How to turn a photo into a cross stitch pattern
Updated October 8, 2026 · 3 min read
Any photo can become a counted cross stitch chart, but the result depends on a few choices you make before and after the conversion. This guide walks through them in the order you will meet them, with the numbers stitchers actually use.
- 1
Choose a photo that will stitch well
Pick a sharp picture with one clear subject, good light and strong contrast between the subject and the background. Busy backgrounds, tiny details and very dark shadows turn into noise when every square is a single stitch. Crop tightly around what matters before you convert — cropping is the easiest way to get a better chart.
- 2
Decide the finished size
A chart is measured in stitches, not inches. Finished size = stitch count ÷ fabric count. On 14-count Aida, 140 stitches is 10 inches (25.4 cm); on 18-count the same chart is about 7.8 inches. More stitches keep more detail but take longer to stitch: 100–150 stitches wide suits a first portrait, 200–300 gives photo-like results.
The same 10 stitches get smaller as the fabric count goes up. - 3
Pick how many colours to use
Fewer colours give a bold, graphic look and fewer thread changes; more colours give smoother shading. As a rough guide: 10–20 colours for simple motifs and pets, 25–40 for portraits, 50 or more for photo-realistic pieces. Each extra colour is one more skein to buy and one more symbol to track.
- 4
Convert and match to DMC floss
The software groups similar pixels and matches each group to the nearest real thread colour, so every square on the chart is a floss you can buy. PIXVIX matches to DMC using a perceptual colour-difference formula (CIEDE2000), which picks the thread that looks closest to the eye rather than the one with the nearest numbers.
- 5
Clean up the chart
Look for 'confetti' — single stitches of a colour surrounded by others. They are slow to stitch and rarely visible from a distance, so merge them into neighbours. Combine shades that are almost identical, sharpen eyes and edges by hand, and consider backstitch for outlines that got lost.
Left: lots of single 'confetti' stitches. Right: the same area cleaned up. - 6
Check the legend and thread amounts
The legend (key) lists each symbol with its DMC number and name. Check that no two symbols are hard to tell apart and that dark and light shades have clearly different symbols. Note how many skeins each colour needs before you shop.
- 7
Print it or stitch it digitally
Print a PDF with symbols on a grid, bold lines every 10 stitches and overlapping rows between pages so you never lose your place. Or open the chart on a phone or tablet and mark stitches as you go — PIXVIX Workspace keeps your progress and splits big charts into numbered sections.
Which photos work best?
Pets, faces, flowers and landscapes with a clear focal point convert well. Group photos with small faces, night shots and pictures with fine text are hard: the details are smaller than a single stitch. If a photo looks muddy when you shrink it to a thumbnail, it will look muddy as a chart.
What fabric count should I use?
14-count Aida is the usual starting point: easy to see and count, and it takes two strands of floss. 16- and 18-count give a smaller, finer piece from the same chart. 11-count is larger and good for children or anyone who wants bigger squares. Use the size calculator to try different counts before you buy fabric.
Turn your photo into a pattern
Upload a picture, choose the size and colours, and get a counted DMC chart you can edit, stitch on your phone or print as a PDF.
Try PIXVIXQuestions
- Can I make a cross stitch pattern from any photo?
- Yes, but clear photos with good contrast and a simple background give much better charts. Crop tightly and avoid tiny details that are smaller than one stitch at your chosen size.
- How many colours should a cross stitch pattern have?
- Around 10–20 for simple designs, 25–40 for portraits and 50 or more for photo-realistic work. More colours mean smoother shading but more skeins and more thread changes.
- What size should my cross stitch pattern be?
- Divide the stitch count by the fabric count to get inches. 140 stitches on 14-count Aida is 10 inches wide. For a first photo pattern, 100–150 stitches wide is a good balance of detail and stitching time.
- Is it free to make a pattern from a photo with PIXVIX?
- You can open and stitch a sample chart for free. Creating an original chart from your own photo uses Pattern credits, bought once with no subscription, and credits never expire.