Basic introduction and colourwork tutorial - Stitchmastery tutorial

This video shows how to create a blank chart and then add colour stitches. You can download the software in demo version for free from https://stitchmastery.com/downloads/ . Click "Show More" to find written instructions and links to further help. With Stitchmastery open, there are 3 routes to creating a blank chart - use the keypad shortcut Ctrl + N (Windows) or Cmd + N (macOS), go to File/Stitchmastery - New - New Chart Diagram, or click the icon in the toolbar which shows a computer window with a plus symbol over it (hovering over icons will display their function). The New Chart Diagram dialog opens and gives many options to set - eg the number of rows and columns, where you'd like column numbers displayed, and importantly where you would like to save the file - use the Browse button to locate the folder of your choice. You can find explanations for all of the options in the User Manual. When you're happy with your settings, click Finish and the programme will create your blank chart, populated with knit stitches. To add a colour, click on the Colours folder in the stitch palette, select a colour by clicking on it (left click with mouse or tracker pad) and then move your cursor over the chart area. You'll see it changes from an arrow icon to a paintbrush icon. Left click on a cell you'd like to add colour to, or hold and drag to colour in multiple cells. You'll see the programme automatically adds the colour to your key, as well as creating a key listing for white. If your whole chart will be worked with knit stitches and you'll explain this in the instructions, you may want to hide the knit symbol and listing from the key - select it by clicking on the symbol (not just the word knit) and then click Edit in the main menu bar and choose Hide Selection. The programme also automatically creates written instructions for your chart, but does not automatically assume that colour added is colour to be worked (eg you may use colour in a chart for guidance reasons or to black out areas where there are no stitches). To add yarn colours to the written instructions, click Diagram in the main menu bar and then choose Edit Diagram Properties. Under the Written Instructions tab, select the checkbox for the instruction to include colours in written instructions. You'll see the written instructions update to include this information. If you'd like to use a colour other than the default selection in the programme, click Custom in the colours folder. A colour dialog will open, allowing you to set up a colour of your choice. When you add this to your chart, Custom1 will be added to your key. To set up a more descriptive name for the yarn, click on the symbol and click Yarn in the main menu bar and chose Edit Yarn Properties. This will allow you to set the yarn name and an alias to be used in the written instructions - so for instance, if you were to include the yarn brand and line in your key, that might be more words than necessary for written instructions. It's important to note that Stitchmastery doesn't currently allow you to permanently add custom colours to your stitch palette. A custom colour used in a chart file will always be there when you open it again, but you won't find the colour listed when you create a new chart. We have received feedback that people would like this option and it's on our to-do list. It may be interesting to note that you can combine different stitches and yarn colours - you are not restricted to knit stitches only. And the programme gives the option to have your stitch symbols always contrast with your yarn colour - showing white on darker yarn colours and black on lighter yarn colours. This option is set in the Edit Diagram Properties menu. To find out more about setting up a chart, see https://stitchmastery.zendesk.com/hc/... If you are having problems, you can get advice from other users or find previously answered questions in our Ravelry forum - https://www.ravelry.com/groups/stitch... or our new Community Forum on Zendesk - https://stitchmastery.zendesk.com/hc/... Or email us support[at]stitchmastery.com and we'll be happy to help.