Interface Overview
When you open a pattern in Stitch A Lot Studio, the workspace is divided into several areas. Here is a tour of each one.
The Header Bar
The header bar runs across the top of the window. It contains:
- File, Tools, and Preferences menus — Access all app functions from these dropdown menus
- Home button — Returns to the Home screen (shown when a pattern is open)
- Filename display — Shows the current file name, an asterisk (*) if there are unsaved changes, and the canvas dimensions (e.g., "pattern.stitchalot - 150 x 200")
- Stitch Tracker toggle — Enter or exit Stitch Tracker mode for tracking your stitching progress
- Version number — Displays the current app version
On Windows, the header bar includes custom window controls (Minimize, Maximize, Close) on the right side. On macOS, the app uses the native title bar and system menu bar.
The Left Toolbar
The left toolbar is a vertical strip of tool buttons. This is where you select your drawing tool. The toolbar includes:
- Drawing tools: Pencil, Eraser, Fill, Color Swap
- Shape tools: Line, Point Line, Rectangle, Ellipse
- Selection tools: Select/Move, Area Select
- Text tool: Add lettering to your design
- Navigation: Pan tool
- Actions: Undo, Redo, Zoom In, Zoom Out, Fit to Window
- Display: Grid toggle, Preview
Each tool has a single-key shortcut (for example, P for Pencil, E for Eraser). See the Keyboard Shortcuts page for the full list.
You can customize which tools appear in the toolbar and whether text labels are shown below the icons. Go to Preferences > Toolbar Visibility to configure this.
The toolbar can be collapsed to give more space to the canvas.
The Central Canvas
The canvas is the main area where your design lives. This is where you draw, edit, and view your pattern.
- Rulers run along the top and left edges, showing measurements in squares, inches, or millimeters depending on your settings
- Grid lines help you see individual stitch cells (toggle with the Grid button in the toolbar)
- Center marker — A green crosshair at the center of the canvas, useful for positioning (can be toggled in Preferences)
You can zoom, pan, and scroll the canvas to navigate your design. See Navigating the Canvas for details.
The Right Sidebar
The right sidebar contains three collapsible panels:
Layers Panel
The Layers panel shows all layers in your design, with the top layer listed first. For each layer you can:
- Toggle visibility (show/hide)
- Lock the layer to prevent accidental edits
- Rename the layer
- Reorder layers using the up/down arrows
- Duplicate, merge, or delete layers
See the Understanding Layers section for more details.
Thread Library
The Thread Library section lets you browse thread brands (DMC, Anchor, Kreinik) and add colors to your palette. You can search by color name or number.
Color Palette
The Color Palette shows all the colors currently in your design, displayed as a grid of swatches. Click a color to select it for drawing. Each swatch can display a symbol overlay for creating black-and-white charts.
Collapsing Panels
Both the left toolbar and right sidebar can be collapsed to maximize the canvas area. This is especially useful on smaller screens or when you want a cleaner view of your design.