Create your own stunning designs with images covering every period of English history from Elizabethan times to the present day, with the definitive guide to cross stitch and tapestry.

This unique PC CD-ROM enables you to add a touch of originality to your home. Help is at hand from the Royal School of Needlework, to teach you the correct techniques if you are a beginner, or to build upon your existing knowledge if you are more experienced, turning your creative ideas into reality.

Using all the capabilities of computer multimedia, video and sound to explain techniques, design skills and the history behind the Royal School, this programme is perfect for all those who are passionate about their hobby.

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• Easy to follow, clearly demonstrated techniques allow you to improve your skills, gain confidence and build upon your existing techniques - ideal for beginners or experienced needleworkers.
• Contains hints and tips from the Royal School of Needlework.
• Learn how to create 22 stitch types with video demonstrations, for cross stitch, canvas work (tapestry) and blackwork, to use in your own designs. Stitch types include full cross stitch, back-stitch, beading and gold thread couching.
• Learn how to choose the correct type of fabric and obtain explanation on the different types of needles, frames, threads, handling techniques, packing and storage, stitch types and historical methods.
• Features over 1,200 exclusive Royal School of Needlework motifs - from Elizabethan times to the present day, including explanations on how specific motifs come into fashion and who used the various techniques.
• Select from over 3,000 manufacturer thread (floss) colours.
• Choose colours from the Anchor, Appleton, DMC, Kreinik, Madeira, Mill Hill (Beads), Offray, Paterna and Rajmahal colour ranges.
• Import your photograph or picture via any scanner or digital camera and convert it into a beautiful stitch chart with the colours matched to your favourite stranded cotton or wool shade range. Then de-speckle your image to enhance your design, adjust the brightness and contrast or flip, crop and rotate the image to create your desired effect.
• Create your won designs with 1 to 256,000 stitches (500 x 500) with the design area visible at 10 zoom levels and a palette of 100 colours.
• Use up to 100 full, half and back-stitch colours in each chart chosen from thousands of manufacturers shades.
• Features powerful drawing and editing tools that will aid your design process including automatic back-stitch outlining, sampler text drawing and print symbol allocation. Editable symbols and linestyles are also available to create charts exactly how you want them.
• Box, magic wand and freehand selection tools enable you to work on the exact area you require and the design map enables quick navigation of large designs.
• Convert designs from one colour range to another at a click of a button, making charts stitchable in a variety of manufacturers threads.
• Preview your design as stitches, colour blocks or symbols on-screen or as it will appear on your chosen fabric - Aida, evenweave, or tapestry canvas.
• Automatically calculates the amount of thread needed to complete your design, this can be viewed on-screen or printed out as a materials list.
• Print out your chart across multiple pages either in colour, or black and white using colour symbols or use page numbering, overlaps and centre marks.
• Import and border wizards take you through step by step stages to show you how to get the design you want.
• Modern and historical blackwork fills are included or why not create your own blackwork fills and add them to the list.
• Convert and TrueType font into stitches.
• Create your own library of stitch types.
• Comprehensive on-line help section.