Loopsy - Crochet & Knitting

What it does

Loopsy is a digital toolkit for fiber artists, specifically those who crochet and knit. The app acts as a central hub to manage every aspect of the crafting hobby. Users can import and organize patterns from various sources, create projects to track their progress step-by-step, and catalog their physical inventory of yarn, hooks, and needles in a digital 'stash'. It also includes a suite of handy calculators and tools designed to solve common crafting problems.

Where it shines

Loopsy excels by deeply understanding the crafter's workflow and building features that solve real-world frustrations. The onboarding is a prime example, using a detailed quiz not just for personalization but to build an emotional narrative. The 'before/after' screens (00:51) perfectly capture the app's promise to bring order to creative chaos. Another highlight is the barcode scanner for adding yarn to your stash (12:15). It turns a tedious manual entry task into a simple, satisfying scan, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to reducing user friction. Finally, the 'Work Mode' (05:58) provides a focused environment for crafting with integrated timers and counters, keeping users in the app while they work on their physical projects.

UX highlights

Contextual Onboarding: The app's onboarding quiz feels purposeful, culminating in a personalized 'crafter persona' screen (01:49) that validates the user's input.
Frictionless Inventory Management: The ability to add yarn by scanning its barcode (12:15) is a standout feature that significantly simplifies stash organization.
Integrated Tools: A dedicated 'Tools' section (14:11) offers specialized utilities like a stitch calculator, unit converter, and color palette generator, adding value beyond simple project tracking.
Smart Pattern Generation: The app can transform static patterns into interactive, step-by-step guides (06:58), making complex projects easier to follow.
Granular Organization: Users can create custom folders for patterns (03:49) and add specific tags, allowing for highly personalized library management.
Detailed Work Sessions: The app logs work sessions with stats on time spent and progress made (07:20), providing a clear history of a project's development.

Monetization & growth

Loopsy uses a hard paywall with a free trial to monetize. After a lengthy and highly personalized onboarding quiz, the user is presented with a 7-day free trial offer (02:33). The screen clearly outlines the trial timeline, showing when the reminder will be sent and when billing begins, which helps build trust. The primary offer is a yearly plan, heavily discounted and framed as a low weekly cost to make it more appealing. A toggle allows users to explicitly opt into the free trial, making the choice feel deliberate.

Who it’s for

This app is built for dedicated hobbyist crafters, particularly knitters and crocheters, who manage multiple projects and materials. It appeals to users who are looking to move beyond simple notes or memory to a more structured system for organizing their craft. The feature set supports both beginners, who can benefit from interactive patterns and abbreviation guides, and seasoned makers, who need robust tools to manage a large stash and complex projects.

Notes & opportunities

While the app is feature-rich, the initial onboarding is quite long. This high investment of time is justified by the personalized summary, but it could be a drop-off point for more casual users. The app could potentially test a shorter onboarding path that gets users to the main interface faster. Additionally, while the pattern management is strong, the initial empty state of the 'Patterns' screen (02:55) could be enhanced with clearer prompts or template suggestions to guide the user's first action.