Lynn Velier is a regular reader whose beading passions benefits her friends! She recently emailed me with two wonderful tips. The first one I will share here and the next one, a bit later on.
Most of us print out charts for beading, cross stitch, knitting, crochet etc patterns and put a physical ruler to keep our places. But Lynn was reluctant to keep printing out paper. So she beads following charts on her computer. To keep track, she uses a screen ruler!
Shown above is a screen capture of her screen ruler in use.
She explains : "A screen ruler lays on top of your pattern and you can manually move it up row by row when you complete a row like in knitting or crocheting. Also when you read the pattern on your computer you can enlarge the print to 150% or 200% whatever works best for you!"
The part about enlarging the chart as big as you want is what makes using on screen patterns so attractive. The method applies to free patterns as well as bought PDFs which you can save and open from your computer.
There are different rulers available as browser extensions. But Lynn's recommendation is very straightforward..
Here is how to get the ruler. Click on this link - Chrome Web Store : Edge The Web Ruler.
Click on the LAUNCH APP and a screen ruler appears.
Move the ruler onto your desktop. You can then use any browser to open an online pattern or open a PDF file you have.
As an example, I used this free adorable schnauzer brick stitch chart by Jen Ten Art. Her blog, Brick Stitch Bead Patterns, is full of lovely free charts.
As you can see the screen ruler is on the desktop....
Just bring it down and move it to mark your spot! Note the ruler cannot be used as measuring tool unless you calibrate it to your screen dimensions - fill in the box on the ruler with the your diagonal screen measurement.
Important : Screen rulers used in this way are only available for computers not mobile devices. The rulers on tablets and mobile phones are actual rulers to measure things.
Before You Go:
- Swarovski Bezel Beadwork Tutorials by Victoria Chernova
- Unusual Beadwork Tutorials by Heather Collin Beading
- Clever Craft Mat Hack for This Cookie Sheet Portable Beading Board!
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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I always thought I would have trouble with this too so I used Amazon rewards points to get an OGees seed beading design board so I can lay out beads according to a pattern and then just pick them up. It is also working well for me. Trying to minimize screen time and such, as it's easier on my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on the OGees design board. It looks very useful!
DeleteFantastic tip. Thanks,
ReplyDeleteThank You, I learn something every day. So far today I learned about a screen ruler! I am so happy.
ReplyDeleteI've printed out so many patterns! and then I can't locate THE one i'm looking for! this may be just what i need for keeping me sane while beading! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSeems Like a great idea. Downloaded it, opened a beading pattern, and it worked. I found that you can make it longer by "Grabbing the right side and pulling it to the right. I also discovered that you can pin it to the task bar so that you don't have to search for it everytime you wanted to use it. My only problem is that my computer and my work surface are separated by several feet making the ruler not quite as useful, but I like the idea enough that I am willing to try to find a solution - aside from having to rearrange my entire work space.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tips, Wayne!
DeleteMaybe you will have to reorganize your workspace.....
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete