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Transparent Grids

Use our transparent grid to create cross stitch charts quickly and simply using your own pictures and photographs.

The grid is A4 sized, is made of transparent plastic and is ruled with a 10 x 10 grid. At the bottom if the grid are scales for 14 hpi and 18 hpi which will help you determine the size of the finished stitching .

Follow the simple instructions below to create your own cross-stitch 'charts' using our transparent grid.

1. Choose your picture

Choose your picture carefully. Cross stitch is a coarse medium and ideally your picture should be relatively simple, not too detailed and should not contain too many colours or subtle changes of hue.

2. Lay the grid over the picture.

Use the centre point of the grid as a guideline and making sure that any vertical or horizontal lines in your picture line up with the lines on the grid, tape your picture to the grid using sticky tape. You may like to use your local copy-shop to copy your picture and grid. You may even want to have the picture/grid enlarged at the same time to help you see the details more clearly. The scales at the bottom of the grid gives an indication as to the size of the finished stitching for both 14 hpi and 18 hpi fabric.



3. Copy your picture to squared paper.

Using the squares on the grid to guide you, copy your picture either onto one of the paper grids supplied in the pack or onto standard graph paper. You may choose to use coloured pencils to do this or you may prefer to use symbols to represent colours. On the squared paper, fill in the coloured areas using coloured pencils or symbols to create your own 'chart'. While you are copying your picture you may want to simplify the design, or you may want to change your picture in some other way.

Note: If your picture is a simple one, you may be able to stitch your design by simply using the grid with your picture taped to it as your "chart". If you do this, it is important to make really sure that the picture is taped securely to the grid - you don't want it to move while you are stitching.

4. Choose the thread colours you are going to use.

Hints and tips
      Always choose your colours in daylight.
      Don't use too many colours. Try to keep the number of colours to a minimum.
      Don't forget that you can blend colours for subtle effects.
      Different stitches - longstitch, backstitch and so on - can add texture to a design.
      Use one, two or three strands of thread to change the density of the colour.
      Consider using half-stitch to soften and de-emphasise background colours .

5. Use the paper 'chart' to stitch your picture.

It really is that simple!!

Happy stitching!