How to make a cross stitch pattern
The chart is a grid of whole crosses. Each cell is one stitch or empty fabric. Nothing is drawn by a generative model: the photo is reduced to the nearest colors in the DMC list, and you can change every stitch.
1. Start from a photo or from letters
Upload a JPG, PNG, WebP, or GIF, or type a name in the letter generator. The photo stays in your browser.
2. Crop to the subject
A busy background becomes extra colors. Crop tight before you raise the stitch count.
3. Set width and color count
About 120 stitches wide and 25 colors is a practical start. Free charts stop at 400 stitches on a side. A paid unlock can go to 1000.
4. Leave dithering off, then clean confetti
Single stitches of a rare color are slow to sew. Use cleanup and the confetti brush, and turn on the photo overlay to see what you removed.
5. Check the finished size
Pick Aida, evenweave, or linen and the count. The size is stitches divided by the effective count. Check it on the cross stitch calculator before you cut the fabric.
6. Export
Color PNG and symbol PNG are free. The symbol PNG has no floss table. The printable PDF is $5.99 for that pattern.
Open the pattern creator or the photo workflow.