Much Better
Much Happier Now
It may not be exactly perfect, but I'm much happier with the shading in the sleeves. I finished the sleeve cap after I got home from work and sewed up one sleeve seam. I had hoped to get both done, but my weekly date with my sweetie intervened.
But I do have something else to show and talk about -- my Palm application.
I ended up deciding to put together a little program that would focus on tracking projects, but would have supplementary yarn and needle databases so that one can keep track fo needle and yarn stash and know what needles and what yarn are allocated to what particular project. It's tentatively called "KnitTrack". I'm going to be keeping it simple at first and then, if there is enough interest, I will build on it. My first goal is to get the interface for the projects and needles worked out. Here's the intro screen:
Knit Track Projects
Can you tell what is supposed to be going on in this screen? The first column is the priority for the project, the second is the project name, the third and fourth columns are the start and end date, respectively and the final column is the percent completed (eventually I will get the percent sign in there). The "P", "N" and "Y" push buttons stand for "Projects", "Needles" and "Yarn" and they can be used to navigate between three main screens that let you see the items in those categories. Projects will also be able to be categorized, but I haven't implemented that yet.
If you click the "New" or "Edit" button on this screen, you will get something that looks like this:
Add a Project
These are the project information fields. Is this enough information? Too much? I haven't figured out exactly which "widgets" I will use for each field. I want to use tap-down lists whenever possible to make data entry easier since I won't be creating a desktop app for data entry.
I haven't dealt with the main needle listing screen yet, but here's the new record screen for needles:
Add Needles
Should there be more fields? The "Type" drop down will let you select straight, circular or dp. The "Current Project" label indicates where I will put information about what project the needles are associated with (if any).
Any and all comments and criticisms are appreciated. Don't be shy!
I know that when I first talked about this I mentioned that there would be goodies for the person who came up with the idea that I used. But everone who posted came up with good ideas, and I hope that I will be able to grow this little program to incorporate several of them. This makes it difficult for me to declare a "winner". So I would like to declare everyone a winner here and let everyone know, that once I finish it, anyone who reads my blog and is interested in having this program for their Palm will be able to have it when it is finished. I am implementing it under Palm OS 3, so it should be compatible with a wide range of devices.
From what I can see so far, it looks really good. As for the needles you may want to be able to show the length in metric or imperial, the same as with the two needle size versions. You might also want to have a field to show whether the needle is circular, DPN or straight. I think it might be helpful.
I knew you'd rip. The shading on the sleeve caps looks wonderful, Theresa. You're Onde way to a finished sweater! [I can't believe I wrote that. I apologise. Slap me now, please.]
Hi Teresa
That palm app looks brilliant. Just wondering if you'd thought about making it uploadable to a pc - I keep a folder containing the details of all my finished projects & include a scrap leftover of yarn and a yarn band for lot number info too. It would be great to be able to print out the palm record, rather than having to copy it onto paper.
Also - would it be feasible to put an area on the yarn page for an image of the yarn?
Ciao
Wendy
Ooh, looks like a great application.
One suggestion on the needle size entry - how about a single field for the numeric value, then a drop down for the units (US, metric, UK etc etc)? That would make it much easier to allow for different needle measurement systems if necessary - I don't know if there are more than those 3.
Clare
Your sweater looks great as does the application!
Suggestion: If it's not already possible, make it possible to write down maler in the needle entry. Often I don't know anything about the makers of the needles you use, and I think that many people outside US would like to use your application.
Lots to ruminate on the program - looking good.
Onde looks so much better - now it's perfect!
w00t! Looks great! I am such a tech-geek and having the ability to track my knit stuff on my Palm is always appealing. :)
wow, that's so cool. I would TOTALLY use that application.
Suggestion: how about a swatch tracker? Where you could put the yarn, and the gauge you get with different needles (flat and in the round). Then if you use the same yarn in the future, the info is all right there!
Looks like a great palm application, I'd really like to try it myself. I particularly like the project tracker.
Love what you've done with the Palm app. What about some way to list patterns with yardages and needles required that you've identified as future to-do's? So that info would be handy if I came across yarn and wondered if I could justify buying it? and how much to buy?
Wendy -- I may eventually create a conduit (the mechanism Palms use to transfer data back and forth between the desktop and the device) and a simple application to work with the data in. But those will likely take me a while, just because I am learning as I go. The initial version will be restricted to your device.
Clare -- your idea is a good one. I think I am going to keep the metric sizing line (because it's an absolute and even US needles have the metric sizing) but for the size (i.e. US/UK) I will use a little dropdown to let the knitter select. I'll probably set the default to US.. just because I live here :-)
Marika -- the entries in the "Select Maker" drop down will be editable so that you can delete mine and add your own if you want.
Beautiful sweater. Mine will take MUCH longer, but now I have seen what "could" be!!!
Is it advisable to allow more than one "#1 priority" rating for projects? I would like more realistic goals as far as order of importance, or would feel overwhelmed if all projects had a #1 priority!
Wow, that palm application looks great! I'm so impressed . . . and I was just going to ask if you need beta-testers when I read that you are going to make it available when it is done. You rock!
BTW, I love your "will mutagenize for food" thingie at the bottom of your page . . . I'm a molecular biologist, so it made me chuckle and show it to all my labmates!
Another thing that would be nice is a database with yardage needed for garments based on yarn weight...like that card they sell at Patternworks. Very handy information.
In also like the idea of the swatch database.
The color of the yarn would also be a great thing to keep track of, in case you want more and can't find the ballband!
Ooooo, I like Annie's suggestion about future project needs. That would be incredibly handy. I'm always wanting to do something and then finding the perfect yarn somewhere else and never getting the two together.
The app looks incredible! Very handy. Will there be a way to track if you are using more than one needle for a project? I'm a two circ needle for socks kinda gal and am starting to get confused by what needles I have, what needles are in use, and what I need to get.
Great work by the way. Beautiful sweater and handy tech application. Renaissance woman!
I love the app! If you need beta testing let me know :-)
I also think the sleeves look better now - you'll be much happier with them this way!
My first thought when I saw this was is there going to be an archive function or button? So I can keep all this great information about my past projects, but on a separate page from my current projects? That would be so handy, like a small comprehensive little knitting journal.
Other than that, it is looking great - good luck ironing out all those details. You are sure making me wish I had a Palm. :)
KnittyKim -- the prioriries are similar to the ToDo list in Palm. There will be 5 different priority levels and you can partition your projects by which ones have different levels of priority. If you only want one project with a priority one, then you only need to give one project that priority level. And you can change priority levels as the priority for the project changes.
Annie (and others) -- you'll be able to put current and future projects in the database. I hope to be able to support "what yarn do I have in my stash that could work for this project" queries as well as "what projects don't I have yarn for", but those will probably happen farther down the road.
Laurie -- I'm trying to figure out how to deal with associating one or more needles with a project. Palm databases aren't very flexible, so I may just have to say "only two needles at a time" or some such.
Sandra -- I will have a config function that lets you choose to hide or display projects that are 100% complete, so that you can keep them in your database but not have to see them all the time.
Theresa,
The app is so cool, I wish I had a Palm!!
I would (were to have a Palm) love to be able to enter the Pattern name and location (web or book) under a new project. I could see my WIP and pattern getting "separated" in my dis-organized world, and it sure would be nice to know where I got it in the first place. Maybe a radio button for "Pattern - Y/N" and then a text field?
It really looks great!
Chelsea
Makes me want to go out and get a palm!! Great looking app.
There's a program available for PC that tracks projects, project priorities, and yarn/pattern/needle inventories. It's called "NeedleTrax."
While it isn't a Palm application, and does more than what you're describing, they might object to your offering a product in the same arena with a vaguely similar name.
This app looks wonderful. I did something similiar on Excel, but it is so slow to load in the palm. Can't wait to try it!
Also love your Onde :D
What about somewhere putting a way to keep track of how much a project costs? I especially get a kick when I see a project that was really cheap to make. I also do some projects for money, so it would be handy.
I have been wanting to get my palm out and use it to keep track of projects etc, I was trying to figure out a way to use excel and go back and forth, but this would be much better! Can't wait for the finished project, better go drag my palm out!
Count me in as someone who can't wait to use your Palm app! It looks great so far. If you change your mind and want beta testers, I have no problem putting possibly not-well-behaved software on my Palm...I feel like I'm constantly hitting the reset button with some of the stuff that's on there already!
If you need anyone to test the palm program out, I'd love to be a guinea pig.
Thanks,
Gina