Free Browser-Based Tool
Turn your images into beautiful cross stitch patterns.
Simple Process
Choose an image from your device or drag and drop it into the upload area. Supports PNG, JPG, GIF, and WebP.
Set paper size, adjust color limit, stitch count, fabric count, and cleanup settings to create a clean, stitchable pattern.
See your chart — including page layout — update in real time. Download a printable PDF when you are happy with the result.
What You Get
Reduce your image into stitch-friendly DMC thread colors using perceptual color matching for natural, pleasing results.
See your chart — including page boundaries and layout — change instantly as you adjust settings.
Download a clean, readable pattern ready to stitch. Large designs are automatically tiled across multiple pages.
Reduce confetti and visual noise for more practical stitching. Adjust cleanup strength to taste.
Estimate finished dimensions based on 11ct through 32ct Aida fabric. See your size update in real time.
Your image is processed locally in your browser for privacy. Nothing is uploaded to any server.
Questions
Images with clear subjects, good contrast, and limited background clutter work best. Portraits, simple illustrations, and logos tend to convert particularly well.
No. All image processing happens locally in your browser. Your image never leaves your device.
Yes. The app exports a PDF with chart pages, a thread legend with DMC floss codes, and detailed stitch statistics.
It sets the maximum number of DMC thread colors to aim for. The actual color count may be slightly lower because some quantized colors map to the same DMC thread.
Fabric count (e.g. 14ct Aida) determines how densely spaced the holes are in the cloth. It controls the physical finished size of the stitched piece — not the stitch count itself.
It removes scattered single-stitch pixels that would be tedious to stitch and make the pattern hard to read. Increase the strength for simpler output.
Bold lines every 10 stitches (configurable) help you keep track of your position while stitching — a standard convention in cross stitch charts.
Yes. Large patterns are automatically tiled across multiple pages. You can control the number of stitches per page in Page Setup, and the live preview shows exactly how the pages will split.
Learn the Craft
Use a hoop or Q-Snap frame. Consistent fabric tension is the single biggest factor in producing neat, even stitches. This matters most for large pieces where uneven tension causes visible puckering.
Work in good natural light. Artificial lighting can make certain DMC colour shades look nearly identical — you may not notice the mistake until daylight reveals the difference.
Try the "parking method" for complex patterns. Instead of cutting thread after each colour section, park your needle in the approximate next area you'll use that colour — leaving the thread in place saves time and reduces waste.
Organise floss on a card before you start. Label each slot with the DMC number. This saves significant time over multiple stitching sessions and prevents mixing up similar shades.
Planning Your Project
The "count" of Aida or evenweave fabric is the number of squares (or thread pairs) per inch. A higher count means finer stitches and a smaller finished piece for the same stitch count.
The size formula is simple:
Stitch Count ÷ Fabric Count = Finished Size (inches)
Always purchase fabric at least 5 cm wider and taller than your pattern — the unstitched border is needed for mounting, framing, or finishing.
Finished width by stitch count
| Stitches | 11 ct | 14 ct | 16 ct | 18 ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 5.0″ / 12.7 cm | 3.9″ / 10.0 cm | 3.4″ / 8.7 cm | 3.1″ / 7.8 cm |
| 110 | 10.0″ / 25.4 cm | 7.9″ / 20.0 cm | 6.9″ / 17.5 cm | 6.1″ / 15.6 cm |
| 140 | 12.7″ / 32.3 cm | 10.0″ / 25.4 cm | 8.75″ / 22.2 cm | 7.8″ / 19.8 cm |
| 280 | 25.5″ / 64.8 cm | 20.0″ / 50.8 cm | 17.5″ / 44.5 cm | 15.6″ / 39.6 cm |
| Count | Level | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| 11 ct | Beginner | Large wall pieces, pillows, bold designs |
| 14 ct | All levels | General purpose — the most widely used count worldwide |
| 16 ct | Intermediate | Portrait photos, medium-detail work |
| 18 ct | Intermediate | Jewellery inserts, greeting card inserts |
| 22 ct | Advanced | Miniatures, ornaments, small keepsakes |
| 28 ct | Expert | Evenweave fine work, detailed samplers |
| 32 ct | Expert | Ultra-fine miniatures, antique reproductions |
How much thread do you need?
Each DMC skein is 8 metres (8.7 yards) long with 6 strands. Most patterns use 2 strands.
A rough estimate for 2-strand stitching on 14 ct: one full skein covers approximately 400–500 stitches. A solid-colour area of 100 × 100 stitches (10,000 stitches) would require around 20–25 skeins of that colour.
Better Results
Thread & Materials
DMC — Dollfus-Mieg et Compagnie — was founded in 1746 in Mulhouse, Alsace (then part of the Holy Roman Empire, now France). Originally a textile printing and dyeing company, DMC developed its iconic 6-strand cotton embroidery floss in the late 19th century.
Today DMC produces over 500 standard floss colours, each identified by a unique number. Their palette has become the global standard for cross stitch — the vast majority of commercial patterns worldwide are written using DMC codes, making floss easy to source and patterns easy to share.
Each skein is 8 metres (approximately 8.7 yards) long and divided into 6 individual strands. Most cross stitch uses 2 strands on the needle at once, though 1 strand is used for fine backstitched outlines.
Thread Care
DMC colours are organised by number into loose colour families. The numbering doesn't follow a perfectly strict logical order, but these groupings are a practical guide:
Some DMC colours appear in almost every stitcher's collection because they're called for so frequently: