[NFB-Blind-Crafters] Notes on using Ravelry's iPhone app Alpaca

[mother27dragon at gmail.com]

Thank you for this.  I couldn't get on the class.

 

Take care,

ReNae

 

 

From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 7:22 AM
To: 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
Cc: carcione at access.net
Subject: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Notes on using Ravelry's iPhone app Alpaca

 

Here are my notes on using Alpaca, an iPhone app for Ravelry.com.  The notes
are pasted below my signature and also attached.Any additions are welcome.

Tracy

 

Using the ravelry.com iPhone app Alpaca

I found the Alpaca app by searching for Ravelry on the app store.  Searching
for Alpaca also finds it.  In both searches, it was not the first thing on
the page.  The app is free.

The first time I opened the app, it asked for my Ravelry ID and password,
and it has kept me logged in since then.

 

On the Home screen, it shows what's popular currently.  It shows the pattern
author and the pattern name, and you can tap on anything to find out more. 

If you look at a pattern, the Back button is on the top left of the screen.
Along the bottom of any screen are tabs for Home, Notebook, Search,
Messages, and Shops.  

the screen are tabs for Home, Notebook, Search, Messages, and Shops.  

 

I chose Search.

Once in the search screen, there are several pattern filters offered.  I
could choose the category knitting, free pattern, and then clothing or
accessory or whatever, and even more within those.  Then I choose Save, and
it saves my choices, then I hit Back to go back to the search screen.  

If I decide I don't want any of the many filters, I hit cancel instead of
save, then go back to the main search screen.

 

WithinSearch, I chose Layout List, but I don't know if it matters.  I
double-tapped the search field to put it into edit mode, then I did the
magic tap, 2 fingers far apart tapped twice, to start dictation.  I said
tree of life written, then magic tapped again to get out of dictation.  The
search button is on the bottom right, by the keyboard. I could also have
typed with the keyboard, or used my NLS eReader to type in my search terms.

It showed me a list of results, like on the website, and I tapped on one we
looked at on the website so we could see the differences.  

The website has a list of things used in the pattern, including English,
written, charted, and more.  The app does not have a list.  It has the same
notes as the website, which can be very comprehensive, or not.

The price of the pattern is one of the first things on the screen, and next
to the price is a link to download the pattern.

I used the rotor to select headings, then swiped down to where it said yarn,
then began swiping through.  When I come to notes, I can let it read the
whole long note all at once without stopping, or I can stop it and use the
rotor to select lines, then swipe down one line at a time.  

After the notes are comments, with people asking questions or saying how
much they like the pattern. 

 

After exploring a pattern we were familiar with, we went back and put Screen
Reader into the search field.  Renee van Hoy told us that would bring up
accessible patterns, and it did.  We explored the first pattern that came
up, and, at the bottom of the notes, it had all the ways that the pattern
was accessible to blind people or people with low vision. 

Pretty cool!

 

The app doesn't have all the info that the website has, but, since it's on
the phone, it could be easier to show things to other people and ask
questions.  Also, any download is on the phone and can be carried around
anywhere you go.

 

There are other apps for Ravelry on the app store, but I haven't tried them.
The highest-rated is Rabbit, "Ravelry on the Hop".

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