Step 1
Choose your photo
Bring a JPG, PNG or WebP. Crop around the subject before uploading so the important details have room on the grid.
From photo to printable pattern
Cross Stitch
Chart Maker
Convert a photo to an editable DMC cross stitch chart. Refine the stitches and download printable PDF pages with symbols and a thread key.
Photo → Editable chart → Printable PDF
Or start with a blank grid and draw your own design.
One photo. A real stitch chart.
100 × 75 stitches · 21 DMC colours · 18.14 × 13.61 cm on 14 ct Aida
View the matching printable PDFStart from your photo
Make your first chart here.
Choose a clear subject and set the stitch width, colour limit and fabric count. Generate a preview on this page before opening the editor. A pet portrait, flower or simple illustration is a useful place to begin.
Crop away distractions before uploading. Tiny lettering and distant faces can disappear on a small grid, so review the details you care about in the result. A good first conversion is a starting point you can refine.
JPG, PNG or WebP up to 15 MB
20–200 stitches wide; 2–40 colours
11, 14, 16 or 18 ct Aida
Pattern maker
DMC pattern makerStart with your photo
Your photo is private and saved only after you generate.
One example, all the way through
Photo → Chart → Printable PDF
Follow this rose photograph through conversion, the editor and its matching PDF. Converted at 100 stitches wide with a 24-colour limit, the real chart uses 21 DMC shades.
Step 2
Refine the actual chart
Review the generated result on this page, then open the editor. Adjust individual stitches, simplify areas and check the thread palette.
Step 3
Download printable pages
Preview the PDF in the editor before downloading. The file includes an overview, thread key and enlarged chart pages for stitching.
Example photo: Jon Sullivan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Chart and PDF generated with PatternFable.
Choose a manageable project
How wide should your chart be?
Width controls how much detail fits across the image. A simple motif may stay clear on a small grid, while a portrait needs more room for eyes and subtle shading. Start with the subject you want to preserve, then inspect whether those details survive conversion.
More detail comes with more work. A filled 80 × 80 grid contains 6,400 stitches; a filled 160 × 160 grid contains 25,600. Doubling both dimensions gives four times as many squares. Compare a tighter crop and a smaller width before choosing the largest version.
Review the result at a comfortable viewing size, not only while zoomed in. If edges blend together, try another width or reduce background distractions. Keep the colour count modest while testing, and choose the smallest chart that remains recognisable.
Read the stitch-width guidePlan the finished piece
Fabric count turns stitches into size.
Stitch dimensions describe the chart. Aida count tells you how many stitch squares fit into one inch. Divide width and height in stitches by the fabric count to estimate the stitched area in inches; multiply by 2.54 for centimetres.
The rose chart is 100 × 75 stitches. On 14-count Aida it measures about 7.1 × 5.4 inches, or 18.1 × 13.6 centimetres. A higher count makes this same grid physically smaller, without adding image detail or changing the stitch arrangement.
| Aida | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 11 ct | 9.1 × 6.8 | 23.1 × 17.3 |
| 14 ct | 7.1 × 5.4 | 18.1 × 13.6 |
| 16 ct | 6.3 × 4.7 | 15.9 × 11.9 |
| 18 ct | 5.6 × 4.2 | 14.1 × 10.6 |
This is the stitched area, not the fabric cutting size. Add a margin on every edge for handling, your hoop and your finishing method. Check the frame you plan to use before cutting cloth or settling on the final settings.
Read the fabric-count and finished-size guideA palette you can follow
DMC colours, Anchor numbers and symbols.
Photo conversion builds a DMC palette. The colour limit is a maximum, so simple images may use fewer shades. Compare the transitions around your subject before increasing the limit: extra shades also mean more thread to organise.
Read the brand and number together. DMC and Anchor have separate numbering systems; identical numbers do not identify the same thread. If you need a DMC color converter for threads you already own, check a conversion reference and compare physical shades. This photo generator does not automatically create an Anchor conversion chart.
The actual PDF key pairs each colour with a distinct symbol, brand, number, name and stitch count. Symbols keep similar shades distinguishable on a black-and-white print. Screen colours are approximate, and stitch counts describe usage rather than an exact number of skeins.
Read the colour and symbol key guide
Make the draft your own
An editor for the final decisions.
Conversion gives you a draft, not a reason to accept every stitch. Check the silhouette, important edges and scattered colour changes. Refine the areas that improve the subject before you commit to the finished pattern.
Refine every stitch
Paint and erase individual cells, fill connected areas, or draw lines and shapes. Undo and redo let you compare changes without losing your starting point. Use these tools to clarify an outline or remove a distracting background detail.
Work with your palette
Find thread colours by brand, number, name or colour family. Inspect every colour used in the pattern, replace or merge shades, and highlight their stitches. Conservative confetti cleanup can help reduce scattered stitches; review the changes before keeping them.
Check different views
Switch between colour, colour with symbols, black-and-white symbols and a stitched preview. Zoom in for detailed edits, then fit the chart to the screen to judge the whole design. The PDF preview provides a separate check of the pages you will print.
From screen to stitching
Print pages you can actually read.
Export from the editor after reviewing the chart. Choose A4 or US Letter, portrait or landscape, and colour with symbols, black-and-white symbols, or both. Larger symbols can make the working copy easier to follow under your stitching light.
The PDF starts with an overview and thread key, followed by enlarged chart pages. Coordinates locate your row and column; centre markers show the middle of the design. Optional page overlap provides shared reference stitches. Count repeated edge squares only once when moving between pages.
Preview the packet before downloading, and print a sample page to check readability. Save a fresh PDF after further edits so you stitch from the latest version. The rose example is a real ten-page export, including colour and black-and-white charts.
Open the real sample PDF
From the PatternFable journal
Better patterns, calmer stitching.
Before you begin
Cross stitch chart maker FAQ
Is this a free cross stitch chart maker?
Creating, editing, previewing and downloading PDFs are free during the current preview phase. See the pricing page for the current offer and planned export options. View pricing.
Can I convert a photo into a cross stitch pattern?
Yes. Upload a JPG, PNG or WebP up to 15 MB, choose your settings and generate a DMC chart. Review the same-page result before opening the editor. Crop the source first for a clearer subject.
What stitch width should I choose?
Use the smallest width that preserves important details. The generator accepts 20–200 stitches wide. A tighter crop can help more than a bigger grid, and larger dimensions mean more stitching.
Does fabric count change the pattern detail?
No. It changes the physical size of the grid. Higher-count Aida makes the same stitch dimensions smaller. Divide each dimension by the fabric count for inches, then multiply by 2.54 for centimetres.
Can I use DMC or Anchor thread colours?
Photo generation matches DMC colours. Read brand and number together when shopping. Anchor uses its own numbers; verify substitutions with a conversion reference and real thread. Automatic DMC-to-Anchor conversion is not provided.
Can I edit the generated pattern?
Yes. Open the result in the editor to paint, erase, fill and refine the chart. You can also replace or merge palette colours and use undo or redo while comparing changes.
Can I export a PDF with symbols?
Yes. Export inside the editor, choose colour and symbol or black-and-white pages, preview the packet, then download. The PDF includes a thread key and enlarged chart pages.
Can I start without a photo?
Yes. Choose Create your own design to begin with a blank 80 × 80 grid on 14-count Aida, then draw your design in the editor.
How do I keep access to my pattern?
The current version uses a browser access key. Clearing site data or switching browsers may remove access. Download the finished PDF as a copy you can keep.
Your photo, your next project
Make a chart worth stitching.
Bring a clear photo, compare the result, and refine your own stitchable plan. Or start from a blank grid. Both paths lead to the same editor and printable PDF.