Am I the only one?

~threadbear~ · Post by **~threadbear~** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:15 am

Am I the only one who doesn't like colour charts?
I have a couple of kits that I would quite like to start but I really don't like the colour charts and find them harder to follow (especially the darker 'blends').
I was browsing through the cross stitch magazines my friend gave me and noticed loads of colour charts there too!
That made me wonder if others felt the same or if it's just me, as they are obviously popular layouts in there (mags).

lacemaker2004 · Post by **lacemaker2004** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:18 am

I guess I mostly do pieces that are just patterns and b/w so I'm not sure what my thoughts are on it. If I had to think hard about it I would probably say that it's not an issue since the lace patterns I'm used to doing are colored. Doing the lace I kind of got myself into the mental place of another language when I'm reading the charts. Definitely not the language that normally surrounds me so I have learned to surrender myself to the new language to learn what they are communicating to me. Sounds kind of strange I guess.

mauveme · Post by **mauveme** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:55 am

I dont mind the colour charts, actually I like them beter.

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:52 am

I am of a mixed mind(don't anyone laugh)

about the charts. If I am creating a pattern then I do like the colors charts as it keeps me in the right place in the creation portion of the pattern. If I am doing a pattern from a book or a mag I like the black and white pattern as they seem to be more clear. I don't like patterns that are black and white and red they are just to @#*&@ annoying for words, and my angel patterns are like that. So I cuss at them alot when I am stitching.

~threadbear~ · Post by **~threadbear~** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:39 am

My new project is one of those black, white and red charts Rose. First time I've tried that type.
As to the colour ones, I've never tried to stitch from one yet, I just dont like the look of it. I guess alot of it is because I cant see the 'aida' squares clearly, so I'm finding it harder to follow along.
I will try one at some point, maybe after this new project, but I don't feel as if it will be easy to follow them.

wendywombat · Post by **wendywombat** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:06 am

I like symbols best, some with colour +symbols are OK too But I Hate charts which just have colour blocks!

Even if I liked the design I wouldn't do them!

Jilly · Post by **Jilly** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:13 am

I am working on a Dimensions kit at the moment, it is not full color, it has different color symbols on white squares, and only in black,green,red and blue, so it is very easy to see where to stitch, The ones I hate are the ones that are just colored squares with no symbols, they look Ok on the key, but colors close together change how they look and it can get confusing, especially if the kit has subtle shading.

~threadbear~ · Post by **~threadbear~** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:22 am

Yes, that is what the dolphin kit is like, the blues etc are very close shadings and it is all squares of colour, not symbols. That's why I'm

about even starting it.
I shall probably have a go of it in the end, but I wish it was a 'proper' chart.

Stitchindude · Post by **Stitchindude** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:33 am

What I do when I have just a color chart is scan it, then load it into my PC Stitch program, and presto it prints out a chart with both colors and symbols! (I love that program!)

mags · Post by **mags** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:45 am

I prefer colour+symbols. My cat and owl are both just black symbols but are quite clear and you wouldn't see the difference in the shades which are very close

My UFO is black symbols but is not ever so clear, difficult to work from and will probably remain a UFO.

While we are on the subject I have seen in magazines and on websites apologies and corrections to charts, at least one where a whole column or two have been left off the chart! If the chart is just symbols and no colour then the error may not be apparent. Imagine doing a large picture only to find an error like this. For someone who has not got access to the internet or doesn't buy magazines and didn't find out, this would be a bit devastating.

~threadbear~ · Post by **~threadbear~** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:49 am

Hmm, yeah, that would be awful.

I think I'd cry! lol
Maybe thats the answer then, a mix of the two.

hada56 · Post by **hada56** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:57 pm

I don't care for coloured charts, especially when there are no symbols. I lke the B&W charts, with symbols only. Although, saying this, there are charts, espcially in the british magazines, that sue both symbols and colour blocks, but the colour is very light, almost transparent, so you can still see the symbol very clearly, but still have an idea of the colours.

Serinde · Post by **Serinde** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:23 pm

I prefer b&w charts, but don't have a lot of trouble with the ones Hada describes. Can't work with charts which are only in colour, though.

Dude, that prog sounds awesome. Is there a Mac version?

Stitchindude · Post by **Stitchindude** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:27 pm

I don't think so Serinde. But you can check at PCStitch.com

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:06 pm

I may have miss lead you all when I said I make my own charts in color I mean the box is the color but there is also a symbol on the top of that. I have never done just a plian color only chart. Sorry didn't mean to miss lead anyone as to what type of chart I prefer.

ConnieO · Post by **ConnieO** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:06 pm

I prefer a chart that is a mix of colours and symbols. I find some all B/W charts hard to follow and easy to lose your place on. But I'm also the kind that won't mark a chart as I go.

sammy_v · Post by **sammy_v** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:08 pm

I dont really mind tbh, but i prefar b/w and symbol charts to just colour. As trying to sort the colours out take forever.

kimkat_tkl · Post by **kimkat_tkl** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:24 am

I'm a b/w girl. For the larger kits I do, I photocopy the pattern and highlight the squares once I've done them.

One of the smaller kits I did had 2 versions of the pattern, one with just the cross stitches and one with both the cross stitches and back stitches. This had it's good and bad points, you could tell exactly what stitch fell under the back stitch, however it was really easy to lose where you were.

jc · Post by jc » Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:15 am

I too would prefer a chart with a mix of color and symbols so that I can make a copy of it to work on.

coffee_freak · Post by **coffee_freak** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:52 pm

yeah if the symbol is a color square only..i detest that..but work through it if it is worth it...but i love b&w symbol charts..or color w/a black symbol..then i can deal..

and yes..i have subscribed to a mag and that is how the patterns came. i just collect them and sold the whole thing on ebay...didn't make all my money back

but eh.

good luck!