Tip for patterns with a lot of symbols

jillyann

Oh now i understand. Thank you for explaining that to me. I didnt know you could do that. Maybe i should start stitching near my computer then. I pretty new to repainted charts. Thanks for the great info.

terishte

                               
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jillyann

                               
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2015-1-13 07:33

                               
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Oh now i understand. Thank you for explaining that to me. I didnt know you could do that. Maybe i sh ...

I cannot repaint patterns myself (haven't learned it yet). So I deal with difficult patterns in my own way.

I recently finished a Stoney Creek design and they are notorious for having too many and scattered hard to find symbols, especially on grass and flowers there is a real symbol mess. My method is:

- stitch by square (10 x 10 symbols), not by color. That way you will have to change thread too often (if you use 1 needle), but otherwise you will never be lost and will see symbols a lot easier when your working area is small.

- mark symbols with colored pencils

- memorize which symbol corresponds to which color. This one may be difficult but is worth doing. There is a logic behind colors (for example in my design I had mint greens for grass, 500, 501, 502, 503 and I memorized them and when I saw there is grass I already knew the logic and stitched it all very fast no matter the scattered symbols).

Countedout

I like your system Jillyann. I spend a lot of time looking on my needle minder for the symbol.  I list the symbols in numerical color order, straight from the chart's symbol key.

And of course because it's me that's drawn the symbol on the card they're usually a pretty warped version of the actual symbol too. I do find after about the first couple of weeks I get to know the colors and symbols better and it takes less time. I still get caught out though when two symbols are too close to each other, and they inevitably get placed together at some point!

siennaX

Very clever.  I'm going to try this with my next big project.  Thanks for the tip.

jillyann

                               
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siennaX

                               
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2015-2-19 08:16

                               
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Very clever.  I'm going to try this with my next big project.  Thanks for the tip.

You are very
Welcome

popsjens

i usse different colors of highlighters on the chart, so i cann sea wath i have done

rostandr

Great tip, I'll try to use this with my parking technique

KnittingAngel

i don't cross stitch but there are a lot of symbols in knitting charts. and i always make a separate chart and cover it with clear type. this way it doesn't get all messed up with all of the handling.  

jillyann

                               
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terishte

                               
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2015-1-16 15:09

                               
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I cannot repaint patterns myself (haven't learned it yet). So I deal with difficult patterns in my ...

Thank you so much
for all your wonderful tips. I am afraid to stitch by square. Last time i tried that i could actually make out the individual squares in my finished work.

Mallardduck

The highlight the colour on the chart tip works a treat (for me anyway)