Make your Patterns Easy to Read

I don't crochet too many afghans from kits, but on a rare occasion I'll find one that really strikes me and I buy it. When it makes its way up to the top of my project list, I take it out and check out the pattern. Sometimes it's written in an easy to read format and I can just sit down with my hook and yarn and get busy. Mostly though, it's something like this...


...written on the back of the package label on a heavy duty piece of card stock that is big enough to wrap around the whole package, front and back, and in three languages. Not exactly something I can sit on my lap or prop on the table next to my chair! This picture doesn't even show the whole thing, that's how big it is!

So I take it to my computer and scan the English language sections, cut and paste them into a Publisher file in the correct order, all on one manageable page. Then I print it out. I like having it on one regular size piece of paper, but the size of the type suffers greatly by shrinking it. And I'm over 40. In fact, I'm closer to 50 now than I am to 40. If you're not there yet, let me tell you what that means in this case. I can't read the print without straining, and at my age, straining is not something I enjoy doing. Especially when I just want to sit down and relax with my crocheting!

So I came up with what I think is the perfect solution...


I went back into my Publisher file and broke the pattern up into smaller chunks, then expanded them to be the width of a regular size piece of paper in landscape orientation. I placed two sections on each page and then printed them out. It took 4 pages to print the whole pattern. I cut the pages in half, with one section on each half. Then I stapled the whole package together in the correct order.


This is the perfect size to sit on my lap while I'm crocheting, turning the pages as I progress through the pattern. The type size is so large that I can read it easily with or without my reading glasses, and it is much easier to keep my place in the pattern because I don't have to strain my eyes to see where I am. Now crocheting this pattern is much more enjoyable for me and the project is moving along nicely. I'll show you a little preview of it soon.

If you don't have a scanner or software that can enlarge something for you, you can always take your pattern to a copy center and have it printed as large as you want it, then cut it up and make it into a little flip book like I did. Even if it is copyrighted, I am pretty sure that you can still make copies like this for your own personal use.

When I am finished with this project, I will store the original picture from the packaging along with my small print pattern page and my large print booklet in a page protector in my crochet pattern binder, just in case I want to make the same pattern again with my own yarn.

Do you have any little tricks that you have found to make your stitching time easier on the eyes, or just more enjoyable for you? Please leave a comment and share them with everyone!

Happy Stitching!

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