Cross stitch design dilemma

I've been dipping my toes into the cross stitch pool lately, after an
absence of more than a decade spent solely with needlepoint. To be frank, I
never attained the mastery level of cross stitch to which so many of you
belong, but I did produce some pieces which were pleasing to me and others.

I now want to produce pieces utilizing various cross stitch alphabet designs
and favorite pithy phrases and maxims, and therein lies my problem. The use
of graph paper to sketch designs seemed at first to be the right approach,
but I find myself starting a design in pencil, only to realize fairly
quickly that I misjudged the center of the first line of the design. I
regroup and either erase or begin on another sheet of paper, and then, if
I'm lucky enough to get the first line down, the next line presents the same
problem as the first, with an additional problem thrown in for good
measure - the distance from the first line to the second, which I nearly
always misjudge. The erasing and starting over are maddening, and I'm not
simply "eyeballing" the line centers and distances from one line to the
next - I'm actually counting x's in each letter's design to correlate with
the squares in the fabric.

Is there a less painful method of producing a design comprised of only
words?

Betty in Georgia

wrote:
I've been dipping my toes into the cross stitch pool lately, after an
absence of more than a decade spent solely with needlepoint. To be frank, I
never attained the mastery level of cross stitch to which so many of you
belong, but I did produce some pieces which were pleasing to me and others.

I now want to produce pieces utilizing various cross stitch alphabet designs
and favorite pithy phrases and maxims, and therein lies my problem. The use
of graph paper to sketch designs seemed at first to be the right approach,
but I find myself starting a design in pencil, only to realize fairly
quickly that I misjudged the center of the first line of the design. I
regroup and either erase or begin on another sheet of paper, and then, if
I'm lucky enough to get the first line down, the next line presents the same
problem as the first, with an additional problem thrown in for good
measure - the distance from the first line to the second, which I nearly
always misjudge. The erasing and starting over are maddening, and I'm not
simply "eyeballing" the line centers and distances from one line to the
next - I'm actually counting x's in each letter's design to correlate with
the squares in the fabric.

Is there a less painful method of producing a design comprised of only
words?

Betty in Georgia






Couldn't you cut apart the rows of words and then tape them back
together so they create a pleasing appearance?

Addie

wrote:

Is there a less painful method of producing a design comprised of only
words?

Betty in Georgia



If I'm working strictly on paper, I graph each line separately, then
find the center of each line, then affix each cut-out line to a new
sheet of graph paper with the center line marked on the second (backing)
sheet.

Not pretty enough to be sold, but suffices for my own use.

--
Karen C - California

Finished 4/8/06 - needlepoint calendar canvas for June
WIP: Getting all the UFOs done, July birthstone, Flowers of
Hawaii (Jeanette Crews) for ME!!!, Farmers Market (TIAG#8)
Retrieved from UFO pile: Marbek's Snow Angel
LTR: Fireman's Prayer (#2), Amid Amish Life, Angel of Autumn,
Calif Sampler, Holiday Snowglobe

www.CFSfacts.org where we give you the facts and dispel the myths
Myths, with research cites: http://www.aacfs.org/images/pdfs/myths.pdf

See my designs exclusively at www.TyWolfeDesigns.com

Editor/Proofreader http://hometown.aol.com/kmc528/KMC.html

wrote:
I've been dipping my toes into the cross stitch pool lately, after an
absence of more than a decade spent solely with needlepoint. To be frank, I
never attained the mastery level of cross stitch to which so many of you
belong, but I did produce some pieces which were pleasing to me and others.

I now want to produce pieces utilizing various cross stitch alphabet designs
and favorite pithy phrases and maxims, and therein lies my problem. The use
of graph paper to sketch designs seemed at first to be the right approach,
but I find myself starting a design in pencil, only to realize fairly
quickly that I misjudged the center of the first line of the design. I
regroup and either erase or begin on another sheet of paper, and then, if
I'm lucky enough to get the first line down, the next line presents the same
problem as the first, with an additional problem thrown in for good
measure - the distance from the first line to the second, which I nearly
always misjudge. The erasing and starting over are maddening, and I'm not
simply "eyeballing" the line centers and distances from one line to the
next - I'm actually counting x's in each letter's design to correlate with
the squares in the fabric.

Is there a less painful method of producing a design comprised of only
words?

Betty in Georgia

Whenever I want to do such a thing, I go to the trusty old computer,
find the function key that will centre stuff - it does not come to mind
right now - but I have a bunch of little lines in a toolbar at the top
of the page and when I click that I can write whatever I want, end line
whenever I want and so on - it will centre each line for you ... it
helps a bit more when you're trying to graph something out on paper -
at least you know what letters should be under what letters - man,
that's probably as clear as mud. I know there's graph paper on this
old machine somewhere too, I just haven't taken the time to figure it
all out. I know there are people who are much more computer literate
than me that could probably tell you exactly how to do it - beg a
little. :-))

Sharon (N.B.)

Sharon wrote:

I now want to produce pieces utilizing various cross stitch alphabet designs
and favorite pithy phrases and maxims, and therein lies my problem. The use
of graph paper to sketch designs seemed at first to be the right approach,
but I find myself starting a design in pencil, only to realize fairly
quickly that I misjudged the center of the first line of the design. I
regroup and either erase or begin on another sheet of paper, and then, if
I'm lucky enough to get the first line down, the next line presents the same
problem as the first, with an additional problem thrown in for good
measure -

What works for me is to use 4x4 paper (4 squares to the inch) to do my
initial spacing. Once I've gotten my letters/words looking okay to me,
then I count and center/transfer to smaller graph paper. I work in pen
and if I "blow" a line/letter, I'll just start over down a mite --
So if I'm writing Mother for instance, and mess up the "t" I'll just
move down the paper (below and one space over from the "o" for
instance) until I get to the end of the word.

AFTER the lines are complete, then I transfer to the real pattern.

Here's My Heart:
http://www.janice142.com/JoyPage/Needlecase.htm
That's a Patrick's Woods design, with wording replaced, beading changed
a bit -- there were a few tweaks to make it mine. Still, it was a fun
pattern, though quite complicated.

Also, when working with "jumbles" so to speak, where all the letters
are sort of mish-mashed together, then I use pencil and fill in the
rows that don't work out perfectly with fancy stitches -- perhaps a row
of long-armed cross-stitches or maybe a miniature geometric design of
some sort. Nothing fancy, but it does even things up.

Besides, this is supposed to be fun. My stuff might not be perfect but
I have a perfectly wonderful time making it. (grin)

Happy Stitching!

--
Joan and Mike O'Brien

Any day you can sit up and take nourishment
is a good day, anything beyond that is a bonus.

"Sharon" wrote in message
ups.com...

wrote:
I've been dipping my toes into the cross stitch pool lately, after an
absence of more than a decade spent solely with needlepoint. To be
frank, I
never attained the mastery level of cross stitch to which so many of you
belong, but I did produce some pieces which were pleasing to me and
others.

I now want to produce pieces utilizing various cross stitch alphabet
designs
and favorite pithy phrases and maxims, and therein lies my problem. The
use
of graph paper to sketch designs seemed at first to be the right
approach,
but I find myself starting a design in pencil, only to realize fairly
quickly that I misjudged the center of the first line of the design. I
regroup and either erase or begin on another sheet of paper, and then, if
I'm lucky enough to get the first line down, the next line presents the
same
problem as the first, with an additional problem thrown in for good
measure - the distance from the first line to the second, which I nearly
always misjudge. The erasing and starting over are maddening, and I'm
not
simply "eyeballing" the line centers and distances from one line to the
next - I'm actually counting x's in each letter's design to correlate
with
the squares in the fabric.

Is there a less painful method of producing a design comprised of only
words?

Betty in Georgia

Whenever I want to do such a thing, I go to the trusty old computer,
find the function key that will centre stuff - it does not come to mind
right now - but I have a bunch of little lines in a toolbar at the top
of the page and when I click that I can write whatever I want, end line
whenever I want and so on - it will centre each line for you ... it
helps a bit more when you're trying to graph something out on paper -
at least you know what letters should be under what letters - man,
that's probably as clear as mud. I know there's graph paper on this
old machine somewhere too, I just haven't taken the time to figure it
all out. I know there are people who are much more computer literate
than me that could probably tell you exactly how to do it - beg a
little. :-))

Sharon (N.B.)

Now, once you use sharon's idea in place and have a printed copy with
whatever colours you would like it's time for sneaky step two.

Have a sheet of graph paper in the size you want (4 to the inch or ten or
whatever appeals to you) transfered to an overhead projector plastic sheet.
Place the plastic over your print of your project and photocopy using a
colour copier at your local business outlet.

Prepare yourself a table of letters where you write above and beside
each letter , how many x it has in the width and height. than count
your threads ,,, calculate how many x you have to have for your width
, and than distract this number from the number of the threads in the
cloth , than divide the rest into number of threads in space between
letters ,,,
mirjam
I've been dipping my toes into the cross stitch pool lately, after an
absence of more than a decade spent solely with needlepoint. To be frank, I
never attained the mastery level of cross stitch to which so many of you
belong, but I did produce some pieces which were pleasing to me and others.

I now want to produce pieces utilizing various cross stitch alphabet designs
and favorite pithy phrases and maxims, and therein lies my problem. The use
of graph paper to sketch designs seemed at first to be the right approach,
but I find myself starting a design in pencil, only to realize fairly
quickly that I misjudged the center of the first line of the design. I
regroup and either erase or begin on another sheet of paper, and then, if
I'm lucky enough to get the first line down, the next line presents the same
problem as the first, with an additional problem thrown in for good
measure - the distance from the first line to the second, which I nearly
always misjudge. The erasing and starting over are maddening, and I'm not
simply "eyeballing" the line centers and distances from one line to the
next - I'm actually counting x's in each letter's design to correlate with
the squares in the fabric.

Is there a less painful method of producing a design comprised of only
words?

Betty in Georgia

Many, many thanks to all for the wonderful suggestions and tips, and a
special thanks to Jessie for the private email loaded with recommendations
and tips. I can now see myself being extricated from this quagmire. This
is a wonderful group of knowledgeable, helpful souls.

Betty in Georgia

"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" wrote in message
...
Prepare yourself a table of letters where you write above and beside
each letter , how many x it has in the width and height. than count
your threads ,,, calculate how many x you have to have for your width
, and than distract this number from the number of the threads in the
cloth , than divide the rest into number of threads in space between
letters ,,,
mirjam
I've been dipping my toes into the cross stitch pool lately, after an
absence of more than a decade spent solely with needlepoint. To be frank,
I
never attained the mastery level of cross stitch to which so many of you
belong, but I did produce some pieces which were pleasing to me and
others.

I now want to produce pieces utilizing various cross stitch alphabet
designs
and favorite pithy phrases and maxims, and therein lies my problem. The
use
of graph paper to sketch designs seemed at first to be the right approach,
but I find myself starting a design in pencil, only to realize fairly
quickly that I misjudged the center of the first line of the design. I
regroup and either erase or begin on another sheet of paper, and then, if
I'm lucky enough to get the first line down, the next line presents the
same
problem as the first, with an additional problem thrown in for good
measure - the distance from the first line to the second, which I nearly
always misjudge. The erasing and starting over are maddening, and I'm not
simply "eyeballing" the line centers and distances from one line to the
next - I'm actually counting x's in each letter's design to correlate with
the squares in the fabric.

Is there a less painful method of producing a design comprised of only
words?

Betty in Georgia

Mike & Joan O'Brien wrote:

Have a sheet of graph paper in the size you want (4 to the inch or ten or
whatever appeals to you) transfered to an overhead projector plastic sheet.
Place the plastic over your print of your project and photocopy using a
colour copier at your local business outlet.

Or even easier, is have some pre-printed graph paper, put that into the
copier and copy your design right onto the graph. No messing with the
plastic sheet. I've done this a number of times. There is a bit of
futzing with how you want to do edges of things but, in general, it's
not too bad. IME, that is. I've even taken pictures (nothing
copyrighted) from the 'net, copied them onto a word document, printed
them on graph paper and stitched them.

You can see I couple of projects I did this way if you look at my
webshots album:
http://tinyurl.com/hhokr The projects are the fonts on "Road to
hell" (about half way down), the horse on my @badge (near the bottom)
and the chair on the bookmark at the end.

HTH and good luck!

Joan

Joan, thanks for your great ideas and photos. I'm so envious of your
talent - I'll never get to your level of expertise. I'm chomping at the bit
now to get going with all the help I've received from you and the others who
have been kind enough to provide pointers. Thanks ever so much.

Betty

"Joan E." wrote in message
oups.com...

Mike & Joan O'Brien wrote:

Have a sheet of graph paper in the size you want (4 to the inch or ten or
whatever appeals to you) transfered to an overhead projector plastic
sheet.
Place the plastic over your print of your project and photocopy using a
colour copier at your local business outlet.

Or even easier, is have some pre-printed graph paper, put that into the
copier and copy your design right onto the graph. No messing with the
plastic sheet. I've done this a number of times. There is a bit of
futzing with how you want to do edges of things but, in general, it's
not too bad. IME, that is. I've even taken pictures (nothing
copyrighted) from the 'net, copied them onto a word document, printed
them on graph paper and stitched them.

You can see I couple of projects I did this way if you look at my
webshots album:
http://tinyurl.com/hhokr The projects are the fonts on "Road to
hell" (about half way down), the horse on my @badge (near the bottom)
and the chair on the bookmark at the end.

HTH and good luck!

Joan