Modular tool for design of self-folding knit fabrics

A system for designing a knitted textile or fabric, the system comprising:

• a computing platform including at least one processor and a memory;
• and
• a fabric design tool comprising computer executable instructions stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor for displaying, to a user, blocks representing individual stitches, receiving graphical input from the user regarding a knit pattern comprised of different types of individual stitches to be included in a textile or fabric design, wherein receiving graphical input includes allowing the user to graphically lay out the blocks in a desired pattern graphically displaying the desired pattern as a grid of the blocks, selecting edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators based on stitch pattern conditions of the displayed pattern and a plurality of rules that specify edge rolling and/or folding indicators for different stitch pattern conditions, where the stitch pattern conditions include orientations of edges of segments of stitches of a given type and orientations of boundaries between segments of stitches of different types, applying the selected edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators to the displayed pattern, wherein the edge rolling and/or folding indicators respectively and graphically illustrate predicted edge rolling and folding behaviors of a physical textile or fabric.