Tips for Stitching Computer Generated Cross Stitch Patterns:

Computer generated cross stitch patterns usually include several pages of graphed symbols which can look confusing and daunting. Below are several ideas and tips that can simplify things a little. (or a lot!)

* Most computer generated cross stitch designs are quite large. Some are over 250 stitch wide. Also, many use over 100 colors of floss. The first time you stitch a computer design, choose a smaller design and one that uses only 40-70 floss colors.

* Tackle only one page at a time. Don’t worry about all the other pages. Treat each page as a mini project. As you progress from one page to another, the design will begin to appear as if by magic. (Really!)

* If a design has a lot of one color in the background, say, the color white, for example, use white Aida and don't stitch the white background. If you can find Aida that closely matches the background color, it will save a lot of time stitching. (Note: If the design itself contains stitches the same color as the background, stitch them. Otherwise it will look unfinished and patchy.)

* Start at one corner of a page and carefully work across and down, not straying too far from the work already stitched. There's nothing more frustrating than finding out way too late that you miss-counted how many stitches down or across you were supposed to go, then having to take those stitches out and restitch the design correctly. The farthest most stitchers go is about 10 stitches away from their work.

* Invest in a set of colored pencils to mark the pattern symbols. Start with the lightest color of pencil and mark all the symbols of one color floss by circling each one. Stitch that color. (or as much as you can without straying to far. See hint above.) Next, using the same color pencil, mark the next set of symbols with an X. Stitch that color.

Still using the same color pencil, mark the next set of symbols by shading each graph square completely. Stitch that color.

Move onto another color pencil, this one slightly darker than the first. Proceed as you did with the first pencil. Continue working across and down the page, using ever darker colored pencils to mark the symbols.

The reason for starting with the lightest colored pencils first is that they are easier to see when they don’t have to compete with the dark colors. Also, by marking symbols in different ways, each pencil can be used several times.

*If all this seems confusing, there’s a photo of an actual partially marked computer cross stitch design on my About Me page. It is the second photo.