Converting cross-stitch graphs to latch hook?

One-for-one can easily be done. If you think you'd like to smooth the lines, you can always change some whole stitches to fractional stitches. If you want the cross stitch piece to be larger than a one-for-one conversion, I would recommend four cross stitches in place of one hooked stitch. That will keep the same proportions as the original chart. The finished dimensions will still be much smaller than the latch hook project (unless you are using an incredibly low-count fabric), but will be much larger than the one-to-one method.

To smooth the lines if you substitute four cross-stitches for one hooked stitch is much easier also. You don't need any fractional stitches. Simple do three of the four stitches in one color and the fourth stitch in the other.

A single stitch of color X which borders an area of color 3 could be converted to whole stitches X3 XX

In a one-to-one stitch conversion you would do a three-quarter stitch of color X and a one-quarter stitch of color 3 to achieve the same effect.

This may be as clear as mud, so holler if you want more > Hello,

Hi Kris, As long as your stitches are square, you can use a cross stitch chart for any technique. The size of the chart should meet the number of latch stitches in your project. I understand your chart is too small, right? You can 'double the grid' and smooth lines (like Brenda says) or perhaps the piles or loops will blur the 2x2 blocks enough. It all depends on the design I think - enlarged colorblocks will give a more naive look, which is great with some designs but not with all.

Grea van Vlerken

Ack! Methinks I got it backwards. I thought she HAD latch hook charts and wanted to use them for cross stitch. Since I've thought of doing that myself, I'm just in that mode. In that case....

To convert a cross stitch chart to latch hook would be a bit more difficult. If the cross stitch chart does not have any fractional stitches or backstitching, then you can do one-for-one conversion. If there are fractional stitches, you will need to decide for each fractional stitch which color is more important for that square. I really don't know of a good way to convert backstitching to use in latch hook. The same holds true for any other "special" stitches lurking in the chart.

The other big problem you will face is color selection. I don't know of any line of yarn that has the same shading and variety of the major brands of floss. Perhaps some brand is out there, but I've no evidence of such. You might have to consolidate some colors (instead of six shades of blue in the same family you might only have four) and you almost certainly will not get a perfect match. In the event the chart calls for metallics, I think I'd try to find a non-metallic substitute. Cutting the pieces to use for latch hook would simply be asking for trouble since it already has a tendency to fray badly. Unless you really want a frazzled effect, I believe you will be disappointed.

You will want to run calculations first to make certain you can get canvas large enough for the design. I believe (based on limited experience) that latch hook canvas is mostly 5-count or 3.3-count. Most cross stitch charts have stitch count (H x W) information printed on them. Use that data to calculate the canvas size.

Example: cross stitch pattern is 60 stitches H x 75 stitches W and you want to use 3.3-count canvas (3.3 stitches per inch). 60/3.3=just over

I suppose, > Whoa! I thought the woman asked how she could convert a latch hook

No. She wanted to use Cross stitch graphs for latch hooking as it says in the subject line.

Alis>Whoa! I thought the woman asked how she could convert a latch hook

I didn't catch the subject line, but in her question, which I read several times, the needleworker asks: "I can't find any information on how to use cross-stitch graphs for latch hooking . . ."

which is the exact opposite.

One of those confusing posts! :~)

Dianne

Now *I'm* getting confused! How is Alison's quote, "use Cross stitch graphs for latch hooking" different from "use cross-stitch graphs for latch hooking"????? I know it's early here, but I'm more coherent than that!!

Addie

I'm with Addie, and see no difference betwixt the two statements.

But on the subject at hand. As far as I have ever thought, a chart is a chart is a chart. Anything that can be created from a chart base, can be created from any other genre chart. Be it filet crochet, charted knitting, needlepoint, cross stitch, latch hook, or even watercolour quilting. Granted, some may need a little tweaking to get size/structure looking correct. Cross stitch charts are probably the most complex, partial stitches and range of available colour. If you chose the knit a cross stitch pattern, you'd probably want to drop it to maybe 8 colours, and eliminate the partial stitches.

Tara

Now I'm feeling like I'm really losing it! But anyway, it looks like someone fell in love with a cross stitch chart and wants to make a rug from it. I'm glad there's people here who can help! Dianne

Hi ! from the original poster....

I think we all finally got it straight -- I want to make a latch hook rug from a cross stitch design/chart/graph (whatever you want to call it). Actually, I don't have a particular cross-stitch pattern in mind, but I have found relatively few latch hook rug patterns that I like. So I wanted to look through some cross stitch patterns and see what I could use. If I could. I haven't cross stitched in years and didn't do much of it to begin with (my eyes crossed and blurred and gave me a headache). So I was totally lost at "back stitch" and "fractionals" and "x3" (oh, my!).

But I think I got it. I think? I know to avoid detail, etc. etc. Actually, I was thinking of starting with an Amish quilt design or something graphic vs. a picture.

Will take more tips/hints though!!!!!

Kris

kagjws wrote:

Sorry about the confusion. As I said, I've thought about going the other direction so had that etched into my brain. I think quilt designs would be lovely in latch hook and shouldn't be too difficult to convert. If you don't have any charts of quilt designs, you should be able to take a drawing of the design and overlay a piece of graph paper to produce your own. Even better is to have your local copy center (assuming you have one) transfer the grid from graph paper to an acetate page (overhead projection sheet) because then you can mark on it with water soluble markers and reuse the sheet. Of course there's the higher tech options of using charting software.

Since you haven't cross stitched in years, I would say if the chart looks too complicated for you to cross stitch, it is probably too complicated to use for latch hook. That should be a simple rule! :-)

Keep post> Hi ! from the original poster....

What about needlepoint charts/designs? A great many of them consist of just tent stitch, so there'd be no fear of having fractionals in the chart. Now, you'd have to be careful, since many needlepoint designs use anything *but* tent stitch (half cross), but the same can be said of cross stitch designs.

Have you looked at Herschnerr's kits? Every once in awhile they have some lovely latch hook rug kits. Most don't appeal to me, but there's that tiny 1% that, if I was into it, wouldn't mind working on it.

Dianne

And if you don't already have enough :-)

Tara

Brenda wrote....

Ain't that the truth!! And if I have to get into "high math," then it's too complicated as well!

I started looking into needlepoint designs as well (Dianne's idea) and at Herschnerr's kits again.

And thanks, Tara, for this:

Does anyone use a magnifier for cross stitch? I was wondering if I should try that and try xstitch again.

Kris

Tara D wrote: