For most common weights of yarn, the gauge of the knit stitches is wider than they are tall. The inherent problem with creating knitting patterns from pictures or other printed material, is that knit stitches are not usually square, and hence cannot use straight grid/graph paper to create the charts accurately. Copying and sharing a chart with other stitchers is not allowed because it violates the designer's copyright.When creating your own pattern, you sometimes have a picture or design that needs to be converted into a knitting chart in order to be useful as a final pattern. If the chart symbols are particularly tiny, you can also enlarge it while photocopying.īUT - and this is a big BUT - be aware that you can photocopy a chart for your personal use only, and you should plan on destroying the copy when you are done with it. It also makes it easier to fold up the chart for on-the-go stitching. This is particularly true if you are planning on permanently marking up the chart with highlighter pens or similar. It can be useful to make a photocopy of your chart to use as a working copy. If you wait you might compound the error with additional stitches that are off target. Ripping out stitches is never fun, but when you realize you have gotten off track with your stitches, it is better to fix them right away. You can do this with highlighter pens or a pencil.
When you are done stitching an area, it can be helpful to mark off the completed stitches so you know what you have done. Move the magnet strips as you progress through the chart. You can use small magnets to hold the chart to the board (for example, a small white board or metal clipboard), and then use long flat magnet strips to mark your place. Other colors can be used to mark additional areas of interest.Īn alternative to highlighter tape is a metal board and magnets. Use another color to mark stitches you skipped and need to come back to. Use one color to mark your current area of stitching. You can use the tape to color-code your progress. It is also removable and repositionable, so it won't damage your chart. The tape comes in several different colors, and it is transparent, so you can read the chart through the tape. There are several techniques for keeping track of where you are stitching at the moment. For smaller patterns, it is easy enough to trace with your fingers to find the center, but for larger patterns you may wish to use a ruler and pen or pencil.Ģ.
This is so the design will be centered on the fabric when you are done, which makes framing and other forms of finishing easier.Īrrows at the top and side of the chart indicate the center points. In most cases, it is best to begin stitching a cross stitch design in the center.
#HOW TO ADD WORDS TO CROSS STITCH GRAPH HOW TO#
For more tips on how to read a cross stitch chart, check out this post. Whether your project is large or small, here are some tips for keeping track of where you are in a cross stitch chart. Keeping good track of where you are helps minimize mistakes and makes the stitching easier and faster. Cross stitch charts show you where to stitch and what colors to use, so it is important to be able to keep your place and know what to stitch next.