Convert photos and images to cross stitch patterns
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Turn a photo into a chart with real thread colours and confetti reduction. Preview and edit for free; sign up for 5 free PDF downloads.
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Import from another app PAID
File import guide
Upload an .oxs file, Pattern Maker .xsd file or PCStitch 7/8 .pat file. PCStitch 8 brings across the palette and full stitches; Pattern Maker XSD and PCStitch 7 also bring across backstitch, knots, halves and quarters.
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Open a starter pattern, then edit and save it as your own.
Pattern details & downloads
Pattern overview
Based on an average pace of 150 stitches/hr. Calculate your own
DMC Threads Needed
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Turn a Photo into a Cross Stitch Pattern
Convert a favourite photo into a counted cross stitch chart with symbols and real thread colour codes. Use a pet portrait, family photo or landscape, or upload pixel art, a logo or an illustration. Preview and edit your pattern for free; sign up for 5 free PDF downloads with stitch charts and thread keys.
Your image is automatically colour-matched to your chosen thread brand: DMC, Anchor, Madeira or Cosmo, so you know which threads to buy. Adjust the pattern size from 30 to 600 stitches on the longest side and choose from 3 to 150 colours for the perfect balance of detail and simplicity. Use photo mode for detailed images or vector mode for clean logos and graphics.
Works on any device - iPad, iPhone, Android, and desktop - right in your browser with no app to download. Edit patterns with Apple Pencil on your iPad, tweak colours on your phone, or work on a big screen at your desk. All PDF downloads are Pattern Keeper compatible, so you can track your stitching progress on the go.
After generating a chart, you can refine it in the editor with motifs, stamps, borders, backstitch-style lettering and symmetrical design elements. For more focused design workflows, see the blackwork cross stitch designer or the cross stitch mandala pattern designer.
How to Convert a Picture to Cross Stitch
- Upload your photo or image (PNG, JPG, HEIC, or any picture)
- Choose your pattern width and number of DMC colours
- Select photo mode or vector mode
- Click Generate Pattern to preview your chart
- Edit your pattern in the built-in designer, then download as PDF or PNG
Choose a Photo That Will Stitch Well
- Pet and family portraits: choose a clear, well-lit photo and crop close to the subject so faces have enough stitches for detail.
- Landscapes: look for clear shapes and contrast; small background details can disappear when reduced to a stitch grid.
- Colour count: start with 10-20 colours, then compare the preview as you adjust. More colours can add detail but also more thread changes.
- Logos and pixel art: use vector mode for clean edges and blocks of colour.
Reduce Confetti Before You Stitch
Confetti stitches are isolated stitches of one colour that interrupt a run of another. Xstitchify groups similar shades during conversion to reduce unnecessary thread changes. Check faces and other small details in the preview before simplifying further, and use the confetti cleanup brush to tidy selected areas in the editor.
No photo handy? Start from a text prompt with the AI cross stitch pattern generator. Looking for text or letter patterns? Try our cross stitch text generator with multiple fonts. Or use the pattern designer to draw original patterns from scratch. Need a thread reference? Browse our DMC colour chart with all 454 colours, or see the full range across Anchor, Madeira, and Cosmo.