Main Page
From kxstitch
Contents |
Introduction
KXStitch is a program that lets you create cross stitch patterns and charts. Patterns can be created from scratch on a user defined size of grid, which can be enlarged or reduced in size as your pattern progresses. Alternatively you can import images from many graphics formats which will allow you to reduce the number of colours and to restrict the conversion to full stitches or optionally use fractional stitches. You may also use an image as a background. These imported images can then be modified using the supplied tools to produce your final design.
There are many tools to aid designing your pattern, from open and filled rectangles and ellipses, filled polygons and lines and backstitching. Additionally cut, copy and paste can be used to duplicate selected areas. Selected areas can also be rotated 90, 180 and 270 degrees anti clockwise, or mirrored horizontally or vertically.
There is also a pattern library that can be used to store small and not so small portions of patterns that can then be reused in other patterns. The patterns in these library are stored in a hierarchical list that makes it easy to sort and navigate them to find the ones you want. These pattern libraries can also be used as alphabets by assigning a character to each one. By using the Alphabet tool, each key press is searched for in the current library and if present, the associated pattern will be inserted in the pattern.
When your ready, you can print out your design in several formats. There are options to print out cover sheets, instructions and a floss key including amount of thread used and number of stitches.
The new KDE4 version is available for download at http://sourceforge.net/projects/kxstitch/files/kxstitch/. The current development code is available via git.
Symbol Editor
I have uploaded a new version of the SymbolEditor incorporating additional rendering options for filled and unfilled paths, variable line width and line end and join styles.
It is to be used to create symbols for use with KXStitch. Currently KXStitch uses standard text fonts for symbols used in patterns, however issues with different languages, the limited number of characters available and the general suitability of the characters for their purpose has driven the need to create a specific symbol library for KXStitch.
The application is easy to use and instructions are available here. SymbolEditor is available for download here
The current development version is available from git here.
To download from git: at the shell prompt type: git clone git://kxstitch.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/kxstitch/SymbolEditor
Any symbols created can be saved to a symbol library and any number of library files can be created, for example a library of themed symbols for charts of that theme.
KXStitch makes use of these libraries as of version 0.9.2 that has now been released.
Latest Information
I have had some time off coding for a while having been very busy with other things. However I have made a lot of updates to git recently and have now released version 0.9.2. This includes an updated pattern renderer using the new symbol libraries created with the SymbolEditor. Although this is currently restricted to the default library and I will make further updates that will allow the use of additional symbol libraries.
This is a snapshot of the current range of symbols I have created along with an extract from a pattern using them. If you have any of your own symbols that you would like to have included then just send them to me.
The current development code is available from git here.
To download from git: at the shell prompt type: git clone git://kxstitch.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/kxstitch/kxstitch
If you have any comments, questions, problems or suggestions then please let me know.
Intended Platform
KXStitch is being developed for Linux using KDE/Qt.
Licensing
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
Features
- Creation of new patterns
- Editing of existing patterns - KXStitch is also capable of reading PC Stitch 5 files.
- Use of various floss pallets, DMC, Anchor, Madeira, JP Coates
- Creation of custom palettes and colours.
- Use of standard stitches
- Free use of backstitching
- Importing of various picture formats
- Printing of patterns and floss keys
For an in depth look at the feature list, check out the features page.
User Manual
The online user manual is available here.
Download
Version 0.9.2 of KXStitch (KDE4) is available as source for download here
Version 1.0.0 of SymbolEditor (KDE4) is available as source for download here.
Version 0.8.4.1 of KXStitch (KDE3) is available as source for download here.
The current development version for KDE4 is available via git here.
The current development version for KDE3 is available via cvs here although it is not being actively developed.
Contacts
I can be contacted via email here so feel free to ask questions or make comments and suggestions.
You can sign up to the kxstitch-devel and/or the kxstitch-users mailing lists here.
