Building Patterns

Pattern Builder gives you several tools for constructing decorative wrap patterns. Crosspoints form the foundation of most designs, while Single Threads, End Wraps, and Multi-Thread tools give you additional control over how the pattern is built.

This guide explains the primary building tools and the settings that control where and how each element is placed.

Crosspoints

Crosspoints represent locations where threads cross within your pattern. Each Crosspoint is positioned using coordinates and includes settings that control its placement, direction, and thread assignment.

When you add a Crosspoint, Pattern Builder displays it immediately in the Builder workspace so you can see how it contributes to the overall design.

Crosspoint Position

Each Crosspoint uses two coordinate positions to define each single thread that makes up the Crosspoint:

X1 / Y1 — defines one thread of the Crosspoint.
X2 / Y2 — defines the other thread of the Crosspoint.

Together, these coordinates determine where the Crosspoint is positioned within the pattern.

Placement Direction

The Crosspoint direction determines which way the pattern progresses as additional passes are created.

Depending on the design, the Crosspoint can progress to the Left, Right, Above, or Below.

Color Target

When assigning a thread color to a Crosspoint, you can choose where that color is applied: the Left side, Right side, or Both.

This makes it possible to use different colors within a Crosspoint and build multi-color designs.

Single Threads

Single Threads let you add an individual thread to your pattern without creating a Crosspoint.

They can be used to add detail, extend a design, fill an area, or create thread placement that doesn't require two threads to cross.

Single Thread Position

A Single Thread is positioned using one coordinate point:

X1 / Y1 — defines the thread.

These coordinates determine where the Single Thread appears within the pattern.

Left and Right Single Threads

The Left and Right options describe the direction of the Single Thread, not which side of the pattern it must be placed on.

Left Single Thread — starts at the upper left and travels down toward the right (from butt to tip).
Right Single Thread — starts at the upper right and travels down toward the left (from tip to butt).

Either type of Single Thread can be placed to the left or right of an existing thread. Choose Left or Right based on the direction you want the new thread to travel, then position it where needed within your design.

Thread Color

You can assign a color to each Single Thread you add to your pattern.

This allows individual threads to coordinate with the rest of your design or introduce an additional color where needed.

End Wraps

End Wraps create horizontal wraps that extend to the left or right from a selected starting point. Although they're called End Wraps in Pattern Builder, they can be used for much more than finishing the ends of a decorative wrap.

End Wraps can be used to:

Finish the ends of a decorative wrap.
Create guide wraps.
Add bands or sections of color.
Create fade or shade-style wraps using multiple colors.

End Wrap Position

An End Wrap is positioned using a coordinate point:

X1 / Y1 — defines the starting position of the End Wrap.

These coordinates determine where the End Wrap begins within the pattern.

Left and Right End Wraps

Left and Right End Wraps are constructed the same way. The Left and Right options simply determine the direction the End Wrap travels from its starting position.

Left End Wrap — travels to the left.
Right End Wrap — travels to the right.

Choose Left or Right based on the direction you want the End Wrap to extend.

Thread Color

You can assign a color to each End Wrap you add to your pattern.

Because each End Wrap can have its own color, you can combine multiple End Wraps to plan guide wraps, build bands of color, or create gradual color transitions such as fade and shade-style wraps.

Multi-Thread

Multi-Thread lets you add multiple threads to your pattern at one time instead of creating each thread individually.

You can choose how the threads are placed, how many threads are included in the sequence, and where the sequence begins.

Placement Mode

Placement Mode determines how the threads in the sequence are added:

Same Direction — adds all threads in the same direction.
Alternate Out — alternates threads on each side of the pattern, working outward.
Alternate In — alternates threads on each side of the pattern, working inward.

Direction and Quantity

Use Direction to choose the direction of the sequence and Quantity to choose how many threads you want Pattern Builder to create.

Starting Position

The X / Y Starting Position determines where the first thread in the sequence is placed.

This gives you control over where the Multi-Thread sequence begins instead of requiring the sequence to start at a predetermined location.

Building a Sequence from Existing Threads

Multi-Thread can also use selected threads already in your pattern as part of the sequence.

Select the threads or Crosspoints you want to include, then use Multi-Thread to build the sequence from those selected elements. This makes it easier to create a larger sequence that works with threads you've already placed rather than rebuilding them individually.

When your settings are ready, select Create Sequence to add the Multi-Thread sequence to your pattern.