How to Use the QR Generator

Yes, you read that right - you can stitch a QR code that actually scans. The QR Generator creates cross-stitch patterns from URLs, WiFi passwords, or any text. When you stitch it with high-contrast thread, phones can scan it right off the fabric. It's genuinely one of the most fun things you can make.

What you can encode

The QR Generator has three tabs for different types of content:

• Website Link - enter any web address. When someone scans your stitched QR code, it opens that link on their phone.
• WiFi Password - enter your network name, password, and security type (WPA/WPA2 or WEP). Scanning the finished piece connects their phone to your WiFi automatically. No more spelling out passwords for guests. There's a show/hide toggle for the password field so you can double-check what you've typed.
• Text Message - enter any plain text (up to 150 characters). It'll display on their phone when scanned.

Creating a QR pattern

1. Go to the QR Generator page.
2. Choose your tab (Website Link, WiFi Password, or Text Message) and enter the content.
3. Pick your pattern size - Small, Medium, or Large. This controls how many stitches each QR module takes up (2, 3, or 5 stitches per module). Larger means easier to stitch but a bigger finished piece.
4. Optionally, choose custom thread colours for the dark and light squares using the colour pickers.
5. Click Generate QR Pattern.
6. Your pattern appears with a preview, stats, thread list, and download buttons.

Choosing colours

Pick a colour for the dark squares and one for the light squares using the colour pickers - the matched DMC thread code appears beside each so you know exactly what thread to buy. The contrast between the two colours is the most important factor for scannability - more on that below.

But here's the important bit: the higher the contrast between your two colours, the better your QR code will scan. Black and white is the gold standard. Very dark navy on white works too. Pastel pink on cream? That's going to be tricky for a phone to read.

Testing your QR code

Before you commit hours of stitching, test the QR code. The preview on screen should scan with your phone camera. Open your camera app, point it at the screen, and check that the link or WiFi connection works correctly.

If it doesn't scan from the screen, it won't scan when stitched either - so adjust your colours or content and try again.

Fun ideas for QR patterns

• WiFi password for guests - stitch it, frame it, hang it by the door. No more "what's the WiFi password?" ever again.
• Rick Roll - you know you want to. Stitch a QR code that links to "Never Gonna Give You Up" and frame it innocently on the wall.
• Wedding or party photos - link to a shared photo album. Stitch the QR code onto a wedding sampler or party favour.
• Your website or portfolio - a stitched QR code for your business card or craft fair display.
• Secret messages - use the text tab to encode a hidden message. Only people who scan it will know what it says.

Tips for successful QR stitching

Large print PDF for easier reading

If you find the standard pattern chart hard to read while you're stitching - whether that's because of dim lighting, tired eyes, low vision, or just preferring bigger squares - turn on the Large print PDF option before downloading.

You'll find the toggle inside the Download Full Pattern dropdown menu, just below the file format options. Tick it, choose whether you want a colour or black-and-white chart, then click PDF Pattern.

What changes in large-print mode

• Squares are about 5mm wide - roughly twice the area of the standard chart, matching commercial large-print cross stitch publications.
• Grid numbers, page headers, and the thread colour list all scale up so the whole document reads consistently.
• The pattern splits across more pages to keep the squares big - typically 1.5x to 2x as many pages as the standard download.
• The chart style choice still applies - download either colour pages or black-and-white symbol pages.

The downloaded file name starts with large-print- so you can tell it apart from the standard one in your downloads folder.