Cross Stitch Patterns and Left-Handed Instruction

[Virginia's Virtues]

Hello all!  I just joined this group a week or so ago, and I've been lurking for a bit to get the lay of the land.  I have really enjoyed looking through everyone's photos.  It's so inspiring!

I've two questions for all of you.

1) I've been doing cross stitch for ages, but I've always just used someone else's patterns.  I've started doodling my own on graph paper, but one thing I've not figured out is how-to center text inside borders. 

For example (xs represent the border stitching):

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x                                               x
x   text text text text                   x
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I can count the border out so that I have even spacing all around the text, but centering text inside the border (both horizontally and vertically) I just cannot do.

Do I just need to go back to my grade school math?  Is there a trick here that I'm unaware of?

While we're on the subject, I've been looking around at computer programs for designing cross stitch patterns.  Do any of you have any recommendations about those?

2)  I'm a leftie.  Anyone else here a leftie?  Anyone else here recommend any online resources for left-handed embroiderers? Up till now, my left-handedness hasn't been a problem; now, though, I'm trying out more complicated stitches and it seems to matter a great deal.

Thanks for taking the time to read through these questions.  (I hope they weren't too "noob"!)

Virginia

[Elmsley Rose]

For all things Left Handed, I suggest Yvette Stanton. http://vettycreations.com.au/white-threads/

Her book (Left Handed Embroiderer's Companion) is brilliant. Step by step instructions and photos and HEAPS of stitches. It has received many wonderful reviews and I wouldn't be without it.

She is a very lovely lady. If you had some particular questions, you might contact her through her site and ask her nicely if she can help you?

I don't know of any good on-line LH resources, and believe me, I've been looking in the last few years!

[Cindy Brown]

Hi Virginia,

Centering text is fairly easy. Just count the number of stitches to fill the inside of the border, vertically and horizontally. Divide each by 2, count to that stitch, and that will be the center. Do the same with your text, and then line up the centers. Hope that makes sense to you.

There are a number of software programs for cross stitch. I would recommend that you do a search for cross stitch software and then check them all out. Most will have a trial program download so you can check it out and see if it meets your needs. I would say the most popular program is Pattern Maker and you can check it out here: www.hobbyware.com

I don't know about online resources for left handed stitch instructions, but Yvette Stanton has a book out for lefties. You can check it out here: http://www.vettycreations.com.au/index.html

Cindy Brown

[Virginia's Virtues]

Thanks so much for the information. I've added that to my shopping list!

[Virginia's Virtues]

Thanks for the suggestion. When I've run searches before, I get a few free programs which are alright. Mostly, I didn't want to shell out $50 for a program that didn't work for me. I'll check out Pattern Maker this weekend.

[Yvette Stanton]

Hi Virginia, Yvette Stanton here. Anything in particular that you wanted to know about left-handed stitching?

Yvette
www.vettycreations.com.au/white-threads
www.facebook.com/vettycreations