StitchCraft
Best Cross Stitch Pattern Maker Apps in 2026: 7 Tools Compared
The best cross stitch pattern maker depends on your device and workflow. StitchCraft combines photo conversion, DMC palette control, editing, PDF export, and progress tracking on iPhone and iPad. FlossCross offers browser editing, PC Stitch targets advanced Windows design, and Pic2Pat handles free one-off conversions.
Short Answer
If you create photo-based patterns on iPhone or iPad and want conversion, DMC palette control, editing, PDF export, and progress tracking in one app, the StitchCraft cross stitch pattern maker is built for that workflow.
Other tools suit different needs:
- StitchCraft for an iPhone and iPad creation-to-tracking workflow
- FlossCross for browser editing
- PC Stitch for advanced Windows design
- Pattern Keeper for supported PDF charts on Android
- Pic2Pat for free one-off conversions
How We Evaluated the Tools
We care about five things:
- Conversion quality
Does the tool create a chart that looks recognizable without becoming noisy or confetti-heavy?
- Color handling
Can you limit colors, inspect the palette, and work with real DMC numbers?
- Editing and cleanup
Can you refine the result after generation, or are you stuck with the first draft?
- Output
Can you export a chart that is actually pleasant to read and stitch from?
- Workflow
Does the tool fit the way people make projects now: often from a phone, tablet, or mixed-device setup?
Comparison Table
| Tool | Best For | Platform | Standout Strength | Biggest Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StitchCraft | End-to-end photo-to-pattern workflow | iPhone, iPad | Conversion + tracking in one place | Apple-only |
| FlossCross | Flexible browser editing | Web | Accessible and tweakable | Less comfortable on mobile |
| PC Stitch | Advanced desktop charting | Windows | Deep feature set | Old-school workflow |
| Stitchly | Cross-platform mobile pattern design | iPhone, iPad, Android | Photo conversion, editing, PDF export, and tracking | No Windows or web version listed |
| Pic2Pat | Automatic web conversion | Web | Printable chart with floss and skein calculations | No manual chart editing or progress tracking documented |
| Pattern Keeper | Supported PDF charts | Android | Symbol highlighting and progress tracking | Not every PDF or designer is supported |
| Cross Stitch Saga | Supported interactive pattern files | iPhone, iPad, Windows | Specialty stitches and beads | Does not open PDF, JPEG, or PNG files |
1. StitchCraft
Why it ranks first
StitchCraft does the most important thing well: it turns a photo into a pattern without making the rest of the workflow harder. You can generate a chart, review the palette, export a clean PDF, and track progress from the same ecosystem.
Strengths:
- Strong photo conversion workflow
- Good balance between simplicity and control
- DMC-oriented palette handling
- Useful progress tracking
- Designed for iPhone and iPad rather than adapted from desktop software
Best for:
- Pet portraits
- Family photos
- Home decor patterns
- Stitchers who want a practical mobile workflow
2. FlossCross
FlossCross is one of the more relevant browser-based alternatives because it offers flexibility without requiring desktop installation. If you like editing in a browser and do not mind a less native experience, it can be a good fit.
The main downside is that browser convenience and mobile comfort are not the same thing. For users who mostly design and stitch on Apple devices, it feels less cohesive than a strong native app.
3. PC Stitch
PC Stitch still matters because it is powerful and familiar to long-time cross stitch designers. It gives you deep manual control, lots of settings, and a desktop-first environment that some advanced users still prefer.
It falls behind for anyone who wants speed, portability, or a modern interface. The more your workflow starts with a phone photo, the more noticeable that becomes.
4. Stitchly
Stitchly is available on iPhone, iPad, and Android. Its documented features include photo conversion, manual design, DMC and Anchor threads, fractional stitches, backstitch, French knots, printable PDF export, and progress tracking. Compare it with StitchCraft based on platform preference and results from your own source photos.
5. Pic2Pat
Pic2Pat uses a three-step photo conversion flow, downloads a printable chart, and calculates floss colors and skein quantities. Its public feature page focuses on automatic conversion rather than manual chart editing or progress tracking, and the source image is uploaded to its server for processing.
6. Pattern Keeper
Pattern Keeper imports supported PDF charts on Android, joins chart pages into one continuous view, highlights symbols, and tracks completed stitches. Its developer states that not every chart or designer is supported, and the iOS version is still in early development.
7. CrossStitch Saga
Cross Stitch Saga reads supported interactive files such as XSD, XSP, PAT, and OXS and can display specialty stitches and beads. It does not open PDF, JPEG, or PNG files. Its Google Play project closed in May 2025, while the iOS app remains listed.
Red Flags to Watch For
Whatever tool you choose, be cautious if it has:
- No real DMC thread numbers
- No way to reduce or merge colors
- No readable export
- No editing after conversion
- A great preview but a bad finished chart
Verdict
For iPhone and iPad users who want creation, editing, export, and tracking in one offline app, the StitchCraft cross stitch pattern maker is a strong fit.
For narrower needs, you may prefer a specialist:
- Choose FlossCross if you want browser flexibility
- Choose PC Stitch if you want desktop depth
- Choose Pic2Pat if free is the priority
If you are specifically comparing photo tools, continue with best photo to cross stitch pattern app.