Startup Idea: Cross-stitching Pattern Software

Startup idea to develop a software application that can mark and highlight symbols in a pdf Cross-stitching pattern. The software would also need to facilitate a 'search by symbol' option, making it easier for Cross-stitchers to track their progress and decrease the time spent on each project.

I am an avid cross stitcher who loves to use Golden Kite cross stitch patterns. Here is an example of what a finished pattern looks like stitched:

This is stitched using blended threads where you will load two colors of thread onto the needle at once. Their patterns are super complex and involve many pages of walls of symbols, like a chart. Here is an image of an entire project in pages of symbols:

http://www.morecambesands.com/.a/6a00d8341ecfe953ef0133f28bffc7970b-320wi

We needle workers can order these patterns in pdf form or paper format. The only problem is that if we use pdf, we cannot mark the chart or just view/electronically and temporarily highlight the symbol we are working on (such as DMC 400/403 blended thread, which would be like symbol "i") within the pdf format chart.

There are many people who still print out the pages manually and use highlighters to mark off the symbols they have done, simply because there is not a program that will do that for them. Here is a Russian stitcher who uses the highlighting method as I do. Such a waste of resources when we live in a digital world! lol

Another really useful thing would be to have the software search by symbol, too, so that stitcher can find where to put the stitch into the fabric more quickly... these projects take a lifetime to complete as is. The software would have to recognize Golden Kite's symbols in the first place.

Here is a page of symbols that they use:

Thank you so much for listening!. I have attempted to use pdf filler software that already exists, but it doesn't have a temporary highlight tool, or a search by symbol feature.

Submitter: Rachel: (view contact info)