crosstitch+software

Software for cross-stitch patterns is also used for bobbin lace patterns. The main principle: Use French knot stitches for the dots and backstitches for the lines that represent pairs. You can use colours for the lines to denote the standard codes for lace stitches. [|an overview of available software]

See the table in the grid tutorials to set the stitch width and height for a specific angle. Below a few notes on specific cross stitch products in random order. See the menu for other useful software.

[|Denise Mikkelson] says about [|PCStitch]: "I set the grid for twice the size I want, for example, if I need 12ct, I set the grid for 24 to the inch. I use every other intersection on the grid. My program has a flexible backstitch feature, for filling in speciality stitches, like rose ground and such.

When I print it out, on card stock, I eliminate the grid, which just leaves the dots and lines, then I cover it with clear contact paper, and prick in the dots. This method came from a lot of trial and error, but I find it saves a lot of steps, and is much more accurate. "

Esther Perry adds:" With a different width and height of the stitches, the dots become oval. " On Arachnes '[|PC aids for lacemakers]', Louisa aka Damselfly says about [|Pattern Maker]: "...you cannot make true curves but fans etc. can be plotted fairly accurately by placing the dots carefully on the correctly-sized grid. Pattern Maker is a Windows program, supports OLE, and imports and exports in several file formats. I've imported a pricking (scanned and saved as a TIFF) underneath the grid and used it as a template, plotting on top of it and changing things as I pleased."

Esther Perry adds: "Height and width of the stitches are adjustable, so it is also possible to make accurate designs for example Bucks point. To get fine pin points use few stitches per cm, but then you see only a small section of your pattern on your screen . "