Which photos make good patterns
- One clear subject, close up: a face, a pet, a house, a flower. Small details far away get lost when every stitch is one square.
- A plain or blurred background. A busy background turns into hundreds of scattered stitches, so crop it out or pick a calmer photo.
- Good light and clear contrast. A dark, flat photo gives muddy browns; raise the brightness or contrast in the tool first.
- Drawings, logos and pixel art: turn on pixel art so edges stay crisp and colors don't blend.
How many colors to use
Most photos look right with 15 to 25 colors. Portraits usually need 20 to 25 to keep skin tones smooth, landscapes can take up to 35, and pixel art rarely needs more than 16. Every extra color is one more skein to buy and more thread changes, so start low and add colors only where the preview looks flat.
| Design | Colors | Width on 14-count |
|---|---|---|
| Pet or face portrait | 20–25 | 100–150 stitches (7–10.7 in) |
| Flower or object | 12–20 | 60–100 stitches (4.3–7 in) |
| Landscape | 25–35 | 120–200 stitches (8.5–14 in) |
| Pixel art or logo | 4–16 | One stitch per pixel |
Aida count and finished size
The count is how many stitches fit in one inch of fabric. The same chart, 140 stitches wide, measures 12.7 in on 11-count Aida, 10 in on 14-count, 8.75 in on 16-count and 7.8 in on 18-count. 14-count is the usual first choice: the holes are easy to see and two strands of floss cover it well.
Pixelplan shows the finished size in inches and centimeters next to the width, and the fabric to cut with 3 in (7.5 cm) of margin on each side for the hoop and the frame.
Why dithering is off
Dithering mixes dots of two colors to imitate a third. On a screen it smooths gradients, but on fabric every dot is a separate stitch with its own thread, so the chart fills with lone stitches, which stitchers call confetti. Pixelplan keeps dithering off, merges near-identical shades, cleans up lone stitches and shows how much confetti is left, so you can bring it down.
Print it, or stitch from a tablet
- The print PDF has a cover with the finished size and a page map, chart pages in color with symbols, a bold line every 10 stitches, a few rows repeated in gray where pages meet, and the legend with skeins.
- Large print puts fewer stitches on each page, so the squares are bigger and easier to follow.
- The Pattern Keeper PDF has black symbols as selectable text and the same grid on every page, so chart apps such as Pattern Keeper can import it and track your progress on a tablet.
- Both PDFs are free and carry no watermark.
Screen colors are approximate. The DMC numbers in the legend are what to buy; if a shade matters, hold the real skeins side by side before you start.
Questions
Is this cross stitch pattern maker really free?
Yes. Any size, any number of colors and both PDFs are free, with no watermark and no account. Ads shown outside the tool pay for the site.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The photo is converted in your browser and stays on your device. The last one is kept locally so it is there next time, and you can remove it whenever you like.
Which floss does it use?
DMC six-strand embroidery floss, the most widely sold. Each color in the legend shows the DMC number and name, which is what you ask for at the store.
How many skeins will I need?
The legend estimates skeins per color with a generous rule: about 960 stitches per skein on 14-count with two strands, plus 10%. A little left over beats running out halfway and finding a different dye lot.
What size should my pattern be?
Pick the width in stitches and the fabric count; the finished size shows next to them. For a photo, 100 to 150 stitches wide is a good start. Smaller loses detail; bigger takes much longer to stitch.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes, it is made for phones first: choose a photo or take one, crop it with your finger, zoom the chart with two fingers and download the PDF.