Stitch Chart Help

Dan, which kind of crochet 'charts' are you trying to make?

Charts for filet crochet can be made quite easily by filling in squares on a graph; X for a filled square, O for an open square. Adding lattice-work shouldn't be too difficult, using \ and / to make a V-stitch over two squares, and ^^ or ** to show the doubled open squares.

For crochet intarsia (I think that's the correct term for changing colors to create a design or picture), I purchased PCStitch. I graph out (one square = one sc) names to use on personalized baby blankets, or pictures. It's fairly easy to manipulate the number of colors and size of the design with this program.

If you mean using a computer to use the international crochet symbols to make your pattern diagram -- sadly, I've not found much help online or off. For straight back-and-forth rows, the graph or cross stitch pattern makers are all right, but as yet the only way I've found to do circles or odd shapes is to draw them out by hand.

Still stitchin' and smilin' Carol in SC

Carol, thanks for the information. Yes, my goal is, you guessed it - to use my computer for international crochet symbols to make my pattern diagrams. I much prefer reading charted patterns as opposed to "keeping up" with written-out instructions. All the ( ) ** * [ ] etc., drives me crazy!

I've purchased many books that have the patterns written out longhand and in International Symbols so I'm guessing these publishers must have special software that's not available to the public. It's probably done with a high-end product like AutoCad. My brother-in-law uses it, so maybe I'll ask him.

THANKS for your help.

DAN

I should send you some Italian crochet magazines; they almost always use charts instead of written out instructions. What kind of things do you make?