Enlarging a project

[debpeb]

Hi! I've found a chart I'd really like to cross stitch but the finished project will only be 5 x 10cm whereas I would like the finished project to be possibly four times that size but have no idea where to start apart from drawing it all out onto graph paper and making one stitch as four stitches but not sure if the proportions would look right. Can anyone help and give me any advice please?

[Rose]

I would think that the best way is to do as you are saying and make each and every stitch 4. I have done this a number of times with good result. The other way is to use a larger weave fabric. What size is it originally stitched on???? Could you just change the fabric??????

[MaggieM1750]

What is the stitch count, not the finish dimensions?

Is it possible to just change the fabric?

[debpeb]

Thanks. It's 14 count the design is stitched on and I was dreading the answer being to have to draw it all out onto a graph I've not tried this before so i'll let you know how it goes

[clockwork]

Or a much easier way, print a copy much bigger and then use a ruler and pencil to add new grid lines? if you use a sharp pencil it should be easy to see the symbols even with lines going through them and it cuts out the chance of transcribing the pattern incorrectly.

[kimkat_tkl]

Another option would be to stitch over two on the 14 count - if you didn't mind the crosses being quite large, and you would most likely need to use 6 strands of threads to get a reasonable coverage.

[lovesteph]

I've done this before, only a little different - i had a pixellated image that I wanted to be bigger. I enlarged it by 500% so that each pixel would be 5x5 pixels (for visibility when printing, and so I could draw in the symbols) and then enlarged it by 500% again, so each original pixel was now 20x20, or 4 stitches with the 5x5 grid.

I think the best way would be to blow it up on a scanner or photocopyer, and like clockwork said, draw in new gridlines, cutting each stitch in half horizontally and vertically. If you are savvy witch image editing programs, you could do it in a snap if you scan the image in - have the scanned pattern on one layer, add another layer with properly spaced lines, and just copy and paste them til you have a grid.