In my previous post, I mentioned that I had purchased and downloaded a PDF file from Artecy, consisting of charts for nine Blackwork Christmas Motifs. After studying the designs, I found myself thinking that it would be great if I could find some software, which would enable me to experiment with different shades of metallic thread. My reasoning was that this would enable me to get a rough idea of what the designs would look like, before I committed myself to stitching anything, and used up valuable stitching supplies.
In the past, I have downloaded evaluation versions of cross-stitching software, and although good, they haven’t included a palette for metallic threads, which on this occasion was what I wanted. As luck would have it, I stumbled across a website for StitchCraft. The StitchCraft software is available to purchase in three formats (Home Edition - £95), Designer Edition - £496, and Publisher Edition - £1,548). Each version of the software allows the user to save charts as a PDF file, and includes a palette for metallic threads, from the DMC Light Effects range. Needless to say, I wasted no time in downloading an evaluation version of the software, and was suitably impressed. It’s just a shame that in order to purchase the Home Edition (never mind the other two editions), I would need to rob a bank, or else find myself a wealthy, generous boyfriend!
During the course of last night, and the early hours of this morning, I was in my element experimenting with the software. As with most evaluation software, I was unable to save my work, but I was able to take screenshots, which I then cropped.
On the chart for the images below, the design was stitched using 1 strand of DMC 498 (red), on white Aida. Using the evaluation software, this is what I came up with.
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| Metallic Black and Metallic Gold |
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| Metallic Blue and Metallic Silver |
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| Metallic Pink (NOT from the DMC Light Effects range) and Metallic Silver |
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| Metallic Purple and Metallic Silver |
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| Metallic Red, Metallic Gold, and Metallic Silver |
On the chart for the two images below, the design was stitched on white Aida, again using 1 strand of DMC 498 (red). In addition, the ribbon wasn’t filled, so I thought it would be good to see what it would look like if filled with cross-stitches, and fractional cross-stitches.
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| Metallic Purple and Metallic Silver |
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| Metallic Red and Metallic Gold |
Finally, on the chart for the bell below, the design was stitched using 1 strand of DMC 699 (green), on white Aida. The hook on the bell wasn’t filled, neither was the clapper (the bulbous part, at the bottom of the bell).
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| Metallic Gold and Metallic Silver |
