Bring your pictureA pet, a flower, a memory worth keeping.
A PICTURE WORTH STITCHING.
Cross Stitch
Pattern Maker
From a favorite picture
to a handmade keepsake.Turn your photo into a counted cross stitch chart, with DMC colors and a thread list to get you started.
YOUR PICTURE. YOUR THREAD. YOUR LITTLE KEEPSAKE.
or drop it here · PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF
A LITTLE PLANNING BEFORE THE FIRST STITCH
Your thread & fabric.
Your thread key and finished size appear here.
Each used shade gets a DMC code, a unique chart symbol and an exact stitch count. Transparent areas leave bare fabric.
Approximate RGB color data: craft-color-codes by MakeBead (CC BY 4.0). Color values unchanged. Compare important shades with physical floss before buying. Independent tool, not affiliated with DMC.
Find your thread & sizeDMC shades and a size for your Aida.
Print it. Stitch it.Clear symbols, one little cross at a time.
FROM PHOTO TO NEEDLE & THREAD
A small chart.
A project to make your own.
A counted cross stitch pattern turns a picture into a grid. Each marked square tells you which thread color to use for one full cross. This cross stitch pattern generator from image creates that chart, counts the stitches for each shade and calculates the design size on your chosen Aida fabric.
- Start with a clear subject. Crop a photo before uploading so the details you care about fill the frame. A simple drawing or transparent PNG often makes an easier first project than a busy photograph.
- Choose a manageable grid. Try 40 or 80 stitches wide first. A fully filled 80 × 80 chart has 6,400 crosses; transparent areas reduce the count. More stitches preserve detail and increase the time needed to finish.
- Set your colors and fabric count. Fewer thread colors simplify sorting and color changes. Higher-count Aida makes the same design smaller. Check the suggested fabric dimensions and allow room for your hoop and finishing.
- Keep the key beside your chart. Match symbols to DMC codes in the thread list. Print the 40 × 40 sections for a readable chart, use the center arrows to orient the design, and leave empty cells unstitched.
Making a yarn panel? Use the tapestry crochet pattern maker for gauge-corrected graphs and written color rows. Prefer a pegboard project? Try the Perler bead pattern maker for bead colors and board charts. For a digital version of your picture, use the pixel art maker.
BEFORE YOU THREAD YOUR NEEDLE
Your pattern questions,
answered.
How do I make a cross stitch pattern from a photo?
Upload a PNG, JPG, WebP or GIF, choose the pattern width and limit the thread colors. The converter matches your image to a DMC reference palette and builds a chart of full cross stitches. Set your Aida count to see the finished size, then download the chart and thread list. GIFs use a still frame.
Is this cross stitch pattern maker free?
Yes. Image conversion, symbol charts, stitch counts, PNG downloads, the thread CSV and printable charts are free. No account or watermark is required. Your photo is processed in your browser and is never uploaded by this tool.
Which DMC colors are supported?
The reference palette contains 489 DMC embroidery floss colors from the community craft-color-codes dataset. Each pattern uses up to 32 colors and gives every used shade a DMC code, a unique symbol and a stitch count. Digital colors are approximate; check key shades against physical floss.
Can I download a printable cross stitch pattern as a PDF?
Choose Print / Save PDF to open the printable preview. It includes an overview, a thread key and symbol charts in sections of up to 40 × 40 stitches. Use the print button inside the preview and select Save as PDF in your browser. These charts are references, not actual-size templates.
How does Aida count change the finished size?
Fabric count is the number of Aida squares per inch. At one full cross per square, divide the grid width and height by the count: an 80 × 80 design on 14-count Aida is about 5.71 × 5.71 inches. Changing fabric count changes the size, not the stitches or colors. This calculator supports 11, 14, 16 and 18-count Aida, not linen stitched over two threads.
How much fabric and thread do I need?
The size panel shows the full grid dimensions and suggests fabric with an extra 2 inches on every side; round up when cutting and adjust for your hoop or framing. The thread key counts full cross stitches per shade. It does not estimate thread length or skeins, which depend on strand count, fabric, working method and waste.
How can I make my photo easier to stitch?
Crop close to a clear subject before uploading. Start with 40 or 80 stitches wide and a modest color limit. A smaller grid loses detail but takes less time to stitch. Optional isolated-stitch cleanup replaces a lone color surrounded by at least three matching neighbors; check small details after enabling it. Both grid edges are limited to 200 stitches.
How do I read the symbols and empty squares?
One symbol is one full cross stitch in the DMC color shown in the thread key. Empty squares remain unstitched. Row 1 is at the top, dark grid lines divide groups of 10, and arrows in exported charts mark the design center. Use the full-resolution PNG or section prints to read dense charts.
Can I leave the background unstitched?
Yes. Upload a transparent PNG to leave its transparent areas as bare fabric. Pixels below 50% opacity are omitted; more opaque pixels are blended against white before color matching. This version does not remove a solid background automatically.
Does it create backstitch or machine embroidery files?
This version creates full cross stitches only. It does not generate backstitch, fractional stitches, editable Pattern Keeper files or machine embroidery files. Use the PNG, thread CSV or printable charts for hand stitching. MakePixelArt is independent and is not affiliated with DMC.