Reviews of Tin Can Knits

By: Tin Can Knits Inc. App

List of user reviews and ratings for Tin Can Knits

Total ratings

4.10 (Rating count: 133)

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Review summary

Users praise Tin Can Knits for size-focused guidance, row-counting features, and handy planning tools, plus easy access to purchased patterns. However, many reviews hinge on a disruptive update that erases progress, disables the repeat tracker, and makes the app heavily internet-dependent with a confusing UI. These issues undermine offline usability and trust. Some users also express concern about pricing and paid features.

Pros

Built-in row counter and repeat-tracker/highlighter that automatically tracks rows and repeats.
Size-specific view shows only the active size's instructions, reducing confusion.
Automatic import of Rav pattern purchases and easy access to purchased patterns.
In-app tutorials and technique links provide quick guidance.
Clear planning tools with notes and per-project organization.

Cons

Update wipes out saved progress and makes in-progress projects inaccessible.
App is heavily internet-dependent; offline use is limited or not possible.
New UI is confusing and not intuitive, with dropdown menus that slow navigation.
Row counting/repeat tracker has been removed or stopped working, requiring manual counting.
Pricing and subscription model raises concerns about paying for features.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 1.40

All time rating average: 4.10

Upgrade to see all 49 reviews

27% (13)

Date	Author	Comment
2026-07-16	av*****	App is unusable without making an account. I don’t want to provide my email address to another app. Installed, browsed for a bit, had no functionality as a guest user, then deleted.
App is unusable without making an account. I don’t want to provide my email address to another app. Installed, browsed for a bit, had no functionality as a guest user, then deleted.
2026-04-30	ky*****	The original app was fabulous. This update, as others have said, ruined everything. I scratch my head over why, why would this update wipe out all my progress on patterns that I purchased?? Why eliminate the very useful row counting function? And then expect us to pay for this? I wish/hope TKN will reconsider this update. I will not be using this app for now. It’s too frustrating. ☹️
The original app was fabulous. This update, as others have said, ruined everything. I scratch my head over why, why would this update wipe out all my progress on patterns that I purchased?? Why eliminate the very useful row counting function? And then expect us to pay for this? I wish/hope TKN will reconsider this update. I will not be using this app for now. It’s too frustrating. ☹️
2026-04-20	Bl*****	I downloaded the app to try and get back into knitting and remembered loving tin can knits. Since I want to brush up first I figured I knit something free before paying for a bundle of patterns. None of the links for the free patterns work. You can’t add anything free to your library even though it says you can add two patterns.
I downloaded the app to try and get back into knitting and remembered loving tin can knits. Since I want to brush up first I figured I knit something free before paying for a bundle of patterns. None of the links for the free patterns work. You can’t add anything free to your library even though it says you can add two patterns.
2026-04-12	ca*****	I loved this app before. It’s how I learned to knit and was so intuitive and quietly helpful. They recently did an “upgrade” and everything that was good about it is gone. The tutorials aren’t linked within the steps anymore (despite what the recent update claims); I have to navigate away from my library and then come back to it in order to see the patterns I’ve purchased; and half the time whatever I’m trying to open or load or just do throws an error message and tells me to try again. I don’t care that there weren’t as many patterns in the old version. It worked. This one may have more patterns but it’s completely worthless from a usability standpoint. I’ve bought a couple of patterns from TKN but I won’t be buying any more. I can’t believe the audacity of offering a paid/subscription version of this slop.
I loved this app before. It’s how I learned to knit and was so intuitive and quietly helpful. They recently did an “upgrade” and everything that was good about it is gone. The tutorials aren’t linked within the steps anymore (despite what the recent update claims); I have to navigate away from my library and then come back to it in order to see the patterns I’ve purchased; and half the time whatever I’m trying to open or load or just do throws an error message and tells me to try again. I don’t care that there weren’t as many patterns in the old version. It worked. This one may have more patterns but it’s completely worthless from a usability standpoint. I’ve bought a couple of patterns from TKN but I won’t be buying any more. I can’t believe the audacity of offering a paid/subscription version of this slop.
2026-04-10	Me*****	The update ruined this. I would have been happy to pay a fee for the app, or if they had added certain pay-for premium features, but everything I used to love about the app is ruined. I had two projects in progress when the update came out. I promoted these “legacy” projects and the app has saved literally nothing—Hope I can figure out where the f I was. They’ve removed (ruined? Who knows) the repeat tracker. What is even the point of this app when it’s now worse than just using the pdf reader on my phone? At least I can do that offline and trust it not to lose my info. There’s no way in hell I’d pay for a subscription when a chance update could completely lose all of my information overnight.
The update ruined this. I would have been happy to pay a fee for the app, or if they had added certain pay-for premium features, but everything I used to love about the app is ruined. I had two projects in progress when the update came out. I promoted these “legacy” projects and the app has saved literally nothing—Hope I can figure out where the f I was. They’ve removed (ruined? Who knows) the repeat tracker. What is even the point of this app when it’s now worse than just using the pdf reader on my phone? At least I can do that offline and trust it not to lose my info. There’s no way in hell I’d pay for a subscription when a chance update could completely lose all of my information overnight.
2026-02-23	kk*****	As others have stated I’d happily pay for a premium for this app if it would just save my progress. It’s just not trustworthy to leave and come back and know your progress is saved. The ability to look at the pdf in the app is useless, you’re unable to increase the size to be able to read it.
As others have stated I’d happily pay for a premium for this app if it would just save my progress. It’s just not trustworthy to leave and come back and know your progress is saved. The ability to look at the pdf in the app is useless, you’re unable to increase the size to be able to read it.
2026-02-15	ku*****	So many features of the app (row counters, ability to add notes, single size view) are fabulous, however the need for internet access makes it really limiting. It will not save my row counter or notes (and therefore be inaccurate) if used in a place without great internet, and you can’t use it at all offline. I would totally pay for the subscription if it had the option to download the pattern you’re working on and use it offline, but without that ability its usefulness is really limited, and I can’t trust it to save my progress.
So many features of the app (row counters, ability to add notes, single size view) are fabulous, however the need for internet access makes it really limiting. It will not save my row counter or notes (and therefore be inaccurate) if used in a place without great internet, and you can’t use it at all offline. I would totally pay for the subscription if it had the option to download the pattern you’re working on and use it offline, but without that ability its usefulness is really limited, and I can’t trust it to save my progress.
2026-01-30	HN*****	This used to be easy yo navigate and see what was next. I used it for 2 years with no problems, it was intuitive and easy to find your next step and any other information. Then it was updated and is now a confusing mess of an interface that isn’t user friendly. I was going to have my daughter use this to help her with her first sweater but not now. Cancelled my subscription.
This used to be easy yo navigate and see what was next. I used it for 2 years with no problems, it was intuitive and easy to find your next step and any other information. Then it was updated and is now a confusing mess of an interface that isn’t user friendly. I was going to have my daughter use this to help her with her first sweater but not now. Cancelled my subscription.
2026-01-25	ca*****	The “you only see your size” feature has been about 80% erased. Now you get the combined size same instructions (I.E. newborn-L, repeat 5 times, etc) and you can’t save completed projects anymore. You have to delete them in order to start a new pattern. Your archived projects are still there, but you can only “promote” 2 in order to see instructions, and again, then you have to delete them in order to start a new project. This update is garbage. Utter garbage. It’s not easy to use, it’s not intuitive, the outright instructions written have changed, and it’s all around terrible. Deleted this app and will probably drop TCN altogether now. Far better designers available out there.
The “you only see your size” feature has been about 80% erased. Now you get the combined size same instructions (I.E. newborn-L, repeat 5 times, etc) and you can’t save completed projects anymore. You have to delete them in order to start a new pattern. Your archived projects are still there, but you can only “promote” 2 in order to see instructions, and again, then you have to delete them in order to start a new project. This update is garbage. Utter garbage. It’s not easy to use, it’s not intuitive, the outright instructions written have changed, and it’s all around terrible. Deleted this app and will probably drop TCN altogether now. Far better designers available out there.
2026-01-24	mc*****	Tin Can Knits was how I taught myself to knit, and I’ve recommended it to so many people — whenever I have a new project, I tried to use the app-enabled patterns as my first preference. But the new update made it so much less user-friendly. It used to automatically count my rows with just the down arrow, and now I have to enter it in manually. Instead of seeing only the info for my pattern, I’m now seeing drop downs for different versions of the pattern (I’m working on the basic beanie 2x2 rib). I had it set to have the full terms throughout the pattern, and now it’s all abbreviations that I have to click through to read. I really, really want to support y’all and keep using this, but the update made it so much less user-friendly that I will probably just go to paper patterns after I finish this project.
Tin Can Knits was how I taught myself to knit, and I’ve recommended it to so many people — whenever I have a new project, I tried to use the app-enabled patterns as my first preference. But the new update made it so much less user-friendly. It used to automatically count my rows with just the down arrow, and now I have to enter it in manually. Instead of seeing only the info for my pattern, I’m now seeing drop downs for different versions of the pattern (I’m working on the basic beanie 2x2 rib). I had it set to have the full terms throughout the pattern, and now it’s all abbreviations that I have to click through to read. I really, really want to support y’all and keep using this, but the update made it so much less user-friendly that I will probably just go to paper patterns after I finish this project.