Writing AI Prompts

Describe what you want to see, including the subject, colours and how everything should be arranged. Choose the size and maximum colours on the AI Generator before generating.

Start with size and maximum colours

Size sets the longest side of the whole chart, from 24 to 600 stitches. The shape determines the other side. The form shows the width and height before you generate: Square at 24 gives 24 × 24 stitches; Landscape at 600 gives 600 × 400 stitches.

Maximum colours defaults to 30. You can choose any number from 2 to 150. This is the most colours your pattern can use; it may use fewer.

Fewer colours suit simple motifs. More colours allow more shading in detailed designs. Stitched background colours count towards the limit. Choose Isolated motif to leave the fabric showing around your subject.

Set the size and colour limit using the controls, even if you also mention them in your prompt. For a design with several objects, allow enough stitches for each object and the space between them.

Describe the artwork

• Subject: name the main object and how many there should be.
• View: describe the angle, such as “viewed from above”, “front view” or “side view”.
• Style: choose Pixel for bold, blocky shapes, Cartoon for a simple illustration, or Watercolour for a softer painted look. You can also describe the look you want in your own words.
• Colours: describe colours directly, such as orange, cream and dark purple. Thread codes are chosen when the chart is made.
• Composition: say what belongs in the foreground, behind the subject or beside it. Choose Isolated motif for a standalone object with no scenery.

For clean shapes, ask for a flat illustration or pixel art. A photograph of finished stitching can add unwanted texture. Use colour names in your prompt; DMC thread colours are chosen automatically, and you can change the thread brand in the editor.

Example: a simple star

Try Square, Pixel, Size 32, Maximum colours 4 and Isolated motif as a starting point.

A single five-pointed gold star, centred on a plain white background. A bold, simple shape with solid colour and no shading.

For small designs, start with one main subject, bold shapes and clearly separated colours. Leave space around important features, and keep delicate decorations to a minimum.

Small motifs have fewer stitches available to describe their shapes, so fine lines, shading and closely spaced features may lose detail or look sketchy. If details are unclear, increase the stitch count to give them more room. You can also simplify the design to suit a smaller size.

Check the preview for merged shapes, broken lines and missing features before you start stitching.

Example: a 600 × 400 landscape

Choose Landscape, Watercolour, Size 600 and Maximum colours 30. Leave Isolated motif unchecked to include the scenery.

A mountain lake at sunrise, with pine trees along the far shore and blue mountains in the distance. A pale gold sky reflected in the water. Soft watercolour shading and clearly defined shapes.

For a landscape, describe what belongs at the front, in the middle and in the distance. Allow a larger stitch count for several layers of scenery, and use contrasting colours to help the main features stand out.

Adding exact wording

Choose Quote and enter the words in Exact wording. Describe the artwork and lettering style in the main prompt. Short phrases are easier to fit, and a larger stitch count gives letters more room. Check every letter in the result. To create text with a chosen font, use the Text Generator.

When the result needs work

To change the subject, pose or composition, update your prompt and choose Generate pattern again. This creates a new image and uses one additional AI credit. Changing the prompt does not edit the image you already generated.

To adjust the existing chart's size or maximum colours, open Settings → Chart in the editor and choose Rebuild chart. This uses your existing image and costs no additional AI credit. Rebuilding replaces any manual stitch edits. See Refining the Chart in the Editor for instructions.

If the chart looks sketchy, increasing the stitch count and rebuilding can keep more detail from the original image. If the original AI image itself lacks detail, choose a larger Size and generate a new image. That new image uses one additional AI credit.

See the AI Generator guide for step-by-step help with creating a pattern.