Introduction to PC Stitch�

• Design tool for creating counted cross-stitch patterns

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• Import of pictures

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• Free library of designs and online patterns

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• Large quantity of alphabet fonts

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Agenda

• Pros and cons of using PC Stitch
• Tour of the software
• Import a picture
• Gallery
• Questions?

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Pros and Cons

• Pros
• “Easy to use” and “intuitive” are what most reviews say
• In practice, I have had difficulty figuring out how to do certain things, even with the help menu provided 🡺 Learning curve!!
• Take the time to watch some tutorials – they can be lengthy but worthwhile
• Wide variety of floss options, inc. DMC, over-dyed, silk, etc.
• There is an option to add floss into the floss palette if they aren’t already there
• Cons
• The color white does not import
• Certain limited addition DMC floss can be chosen for imported patterns even when they are discontinued

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Tour the Software

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Let’s Import!!

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Main choices to make:

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-Size of pattern

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-Count

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-Floss Palette

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-Cropping

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-Number of colors to use

Gallery

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MY FIRST IMPORT

• Baby sampler….using a picture from the baby shower theme

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• Lessons learned:
• -Didn’t know that I could add in backstitching

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• -Should have seriously considered using fewer colors

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• -Don’t be afraid to modify as you work – I used copper metallic thread for the fire

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• - I used the font library to add in birth information (not shown here)

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From the Free Library of Designs

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PINS & BOOKMARKS!!!

Used font library to add words into an existing pattern

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Original Design

FOR SALE

Reproduction

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Pattern is “done enough” but not representative of final picture (e.g. in finished design, margins were filled in, beads added, other non-cross stitches were done in place of cross stitch, “Wisper” (fluffy mohair thread) was used for clouds.

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Lessons learned:

-Represents 4+ months designing so don’t underestimate level of effort depending on complexity

-However, at some point, stop designing and start working. You can tweak as you go if necessary.

-For my first import (dinosaur), I essentially took what the software gave me, whereas this pattern was modified heavily

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🡺 You gain confidence to make changes as you gain experience and learn how to use the software

FOR DISPLAY

I pasted this tree into my design

-changed some colors to blend in with grays and greens used elsewhere in the design

-need to crop closely because pasting it in will overwrite some of the pattern

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BLAKE

Summary

• The software takes time to learn
• I have used this much more than I expected for many different purposes

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• Any questions?

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