Convert a Photo to a Cross-Stitch Pattern

Open a photo and Needlework Studio turns it into a cross-stitch chart. Each color is matched to a real DMC, Anchor, or Mill Hill thread, and you set the grid size, the number of colors, and the crop. Then stitch it or export it.

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macOS, Windows & Linux · No account · Works offline

A cherry-blossom photo converted into a cross-stitch chart in Needlework Studio, beside the grid and color-count controls — A photo converted to a chart, with the conversion controls.

From photo to chart in three steps

Open a photo, set a few options, and you have a chart. You decide how much detail and how many colors.

Step 1

Upload a photo

Open any JPG or PNG, a pet portrait, a landscape, a logo, a family photo, and crop it to the part you want to stitch.

Step 2

Adjust the settings

Set the grid size and number of colors, then adjust contrast and brightness.

Step 3

Stitch or export

Keep editing the chart in the pattern editor, track your progress as you stitch, or export it to PDF, PNG, or SVG.

The Needlework Studio image-to-pattern screen with a drop zone for uploading a photo — Step one: drop in a photo

Start with any photo

Drag in a JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP up to 10 MB and crop to the part you want to stitch.

A finished Koi Pond cross-stitch chart in Needlework Studio with a DMC color legend and stitch counts — The result: a labeled, stitchable chart

End with a chart you can stitch

Each color maps to a DMC, Anchor, or Mill Hill number with its own symbol, listed in a legend with stitch counts. Switch between chart and realistic thread views, track progress as you stitch, and export when you're done.

Made for stitching

The output is a working cross-stitch pattern: real thread numbers, symbols, a legend, and stitch counts.

Matched to real floss

Every color is matched to the nearest real thread using the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, across 744 DMC, 441 Anchor, and 371 Mill Hill shades.

You control the detail

Set the grid size and number of colors, and adjust contrast, brightness, and crop.

Runs on your computer

The conversion runs on your computer. Your photo is never uploaded to a server, and it works offline.

Opens in the editor

The result opens in the editor and viewer: edit stitches, add backstitch, build a legend, and export to PDF, PNG, or SVG.

Try it free

The photo converter is included in the free version. Upgrade only when you want bigger, more detailed patterns.

Free

Up to 75×75, 30 colors

Enough for icons, small portraits, and trying it out. No account, no time limit.

Full Version

Up to 250×250, 100 colors

Large, detailed charts with more colors, as a one-time purchase.

Either way

Yours to keep

Patterns live on your own machine. Export them, share them to a phone or tablet, and stitch offline.

Turn your first photo into a pattern

Free to download on macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Download Free Read the guide

Colors shown on screen are approximate and may differ from actual thread colors due to monitor calibration, display settings, and lighting. Confirm against a physical floss reference before purchasing thread.