Guide
How to add captions to a sewing, knitting or crochet video on iPhone
Updated
To add captions to a sewing, knitting or crochet video on iPhone, explain each step while the machine is stopped and say stitch names in full words, open the clip in CaptionAddr, let it transcribe the English speech on the iPhone, fix stitch and fabric terms in Edit Captions, place the captions clear of your hands and the work and export a captioned copy to Photos. Videos up to 2 minutes are free; CaptionAddr Pro covers up to 30 minutes.
Why caption sewing and knitting videos
Sewing, knitting, crochet and embroidery videos, such as a stitch tutorial, a pattern walkthrough, a mending fix or a finished-project reveal, are often watched with the sound off and replayed slowly while the viewer works along. Captions let them catch each stitch name and row instruction, and they help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This guide is for needlework and fiber crafts. For building, repair and other hands-on projects, see the DIY tutorial guide; for drawing and painting, the art process guide. CaptionAddr burns the captions into the picture, so they show wherever you post.
Caption a sewing or knitting video on iPhone
- Talk with the machine stopped. Explain the next seam or row, then sew, or record a voiceover afterward. CaptionAddr doesn’t remove background noise, so a running machine can cover your words.
- Choose the video. Tap Select Video in CaptionAddr and pick the clip with Apple’s Photos picker. Vertical, square and landscape videos all work, and the video keeps its shape.
- Let the captions generate. Captions start as soon as the video opens; keep the app open; the English speech is transcribed on your iPhone, not on a server.
- Fix stitch and fabric terms. Stitch names, yarn weights, needle and hook sizes, fabric names and measurements are the words most likely to come out wrong. Correct them in Edit Captions. You can edit, delete and reorder words, with undo and redo.
- Keep your hands in view. Choose one of the 20 fonts and a size that reads on a phone, turn on the tinted background over patterned fabric or busy yarn, and drag the captions to the top of an overhead shot so they don’t cover the stitch.
- Export and post. Tap Export Video to save the captioned copy to Photos, then upload it to TikTok, Reels, Shorts or any other app. The watermark is off unless you turn it on.
Tips for sewing and knitting captions
- Say abbreviations in full. Say “knit two together” rather than reading the letters from a pattern. Letters said one at a time are easy to mishear, and viewers new to the craft can read the full words.
- Delete the counting. If you count stitches out loud, the numbers fill the captions. Delete the counting run in Edit Captions; it still plays in the audio.
- Announce each row or round. Say “row three” or “next round” before you start it, because the app doesn’t add titles or row counters.
- Name your materials out loud. Say the yarn weight, the needle or hook size and the fabric as you pick them up, because captions come from your speech, not from labels.
- Keep your original. CaptionAddr exports a new copy and leaves the original clip in your library.
Limits
- Speech only. CaptionAddr captions spoken English. It doesn’t read pattern charts, yarn labels or text shown on screen.
- No audio changes. The app doesn’t remove machine noise or change the audio; deleting a word removes it from the captions only.
- Captions only. The app doesn’t add patterns, materials lists, row counters or titles, and you can only fix, delete or reorder the transcribed words.
- English only. CaptionAddr transcribes English speech and doesn’t translate.
- Single-word captions. Words appear one at a time, timed automatically, always in uppercase; there are no speaker labels, full-sentence layouts or manual per-word timing.
- Length. Free covers videos up to 2 minutes; CaptionAddr Pro covers up to 30 minutes. CaptionAddr doesn’t trim or split clips, so cut a long project into shorter clips in Photos first. The App Store shows the current Pro price in your currency.
- Burned-in captions only. There is no SRT, VTT or text export, and the app doesn’t post to social platforms.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add captions to a sewing or knitting video on iPhone?
Explain each step with the machine stopped, open the clip in CaptionAddr, generate captions on your iPhone, fix stitch and fabric terms in Edit Captions, drag the captions clear of your hands and export a captioned copy to Photos.
Will the sewing machine noise affect the captions?
It can. CaptionAddr doesn’t remove background noise, so talk between seams while the machine is stopped, then fix any misheard words in Edit Captions.
How do I keep my stitch counting out of the captions?
Delete the counted numbers in Edit Captions. They disappear from the captions but still play in the audio, because CaptionAddr doesn’t change or mute the audio.
Can I add the pattern or materials list to the captions?
No. Captions come from the speech in the video, and you can only fix, delete or reorder the transcribed words. Say each material out loud, or add a list in your post description.
My project video is longer than 2 minutes. What can I do?
Trim it or split it into shorter clips in Photos first, then caption each clip. CaptionAddr Pro covers videos up to 30 minutes.