Design

DAK vs Garment Designer

February 21, 2025
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DesignaKnit vs. Cochenille Garment Designer

I've been using DesignaKnit (DAK) since 1999, and over the years, I've found it to be an invaluable tool for machine knitting. While both DesignaKnit and Cochenille Garment Designer have their strengths, DAK is far more specific to machine knitting, whereas Garment Designer is a more generic tool aimed at multiple crafts.

Feature	DesignaKnit (DAK)	Cochenille Garment Designer (GD)
Primary Focus	Machine knitting, stitch patterning, and Interactive Knitting .	General garment drafting for sewing, hand knitting, crochet, and weaving.
Pattern Creation & Customization	Uses stitch and row counts for precise knitting machine shaping.	Provides generic sizing and shape-based pattern drafting.
Knitting Machine Compatibility	Connects directly to knitting machines for automated knitting. Downloads stitch patterns directly to Electronic machines	Does not support knitting machine integration.
Stitch Pattern Design	Includes a Stitch Designer module for lace, tuck, slip, and fair isle patterns.	No dedicated stitch design tool; focuses on garment shapes. Stitch Painter is available.
Interactivity & Instructions	Provides row-by-row interactive knitting guidance and a number of printable output formats.	Outputs standard pattern instructions without interactive features.

My Personal Recommendation

If you are primarily a machine knitter, I highly recommend DesignaKnit. Its ability to integrate with knitting machines, create stitch patterns, and provide real-time interactive guidance makes it the best choice for serious machine knitters.

However, if you want a general-purpose garment design tool that works across multiple crafts like sewing, crochet, and hand knitting, Cochenille Garment Designer is a great option.