Leni Bernardo

Do you have a dream design?  You know the one.  It haunts you at night.  It's the one you look for every time you walk into a craft store.  It's the one that almost caused you to quit cross-stitching forever.  Well, there are some solutions to help you find that elusive cross-stitch pattern without sweating, screaming, or pulling your hair out.

Use Your Voice

Before you go from craft store to craft store figure out what you need then use your phone.  Remember those phone book commercials and the slogan "Phone First?"  Well, they were not kidding.  Opening up the phone book or using the phone directory resources online will help save you time and frustration.

Be sure you know what you need before you call, though.  If you know the specific pattern name and number you are looking for, all the better!  Most stores have their inventory computerized, so it should not take them long to see if they have what you need.  Even others can order specific cross-stitch designs for you.  Don't worry if  you do not have the specific number, just give them a very accurate description of what you need.

Use Your Computer

Search engines are your friend and your nemesis all in one.  You need to remember that most businesses use the search engines to try and sell things, so it may take some digging to find what you need on the internet.  Be sure to type in very specific words when you are looking for that hard-to-find cross-stitch pattern.

Some of the most common search engines are Google, Overture, and Yahoo!  Those are the Big 3, but there is also AltaVista, Ask.com, and more.  Not all websites advertise on the Big 3, because they can be more expensive.  So try several different search engines.

An example would be if you are looking for a cross stitch pattern of the Chrysler Building, but you want a specific pose.  You could begin by typing in "Chrysler Building Cross Stitch Pattern," and see what happens.  You will probably find a number of results.  If that does not yield you enough, try another search engine or try other wording.

Design Your Own

One thing that many people do not realize is that there is a place to create your own cross stitch patterns for FREE.  Pick yourself up off the floor, because it does come with one catch.  You can take any picture and create a cross-stitch pattern, but it does not come with a color key.  So you will have to do the research into what color flosses you will need all on your own, which can be complicated with certain designs.

If you are able to determine floss colors on your own, then creating your own cross-stitch pattern may be the answer to your hard-to-find cross-stitch design problems.  If you are an artist, then you could just find some graph paper and start drawing.  Just be sure you are using the right key for your size project. 

However, there is an answer on your computer if you want a cross-stitch design from a picture or drawing.  You can use the KnitPro program for free on Microrevolt.org.  Just go to www.microrevolt.org/knitPro.htm.  You just upload the picture and it generates a pattern.  It will generate the pattern for other craft projects, too.

So now you have several ways to dig up that hard-to-find pattern.  Whether you want to find a specific pattern you remember or you have a specific focus, there is a way to get the patterns of your dreams without suffering for your craft.