Stitchboard Admin message #2
Re: HI!!
October 19, 2016 at 3:48:05 AM  (in response to stacylh77 message #1)
 
Stacy,

Welcome! 

Have you tried using a graphics program to lighten your images?  If you're using Windows and need a graphics program, I know of two very powerful free ones that are available for download online which can help. 

As for the maximum number of stitches, actually, that number is 500 stitches across; however, when you go to either 300 or 500 stitches, you're then talking about our Premier features, for which we have very nominal fees.  The 300 stitch option carries an introductory price of $2.99 for a full year, and the 500 stitch option carries an introductory price of $4.99 for a full year.  If you pay for the 500 stitch option, the 300 stitch option is also included, so there's no extra charge for both.  You can see more information about our Premier features here:
/pages/pattern/subscribe.php

If you're still interested in working at only 150 stitches across there's only one way to calculate how large your finished item will be.  You must crochet a gauge swatch.  There's no way around it; your gauge depends on several factors - your hook size, fiber, and it also greatly depends on how tightly or loosely you personally crochet.  There are good possibilities that even if you and I both used the same size hook and the same fiber, we'd still produce different sized swatches!

Your gauge swatch should be at least 4 inches x 4 inches.  After you end your swatch, you need to block it, then measure and calculate the number of stitches per inch by measuring fully across and dividing the number of stitches by the number of inches.  Then with that number you can calculate out the finished size of your graphghan.

So for example, let's say your finished swatch was 3 stitches to the inch and your graphghan pattern had 90 stitches across.  You'd figure 90 divided by 3, and that would tell you the finished graphghan pattern would be 30 inches across.

One thing about crocheting (or knitting) is it's all very math intensive.  It's also very necessary, especially for things like garments, since you wouldn't want to find that the cardigan you worked hours and hours to make either drags on the ground or is small enough to fit a 10 year old! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #4
Re: HI!!
October 20, 2016 at 5:01:54 AM  (in response to stacylh77 message #3)
 
Stacy,

You're very welcome!  Glad the 150 stitches works for you.     Sometimes it's better to work with a larger stitch/fewer stitches, especially if you have a strict time limit. 

Here are the two graphics programs.  I can't advise on how to use them...I'm almost embarrassed to say I use an ancient graphics program, circa about 1998, LOL!    I'm comfortable with it, so as long as it still works, I won't switch.

One program, GIMP, is available here:
https://www.gimp.org/

The other, Paint.net is available here:
http://www.getpaint.net/index.html

Awww, thanks...we definitely hope you'll love our site a little too much! 

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BetwixtTheStitch message #5
Re: HI!!
October 20, 2016 at 9:51:39 AM  (in response to stacylh77 message #1)
 
Hi Stacy, and welcome.

I'm up in north Tx. I've been using this site for a few years and love it.

I can tell you that the more detail your image has, the larger you need to make your graph or you will start losing the detail.

Hope that helps.

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Stitchboard Admin message #7
Re: HI!!
October 30, 2016 at 3:51:40 AM  (in response to stacylh77 message #6)
 
Stacy,

Has the lightening process helped at all?    I also concur with Sherry; the more detail you have, the larger your graph should be, so you don't lose that detail.  Another thing to keep in mind is that in yarn the colors are much more limited.  (Which doesn't apply if you're working in black & white, of course.) 

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