| Letters tall | 10 mesh | 13 mesh | 18 mesh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 squares | 1.0 in | 0.8 in | 0.6 in |
| 20 squares | 2.0 in | 1.5 in | 1.1 in |
| 26 squares | 2.6 in | 2.0 in | 1.4 in |
| 36 squares | 3.6 in | 2.8 in | 2.0 in |
Needlepoint text generator
Stocking cuffs, belts, key fobs, ornaments: type the name, pick a font and a size, and see it charted in tent stitch with its size in inches at your mesh.
Type the name, pick a font, set the size, and the preview shows it in tent stitch on canvas. Everything is counted in canvas squares, so what you see is what you stitch.
Fitting a name on a canvas
- Type the name. Each line you type is a line of lettering; Line spacing sets the gap between them.
- Pick a font and a size, and your mesh under Canvas. The caption gives the lettering in squares and in inches: at 13 mesh, a 5 by 2 inch cuff holds 65 by 26 squares.
- Look closely. Drag the preview, or hold ⌘ (Ctrl on Windows) and scroll, to move around; zoom with ⌘ + and ⌘ − or a pinch, and ⌘ 0 to fit. Pick any DMC color for the lettering.
- Take it with you: the PDF chart, a free A–Z sheet for the font, or open this pattern in the editor to keep going.
How big will the lettering be?
Finer mesh fits more squares into the same inches, so a name that is too big at 13 mesh often fits at 18.
Choosing a font for needlepoint lettering
Block capitals read from about 5 squares tall and stay crisp in tent stitch, which slants every stitch the same way and softens curves. Serif and sans typefaces need about 12 squares; script needs about 22 before its joins read as joins. The needlepoint lettering guide covers spacing, outlines and backgrounds, and the needlepoint pattern maker takes the chart further: add a motif, a background color or a border.
Stitching on Aida or evenweave instead of canvas? The cross stitch text generator does the same for Aida and evenweave, with finished sizes by fabric count.
FAQ
How do I fit a name on a stocking cuff?
Measure the space on the cuff in inches and multiply by your mesh to get it in squares: at 13 mesh, a 5 by 2 inch cuff is 65 by 26 squares. Choose your mesh under Canvas, then lower the size until the caption under the preview reads less than that in both directions. If a long name will not fit, a finer mesh or a second line usually gets it in.
How tall are belt letters?
A needlepoint belt is usually about 20 squares tall at 18 mesh, a little over an inch. Keep the lettering a few squares shorter than that so it sits inside the edge stitches; the length can be whatever the name needs.
Which fonts work best for needlepoint lettering?
The small pixel alphabets: they are drawn square by square, so they stay crisp in tent stitch, which slants every stitch the same way and softens curves. Typefaces under Fonts work at larger sizes; script needs about 22 squares to read.
Is the needlepoint text generator free?
Designing is free, and so is the A–Z alphabet sheet for any font and size. The clean printable PDF chart is $5.99 for one pattern.
Can I print the lettering at actual size to paint or trace onto canvas?
Yes. Download the PDF chart and choose the one-page chart at actual size in the export settings: each square prints at the size of one mesh, so the chart lies on the canvas square for square.
Can I keep working on the name in the editor?
Yes. Choose Open this pattern in Editor and the lettering arrives as a canvas pattern of its own, with each line still editable text, so you can add a motif or a background color around it.
Make it part of a bigger pattern
A name is a start. Open your lettering in the Stitchmate editor and every line is still text you can retype, resize or recolor, with the border and effects in place.
Add a motif, a second line or a whole sampler around it, then download a clean PDF chart. Everything up to PDF export is free, no account needed.
Open the Editor Free