Monday, July 8, 2013

A Finish, A Start and a Question......

Gentle Friends I hope your weekend was top notch - the two days off for me were really nice!!  The weather was super, cool and breezy and bright.

On Friday evening I finished up the piece I had been working on.......


Bent Creek "Hallowe'en Branch"
Using the recommended Floss', on 32ct PTP "Dill"
June 18th - July 5th

I borrowed these charts, it is a set of three, and originally they each came with star buttons and black snaps.  Since I only had the charts I found my own star buttons and black snaps.  This was the first BC Branch I have stitched and I really enjoyed the stitching part, the fiddly bits were a little less than fun, but I am happy with the results.

I was still in a Fall mood, so I started another small Fall type piece......  here's a snap...


The Primitive Needle  "Thy Needle"
Using the recommended Floss on 30ct WDW "Tin Roof"

I was RAK'd with this chart a while back and it has been in the WIP basket just waiting for me to start it up... and it just hits the spot!!
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Now, for the question - if you had an antique sampler you wanted to chart and stitch what program would you use - PC Stitch or Hobby Ware?  Is one easier to use than the other or is there another program that is easier to use?????
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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,
edgar

31 comments:

  1. I recently started designing and the advice I got from our wonderful peers, who also designed charts was a resounding pc stitch. Hope this helps xxx

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  2. I use hobbyware and have been please with it, but since I have not used PC stitch I have nothing to compare it with. If you end up with hobbyware and need help let me know.

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  3. Great finish on the BC branch! That is a really fun piece. Sorry, but I cannot give any advise on the software - good luck with your choice.

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  4. Cute as a button Halloweenie finish! Great start! and I have NO idea about the software. When I want to chart small things like names, a verse, etc. I use: http://crosstitch.com under tools there is a place for charting.

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  5. Congrats on the Halloween branch finish! Sorry I know nothing about the designing software.

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  6. Wonderful finish, such a fun piece.

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  7. I loved looking at your Bent Creek Owl branch ... I have a set in my stash as well that I am now itching to pull out ... not the Halloween one, though. And I remember stitching Thy Needle myself last year ... it was a great waiting room stitch because those coin borders had an easily memorized repeat. That was usefule for me since at the time, I was spending hours in waiting rooms as my husband's health issues were dealt with.

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  8. Edgar if you are computer savvy then any of the programs can work. There is another software that some deisngers use called Easy Grapher. I have tried PCStitch Pro but found it difficult to print the chart as I would like.

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  9. I love your finish! So cute! Love your new start too-- pretty colors! I am no help with the charting software, but I'm finding it interesting to read the answers. I'd love to know about charting software for the Mac. Not that I've ever charted. lol!

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  10. What a great finish. So cute.

    I have had good luck with PC Stitch. I find it pretty simple to use. I plan to do a lot more designing starting this fall.

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  11. Nice finish. I have that on a ONS wish list and now that I see it stitched, I think I'll buy it. Thanks Edgar. I don't know anything about charting software.

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  12. Edgar, I love the Hallowe'en Branch. That's looking so cool on the Dill linen. I recently got a piece of that linen and really like it!

    As to the stitching design software, I don't have any knowledge to offer. I would be interested in what you end up with though as I have been thinking of getting some software to "play" with as well. Looking forward to your new chart! ;-)

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  13. Love the Halloween branch! You did such a great job stitching this. The fabric is perfect, too.

    Not sure about the computer programs...but I am looking forward to what you come up with.

    Blessings always

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  14. Love the Halloween branch. When I make my gymnast designs I tried some ancient cross-stitch charting program...neither of the ones you mentioned. This was over 10 years ago. I was trying to create charts from photos though, so your situation is completely different. I hated the computer generated charts and I've done all my charting "by hand"; as in making drawings directly on to fine grid graph paper. Guess I'm just an old-fashioned girl!

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  15. Love your finished piece. It is so sweet. What was the fabric? It works so well.

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  16. An adorable Halloween stitch! We were given an old sampler. My DH graphed it by hand but we did not get the color changes so I have to look at the original to see the color. Plus, I can't share the chart that way. I will be following your answers with a lot of interest.

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  17. super sweet finish..i love it.
    pretty new start x

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  18. Geez. I never heard of either program and I will certainly look into them. Better than my graph paper!! I like your finish and especially the color variance in the lettering.

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  19. Your branch finish is awesome and I love the dill fabby it's on.

    I have designed only a couple of charts and I used PCStitch for them. There is a learning curve and I am sure I'm doing everything the hard way but I've been able to stumble my way through it. Good luck with your project!

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  20. Edgar, love your Halloween finish. As to charting programs, I have Hobbyware and love it. The only thing I don't like is if you have over-2 and over-1 in the same chart and want to move the over-1 by one thread, you can't do that! I tried PCStitch on a trial but decided to stick with Hobbyware. Several years ago I got the professional version and have been glad that I did. Good luck on your decision. It will be interesting to see which one you decide to get.

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  21. Fun finish, Edgar! So.... You have an antique you're going to chart??? I'm intrigued!

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  22. Love the Halloween piece!!! As far as a stitch software program. I've used Hobby Ware since it started out as a Freeware program a million years ago. (Ha Ha) I've designed a few pieces over the years and I've always liked the user interface. I have PC Stitch-reader for the charts I get from patternsonline.com other than that I've never used it. Hope this helps.

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  23. Wonderful little finish Edgar. I have this one in my stash somewhere. It's a cute one. I can't wait to see more of the new start. I like the colors!
    Not sure about the program you can use. I am anxious to find out what you are working on.
    I hope your summer is going well. Mine is not slowing down!
    Hugz.

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  24. Love the Halloween branch! That fabric is great. I have used pc stitch to do some smalls that I designed. It was easy.

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  25. Great finish & lovely new start. Sorry can't help with the charting program - I'm a pencil & graph paper girl!

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  26. Great stitching Edgar. The software I use is called X-stitch studio, but I've had it for so long I can't remember and I don't think it's available any more.

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  27. Great fun finish. I really love the new start. Have a great week!

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  28. I love, love, love your Halloween Branch piece. Well done!!!!

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  29. I love your owl branch! It really pops on that color. Now I must dig mine out.
    Looking forward to reading about your adventures in charting. And seeing the new piece develop. I really like the colors.

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  30. I love your Bent Creek Halloween Branch! Looks perfect on that Dill fabric you chose. The new start looks great as well. Excited to hear you're planning to chart a reproduction of a sampler and hope you'll consider making the chart available for sale when you're done. I'm sure it will be magnificent!

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  31. I have used the standard Hobbyware since it first came out years ago
    (15?) and I think it is great and easy with a lot of options to chart with. The only downside that I can think of is that the floss colors, even after all these years, is not updated. As is Crescent Colours, etc. The name is there but no colors. There is an update option but there haven't been any updates. Whether PC Stitch has current colours would ne a question.

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