Who it is for
Lazy Hook is made for people starting out in crochet, or picking it up again after years, who land on a free pattern that is completely unreadable for want of a single picture. Written patterns assume you already know the abbreviations; when you do not, the pattern is illegible and the project stops there.
It is also made for people following patterns in a second language, and who get stuck on how abbreviations map from one language to the other.
What it does
- A visual glossary of the pattern. You paste the text, and every abbreviation becomes a symbol, its full name and the stitch in one sentence.
- English and French. Both sets of abbreviations are recognised, and the mapping between them is given.
- It reads the pattern's own legend. When a pattern carries its own list of abbreviations, that list is followed rather than an imposed convention.
- A yarn colour per row. The yarns named in the pattern are picked up on their own, a shade settles on each row, and it holds until the next change.
- A stitch count check. When the pattern states a number of stitches per row, the app checks it and says so when it does not add up.
- A row counter. So you know where you are without counting on your fingers.
- Fully offline. A pattern is read with your hands in the yarn, with no signal.
What it does not do
- No chart editor. You do not place symbols one by one. It is not a pattern design tool.
- No library of patterns. You bring your own patterns; the app does not supply them.
- No silent guessing. When a notation is ambiguous, the app says so instead of deciding on its own.
- No account, no syncing. Patterns stay on the phone.
- No iPhone version. Android only.
- No advertising, ever.
What it looks like
Screenshots will come with the first published version.
What it costs
Lazy Hook is paid for, through a yearly, not monthly subscription. The price and the length of the free trial are on its Play Store listing, which is the only place kept up to date. The subscription is handled by Google Play: it renews from one year to the next, it can be cancelled at any time, and the app warns you before it renews so that nobody is charged by surprise.
When the trial ends, the app stops writing but the patterns you have already entered stay readable, whether you subscribe or not. The subscription unlocks writing.
What it knows about you
Nothing. There is no account, no server, no tracker, no ad network. The patterns you paste are stored on the phone and never leave it. The details are in the privacy policy, which is in French for now.
Frequently asked questions
Can I paste a pattern written in English?
Yes. English and French abbreviations are both recognised, and the mapping between them is given.
Does it work with a PDF pattern?
The text is pasted into the app. Handling a PDF directly is not guaranteed in the first version.
Do I need an internet connection?
No. The app works entirely offline, which is the least you can ask when you crochet far from a socket.
Does it build the chart for the pattern?
Not in the first version. This version decodes the vocabulary of the pattern; it does not rebuild the grid.
Is there an iPhone version?
No, Lazy Hook only exists on Android.
The studio's other apps
Lazy Hook is part of a small suite of apps that share the same way of doing things: one thing done well, no account, no tracking. See also Lazy Note and Lazy Draw, or all the Lazy Mind apps.