GB2298212A - Needlework design aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A needlework design aid comprises a plurality of lettering elements (1) of generally rectangular form having marked thereon a grid pattern (2), the grid pattern defining a cross-stitch template for an alphanumeric character (3), the design aid further comprising an assembly surface (5) adapted to receive a plurality of the lettering elements and being provided with retaining and alignment means for the lettering elements. The surface (5) is provided on a frame (4) formed with a scale (6). The elements (1) may be adhered to the surface (5) by peelable adhesive, burr-type fastening means or magnetism.

Description

NEEDIEWORK DESIGN AID The e present invention relates to needlework, and is particularly concerned with embroidery wsrk based on a grid pattern, generally called 'cross-stitch'.

Cross-stitch work is generally produced on a fabric whose weave defines a squared pattern, each of the squares or cells of the pattern being completed in a particular colour and/or with a particular stitch to build up a larger design. Cross-stitch work has pried popular as a hobby, since designs can be readily generated as patterns on squared paper and can then be reproduced in embroidery, using various different stitches in different cells of the design to obtain pleasing effects.Amateur designers have, however, experienced significant difficulties in the laying out of lettering in relation to other elements of cross-stitch designs, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a design aid to assist in the lay out of textual parts of cross-stitch designs.

According to the present invention, a needlework design aid comprises a plurality of lettering elements of generally rectangular form having marked thereon a grid pattern, the grid pattern defining a template for an alphanumeric character, the design aid further comprising an assembly surface adapted to receive a plurality of the lettering elements and being provided with retaining and alignment means for the lettering elements.

Preferably, each lettering element defines a grid pattern for a letter or number and its adjacent space, to allow simple regular spacing of characters to be achieved.

An embcdintnt of the present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the acccpanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a lettering element for the letter 'A'; Figure 2 shows a lettering element for the letter 'I'; Figure 3 shows an alternative design of lettering element for the letter 'B'; and Figure 4 shows an assembly stand on which a number of lettering elements can be laid cut.

Referring now to the drahnngs, a a lettering guide for cross-stitch work comprises a number of lettering elements 1, each of which is sub-divided into a grid of squares or cells by dividing lines 2. An alphanumeric character 3 is represented on each lettering element, either by means of lines extending along the dividing lines 2 or diagonally across grid squares or cells defined the dividing lines 2, or by means of dots or other indicia placed in the cells, as shawn in Figure 3.

In order to provide for regular spacing between the alphanumeric characters, each lettering element may include an alphanuueric character and a blank area adjacent one side of the alpbanumeric character. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) two blank areas may be provided on each lettering element one disposed on either side of an alphanumeric character, each such blank area having a width dimension equivalent to half the required spacing between adjacent alFheulmeric characters.

It will be readily appreciated that each lettering element has vertical and horizontal dimensions equal to an integral number of divisions. In the embodizents shown, the spacing between alphanwteric characters is formed by a single vertical column of blank cells positioned at the right hand vertical edge of each lettering element.

Figure 4 shows a guide fr le for use with the lettering elements shown in Figures 1 to 3. In order to allaw lettering elements to be assembled into words, phrases or sentences, and then to allow the words, phrases or sentences to be regularly or sysmetrically disposed in a piece of cross-stitch design, the lettering elements are laid onto a guide frame. The guide frame, shown in Figure 4, comprises an elongate planar base 4, and an inclined upper surface 5 extending upwardly and transversely fran one longitudinal edge of the base 4.Along a side surface of the base 4, a graduated scale 6 is marked, the graduations being numbered either fran one end of the scale or symmetrically outwardly from the centre. At the ends of the inclined upper surface 5, vertical upstanding end walls 7 are provided. In use, once the desired word, phrase or sentence has been composed, a row of lettering elements corresponding to the required letters, spaces, punctuation marks, etc is assembled on the inclined upper surface 5 of the guide france. The graduated scale 6 assists in the even spacing of the lettering elements 1, which may be positioned so as to abut each other at their respecttwe side edges or may be spaced from each other.

In an alternative embodiment of the guide frame, (not illustrated), the upper surface 5 may be marked with vertical and/or horizontal graduations or other alignment indicia. Such indicia prove useful when lettering elements are to be arranged in a non-abutting disposition, such as when spacing between letters is required to be greater than that provided for on the lettering elements themselves.

The lettering can then be worked in cross-stitch or in plain stitch, following the assembled lettering elements on the guide frame and observing the spacings between the lettering elements which have been chosen to provide the most pleasing effect. The style of the individual stitches used in each cell of the character will be chosen for the desired decorative effect.

The guide frame 4 may be an integral moulded plastics component, and may provide a retaining lip at the lower longitudinal edge of the inclined upper surface 5, in order to retain and align the lettering elements. The lettering elements and guide frame may be presided with releasable fixing means, such as peelable adhesive or a burr-type fastener s means, to secure the lettering elements on the upper surface 5 of the guide frame 4. Alternatively, the lettering elements may be retained to the inclined upper surface 5 of the guide frame by magnetic means, the guide frame being either magnetic or metallic and the lettering elements being either TEEtallic or magnetic, respectively. In an alternative embodiment of the guide frame 4, the upper surface 5 on which lettering elements 1 are assembled my be generally horizontal. While the lettering elements described above are primarily intended for use in the incorporation of text into needlework designs, it is foreseen that the 'lettering elements' could also include graphic motifs, punctuation marks, or other indicia or decorative matter. An essential feature is that each lettering element comprises a single chararter or motif, and the lettering elements can thus be assembled using the guide frame to produce any desired word, phrase or sentence.

In a further develcQwent of the invention, the lettering elements my be provided with cooperating formations to tenable adjacent lettering elements to be joined together. As a further design aid, the uplper surface 5 of the guide frame 4 my have a grid pattern applied thereto similar to the pattern of dividing lines 2 on the lettering elements. The lettering elements may be made by printing divisions 2 and alphanumeric characters on to transparent sheet material, so that the division lines 2 of the lettering elements may be aligned with grid lines marked on the upper surface 5 of the guide frame 4 to assist in assembling the desired lettering.

Other indicia my be applied to the lettering elements, for example to indicate the width and height of each lettering element expressed as a number of divisions 2, or to mark the centres of the respective edges of the lettering element to assist in syrtretrical arrangement of the lettering elements.

Claims (7)

1. A needlework design aid comprising a plurality of lettering elements of generally rectangular form having marked thereon a grid pattern, the grid pattern defining a template for an alphanumeric character, the design aid further comprising an assembly surface adapted to receive a plurality of the lettering elements and being provided with retaining and alignment means for the lettering elements.

2. A needlework design aid according to claim 1, wherein each lettering element defines a grid pattern for a letter or number and its adjacent space.

3. A needlework design aid according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lettering elements and guide frame are provided with releasable fixing means to secure the lettering elements on the upper surface of the guide frame.

4. A needlework design aid according to claim 3, wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a peelable adhesive.

5. A needlework design aid according to claim 3, wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a burr-type fastener means.

6. A needlework design aid according to claim 3, wherein the releasable fixing means is magnetic, the guide frame being either magnetic or of a magnetic material and the lettering elements being either metallic or of a magnetic material, respectively.

7. A needlework design aid substantially as described herein, with reference to Figure 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.