Beyond Angry Birds: iPad apps for cross stitch

I spent the first three months with my iPad playing endless games of “Angry Birds.” Once I got over smashing pigs and marmosets, I really started to explore. It soon became obvious to me that the iPad is the ideal venue for cross stitch design and patterns. Apparently others think so, too, because new cross stitch apps are popping up almost every month. I thought I’d take this opportunity to rate a few of them:

Cross Stitch HD

The first cross stitch app I found is titled simply Cross Stitch HD. Designed by John Bley, this app is as basic as they get. Pre-loaded clip art provided courtesy of the Open Clip Art Project www.openclipart.org provides a selection of clip art motifs. They cannot be adjusted or changed. You can load a saved photo. The zoom feature inherent in most iPad apps is nice, as is the highlight tool for specific colors. Unfortunately, there is little care in correcting colors so one ends up with some rather questionable combinations and placement. There has been no update to the app since May 2011; almost as if the developer forgot all about it.

Free clip art doesn't always translate well
to the cross stitch canvas

Conclusion: Don’t waste your time or your money. There are better options.

Point de Croix by Anuman

Anuman  http://www.anuman-interactive.com/  offers several pattern apps with Point de Croix etc. Fairy tales, florals, cats, dogs, and more are offered in several themed apps for just 99 cents each. Lots of nice motifs and samplers and an easy-to-use magnifying window make it simple to keep track of what you’re doing. You cannot alter any of the patterns. A nice feature of the Anuman apps is the instructions. They’re well-written and thorough; ideal for the beginning stitcher, and a nice reminder of stuff more experienced stitchers probably forgot along the way.

Each app offers a variety of charming motifs and samplers.

Choose the module you want. The red box in the upper
left corner shows where you are in relation to the pattern.

Conclusion: If you like collecting motifs, these affordable apps are a great choice.

No Boring Publishing

Lush and elegant illustrations can be yours with the beautiful apps offered by No Boring Publishing. www.noboringpublishing.com/nopu/HOME.html.  Vintage samplers and border patterns are presented in five themed apps. “Russia,” “St. Patrick,” “Brodure,” and “Christmas” are 99 cents each. Their newest addition, “Monograms” is $3.99, but it offers 650 possible monogram letter combinations that will add a touch of class to everything you stitch. The stitch calculator is a bit awkward, and stitching instructions are scant, but they look cool and add to the overall appearance. It’s a little like visiting a needlework museum.

Go back to a simpler time with the beautiful vintage
apps by No Boring Publishing

Lush illustration tempts you...

...and with a touch the chart appears.

Conclusion: Even if you never use the patterns, these apps are so pretty; they’re worth the price of admission.

Leisure Arts

The free Leisure Arts www.leisurearts.com/  app is a dynamite catalog for all kinds of crafts. Crochet, cross stitch, sewing – you’ll find lots of great ideas here. There are several free pattern downloads and you can preview many of the books before you buy. Purchases are downloaded and viewed through the Leisure Arts app, uploaded to another reader like iBooks or Dropbox, or you can print using air printer software. Don’t have an air printer? No problem. Just open in iBooks, then email the pattern to your PC or laptop. You’ll get a nice PDF document ideal for printing.

Leisure Arts is more than just cross stitch

Quality free and paid patterns will keep you busy for years!

Conclusion: This one is a “must have” for all your craft cravings.

Speaking of Dropbox…

There are lots of online methods for saving PDF and photo files. My favorite is Dropbox www.dropbox.com.  I can add files from the iPad or drag and drop them into the Dropbox software on my laptop. Always in sync, always ready, I have lots of PDF and jPEG patterns saved to this app.

Keep all your PDF and photo patterns in Dropbox
and you'll have them everywhere you go.

Conclusion: It’s free. It’s flexible. And it’s much more than just cross stitch. It may just become your favorite app for all your important documents.

Stitching The Night Away X-Stitch Calculator

One of my favorite websites http://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/  offers a free stitch calculator. Type in your pattern’s stitch count, thread count and border, and instantly know how much fabric you’ll need for your project. Calculations are rounded up to the nearest full inch; it’s not precise but it’s more than enough to help you determine your stitching needs.

Takes the guesswork out of
fabric calculations!

Conclusion: Sweet! Simple, handy, and free! What more do you need?

Coffee Shop Works XStitcher

Many of my stitching sisters and brothers love collecting floss as much as they love stitching with it. If you like to keep an organized inventory of floss, this app is the one for you. 

Coffee Shop Works XStitcher http://coffeeshopworks.blogspot.com/  catalogs both Anchor and DMC flosses giving you a great way to maintain inventory for your projects. There’s even a shopping list builder. If you’ve got a project in the works, this inventory control app is a life-saver. It’s simple, easy to use, and it’s a good buy at $1.99. I keep a small stash and thought it was more than I needed, but I’m glad I bought it. I never would have guessed that I had five skeins of Dark Mahogany…

DMC threads are easy to find with the
well-organized index.

Keep track of your stash and add
to your shopping list with ease.

You can even keep track of your projects!

Conclusion: Large stash or small, this inventory app is an essential part of the tablet cross stitch experience.

And the winner is…

Cross Stitch 2 Go by Ursa Software http://ursasoftware.com/  is hands-down my favorite cross stitch app. Still in its development, XS2Go is constantly improving. This is a full-on design program, so let your imagination make it happen. Full, half, and backstitch modes give you options galore. DMC color palate is complete and you can choose your colors with ease. There’s even a markup mode so you can keep track of your stitching progress. This app eliminates the need for printing paper copies, but if you want to, you can download the free PDF utility and convert patterns to PDF, or simply email them to yourself or friends. You can even share your designs with other app owners by adding your charts to the free online chart gallery. XS2Go is the companion app to MacStitch and WinStitch 2012 cross stitch design software, so you can work on your PC or Mac and interchange the patterns from computer to tablet and visa versa.

Full functionality is what sets this app apart from the rest.
View stitches, or...

...worksheet mode.
You can markup the pattern in this mode as well.

It’s still got a few bugs yet, but the app master at Ursa Software is responsive to feedback and works diligently to improve both the iPad app and the computer design software.

Saving and reloading is simple.
I like the preview window, too.

This fully functional app is $8.99 and I think it’s well worth it.  MacStitch and WinStitch 2012 are sold separately, start at $40 for the basic program, and are offered in the form of download, CD, or USB stick. Right now I’m playing with the demo version of WinStitch 2012, and look forward to purchasing the premium version ($65 download) soon.

Share your talent and your patterns in the
free online chart library.

Conclusion: Like I said, this is my favorite app, despite the glitches. It does what I want it to do, and shows a great deal of promise as the iPad cross stitch community grows.

There are several other cross stitch apps available, as well as apps for your favorite cross stitch magazines, and the field is growing by leaps and bounds. If you’ve ever needed an excuse to get an iPad, this is it. So go ahead, make the investment. You’ll be glad you did. 

After all, you can’t play Angry Birds from a book.

Happy Stitching! 

My mother died last week. It was not unexpected nor was it unwelcome. Just weeks shy of 89 years, my mother's body and mind were both worn out. I had the profound honor of holding her hand as she passed, and I rejoice in knowing that she is in the hands of the Light.

My Mother

Today, to honor her memory, I give you, "Peavine"

Peavine

It's a simple chain design with lots of potential. In a single line, it's a delicate accent. Stitched in rows, side-by-side, it becomes positively lush. The possibilities are almost endless!

Enjoy. When you stitch it, I hope you think of your own mother and your unique and special relationship with her. And smile.

Be blessed~

Jeanne

I am gobsmacked! Twizzlefixed! Over the moon!  Rose at Christmas City Stitcher has presented me with the Liebster Blog award!

The word, "Liebster" is German for "Favorite" and I'm thrilled to know that my blog has become a favorite place for other bloggers to come to be motivated and inspired. Thank you, Rose. I am truly honored.

To accept the award, the blogger must:
1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know they have been offered this award.
5. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

So it is with great pleasure that I present to you my five favorite small blogs~

•  The World According to Agi With charming free patterns and innovative finishing techniques, Agi gets my creative juices going! She now offers paid patterns, too. A visit to Agi's world is a true adventure.

• Feeling a little blue? Visit Flossy Bobbin and that blue will become a veritable rainbow of color and light. Flossy Bobbin is funny, irreverent, and very creative. She's got a sunny attitude and can't help but make you feel the same.

• Aurelia at Eglantine Stitchery has been an inspiration to me for quite some time now. Her fun ideas, her careful and meticulous stitchery are a joy. Her cross stitch resource page is one of the best on the net! She hasn't posted since the holidays. Hopefully, she'll return soon with lots of new ideas.

• Ant-Stitch is a new blog on the scene that focuses on the great new patterns featured at Ant of Sweden. There are contests and freebies, so be sure to bookmark this one and visit often.

• A Bit of This and That is like sitting down with a friend over a hot cup of coffee. Beautiful stitchery and fun finishing techniques make Shannon's blog a great place to visit.

Be sure to stop by and say hi to all these talented and creative people.


Now for those five random facts...

1. I love games. Card games, word games, board games; I love 'em all. I'm horrible at chess and bridge, but can hold my own in dominoes and canasta.
2. When I travel, I end up taking lots of pictures of architecture and scenery, none of the people I am traveling with. 
3. I'll admit it; I'm a Facebook addict. Pintrest is starting to grow on me, too.
4. Parties scare me, but I love speaking in front of a group. 
5. I know how to fly an airplane.

Thanks again, Rose, for your support and encouragement. 


Happy Stitching to you all!
Jeanne

Framing made easy

Well, now that I have learned how to frame, I'm finding it a lot less intimidating. One of the best methods I've found is at Carol Leather's Needlework Tips & Techniques. This easy-to-understand tutorial uses foam core board and straight pins to secure the fabric. A couple of stitches at the back corners, and it's ready to display in the frame. The nice thing about this method is that the picture can be removed from the board and washed if necessary.

I used Carol's framing method for my most recent pattern, Fleur de lis:

It really was simple and stress-free, after I figured out how to handle the glass without getting smudges on it. My secret weapon? Vinyl gloves, of course!

And yes, this pattern will be available soon at Ant of Sweden.

Hatching something fun

Looking for a little Easter fun? You'll find it with Easter Chicks. Simple blackwork arches pay a whimsical salute to the awakening of spring.

Bright yellow beaks are just cross stitches with a long vertical
stitch down the center.
French knots or seed beads for the eyes.

Click here for the pattern

MJ did it with DMC variegated thread:

So bright and cheerful!

Love Letter

For you, dear readers, I present, Love Letter. I fell in love with this pattern as I worked it, changing colors, changing moods, until finally it felt right. This is a special "Thank You" to you all for your support and patronage. I don't know which pleases me more, creating and stitching the designs, or sharing them. At any rate, this is my belated Valentine's Day gift to you.

Visit the Cross Stitch Smalls page for your free pattern

New Tutorial! Pinhead stitch variation

Securing blackwork thread is much like cross stitch. You can use a waste knot or simply weave the tail between the threads.

Another great way to secure thread is the Pinhead Stitch. You'll find a great tutorial at Beth Katz's Needlework.

I have come up with my own variation for blackwork that you might find helpful: the Pinhead stitch variation for blackwork.

Click here for the tutorial