The Pros and Cons of Cross Stitch Pattern Making Software

Do you use cross stitch pattern making software? Personally I have mixed feelings about these software programs. The advantage, of course, is that you can make whatever pattern you like, whether it has been made before or not. The disadvantage of cross stitch pattern making software, in my humble opinion, is that it can be very difficult to use properly and to end up with a pattern that is as user-friendly as those you can buy in the store or over the net.

Cross Stitch Pattern Making Software Allows You to Create any Pattern You Like

The first, and probably main, advantage of cross stitch pattern making software is that it allows you to make whatever pattern you like. You can import a photo and turn it into a pattern – do a cross stitch of yourself, your family, your pet or a great holiday – it’s up to you. You can even design your own pattern by starting with a blank canvas and entering the stitches onto the grid yourself.

Cross Stitch Pattern Making Software is great for People Who Like Intricate Patterns with Lots of Colours

To get the most from cross stitch pattern making software you need to go with as many colours as possible when it comes to photo-based patterns. You have no idea how many variations of colour are within a simple photo until you turn it into a cross stitch pattern! If you are the patient type then this might work for you but to be honest I gave up with one of my self-designed patterns for this reason.

The Disadvantages

As I mentioned previously I am not a huge fan of cross stitch pattern making software anymore –probably because none of the patterns I have tried to create with my software have worked out all that well – except for the really simple ones I designed myself.

Firstly it seems that when I tried to reduce the number of colours in the pattern it would often end up looking like a black mess, as I say if you have the patience to work with millions of colours then you should never encounter this problem but for me store-bought or net-bought patterns are definitely more user-friendly in this regard.

Secondly, even when I did go with the way the software interpreted the pattern it seemed like some of the colours were really dulled down and a brighter colour should have been used.

Whether you choose to go with a ready-made pattern or design your own with cross stitch pattern making software I suggest you look at the pros and cons of each before doing so – for some people designing your own patterns works really well and can bring a new level of freedom in the cross stitches you do but for others, like myself, it becomes a huge bind and not worth the effort. What type of person are you?