Cross Stitch Pattern Designer
Create Blank Canvas
Not sure what size to pick? Use our fabric calculator to work out dimensions for your project.
Design Your Own Cross Stitch Patterns on a Blank Stitch Grid
Create original cross stitch patterns from scratch using our free online design program. Start with any size blank stitch grid, build your colour palette with DMC thread codes, and download a printable PDF pattern with a full thread key when you're done.
Whether you want to sketch out a simple motif, design a sampler, turn a drawing into a cross stitch pattern by tracing over a reference image, or create handwriting-style lettering stitch by stitch using the pressure brush, this tool gives you complete creative control over every stitch.
Works on iPad with Apple Pencil, Android tablets, phones, and desktop - no app download needed. Draw with a stylus for precise stitch placement, or use touch and mouse. Your finished patterns download as Pattern Keeper compatible PDFs you can stitch from on any device.
Design Tools
Draw Stitch by Stitch
Click, drag, or draw with Apple Pencil to place stitches on the grid. Use the pressure brush for handwriting-style strokes that follow your stylus pressure.
DMC Thread Colours
Build your palette with a colour picker. Your pattern PDF includes DMC codes so you know exactly which threads to buy.
Turn a Drawing into a Pattern
Upload any image as a semi-transparent overlay, then trace over it on the grid to turn your drawing into a cross stitch pattern.
Download PDF & PNG
Export your finished pattern as a printable PDF with colour chart, symbol key, and stitch count - or as a PNG image.
Design Blackwork, Mandalas and Symmetrical Cross Stitch Patterns
The blank grid is a good starting point for blackwork cross stitch designs, geometric borders, sampler bands and linework motifs. Use repeated shapes, stamps and backstitch lettering to build patterns that stay clean on counted fabric.
For circular and radial layouts, start with a square canvas and create a cross stitch mandala pattern from the centre out. Symmetry, motifs, stamps and a limited DMC palette help keep mandala charts balanced and easy to stitch.
How to Design Your Own Cross Stitch Pattern
- Pick a preset canvas size or enter custom dimensions (up to 600 x 600 stitches)
- Click Start Designing to open the pattern editor
- Add colours to your palette and draw your pattern stitch by stitch
- Optionally upload a reference image to trace over (great for turning drawings into patterns)
- Save to your pattern library or download as PDF or PNG
Cross Stitch Design Ideas
Simple motifs. Hearts, stars, flowers, and animals work well at small sizes. Start with a 30x30 or 40x40 grid for your first design.
Samplers. Create a traditional sampler with borders, alphabets, and small motifs arranged in rows. A 100x100 grid gives plenty of room.
Bookmarks. The 30x120 bookmark preset is perfect for a narrow design with a repeated border pattern or a name.
Pixel art. Cross stitch is naturally pixel-based, making it ideal for retro game sprites, emoji, or geometric patterns.
Trace a sketch. Draw something on paper, take a photo, and upload it as a reference overlay to trace in the editor.
Tips for Drawing Cross Stitch Patterns
Start small. A 40x40 grid is a great size for beginners. You can always resize later in the editor's Advanced settings.
Use a reference image. Upload a photo or drawing as a transparent overlay in the editor, then trace over it stitch by stitch for accuracy.
Fewer colours = easier to stitch. Try to keep your palette under 10 colours for a manageable project. You can check our DMC colour chart for inspiration.
Zoom in for detail. The cell size slider lets you zoom in for fine work or zoom out to see the full picture.
Try a stylus. On iPad, Apple Pencil gives you precise control over stitch placement. On Android tablets, any compatible stylus works too - much easier than fingers for detailed work.
Use the pressure brush with a pencil or pen. If you have an Apple Pencil, Samsung S Pen, Surface Pen, or a Wacom tablet, select the pressure brush tool in the editor toolbar. The stroke width scales with how hard you press, so you can draw thin outlines and thick fills without switching brush sizes. The fixed brush sizes (1x1 to 5x5) still work the same for filling areas - pressure only affects the pressure brush tool. Mouse and finger input have no pressure information, so they always draw at the Max size you've set.
Save often. If you have an account, save your work to your pattern library so you can come back to it later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make your own cross stitch pattern?
Yes. This free design tool lets you draw cross stitch patterns from scratch on a grid canvas. Choose your size, pick DMC colours, and place stitches one by one. You can also upload a reference image to trace over. When you're finished, download a printable PDF with a full colour key.
How do you turn a drawing into a cross stitch pattern?
Two ways. For an automatic conversion, use the Pattern Maker to upload your drawing and generate a pattern instantly. For more control, use this designer: upload your drawing as a reference overlay, set it semi-transparent, and trace over it stitch by stitch.
Is this cross stitch design program really free?
Yes, the designer is completely free with no download required. It runs in your browser on iPad, Android, and desktop - with full Apple Pencil and touchscreen support. You can create patterns, edit them, and download a PNG version for free. Creating an account (also free) lets you save patterns to your library. Additional design tools and download options such as Pattern Keeper compatible PDFs are available with a paid account.
What canvas size should I choose?
It depends on your project. On 14-count Aida (the most common fabric), 40 stitches = about 3 inches. A 40x40 grid makes a small motif or coaster. 100x100 gives you a decent sampler. Use our fabric calculator to work out exact dimensions for your fabric.
Can I add text to my pattern?
For text, the Text Generator is quicker - it creates cross stitch lettering in multiple fonts automatically. You can then edit the result in the same pattern editor. For hand-drawn lettering, you can draw letters directly on the grid here.
Does the designer support Apple Pencil pressure?
Yes. Pick the pressure brush tool in the editor toolbar (it sits next to the regular brush) and the stroke width will follow how hard you press with your stylus. You can set a minimum and maximum cell width in the panel - the default is 1x1 to 4x4, so a light touch places a single stitch and a firm press lays down a 4x4 block. The regular fixed-size brushes are unchanged, so you can still use them for filling larger areas without any pressure effect.
Which stylus devices work with the pressure brush?
Most popular styluses work - including Apple Pencil on iPad, Samsung S Pen on Galaxy tablets and phones, Microsoft Surface Pen on Windows, and Wacom tablets on desktop. If your stylus supports pressure sensitivity in other drawing apps, it should work here too. Mouse and finger input don't carry pressure, so they draw at the maximum size you've set - the tool stays usable, you just don't get the variable width effect without a stylus. See the full pressure brush guide for device setup and handwriting tracing tips.
How do two-finger tap gestures work in the editor?
On touchscreen devices, a quick two-finger tap anywhere on the canvas undoes your last action, and a three-finger tap redoes it - the same gesture shortcuts used in Procreate. This is handy on iPad with Apple Pencil: you draw with the pencil in one hand and tap with two fingers on your other hand to undo mistakes without reaching for the toolbar. Pinch-to-zoom and two-finger pan still work normally - the tap only fires if your fingers don't move before lifting.