🧶 Knitting Machine Punchcard Generator

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Generate punchcard die-cutting files from PCX and PNG image charts.

This uttility generates SVG files, usable in most diecutting machines, for punchcards for 12-stitch and 24-stitch punch card machines, from PCX and PNG images. A large library of PCX and PNG image charts are available from https://github.com/kevinlearnscoding/Machine-Knitters-Companion

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✨ Features

• 🎯 Generate SVG cut files for punchcards from PNG or PCX images
• 🧵 Supports 12-stitch and 24-stitch card widths
• 🔁 Layout modes: auto, motif, and repeat
• 📏 Vertical repeats for longer pattern runs
• 🧪 Batch processing from shell globs and stdin
• ⚙️ Threshold and inversion controls for image-to-punch mapping

🚀 Quick Start

Install python and Pillow dependency

python3 -m pip install Pillow

Determine what kind of punch card machine your using (12-stitch or 24-stich), how many repeats across the width of the card you want, and how many vertical repeats you want the card. Format your input as:

python3 punchcard-generator.py design.png 24 motif 6

Output file:

• design.punch.svg

For a full beginner walkthrough, see the QuickStart guide: QUICKSTART.md

📦 Requirements

• Python 3.8+
• Pillow (pip install Pillow)

🛠️ Usage

Basic

python3 punchcard-generator.py INPUT

Positional shorthand

python3 punchcard-generator.py INPUT [STITCHES] [LAYOUT] [REPEAT_HEIGHT]

Examples:

python3 punchcard-generator.py motif.pcx 24 motif 6
python3 punchcard-generator.py tile.png 12 repeat 4
python3 punchcard-generator.py design.png 24 auto 1

Batch examples

Shell glob batch:

python3 punchcard-generator.py *.pcx 24 motif 2 -d /path/to/output/dir

stdin batch:

find . -name "*.pcx" | python3 punchcard-generator.py --stitches 24 --layout motif --repeat-height 2

🧭 Common Options

• -o OUTPUT_PATH output directory
• -d RECREATE_DIRECTORIES recreate input directory structure in destination
• --stitches {12,24} card width (default 24)
• --layout {auto,motif,repeat} layout mode (default auto)
• --repeat-height N vertical repeats (default 1)
• --threshold 0-255 image threshold (default 255)
• --invert invert punched and non-punched spaces on the card
• --hole-ratio 0-1 hole size ratio (default 0.55)

🧠 Layout Tips

• motif: centers a design within the card width
• repeat: tiles design across width (design width must divide by card width)
• auto: picks motif or repeat based on width compatibility

🤝 Contributing

Ideas, bug reports, and PRs are welcome.

If you tweak behavior, updating both docs keeps things smooth for users:

• README.md
• QUICKSTART.md

🙌 Thanks

Built for makers, tinkerers, and knitters who love automation.