Thursday, September 13, 2007

Seeing Beeeeeees

Is anyone having trouble reading the charts like I am? Both the lines and symbols do not seem clear enough for me to see without really straining my eyes, especially the chart for Bee in Field section 1. I ordered hard copies from Anne hoping it was just my printer, but I don't think hers are much better. Normally, I love to use charts but these seem just too tough. Any ides, suggestions, tips or advice? Help! I love the pattern and want to enjoy this knit.

9 comments:

Terri said...

I agree. I couldn't read these charts either. I think it's the charting program that Anne is using. I don't like it, couldn't read it and used the written instructions instead.
Once you get into the pattern, the written instructions flow just as easy as the chart in my estimation.
If you need a revised pattern due to all the errata in the written instructions, I know Anne will send you the updated version.

margaret in manhattan said...

um, excuse me, but you DO know that you can enlarge your copy for your own personal use, I hope? that's what I do with mine - take it to a copy shop and have them put it up to 110-125% (and have them show it to you for your approval before you decide on a final size), and you should -- hopefully! -- be fine ...

good luck!
margaret

annmarie said...

I'd also recommend enlarging the charts if you decide to knit from them. I didn't have any trouble reading my copies of the charts. I almost always knit lace from charts, but for some reason I got going with the written instructions for the 'bee' and, like Terri, have found them very easy to follow. I use a tiny post-it just above the asterisked pattern repeat and roll right along. :)

Annie said...

The charts didn't flow for me either- and I'm a chart reader normally. I've resorted to reading the written instructions which is slow and painful in my opinion.

Reluctant Penguin said...

Since you have the hard copy you can photocopy the chart pages magnified as Margaret suggested. If you have the PDF version, you can copy any chart and past it into Photoshop or another graphic editing program and enlarge it. If you use legal size paper and orient the chart in landscape mode you can make it even larger. I was also having a problem reading the charts, and this has made it... not a breeze, exactly, but much much much easier. Good luck!

rabbitIng said...

i must agree, i usually prefer charts, but couldn't get along with these at all,:( so have beavered away with the instructions, which have worked just fine. :) have been in Russia for a while, but managed to get quite a bit done, so will post soon, but am really loving this shawl, and got lots of compliments from others on the coach, even though it's nowhere near finished! :)

Mary said...

I don't know if it was my printer or the chart program, but I needed to go over the lines in the chart with dark ink. That helped. Also I enlarged the chart to legal paper size. And now I'm doing fine with it.

Rachel said...

Hmmm, I'm not really having any problems with the charts, although occasionally I need to peer at the line for a second before I can follow where I am. For me, it's the gray "no stitch" boxes that make it difficult for me to follow the horizontal line. Other than that, though, I like the charts. Hope you're able to figure out your dilemma!

Anne--Chri said...

I use a mini white board and put my chart on it. I have a long flat magnet that I use to underline the line i am working on. It pins my sheet to the board and show me where I am. It is handy. You can put it on your lap, beside you. You don't miss the line anymore.