How to resize an embroidery design

One of the easiest ways to resize an embroidery design is if the original design is on a graphic. For example, if your embroidery table uses 13 mesh canvas for a 5-inch by 5-inch finished design, you can enlarge the design by stitching it onto a larger mesh canvas, such as 10 mesh. This will make the enlarged size approximately 6.5 inches by 6.5 inches.

To calculate how much larger your embroidery design will get when sewn onto a larger mesh canvas, calculate how many stitches were on the original canvas. In this case, you would multiply 13 by 5, which equals 65. Then divide this total by the new mesh size. For example, 65 divided by 10 is 6.5, which will be the new layout width.

An alternative way to enlarge a needlepoint design on a chart is to sew two stitches for each stitch on the needlepoint chart. This will double the size of the original design.

If your design is printed on an embroidered canvas and you want to change its size, you can transfer the design to another piece of blank embroidered canvas. To do this, you will need:

1. Make a color photocopy of the original design.

2. Enlarge or reduce this copy to the size you want.

Then you can:

Copy the new design onto graph paper by placing graph paper in the copier. You will then have a ‘graphed’ version of the new embroidery design to sew on.

Gold;

Trace the new design onto a blank embroidered canvas. Go over the outlines of the design on the paper copy with a thick black marker so you can see what you are tracing. Then tape the blank embroidery canvas to be used on top of this color paper copy. Trace the outlines on the canvas with waterproof colored markers. Select marker colors that are similar to the underlying design colors so that the colors do not show through the stitched canvas. Use a gray marker if you can’t match the colors.

With this scheme now on your embroidery canvas, you can start sewing using the original canvas or the color photocopy as a guide. Alternatively, you can hand paint the details on your canvas. Geometric patterns or simple designs can usually be stitched unpainted, but you may want to paint in more intricate design areas or work from a ‘graphic’ as explained above.

You can change the size of an embroidery design in a few relatively simple steps. Some designs will scale up or down better than others, so before proceeding, evaluate your design and make sure it will still retain its flavor if made larger or smaller.