Stitchboard Support message #2
Re: Photo size
March 27, 2014 at 1:32:49 AM  (in response to Kazzee message #1)
 
Hi, Karen and thanks for asking.

First, I'm more technical than being a crochet expert.  I can tell you a few related things regarding the freePatternWizard since I wrote the program.

The patternWizard has settings that will allow you to vary the number of stitches in section 6. There you can select the number of stitches across if you want.  If you choose the second option, you can enter the stitch count across manually and the system will enlarge or reduce the image so it creates a chart with the given count.  So, for example, the chart could be set to use 10 stitches across if you wanted.  Or as many as 300.

Regarding the paper size, I'm not sure exactly how many stitches would fit across on an A3 sheet.  We've had many discussions here about final stitched items vs. the number of stitches across on a crochet pattern/chart.  It relates to the needle size, fibre, and tension so there's no real single answer. For what its worth, a future update to the patternWizard will allow many different paper sizes... not just the American Legal size.  A new version will support up to A0 and down to A8 (and do B, C, and others) but I have yet to determine the limits I'll set up regarding maximum number of stitches across.  I'll have to raise the limits for the larger paper sizes.

So those are my technical comments but I have a feeling this may not fully answer your questions.  I have a feeling Melanie may also answer with her ideas.

Terry

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Stitchboard Admin message #3
Re: Photo size
March 27, 2014 at 6:34:21 AM  (in response to Kazzee message #1)
 
Karen,

Hi! 

One of the problems with a photo is that by going too small, you tend to lose detail that is usually necessary for the photo to look good, as you've discovered.  There isn't really an easy answer to that, as it depends entirely on the photo.  A very detailed photo will require more stitches, and yes, as you've noticed, that will tend to lean toward the large size.  If you're doing a portrait, specifically, it sounds like there are too many details to reduce the number of stitches way down and still have the resulting image look decent.

As Terry mentioned, the finished size of a stitched piece is dependent on your crochet hook size, the fiber you're using and your tension.  If, for instance, your yarn is lightweight, you'd be able to get a much greater number of stitches per inch (or centimeter) than with a worsted weight or bulky (chunky) yarn.  And if you're an absolute glutton for punishment (LOL, this really is something I would do!), you could technically crochet with embroidery floss, which would make your stitches pretty tiny (especially if - and yes, I've actually done this - you used only two, three or four ply of the floss).  It's very tedious work, and floss is difficult to work with...but it can be done.  (I did not make a portrait, though.  I made a teddy bear with four strands of gold metallic embroidery floss.  And yes, it was tedious.  I had to use cardboard tubes to wrap the separated strands around, and then recombined them later on.  It is not something I'd suggest doing, but then, I've always been a bit crazy!  )

The advantage of using embroidery floss, if it wouldn't drive you nuts, would be that you can work pretty small...and you'll have a wealth of colors to choose from.  Yarns are very, very limited, so if you're working in, for example, worsted weight, you've got only a handful of colors to choose from.

I'm sorry if this isn't helpful.  Most of the time when I've seen crocheted portraits, they've been crocheted as afghans and wall hangings, things that are pretty large to begin with.  When you try to downsize something, if you don't similarly downsize your fiber and hook, you'll end up losing something in the process...and that may end up being a sacrifice of too much detail for what you want to do.

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Stitchboard Admin message #5
Re: Photo size
March 28, 2014 at 10:43:32 PM  (in response to Kazzee message #4)
 
Karen,

You're very welcome!  I'm so glad the info is helpful to you.    Also, I'm very happy you were able to downsize the photo without losing a lot of detail.    The most important thing is that you get the results you're looking for, whether that's with yarn, floss or specialty fiber! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #7
Re: Photo size
March 30, 2014 at 1:02:59 AM  (in response to Kazzee message #6)
 
Karen,

You're very welcome...I hope you'll post a photo when you're done...your picture sounds awesome, and I'd love to see how it turns out! 

LOL!  Isn't it entirely true...we are slaves to our furchildren (though loving every minute of it)!    Cats, love their sweet little hearts, are so into ritual.  Ours is to show her the can (so she can mark it), open it, let her sniff, lick off the lid, then serve the food.  She has us wrapped around her cute little paws. 

Does your kitty help you crochet?  Our little one is very helpful.  She loves to do whatever she can, and when I bring out the bead tray, she usually sets herself down right on it.  She also tries to get her paws into the bead containers in my organizer, but the containers are a little small for her paws.  She's awfully cute to watch, though! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #9
Re: Photo size
March 31, 2014 at 12:43:04 AM  (in response to Kazzee message #8)
 
Karen,

LOL!  I can picture you chasing after a naughty (and adorable) beagle, trying to grab your yarn!    Is your beagle part cat, perhaps?! 

Hee hee, is that cat behavior or what?!    Bet they love snuggling with you and a nice, warm afghan!    And they always want to be the center of everything.  Gotta love the little cuties.  Do you get yarn end chasing?  I sometimes get that.  The yarn end waving back and forth must be very hard to resist! 

The only time I mind a little helper is when I have dangerous needles laying around.  I once had two needles on the bead tray and of course, little helper comes over and plops herself down on the needles.  How she didn't end up getting stabbed in the tummy I'll never know, but I moved very fast to get her off of there!  Poor girl didn't understand why, of course.    Luckily, something like that is very rare...usually, she's quite mom's little helper! 

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