Help me find a drawing app to design some counted canvas needlework
March 16, 2019 9:59 AM Subscribe
Looking for some software that is just like drawing on graph paper so I can mark out some needlework designs.
I was cleaning out some closets and found some old counted canvas needlework that I hadn't looked at in years. Here are some pictures from the internet of the sort of thing I was aspiring to.
I'd like to get back into it and just wanted to mark out a simple sampler to work up. Back in the day, I would have used graph paper. Now I have an iPad with a stylus.
I tried Googling for stitch programs, but all I came up with are cross stitch apps and very expensive desktop programs that are overkill for my purposes.
There is no reason I need to use a dedicated needlework program. A drawing app would work. My basic requirements are 1) be able to specify a graph paper grid 2) draw lines between any 2 squares 3) have the lines snap to either a vertex or the center of the square 4) select a group of lines that can be copied, moved, mirrored, and rotated 90 degrees.
It'd be nice to be able to set line colors and label the end points of the lines so I remember which way the stitches go.
All the drawing apps I see are paid, and which is fine . I just don't want to have to buy multiple apps to figure out if any have the features I need.
I was cleaning out some closets and found some old counted canvas needlework that I hadn't looked at in years. Here are some pictures from the internet of the sort of thing I was aspiring to.
I'd like to get back into it and just wanted to mark out a simple sampler to work up. Back in the day, I would have used graph paper. Now I have an iPad with a stylus.
I tried Googling for stitch programs, but all I came up with are cross stitch apps and very expensive desktop programs that are overkill for my purposes.
There is no reason I need to use a dedicated needlework program. A drawing app would work. My basic requirements are 1) be able to specify a graph paper grid 2) draw lines between any 2 squares 3) have the lines snap to either a vertex or the center of the square 4) select a group of lines that can be copied, moved, mirrored, and rotated 90 degrees.
It'd be nice to be able to set line colors and label the end points of the lines so I remember which way the stitches go.
All the drawing apps I see are paid, and which is fine . I just don't want to have to buy multiple apps to figure out if any have the features I need.
I can't pretend to understand what your doing but a friend's girlfriend uses Microsoft excel for this and designs stuff from scratch, so that might be an option (as would i suppose any spreadsheet program)
posted by chasles at 10:55 AM on March 16, 2019
posted by chasles at 10:55 AM on March 16, 2019
You probably want a "vector" graphics editor, which is perfect for lines and text (as opposed to a "raster" editor for photographs).
There are some free online vector editors. I just tried out Vectr, which is free to use online, and it has grid and snapping functionality (there is a grid/snapping control menu in the the top right list of buttons). Use the 'pen' tool to draw lines between grid intersections.
AlternativeTo lists a bunch of also-free alternatives to Vectr (also vector drawing programs). It lists "Inkpad" for the iPad, which might have the features you need. I use and love Inkscape (a free desktop application), but it may have a bit of a learning curve because it is very powerful and configurable, hence somewhat complex.
posted by whatnotever at 11:07 AM on March 16, 2019
There are some free online vector editors. I just tried out Vectr, which is free to use online, and it has grid and snapping functionality (there is a grid/snapping control menu in the the top right list of buttons). Use the 'pen' tool to draw lines between grid intersections.
AlternativeTo lists a bunch of also-free alternatives to Vectr (also vector drawing programs). It lists "Inkpad" for the iPad, which might have the features you need. I use and love Inkscape (a free desktop application), but it may have a bit of a learning curve because it is very powerful and configurable, hence somewhat complex.
posted by whatnotever at 11:07 AM on March 16, 2019
This is a dedicated cross-stitch program, but I really like KG-Chart. I find it very easy to use both for adapting images and for creating ones from scratch. It's less intuitive/easy to use when putting in backstitching.
The free version does grids up to 100x100. The paid version was about $35 USD when I got it. Both will produce images or PDF patterns.
posted by jb at 11:13 AM on March 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
The free version does grids up to 100x100. The paid version was about $35 USD when I got it. Both will produce images or PDF patterns.
posted by jb at 11:13 AM on March 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sorry: just realised that you are looking for an iOS app. Please disregard.
posted by jb at 11:14 AM on March 16, 2019
posted by jb at 11:14 AM on March 16, 2019
Maybe Procreate can do this? It’s $10 for the iPad version.
posted by sucre at 8:42 PM on March 16, 2019
posted by sucre at 8:42 PM on March 16, 2019
If you're looking for an experience that's similar to drawing (or coloring blocks?) on graph paper, you might consider an app for making "pixel art". I'm unable to recommend anything specific, but a search on that term might turn up something useful.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 9:31 AM on March 17, 2019
posted by Hal Mumkin at 9:31 AM on March 17, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by janell at 10:09 AM on March 16, 2019