Cross stitch guides
Short, practical guides to help you go from a blank piece of Aida to a finished piece — including how to make your own patterns from photos. Everything here is free and runs in your browser.
Start here
Three steps, in order: learn to read a chart, make your own from a photo, then size the fabric to stitch it on.
- 01
How to prepare a photo for cross stitch
Crop, simplify and compare your photo before committing to a chart. A few decisions before conversion can save many hours of stitching.
Read the guide - 02
How to reduce confetti stitches in cross stitch
Keep the details that matter while reducing scattered one-off stitches. Use a controlled comparison rather than removing every small region.
Read the guide - 03
14 vs 16 vs 18 count Aida: choosing cross stitch fabric
See how fabric count changes the finished size of the same chart, and choose a size you can comfortably stitch.
Read the guide - 04
How to make a cross stitch name and date sampler
Plan readable lettering, a balanced date line and the right fabric size for a wedding, birth or personalized gift.
Read the guide - 05
How to choose DMC skin-tone palettes for portraits
Build a useful highlight, midtone and shadow range, then test it against the actual portrait rather than relying on a universal thread list.
Read the guide - 06
How to read a cross stitch pattern
Grid, symbols, the color key, arrows and centre points — everything a chart is telling you, explained from scratch.
Read the guide - 07
How to turn a photo into a cross stitch pattern
A full walkthrough of converting one of your own photos into a clean, stitchable chart in real DMC colors — free and in your browser.
Read the guide - 08
Cross stitch fabric calculator
Work out the finished size of any chart and how much Aida, evenweave or linen to buy, in inches and centimetres.
Open the calculator
Color references
Keep these open while you stitch — every DMC color, conversion and ready-made scheme on the site.
DMC color chart
All 489 DMC floss colors with number, name, hex and Anchor conversion — searchable.
Ready-made palettes
Hand-picked DMC schemes for skin, water, foliage, seasons and moods — open any in the editor.
Colors by family
The whole DMC range grouped into hue families and sorted light to dark.
DMC → Anchor chart
The closest Anchor equivalent for every DMC floss number, with swatches.
Ready to make something?
Turn a photo into a stitchable chart in real DMC colors, or start from a blank canvas in the editor — free, no account, and your photo never leaves your device.