There are so many neat cross stitch design programs out there these days, ranging from $10 to hundreds of dollars. We picked one somewhere in the middle, and have our own copies on our own computers (I actually have two programs, one for my Mac, one for the PC at home.) Sue and I brainstorm ideas on our own and with each other. Sometimes we get ideas out of the blue, and sometimes we just have some small idea that develops into a larger one. A new design of ours (available soon), "Ice Day" has a snowman with the saying, "Have an ice day" on it -- a result of a typo in an e-mail I was writing...I put the space in my phrase in the wrong place, and thought it would be a cute saying on a pillow.
Sue carries around a little notebook, and when inspiration strikes, she writes down her ideas, even with a little sketch. We discuss our ideas with each other, and get feedback, and then start designing, sometimes showing works in progress (via chart) to each other. Sometimes ideas come flying in out of the blue (Witchy Washy was an idea I had in the car while I was making a right turn off the Interstate on my way home.)
I actually "draw" in my cross stitch software with my mouse. I don't usually sketch out ideas on paper before hand, but draw them in my head, and then just put them right onto my computer. Sue and I both pick just general colors when using our software -- we don't get too picky in front of the computer about color choices, because a screen is a lot different than fiber on fabric. Some designs develop over months, some are finished quickly (Witchy Washy took me one sitting of an hour and a half, because I had a really clear mental picture of how I wanted it to look). But I have a number of designs half finished in the computer, because I'm still making decisions about them. I know Sue does the same thing.
Today's cross stitch programs allow you to look at your pattern in color blocks, symbols, colored symbols, and even cross stitches on fabric (on the computer -- it's cool!) When we're satisfied with a design, we print it off in black symbols on white paper, and start stitching. Changes made along the way are noted right on the chart, and then plugged into the design on the computer. It's easy to delete or add stitches on the chart at any time, since the computer will just save any changes you want (no erasing or redrawing.)
If you haven't tried doing your own designing, pick up a program on-line or at your local software supplier (like Best Buy). A design program is great for charting out phrases, names, dates for personalizing your stitching. And such a program is a lot of fun to play around with on a Saturday morning when you should be folding laundry.
© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com