Cross Stitch Pattern Maker
Built by Johnny Alto · free, no sign-up · updated July 26, 2026
Turn any photo into a cross stitch chart. Upload an image, set how many stitches wide you want it and how many floss colors to use, and the tool matches each stitch to the nearest DMC color and builds a printable symbol chart with a color key. It all runs in your browser, so your photo never leaves your computer.
Everything runs locally in your browser, so your image stays private. Fewer colors and a lower stitch count give a simpler, faster stitch; more of each captures detail but takes longer to stitch. Photos with clear shapes and good contrast convert best; busy backgrounds get muddy.
How to turn a photo into a cross stitch pattern
A cross stitch chart is a grid where each square is one stitch of a particular floss color. To make one from a photo, the image has to be shrunk down so that each pixel becomes one stitch, then every one of those pixels is matched to the closest available embroidery floss. This tool does both: you set how many stitches wide the design should be, it scales the photo to that grid, and it matches each stitch to the nearest DMC color from a common palette.
You also choose how many colors to use. The tool keeps the most-used colors up to your limit and reassigns the rest to their nearest kept shade, which is what keeps a real, stitchable pattern from needing two hundred skeins of floss.
Getting a good pattern
Two settings drive the result. Stitch width sets the detail and the finished size: at 14 stitches per inch, an 80-stitch-wide design finishes around 5.7 inches across. More stitches capture more detail but take much longer to stitch. Color count is the other lever; 15 to 25 colors is a sweet spot for a photo, while a simple graphic can look great with under ten. Pictures with clear subjects, good contrast, and uncluttered backgrounds convert far better than busy scenes. Everything runs in your browser, so the photo never uploads anywhere. Print the chart or download it as an image to stitch from.
Cross stitch gear
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn a photo into a cross stitch pattern?
Upload the image, set how many stitches wide you want it and how many floss colors to use, and the tool scales the photo to a stitch grid and matches each stitch to the nearest DMC color, producing a symbol chart with a key.
How many colors should a cross stitch pattern have?
For a photo, 15 to 25 colors is a good balance of detail and stitchability. Simple graphics can look great with fewer than 10.
What size will my finished pattern be?
Divide the stitch count by your fabric count. An 80-stitch-wide design on 14-count Aida finishes about 5.7 inches across.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. All the processing happens in your browser, so the image never leaves your computer.
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