 minutes. The Needles app also includes a "Notes" section for each set of needles. This is handy as some knitters may wish to record the color of their needles or that a particular set of needles has yarn on it for a current knitting project. Whatever the use, it is nice to have a Notes category for each app user to record whatever they deem necessary.

Competing Apps for the Needles App

This reviewer located just 2 other knitting apps that provided the choice to enter your needle inventory. Here they are:

Knit Buddy by David Ross software-This app includes a projects section, a section for specific notes on each project, yarn lists, needle inventory, and descriptive info about each yarn. Cost $2.99

KnitMinder by Quilt2Go-This app has choices for projects, log entries, a yarn inventory with pictures, and a needle inventory. Cost $2.99

It is important to note that these 2 apps include a variety of other options not included in the free app reviewed here.

Final Word on Needles App

The Needles app by Zen Thrash is incredibly quick to use and convenient. If you are a knitter, you know the importance of having your needle inventory with you at all times. A knitter never knows when she is going to pass by a really great knit shop. That being said, this app includes no other bells and whistles. You can't organize projects, keep track of yarns, or inventory your crochet hooks in the Needles app. Its "find a store" option is basically useless as it includes just 5 knit shops. Still, it's worth the download to have a listing of your knitting needles with you close at hand. For you knitters out there--unless you are going to purchase one of the competing knitting apps listed above, download the Needles app.

Rating

Three-and-one-half stars out of 5 stars

Sources

ITunes website

About.com website