Cross Stitch Pattern to Printable PDF

Upload any photo or image and instantly generate a multi-page printable cross stitch pattern — with DMC thread color numbers, per-page coordinate labels, overlap margins, and a full stitch legend. Everything runs in your browser; your image never leaves your device.

Step 1 — Upload your image

🖼️

Click or drag & drop an image here

JPEG · PNG · WebP · GIF — processed 100% in your browser

Step 2 — Pattern settings

Pattern width (stitches) Pattern height (stitches) Number of DMC colors 2–64 Aida count (stitches per inch) Paper size Grid squares per page (width direction) Grid squares per page (height direction) Overlap margin (stitches each edge)

Step 3 — Generate PDF

Starting…

Pattern summary

DMC thread color legend

Color	DMC #	Name	Symbol	Stitches

How it works

This tool converts any photo into a stitchable cross stitch chart entirely inside your browser — no upload, no server.

1. Resize & quantizeYour image is scaled to your chosen stitch grid (e.g. 120×90) using Canvas API, then k-means clustering reduces all pixel colors to your chosen DMC count.

2. DMC color matchEach cluster centroid is matched to the nearest DMC thread color using perceptual CIE Lab distance, giving you real thread numbers to buy.

3. Multi-page gridThe pattern is split across as many A4/A3 pages as needed, with bold 10-stitch guide lines, coordinate row/column labels, and configurable overlap margins so you can tape pages together.

4. Legend & summaryThe final pages include a full DMC color legend with stitch counts, plus fabric size in cm and inches based on your chosen Aida count.

Frequently asked questions

Which Aida count should I choose?: 14-count Aida is the most popular choice for beginners — it gives you 14 stitches per inch (about 5.5 per cm), so a 120×90 stitch pattern works out to roughly 21.8 × 16.4 cm (8.6 × 6.4 in). Higher counts (18, 28) give finer detail but require smaller stitches. Lower counts (11) are easier to see and better for thick thread or beginners. The fabric size summary updates automatically based on your selection.
How many DMC colors should I use?: For a realistic photo-like result, 20–40 colors works well. For a simplified, graphic-style pattern that is faster to stitch, try 8–15 colors. The tool runs k-means color clustering on your resized image, so the colors chosen are the ones that best represent your image. You can always reduce the count and regenerate to see a simpler version — some stitchers prefer 12-color patterns because shopping for thread is much cheaper.
What is the overlap margin for?: When a large pattern is split across multiple pages, an overlap margin (default 2 stitches) repeats a few rows/columns on adjacent pages. This lets you align pages accurately when taping them together into a full-size working chart, and makes it easy to find your place when moving from one page to the next.
Is my image sent to any server?: No. This tool is 100% client-side. Your image is read by your browser's Canvas API, processed with JavaScript, and the PDF is generated locally using pdf-lib (loaded from a CDN). Nothing is uploaded or stored anywhere. The tool works even offline after the page first loads.
How do I print the PDF so the grid lines are sharp?: In your PDF viewer's print dialog, set scale to 100% (or "Actual size") and disable any "fit to page" scaling. For A4 output, use A4 paper; for Letter, use US Letter. Scaling distorts the grid squares and makes it harder to count stitches. The pattern uses thin gray grid lines with bold dark lines every 10 stitches, matching standard cross stitch paper conventions.