Monica Knits

I've been using Pattern Maker^TM for cross-stitch software for color work since 1999, because it is quick, straightforward, versatile and allows me to create custom colors, which is important since I use it for crochet, knitting and cross-stitch color design. The software eliminates the tedium of yarn color selection, editing, and creating materials lists and allows you instead to focus on the creative and fun design aspects. It frees you to be spontaneous. In knitting, it can be used for color charts as well as duplicate stitch and cross-stitch embellishments. I used it for the improved version of the "Rocking Horse Bib" design and the flower spray at left. Read more...

Symbol ChartIn the (thankfully) distant past I used to draw my designs on graph paper and color them with pencils or paint them on watercolor paper and overlay an acetate grid. Watercolor sketches were quick, but not as quick as scanning the sketch and importing it into this software.

Version 2You can import images, your own sketches, illustrations or photographs or use the library of images that comes with the software and print out color graphs or cross-stitch symbol charts, or design on the fly and experiment with colors. I particularly like the way you can quickly change a yarn color throughout the design, or flood in a color. Adding backstitches and a French Knot eye, as in the Rocking Horse Bib, is easy with this tool, as is editing.

Floss ListEarlier I wrote an article: Using a Spreadsheet to Chart Colors, since spreadsheets are a pretty universal business tool that most people can access. I redid (from scratch) the rocking horse bib with the Pattern Maker software to evaluate the two approaches. Although the spreadsheet had been convenient for charting lace patterns, for color charting, the specialized software is preferred for the following reasons. I am only listing features that can also be used in knitwear design.

1) speed of design and coloring, one mouse-hand point-and-click operation
2) ease of changing gauge or resolution and seeing the results (great for what-if studies)
3) import / export capabilities
4) backstitch, cross-stitch, french knots (and now over 50 specialty stitches)
5) library of clipart images and fonts (if you don't want to design your own)
6) custom color capability and ease of editing
7) materials list and ability to print solid, symbolic or stitch patterns and floss (aka yarn) list.

I use the standard version of the software, although there is a professional version with more extensive features. available. The software has color palettes pre-loaded for a number of popular cross-stitch floss brands including DMC, Anchor and J&P coats. I use it in conjunction with my DMC color card, and yarn color cards when I am designing. With knitting yarns I pick the closest DMC yarn color and then edit it to approximate my knitting yarn.

Summary: I love the product and it paid for itself in time saved and tedium averted. It is probably time to upgrade, since there are new tempting features which I could use. One other noteable feature is that the software I've been using has worked through many versions of Windows software, without a hitch. If you're interested, the company allows you to test drive a trial version for 4 days and sells versions for several MS operating systems.