Stitchboard Admin message #2
Re: Introduce myself
February 8, 2017 at 5:42:03 AM  (in response to jajomiBag message #1)
 
José,

Welcome! 

Goodness, 3 kids, especially sons, are a lot of work!  Glad you can still find some time for beading. 

Those little beads really are addictive, aren't they?  There's something so calming and yet so exciting about them.

Cuff bracelets are wonderful!  Feel free to share some pics of your work so we can all drool!    Peyote is my favorite stitch.  I love the way those beads lock together to make the perfect piece!

Glad you were able to find some great patterns...we'll be revamping the entire mall at some point, so you'll see even more in the future! 

How great that you're making your own patterns! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #4
Re: Introduce myself
February 9, 2017 at 3:31:56 AM  (in response to jajomiBag message #3)
 
José,

No worries...you're not doing anything wrong!

It's best to tweak any images in a graphics program before you send them through the freePatternWizard.  Eventually, we'll have editing capabilities, but they're still in development at this time.

Also, keep in mind that the freePatternWizard isn't like a graphics program because it won't handle resizing your images well.  (That's also something that will be addressed with the editing capabilities.)  It's again best to use a graphics program for this.

The number of stitches across can be addressed by making your finished resized image the same number of pixels as the number of stitches you want; working vertically (rows) is far more difficult.  Again, with the editing capabilities will be the ability to set a vertical size; however, for now it's not possible.  So for now you may have to tweak your image by adding borders to get it to the correct vertical dimension.

If you're using a PC and don't have a good graphics program, I can recommend two very powerful and free programs that can help you with editing.    The only thing I can't do is tell you how to use them...I use an ancient version of Paint Shop Pro from about...1998! 

Hope that helps! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #6
Re: Introduce myself
February 10, 2017 at 6:31:16 AM  (in response to jajomiBag message #5)
 
José,

You're very welcome! 

Glad you have a good program to work with!  Let me caution you, though...it's not how long the image is in the finished pattern that's important.  It's important how many beads across you want the image to be (e.g., stitches) and then it's important to know how many rows vertically (though you'll have to tweak that in your graphics program for this version of the software).  The image you print in your finished pattern is probably going to be far different from the size of the finished beadwork, so measuring the image you get from the freePatternWizard is going to be unhelpful.

If you're not sure how many beads you'll need, you can always make a sample piece and decide based on that how many beads will meet your purposes for the particular cuff bracelet you want to make.

For example, you may decide you want your bracelet pattern to be 30 beads wide.  That would mean you'd first make your image 30 pixels wide in a graphics program.  If that looks good to you, then you'd know that's the measurement you can work with to make your bracelet the right size. 

I know there are people making framed pictures/wall hangings; it really depends on your original image.  If you're using a photograph with a lot of colors and things going on, it may be unsuitable for a cuff bracelet.  Remember, you have to minimize it in a program first, so see how you like it then; if it doesn't reduce too small, then it will be fine!

It's likely that anyone who does make a cuff bracelet pattern using the freePatternWizard is either using artwork, rather than photos, or pieces of photos.  Basically, anything that will reduce well or is small enough to start with. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #8
Re: Introduce myself
February 16, 2017 at 1:14:21 AM  (in response to jajomiBag message #7)
 
José,

Great, glad you found something that works for you!    And thank you for sending in a free pattern!  It may take a few days for approval, as we're working on our system software. 

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