Brian Milco, creator of Stitchworks Software (also the programmer, marketing dept, makes the coffee, empties the trash, and pretty much every thing to do with the software I am currently attempting to conquer) shared this tiplet in my yahoogroup for SymbolCrochet

On 7/9/2013 12:22 AM, Brian Milco wrote:
> One tip for creating stitch symbols: If all you need are symbols that are in the library already you can create a motif on a blank chart, export the motif as an svg file and import it into the library as a single symbol. It will scale and change colors just like the other symbols.

Pattern Gauge is the gauge that the Pattern Author has designated as what is needed for the project to be “as advertised”

This is technical a draft, but it has the basics covered and eventually I will add to it –

Pattern Gauge is, often as not – DIFFERENT than the LABEL Gauge (the information noted on the yarn label) So you can’t just look at the pattern gauge and know what style of yarn to choose (DK, Worsted, Bulky, etc)

Hopefully the Pattern Author has also included some yarn specifics, for example many of patterns call for lace and fingering weight yarns and use 6mm and larger hooks – not the Label suggestion of 2.23mm to 3.5mm.

Pattern Gauge has a huge effect on the amount of yarn needed to complete the project. One might think that with the many wonderful smorgasbord project – people would be inclined to buy sufficient yarn even if that means a bit leftover. But they don’t and then its gets dicey because that color or dyelot or even that yarn may no longer be around.

So, in addition to the very real issue of yarn needed for the project and how gauge can make that a very painful experience, you know the kind you learn the hard way.

Gauge ALWAYS matters. Size Always Matters In Craft.

GAUGE IS NOT JUST ABOUT SIZE –

it is also about

HAND – the feel of the fabric – if your gauge is off it means your fabric might be too floppy/open to be useful for the project OR conversely, too tight and it is more like armour than a fabric you want to wrap your self in.

SURFACE DESIGN – if you go to the trouble to work pattern motifs, if your gauge is off you may lose the necessary stitch definition needed to make that project all it can be

PATTERN AUTHOR INTENT – Many time the PATTERN GAUGE is not the Same as the LABEL GAUGE and if your goal is to have your project look like the pattern author intended, then you need to swatch to find the combination of yarn and hook that will enable you to meet that expectation.

Now I need to get a started on things like “My Gauge”, Label Gauge, and of course the OCD Swatch.

If you get here from my online store and want to get back – to the main page – click here for ItsAllJustString.com

Originally published as a page in 2013, moved to blog posts 2021-Feb-19

Pattern Gauge is the gauge that the Pattern Author has designated as what is needed for the project to be “as advertised”

This is technical a draft, but it has the basics covered and eventually I will add to it –

Pattern Gauge is, often as not – DIFFERENT than the LABEL Gauge (the information noted on the yarn label) So you can’t just look at the pattern gauge and know what style of yarn to choose (DK, Worsted, Bulky, etc)

Hopefully the Pattern Author has also included some yarn specifics, for example many of patterns call for lace and fingering weight yarns and use 6mm and larger hooks – not the Label suggestion of 2.23mm to 3.5mm.

Pattern Gauge has a huge effect on the amount of yarn needed to complete the project. One might think that with the many wonderful smorgasbord project – people would be inclined to buy sufficient yarn even if that means a bit leftover. But they don’t and then its gets dicey because that color or dyelot or even that yarn may no longer be around.

So, in addition to the very real issue of yarn needed for the project and how gauge can make that a very painful experience, you know the kind you learn the hard way.

Gauge ALWAYS matters. Size Always Matters In Craft.

GAUGE IS NOT JUST ABOUT SIZE –

it is also about

HAND – the feel of the fabric – if your gauge is off it means your fabric might be too floppy/open to be useful for the project OR conversely, too tight and it is more like armour than a fabric you want to wrap your self in.

SURFACE DESIGN – if you go to the trouble to work pattern motifs, if your gauge is off you may lose the necessary stitch definition needed to make that project all it can be

PATTERN AUTHOR INTENT – Many time the PATTERN GAUGE is not the Same as the LABEL GAUGE and if your goal is to have your project look like the pattern author intended, then you need to swatch to find the combination of yarn and hook that will enable you to meet that expectation.

Now I need to get a started on things like “My Gauge”, Label Gauge, and of course the OCD Swatch.

If you get here from my online store and want to get back – to the main page – click here for ItsAllJustString.com or here for the What Wheat MEANT – a glossary.

From time to time there are discussions about the use of line counters in conjunction with measuring yardage.
For a series of reasons that TH once spent more than hour explaining I have always found the McMorran Yarn Balance to be the most accurate tool for estimating yardage and in many cases. And it has the added value of math I can easily do in my head.

Caveat Emptor: Presently I do not sell, but personally own and occasionally all except the Boye product. We have sold, and my first choice is the McMorran Yarn Balance. And yes, we are hoping within the month to have an imperial (lb/oz) version available.

Click on any of the images for larger image or to visit the information pages for these products. Please Note: Links may be “affilate links” or to my shop – ItsAllJustString.com

There are several difference styles of Yardage Counters – often found in the Fishing section of a Sporting Goods department – used to measure fishing line as it is reeled onto the spinner.

All the devices I have seen have quite an issue with handling yarn beyond accuracy is an issue even in industry situations which is why measuring by weight is usually much or active (averaging plus/minus 10%) and why I included YPP (Yards Per Pound) in my yarn label reference chart and will soon add some additional lines that may be helpful to others.

Until recently, among the most common is probably the Berkeley Line Counter

Keep in mind that these devices were not originally designed for use with yarn and when used for wire and for fishing line are usually quite accurate.

Recently, Simplicity – Boye has been offering a variation and I have not used it. I suspect it will be victim of the same issues any YARNandTHREAD have stretch and that is at the heart of the “issues” when using any of the meter/counter devices. My suspicion is based on the Amazon reviews for this product.

Nancy’s Knit Knacks used the DIY idea that weaver (including Nancy and Wheat) had been using for years and put it into another tool for their wide ranging tools and accessories for yarn users. As you can see, it incorporates both the Berkely meter and some yarn control to help with the consistency for the best possible result. There are other versions with a meter mounted – usually sold thru shops that cater to production and other hand weavers. I do consider
Nancy’s Yardage Meter to be fairly priced because of the quality of their workmanship.

While I can say from experience with the more expensive models sold thru sporting goods suppliers, that these work reasonably well with thinner, (Fingering – sock) smooth yarns but it gets interesting from sport on up; if I did not already these, I would probably not buy them again. .

In the interest of comparative pricing – The McMorran falls into the $25 to $30 range – but it does mena you will also need a scale that measure in fractions of an ounce to get the best possible result. Fortunately reasonably priced scales are not as hard to find as they once were.

—
Enjoy The Making
Wheat

I remember a conversation with one of the executives at Jeanette Crews some years ago. We have been having some timiliness issues with a particular designer and and the “money” guy was a bit upset about the losses because we coule not get a pre-sold book to press. He asked in an outdoor voice, “Can’t we just scan it into something and get the instructions”. The three design professionals AND company CEO all said, in GREAT outdoor voices NO!!! Someone added “and best you get that thru your thick head once and for all”.

There is much more to pattern authoring than just the design of a motif, the choosing of a shape, and oh well the list goes on.

As often as not, I will get an email that makes it clear to me that something is not clear. Confused yet?

So many misunderstandings occur when Semantics meets Expectations

how does this relate to Symbol Crochet – Well, at the moment we have very few options, each has benefits BUT none of them can replace a Pattern Author or at least none in the the under $100 category includes the ability to WRITE/Author a Pattern –
And if I had time to research, I suspect it would in the uner $200 and in some cases features in the $2000 and up range.

Rather they CHART – create a graphic representation of a series of stitches to form a Motif.

The route of the chaos might be that while most professional designers understand that until they are ready to spend a LOT more money, many new to the business of design have not yet understood this and think at the programs in the $ 50.00 range are going to deliver.

For example, looking at the two I use/have used for CROCHET CHARTING

New England’s Software describes the purpose of SymbolCro as to provide computer aided drafting of circular and/or rectangular crochet patterns using symbols.

StitchWorks describes itself as software for creating symbol crochet charts that can be shared or published …

Neither says it is a pattern writer and frankly I don’t want them to be. When we are working on patterns for publications we have to be able to format as needed.

Are there “I Wish” features – sure – but we can all save ourselves a LOT of upset if we take the time to understand what we are buying and then make a decision if it meets our needs.

Life is just too dang short to waste any of it on unreasonable expectations.