Reviews of Cross Stitch Charting Software

I have been doing a little more cross stitch design this year, and while I generally start by drawing out my patterns by hand on graph paper, eventually I want them to be prettier and easier to read than a hand drawn chart would be.

Because I’m also a knitwear designer, I actually bought a program that makes knitting charts, which I can use for really basic charts. And by really basic I mean single color, whole stitches only. I could show blocks of different colors but they wouldn’t be different symbols if someone wanted to print the chart in black and white. I also can’t add things like back stitching or French knots.

So I’ve been thinking about whether I need to get some design software that was specifically made for cross stitch. Luckily lots of professional designers have used cross stitch programs before me and are willing to share what they have learned.

Gathered asked five professional cross stitch designers to try and review five different cross stitch design programs, including one specifically for Macs, two for PCs, one that’s an app, and one, StitchFiddle (probably the most popular one out there) that’s a cloud-based program you access via a website.

It’s not quite the same as getting reviews of all the programs from the same person, but these reviews are good overviews of the features of the programs. They touch on the different thread and symbol options, key features, how importing photos into the program works and their verdict on how the program works and who it is best for. The prices are listed in pounds since Gathered is a UK publication.

You can check out all the reviews on their website. It was interesting for me to read all of these. Since I use both a Mac and a PC, I could use any of these, but I have to figure out where I’d want to design more often to determine which one is best to buy (or I could use StitchFiddle anywhere).

If you have experience with any of these cross stitch design patterns I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo from Cross Stitch Professional Platinum, via Gathered]

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We’ve reached the portion of summer where I live where the heat is just an insult. I don’t want to go outside for any reason and the only thing I want to do is think about how it’s going to be fall soon and I’m going to need my sweaters again.

If you need a pretty little knit to tide you over until you can start wearing sweaters again, might I suggest Tosca from Berroco?

This highly textured cardigan design by Alison Green is stunning in a jewel tone but I think it would look great in any color you like. It actually calls for a Pima cotton yarn, which is great for the beginning of fall when you’re just starting to need an extra layer in the cool of the morning or the evening (or as a defense against air conditioning).

This intermediate knitting pattern features a split hem and then is worked flat to the underarms in one piece. The parts are then worked separately to finish up the top, and the sleeves are knit flat and sewn in and seamed after the body has been sewn together.

The pattern includes 12 sizes, with a finished bust measurement ranging from 38 to 72.5 inches, or 96.5 to 184 cm. The pattern notes don’t say how much ease is intended but it sounds like a lot. You can always pick a size based on how much ease you would like.

The stitch pattern is a pretty lattice cable that includes yarn overs and decreases as well as simple twists. The pattern is both written and charted so you can work whichever way you like.

This looks like a great cardigan that’s a little bit fancy but still not too difficult to knit that can get you through to the fall in knitting it and then you can enjoy wearing it all season long.

Grab the free pattern from Berroco.

[Photo: Berroco]

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Book Review – Wanderlust: 46 Modern Knits for Bohemian Style

Celebrate Fall with Leaf Knitting Patterns

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