How to turn a photo into a cross-stitch pattern
To turn a photo into a cross-stitch pattern, the picture is shrunk to one pixel per stitch and every pixel is matched to a DMC floss color. The two choices that matter most are the width in stitches and the number of colors. Here is how to do it with FlossChart, which runs in your browser, so the photo never leaves your device.
- Pick a photo. Use a photo you have the right to use: your pet, a wedding picture, a logo or pixel art. JPG, PNG and WebP work. The photo stays on your device.
- Set the width in stitches. Move the width slider (20 to 500 stitches). The height follows the photo. Wider means more detail and a bigger finished piece.
- Choose the number of colors. Move the colors slider (2 to 60). Fewer colors are easier to stitch; more colors keep more shading.
- Clean up confetti. Confetti are stray single stitches of a color. "Normal" cleanup replaces lone stitches with the most common neighbour color. "Strong" also merges rare colors.
- Pick fabric and print style. Choose 11, 14, 16 or 18 count Aida to see the finished size and skein estimates. Print in color blocks with symbols, or in black and white symbols to save ink.
- Print or download. Print the chart or download a PDF: a cover page with the floss list and sizes, then grid pages with symbols, bold lines every 10 stitches and row numbers. Charts up to 40 x 40 stitches are free; bigger ones need the €5 one-time unlock.
Turn a photo into a cross-stitch pattern, free
Why patterns from photos get "confetti"
A photo has soft shading, and a pattern has a limited number of floss colors. When the shading is cut down to those colors, single stitches of one color can end up on their own, scattered across the chart. Stitchers call them confetti. FlossChart counts them and shows the number above the preview, so you can see the effect of the cleanup setting before you print.
Width and colors: a starting point
The sample picture on the FlossChart page starts at 80 stitches wide with 12 colors, and a new photo starts at 100 stitches and 20 colors. From there, move one slider at a time and watch the preview, the stitch count and the floss list. See the size chart to turn a target size in cm or inches into stitches.
What it costs
The preview, the floss list and charts up to 40 x 40 stitches are free. Bigger charts, up to 500 x 500 stitches, need a one-time unlock of €5, paid with PayPal, with no account and no subscription.