Filet Crochet Software Tutorial

In this tutorial, you will create the Filet Crochet pattern below and print both the pattern and instructions. You will learn how to use most of the editing options available including cut, copy and paste.

Step 1 Start Filet Crochet

If you haven’t already, start Filet Crochet by using the left mouse button and double-clicking on the Crochet icon on your desktop or select Start->Programs->Filet Crochet->Filet Crochet 12. The Filet Crochet Main Window will appear displaying a grid that is 100 rows by 100 columns. The grid is displayed with a default zoom size of 5 and rulers based on crochet thread size 20. For your project, you will want 22 rows by 22 columns and you have decided to use crochet thread size 10.

Step 2 Resize the Pattern

To resize the pattern select Edit->Resize or the resize button . A dialog box will appear. Enter 22 for the number of rows and 22 for the number of columns. Select the OK button. The pattern will resize to 22 rows by 22 columns.

Step 3 Change the Rulers

To change the rulers to use crochet thread size 10, select Options->Thread/yarn size->Crochet thread size 10 or select the Ruler thread size 10 button . The rulers will adjust themselves.

Step 4 Zoom in

To zoom in on the pattern, select Edit->Zoom … The Zoom dialog box will appear. Select zoom size 15 and the OK button. The pattern will zoom such that each square in the pattern is 15 pixels in width and 15 pixels in height.

Another way to zoom in and out of a pattern is to use the zoom in button and zoom out button . Select the zoom out button and see what happens. Now select the zoom in button.

Step 5 Pattern Veiwer

Before you start working on your pattern, you may want to display the pattern viewer. Select Tool->Pattern viewer. A small window will display showing your complete pattern fully zoomed out. As you draw on your pattern, the pattern viewer window will be updated.

Step 6 Draw the Frame

Now you are ready to begin editing your pattern. The first thing you want to do for this pattern is create a black frame all the way around your pattern. Select the Draw rectangles button (5th row) in the Toolbox. This will put you in rectangle drawing mode. Next use the left mouse button and select the top left most square of your pattern and while the left mouse button is still pressed down, drag the mouse to the bottom most right square. Release the left mouse button. A border of black squares should be displayed in your pattern.

Step 7 Draw the Pattern

Select the Draw button from the Toolbox. This will put you in drawing mode. Follow the pattern below. Use the left mouse button to select the black squares and the right mouse button to unselect black squares. You can drag the mouse to select multiple squares.

Step 8 Draw other Crochet Stitches

Select from the Toolbox. Follow the pattern in step 7 to add the crochet stitches that are on the button to the upper right of your pattern.

Step 9 Resize to Repeat the Pattern

You have decided that you want to repeat your pattern several times. Resize your pattern to 45 rows by 45 columns. Zoom out of the pattern until you can see the whole pattern on the screen.

Step 10 Copy the Pattern

Select from the Toolbox. This button is the first button in the Toolbox. Press the left mouse button down to select the upper-left most square of your pattern and while the left mouse button is still down drag the mouse to select all of the pattern you have filled in so far. Release the left mouse button. A box will be drawn around the area you selected. Next select the Copy button from the Toolbox. This will make a copy of the pattern. Select the Paste button from the Toolbox. This will paste the copied part of the pattern back on the pattern. Now while pressing the left mouse button down on the copied part of the pattern, drag the copied part over as far right as you can.

Step 11 Flip Pattern

While is still selected from the Toolbox, use the left mouse button and draw a box around the right half of the pattern to select it. Select button from the Toolbox to flip the right half of the pattern to face the left half. Press the Enter key on your keyboard or click anywhere outside the pattern to complete the paste operation.

Step 12 Move the Pattern

While is still selected from the Toolbox, use the left mouse button and draw a box around the top half of the pattern. Use the left mouse button to drag the top half of the pattern to the bottom half.

Step 13 Copy the Pattern

While is still selected from the Toolbox, use MB1 and draw a box around the bottom half of the pattern. Select to copy it and to past it. Press the Enter key or select anywhere outside the pattern to complete the paste operation.

Step 14 Finish the Pattern

While is still selected from the Toolbox, use MB1 and draw a box around the top half of the pattern. Select to flip the top half of the pattern. Press the Enter key or select anywhere outside the pattern to complete the paste operation. You have just finished your first pattern.

Step 15 View Finished Product

To view what you pattern will look like once you finished crocheting it, select Page->Finished product or select finished product button . Now that you know what it will look like go back to the pattern page. Select Page->Pattern or select pattern button

Step 16 Save Your Pattern

Save your pattern by selecting File->Save or the save button . The Save As dialog box will appear. Enter File name: demo.cht and the OK button. Your pattern will be saved.

Note to re-open your pattern select File->Open or open button . Select demo.cht and OK button.

Step 17 Row and Column Counter

Select Options -> Display row/column counter or select row and column counter button to turn on the Row and Column Counter.

Step 18 Print the Pattern

There are several options for printing. You can print your pattern such that the pattern prints completely on one sheet of paper or if you have a large pattern you can have the pattern spread over several sheets of paper. You also have the choice of printing landscape (for wide patterns) or portrait (for tall patterns).

For this pattern, you have decided to use only one sheet of paper for your pattern and you have also decided to print your pattern portrait.

Select File -> Print Setup. The Print Setup dialog will appear. Note that the default selection is “single page only”. This is the option you want. Select Options button. A Page Setup dialog will appear. Note that “portrait” is the default option for page orientation. Since this is what you want you can cancel both dialog boxes.

To print your pattern, select File->Print screen or the Print Screen button . The Print Quality dialog box will appear. Select High for high quality prints or Low for lower quality prints. High quality prints require more computer resources and takes longer to print. Select OK button. The Print dialog box will display. Select the OK button. The pattern will be sent to your default printer.

Important Note: When printing Low Quality Prints…

To get the best possible pattern prints change the Grid color from Gray to Black with white spaces by selecting Options->Black/white grid or . Because most non-color printers will print the color gray as a dashed line it is best NOT to print your patterns using a gray grid. Also make sure your filled in squares are black. Color tends to come out spotty.

Important Note: When printing High Quality Prints…

Best results are when the grid color is black and fill color is a light shade. Gray grid tends to print black on some printers.

Important Note: When printing large patterns…

For really large patterns it may be best to select to print the pattern on multiple pages by selecting Print Setup under File menu and selecting “Multiple Pages”.

Troubleshooting Print Problems

If you get a printing error and you do not get your printout, it may be due to the amount of resources Filet Crochet prints create. This is due to the fact that they are high quality prints loaded with graphics. You may need to Decrease Your Printer Resolution.

Click the Windows Start button (look at your lower left hand corner of your screen), point to Settings, and then click Printers.

Right-click the printer you want to use, and then click Properties.

Click the Graphics tab, click a lower resolution (or dots per inch) for your printer in the Resolution box, and then click OK. If you cannot find this option, look for where you change the Print Quality. You may need to adjust if from fine to fast.

Step 19 Display the Instructions

To display the instructions select Page->Pattern instructions or the Instructions button.

Step 20 Print the Instructions

To print the instructions, select File->Print screen or the Print Screen button . The Print dialog box will display. Select the OK button. The instructions will be sent to your default printer.

Step 21 Adding Edging

Filet Crochet comes with pages of sample edgings that you can add to your crochet piece to give it a finishing touch. To display the first sample page, select Page->Sample Pattern Edgings->Page 1. There are two sample edgings per page.

Look for the heading “Pattern size:”. The information here explains which size patterns will work with the edging. Say your pattern is 48 rows by 52 columns. You can use Edit->Resize on the pattern page to verify your pattern size.

Next, look for the Pattern Check button for the edging. Select the button. The Pattern Check dialog box will display. If your pattern is currently opened, select Current Opened Pattern and OK button. If it is not currently opened, entered the number of rows and columns your pattern has. For our example, enter 45 rows and 45 columns and select OK button. A message will display saying that Sample Pattern Edging 1 will work with pattern 45 Rows X 45 Columns.

Note: To print a pattern edge sample, first display it on the screen and then select File->Print Screen.


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