Sorry for the downtime, welcome back!!

What is best program to make patterns?

Discuss how you complete your crafts...
User avatar
stephyw2001
Rank 2 - Fire Mario
Rank 2 - Fire Mario
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:50 am
Contact:

What is best program to make patterns?

Post by stephyw2001 »

Hello all,
I am interested in finding a program where I can make patterns to print. Currently I make my own patterns using graph paper. (Draw, color them, then follow). I know there are free online programs where you can turn a photo into a pattern, which I've used from time to time, but I always end up tweaking the pattern anyway because I don't always like what it spits out.

What programs are out there where I can design my own pattern, assign colors or change colors as I want (This is important to me) and print the pattern? I know I'd have to buy a program, I haven't found any free ones that work like I'd like them to. Please let me know what everyone's suggestions are!

Thank you!
Steph
Current Projects:
Pokemon blankets coming back by popular demand on Etsy


Etsy site: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stephyw2001

User avatar
Servotron
Rank 9 - Hammer Mario
Rank 9 - Hammer Mario
Posts: 939
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:48 pm

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by Servotron »

The most popular free program on the forum is KG Chart here: http://www.iktsoft.net/kgchart-en/

There is a paid version too, but I haven't used it so I can't tell you what it is like. KG Chart tends to skew darker than the source image, so you may want to play with the image before hand in a graphics program first, but it's trial and error.

It's quite easy to use, you can easily change colours or design your own and you get a stitch count for each colour, which is nice.
Image Image Image Image

User avatar
RMDC
Rank 12 - Yoshi Mario
Rank 12 - Yoshi Mario
Posts: 2047
Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 1:02 am
Contact:

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by RMDC »

I used KG Chart for a long time, but since then I've moved to PCStitch. Like KG Chart, you'll still want to eyeball the colors yourself, but the interface is much better. The free version allows you to print (for example, to PDF with CutePDF), but you can't save your pattern without the full version. PCStitch is occasionally discounted, though; I got my copy for half off.
Mostly hibernating here. Find me on Twitter @rmdcade.

Pyper
Rank 10 - Cape Mario
Rank 10 - Cape Mario
Posts: 1123
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:31 pm

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by Pyper »

The free version of PC stitch wouldn't let me print :( No saving, printing or exporting. However it also seems to distinguish colour areas much better than KGChart, so I'm currently balancing a strange hybrid system of KG, PC and Paint, depending on the pattern.
WIPS: Dwarf Fortress blanket, sailing ship stitch, shiny pokemon, moth bags
Blog: http://strangenessisconserved.wordpress.com/

User avatar
RMDC
Rank 12 - Yoshi Mario
Rank 12 - Yoshi Mario
Posts: 2047
Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 1:02 am
Contact:

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by RMDC »

Oh, I thought it did - I never used the free version, so I'm probably misremembering what I've heard about it.
Mostly hibernating here. Find me on Twitter @rmdcade.

User avatar
stephyw2001
Rank 2 - Fire Mario
Rank 2 - Fire Mario
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:50 am
Contact:

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by stephyw2001 »

Thanks everyone! I'll check those two out. I expect I'll have to buy a program to get what I want.

I've personally used myphotostitch.com for some of my projects, you can print images, however, I always end up tweaking the end product manually (with a marker or whiteout). It doesn't allow you to change its design, but its kinda neat. And you can print the design. Can't save though.
Current Projects:
Pokemon blankets coming back by popular demand on Etsy


Etsy site: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stephyw2001

Maliceaver
Rank 0 - Little Mario
Rank 0 - Little Mario
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2013 6:49 pm

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by Maliceaver »

stephyw2001 wrote:
I've personally used myphotostitch.com for some of my projects, you can print images, however, I always end up tweaking the end product manually (with a marker or whiteout). It doesn't allow you to change its design, but its kinda neat. And you can print the design. Can't save though.
That made me crazy about myphotostitch, I got one pattern finished and wasn't satisfied to I tried the free version of pcstitch. I love it and got the full version, It's way worth your time and money to make the switch to the full version of pc stitch! Right now I'm trying to figure out how to make the pattern I created into pdf so I can post them here. If anyone has suggestion I'm all ears on that one!
I got spurs that jingle jangle jingle

User avatar
funkymonkey
Rank 10 - Cape Mario
Rank 10 - Cape Mario
Posts: 1173
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:21 am
Contact:

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by funkymonkey »

Download CutePDF and you can set it as your printer. Then when you say to print something, change it from your default printer to CutePDF and it will pop up a save window (instead of actually printing something).

Maliceaver
Rank 0 - Little Mario
Rank 0 - Little Mario
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2013 6:49 pm

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by Maliceaver »

Cool thanks!
I got spurs that jingle jangle jingle

Pyper
Rank 10 - Cape Mario
Rank 10 - Cape Mario
Posts: 1123
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:31 pm

Re: What is best program to make patterns?

Post by Pyper »

if CutePDF decides to be unreliable (we have a history), doPDF works well and has been so far reliable.
WIPS: Dwarf Fortress blanket, sailing ship stitch, shiny pokemon, moth bags
Blog: http://strangenessisconserved.wordpress.com/

Post Reply