KXStitch – cross stitch pattern editor

KXStitch is an open source cross stitch pattern creator and editor. It allows the use of existing patterns, like those made by PC Stitch 5.

The software makes use of various floss pallets, including DMC, Anchor, and Madeira. Users can also create custom pallets and colors. The software uses standard stitches. Users can print patterns and floss keys.

Patterns can be created from scratch on a user defined size of grid, which can be enlarged or reduced in size as your pattern progresses. Alternatively you can import images from many graphics formats which will allow you to reduce the number of colours and to restrict the conversion to full stitches or optionally use fractional stitches. You may also use an image as a background. These imported images can then be modified using the supplied tools to produce your final design.

Key Features

• Creation of new patterns.
• User defined size.
• Selection of material colour.
• Insertion of a background image for tracing.
• Importing of various image formats.
• Importing options allow:
  • Limiting the number of colours.
• • Limiting colours to a specific palette.
• • Scaling to a finished size.
• • Support for transparancy in images.
• • Allow the use of fractional stitches.
• Editing of existing patterns – KXStitch is also capable of reading PC Stitch 5 files
  • Open and filled rectangles.
• • Open and filled ellipses.
• • Filled polylines.
• • Painting.
• • Lines.
• • Erasing stitches, knots and backstitches.
• • Colour selection from existing stitches.
• • Swapping two colours.
• • Replace one colour with another.
• • Text with user defined fonts and sizes.
  • Cut, copy and paste of rectangular regions. Stitch type and colour masks can be used to limit selections. You may also exclude backstitches and french knots.
• • Undo, Redo.
  • Mirroring, horizontally and vertically. Stitch type and colour masks can be used to limit selections. You may also exclude backstitches and french knots.
• • Rotation, 90, 180 and 270 degrees anti clockwise. Stitch type and colour masks can be used to limit selections. You may also exclude backstitches and french knots.
• • Resizing of the canvas:
• • • Extend canvas left, top, right, bottom.
• • • Cropping canvas to pattern.
• • • Croping canvas to selection.
• • Inserting rows and columns:
• • Center the pattern on the canvas.
• Conversion between floss schemes.
• Use of various floss pallets, DMC, Anchor, Madeira, JP Coates.
• Creation of custom palettes and colours.
• Use of standard stitches.
• Free use of backstitching.
• Importing of various picture formats.
• Printing of patterns and floss keys with fully customised layouts.
• Pattern library manager:
  • Create new library patterns.
• • Insert library patterns into a design.
• • Assign key press to patterns for use with the Alphabet tool.
• Mapping of symbols to flosses.
• Specify the number of threads for stitches and backstitches.
• Calibration of floss colours.
• Internationalization support: English, American English, Catalan, Spanish, Czech and Italian.

Website: apps.kde.org/kxstitch
Support: GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Stephen Allewell
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

KXStitch is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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