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Tutorial6 min readMarch 3, 2026

How to Create a Cross Stitch Pattern Step by Step

Creating a cross stitch pattern for the first time can feel overwhelming. There are grids, thread counts, DMC numbers, and symbol charts to navigate. This step-by-step guide makes it simple.

Step 1: Decide on Your Design Source

You have two starting points: a photo or a drawing from scratch.

Photo conversion is the fastest route. Import a photo into StitchCraft and let the app do the heavy lifting — it generates the grid, maps colors, and produces a ready-to-stitch pattern automatically.

Drawing from scratch gives you full creative control. Use the pattern editor to place stitches one by one on a blank grid. This is ideal for geometric patterns, text, and simple illustrations.

Step 2: Set Your Grid Size

Grid size determines how detailed your pattern will be and how large the finished piece will be. The math is straightforward:

Finished size = grid width ÷ fabric count

For example, a 70-stitch-wide pattern on 14-count Aida fabric will measure 5 inches wide. On 18-count Aida, the same pattern measures under 4 inches.

Common starting grid sizes:

  • Small projects: 40×40 to 60×60
  • Medium projects: 80×80 to 100×100
  • Large projects: 150+ stitches wide

Step 3: Build Your Color Palette

For photo conversions, StitchCraft generates a palette automatically from your image. Review it and prune any colors that appear in fewer than ten stitches — they add thread cost without contributing much to the design.

StitchCraft App

Turn Any Photo Into a Cross Stitch Pattern

  • Accurate DMC color matching
  • Track progress stitch by stitch
  • Export print-ready PDF charts
Download Free

iPhone & iPad

StitchCraft sections overview showing a cross stitch pattern divided into workable sections
StitchCraft stitch-by-stitch view with DMC color symbols

For hand-drawn patterns, choose your DMC colors intentionally. Most beginners do well with 6–12 colors. A smaller palette means fewer threads to buy and manage while stitching.

Step 4: Edit and Refine

Zoom into each section of your pattern and look for:

  • Isolated single stitches that create visual noise
  • Jagged edges that could be smoothed by adding or removing a stitch
  • Color boundaries that could be sharpened

A few minutes of editing here makes a big difference in the finished piece.

Step 5: Export Your Chart

Once the pattern is ready, export it as a PDF. A good cross stitch PDF includes:

  • The full grid with symbols for each color
  • A color key mapping each symbol to a DMC thread number
  • A thread list showing how many stitches each color requires
  • Page numbering for multi-page patterns

StitchCraft generates all of this automatically. Print it and you're ready to stitch.

Step 6: Start Stitching

With your chart in hand (or open in the app), gather your DMC threads and fabric. Work section by section, checking off completed stitches as you go. Use the in-app progress tracker to mark your place and pick up where you left off between sessions.

Creating a pattern from scratch is a skill that improves with practice. Download StitchCraft from the App Store and make your first one today.