Graphing Crochet Patterns

I have often wanted to graph some patterns to work in single crochet, or to embroider onto single crochet. A cyber-friend of mine has tried to get me to attempt it using Excel.

Tonight was the first time I found the courage to tackle it. I wanted a special pattern for a 12" square for an exchange-group on Ravelry. I found one such square, almost. It didn't have the design I wanted on it, but it was perfect for my base. It is 10", but it says that a G hook will produce 4 sc at 1-inch and 4 rows at 1-inch. So I was easily able to add a few more stitches and a few more rows to give me the 12" overall size I needed.

Next was tackling Excel. I knew I'd need 48 stitches across and 48 rows. So, figuring that we have 26 letters in the alphabet, I highlighted an area from Column A through Column AV, to give me the 48 across. Highlighting 48 down was easy enough; the rows are numbered.

Next, I formatted each cell by choosing to outline each cell so the squares would show and print.

Now came the fun part. How to make all the little cells the size I wanted.

When I chose a single cell, it showed row height at 12.75 (whatever that is) and column width at 8.43 (whatever that is). The columns were too wide to appear as true squares. I decided to take the column wide and row heights down to "2." The rows ended up too squished. I un-did the row adjustment and left it at 12.75. The result is a real grid of little squares.

I set the Print Area for that 48x48 area. However, the Print Preview looked really weird and not at all what I wanted. Still, I took a shot and printed it. Perfect!

Tomorrow I might see if I can print with the rows and columns numbered. Then I can begin filling in blocks for my pattern/design. I can't wait.

Oh, if you are totally uninterested in making your own graph paper and design on Excel, you can go to a free online cross stitch pattern generator at myphotostitch.com. I found that the "advanced" option was better for my simple pattern, and allowed me more freedom to set my columns-by-rows choices.

In addition, if you just want the graph paper to print out, whenever you need it, you can get all you want, in many sizes of grids, free, at Printable Paper.