How to turn a photo into a cross-stitch pattern

Choose a clear photo, set the width in stitches and the maximum number of DMC colors, then generate a preview. The Pattern Maker converts your image into a stitch grid and prepares color and black-and-white A4 PDFs with symbols and a thread legend.

For an illustrated example with downloadable charts, follow the short fish tutorial.

1. Choose a photo that will read clearly in stitches

Start with one recognizable subject, good lighting and a simple background. A close crop of a pet's face usually preserves more useful detail than a distant pet in a busy garden. Crop your photo in an image editor before choosing it in the generator.

The tool accepts PNG, JPEG and WebP images up to 10 MB and 8 million pixels. A large source photo does not automatically produce a detailed pattern: the number of stitches determines how much detail can survive.

2. Choose a manageable pattern size

Width is measured in stitches, not centimeters. Height follows the image proportions. Each dimension is limited to 300 stitches; the generator reduces an oversized width to fit both limits.

For a first experiment, try a 60-stitch-wide pattern with a clearly cropped subject. Inspect the preview before choosing a larger width. More stitches may preserve eyes, outlines and small features, but also mean more stitching. See the fabric count and finished size guide before buying fabric.

3. Set the DMC color limit

The default maximum is 20 colors, and you can choose up to 40. A simple illustration may use fewer colors than the limit. Reducing the limit simplifies the thread palette but may merge subtle shading; increasing it can preserve more shades while adding thread changes.

Preserve subject colors gives extra importance to the subject and distinctive colors. Balance the whole image considers occupied cells equally. Try both on your photo and compare the subject's most recognizable features. DMC matches use RGB approximations; screens, printers and actual thread can look different.

4. Inspect the preview and optional background selection

Use Zoom chart to inspect the color grid. Check whether the main features remain readable and whether the background is worth stitching. Hide background can remove surrounding areas, but fine details may need correction with Refine selection, Restore and Erase.

Removed areas have no stitches. They are also removed from the PDF cover. Selection keeps the original image dimensions; it does not crop the chart down to the subject. Source images and selection edits are processed on your device.

5. Download and print the pattern

Select Download PDFs to prepare both versions. The browser preview shows colors without thread symbols; both PDF charts include symbols and a DMC thread legend. Larger charts include numbered sections, coordinates and a section map.

Save your PDFs before refreshing or closing the page. To change the pattern after closing it, choose your source image and generate again. Follow the A4 PDF printing guide to arrange the sheets.