How many colors should I use for a photo pattern?

For portraits: 15-25 colors. For landscapes: 20-35. For pet photos: 15-30. More colors means more detail but also more thread changes and longer stitching time.

What size pattern should I make?

A 100×100 pattern finishes around 7×7 inches on 14-count Aida and takes 40-80 hours. For a first project, 80×80 or smaller is more manageable.

Why does my pattern have so many scattered stitches?

That's confetti—isolated single stitches from the conversion. Use the confetti cleanup tool to brush over problem areas. The algorithm removes scattered stitches automatically.

FLOW measures pattern quality: Fragmentation (confetti), Locality (color clustering), Optimization (palette efficiency), and Workability (practical stitching). Higher scores mean patterns that are more satisfying to stitch.

Can I edit the pattern after converting?

Yes. The full editor includes brush, fill, and selection tools. You can change colors, remove stitches, add backstitch for definition, and clean up any areas that didn't convert well.

Photo to pattern converter

Turn your photos into patterns worth stitching

See your pattern take shape in real time. Adjust colors, size, and detail until it looks right—not after you've already started stitching.

Try it with your photo

Upload any photo and see it transform into a cross stitch pattern with real thread colors. Adjust settings until it looks right.

Try it with your photo

Free. No account required.

Most photo converters create patterns nobody wants to stitch

Upload a photo. Click convert. Get a pattern filled with confetti—hundreds of scattered single stitches that don't form shapes. Every color change means stopping, threading a new needle, finding your place again.

The preview looked fine. The actual stitching? Tedious.

The problem isn't your photo. It's converters that treat each pixel independently, ignoring how cross-stitch actually works.

See exactly what you'll stitch—before you commit

Real-time preview

Adjust colors, pattern size, and contrast. Watch the pattern update instantly. No waiting, no surprises.

Confetti reduction built in

The algorithm groups similar colors into stitchable regions. Scattered single stitches become solid areas you can actually work.

Honest time estimates

A 100×100 pattern takes 40-80 hours to stitch. The FLOW score tells you how satisfying the pattern will be to work—before you start.

What converts well—and what needs more work

Photos that convert well

High contrast with clear subjects
Simple or blurred backgrounds
Well-lit faces and pets
Bold colors and defined edges

Photos that need more work

Busy backgrounds with lots of detail
Soft gradients (sunsets, fog)
Low contrast or flat lighting
Multiple small subjects

Not every photo converts well. Here's what to look for—and how to adjust settings when your photo needs help.

How It Works

Upload

Drag in any photo (JPEG, PNG, WebP). Higher resolution images give you more detail to work with.

Adjust

Slide colors down (15-25 usually works), set your size, preview in real time. Watch the pattern update as you tweak settings.

Refine

Use the confetti tool to clean up problem areas. The algorithm detects and removes scattered stitches automatically.

Export

Download a PDF with symbols, thread list, and stitch counts. Pattern Keeper compatible for stitching on your tablet.

What Makes This Converter Different

Photo to Pattern in Seconds

Upload any photo—portraits, pets, landscapes—and watch it transform into a stitchable pattern instantly. No waiting, no guessing.

Real Thread Colors

Colors are matched to real DMC, Anchor, Madeira, and Cosmo thread brands—not generic approximations.

Smart Confetti Reduction

Our algorithm groups similar colors into stitchable regions. No scattered single stitches everywhere—just solid areas you can actually work.

FLOW Score Quality Metric

See how stitchable your pattern is before you start. FLOW measures fragmentation, locality, optimization, and workability.

Pattern Keeper Compatible

Export PDFs that work with Pattern Keeper for easy stitching on your tablet. Track progress as you work.

Full Editor Access

Open in the editor to swap colors, remove stitches, add backstitch for definition, and clean up any areas that didn't convert well.

Want the full walkthrough? Read: How to Convert a Photo to a Cross Stitch Pattern

Not sure which thread brand to match? Compare DMC vs Anchor to find the right choice for your location and project.

Frequently Asked Questions

For portraits: 15-25 colors. For landscapes: 20-35. For pet photos: 15-30. More colors means more detail but also more thread changes and longer stitching time.
A 100×100 pattern finishes around 7×7 inches on 14-count Aida and takes 40-80 hours. For a first project, 80×80 or smaller is more manageable.
That's confetti—isolated single stitches from the conversion. Use the confetti cleanup tool to brush over problem areas. The algorithm removes scattered stitches automatically.
FLOW measures pattern quality: Fragmentation (confetti), Locality (color clustering), Optimization (palette efficiency), and Workability (practical stitching). Higher scores mean patterns that are more satisfying to stitch.
Yes. The full editor includes brush, fill, and selection tools. You can change colors, remove stitches, add backstitch for definition, and clean up any areas that didn't convert well.

See how your photo converts

Upload a photo, adjust the settings, preview the result. Takes about 30 seconds to see if your image will work.

Try it with your photo

Free tier: patterns up to 150×150, 20 colors. No account needed.