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• PCStitch
• Downloading PCStitch
• Downloading the Patterns
• Printing a Pattern
• Color Key
• Pattern List

In response to requests for my patterns, I have been investigating different delivery methods.  

I had Lady Liberty and several of the Tiles printed, but this was a very time consuming and expensive exercise. Once printed, the paper patterns had to be mailed - envelopes, labeling and postage. The obvious solution is to provide the patterns for download as everyone visiting this site has internet access. 

Sounds easy, right?  Adobe Acrobat is a great program and most of us already have Adobe Acrobat Reader (which is free).  To convert the patterns to Acrobat, I'd need to buy Adobe Acrobat (which is fairly expensive) and learn how to use the software.  Frankly, I'd rather be stitching.

So my solution is to provide the patterns as PCStitch pattern files.  As I usually work with PCStitch, most of the patterns are already in this format and the files are quite small to download quickly.  However, to open and print the files, you'll need PCStitch.
 

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PCStitch is a great little program which converts photographs or any type of graphic file into a counted cross-stitch chart. It is inexpensive and easy to work with.  The major drawback of the program is that it only provides the palettes used by cross-stitchers: flosses, metallics and beads.

I usually stitch in wool - in Anchor tapestry wool or Paternayan persian yarn, which are both easily available in my area. So, I create the pattern and choose my own colors, referring the color charts.

PCStitch is available for FREE at their site:

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To open and print the patterns that you download from this site, you'll need to have the free version of PCStitch.  This will allow you to print the patterns with out altering them.  To make any changes to the patterns, you'd need to buy PCStitch.

To download the free Trial Version of PCStitch, go to www.pcstitch.com and click on Download at the left of the screen. Just follow the instructions on the screen.

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Before you download the patterns, you should have a place to store them. Create a folder called Patterns and save it somewhere convenient.  Then download a pattern by simply clicking on the letters PCS in the description or click on the name of the pattern on the list below.  These are small files so they shouldn't take more than a minute or so to download.

Once the file has been saved on your computer, you can open it at your leisure and print it.

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PCStitch comes with a tutorial that teaches you how to use the various features of the program.  We'll just go through what you need to print a pattern downloaded from this site.

Open a pattern using File Open and double clicking on the pattern name.  Once you've opened a file in your Pattern folder, the program will automatically take you to this folder each time you use the File Open command.  

This is a fairly small pattern so you should be viewing the entire pattern.  You can change the size of the pattern using the small Percentage box in the middle of the toolbar at the top of your screen (92% in photo at left). Use 'To Fit' to view the entire piece. 

NOTE: before you attempt to print the pattern, make sure the symbol font you're using is PCStitch symbols.  To check this, use View, Options and click on Floss Palette Options.  The Symbol Font should be PCStitch Symbols.  If it isn't, click on the Change Font button and change the font. You'll only have to do this once.

To print the pattern, choose File Print/Preview.  This is the Print screen. 

Here you choose the size of the grid (in squares per inch).  I like to print charts 10 grid squares per inch as I usually print in Black and white symbols and use a highlighter to mark the completed areas. You'll have to play around with this to see what works for you. 

Under print Options, choose black symbols or color blocks for a simple pattern like this.  Again play around and see what works for you. Print the grid lines but don't bother printing the color key (see below). To change from portrait to landscape use the printer setup button.

Then hit the preview button.  This will display without printing and gives you a chance for a final check before printing. 

The reason I suggest you don't print the color key is that the colors in the pattern are floss color NOT the wool that I used to stitch the sample.  The color keys for each of the designs can also be downloaded by clicking on the word Color Key after the pattern name in the list below.