Pattern making guide
Photo to Cross Stitch Pattern: DMC Colors, Aida Count and Floss
Choose stitches and colors, then use Aida count to check the finished size, fabric allowance and estimated floss skeins.
When turning a photo into cross stitch, the stitch grid and color count determine how much detail you can stitch. The cross stitch pattern tool matches a photo to DMC floss colors and creates a symbol chart PDF with material estimates.
Choose the photo and stitch count
Start with a large, clear subject and a simple background. Adjust the framing, stitch count and colors in the preview. Small grids may lose eyes or lettering; larger grids mean more stitching.
Ratio lock adjusts both axes to preserve the photo proportions. If the grid limits prevent that, review the crop or crop your source image first.
Calculate size from Aida count
Aida count is the number of squares per inch. The same chart makes a smaller piece on higher-count fabric. DMC recommends 14-count Aida for beginners.
Finished length in centimeters is stitches ÷ count × 2.54. For a 100-by-140-stitch chart:
| Fabric | Finished size | Fabric size shown by the tool |
|---|---|---|
| 14-count | About 18.14 × 25.40cm | About 28.14 × 35.40cm |
| 18-count | About 14.11 × 19.76cm | About 24.11 × 29.76cm |
The tool adds 5cm on every side for fabric allowance. Adjust your fabric purchase if your frame or hoop needs a different allowance.
Review DMC colors and unstitched background
Fewer colors simplify preparation but reduce shading. Zoom in on important details before accepting color merges or replacements. Screen colors can differ from actual floss.
Leave background unstitched blanks the background color connected to the chart edges, keeping enclosed details of the same color. Manually excluding a color removes that entire color, so use the two controls for different purposes.
Check floss and the PDF
Set the strand count for your intended stitching and review the skeins per color. These are estimates based on fabric count and strands; carries, tension and thread starts and finishes affect actual use.
Check DMC codes, symbols, center lines and page joins in the PDF. Printed chart squares do not define the finished size: fabric count and stitch count do.
For a pattern filled with drills instead of floss, see diamond painting drill spacing.