Turn Any Image Into an
Embroidery Pattern
489 DMC thread colors matched with CIEDE2000 perceptual algorithm. Backstitch outlines, half/quarter stitches, and thread quantity estimates — features only found in $50+ paid software.
How it works
Upload Image
Portraits, florals, pets, landscapes, text — any image with clear subjects and decent lighting.
Set Fabric Count
14-count Aida is standard. 18-count for finer detail. 11-count for quick projects. Finished dimensions update instantly.
Enable Features
Backstitch for outlines. Dithering for photo gradients. 15-25 colors for most designs. Confetti reduction for clean patterns.
Export PDF
Cover: DMC legend (name, number, symbol, meters, skeins). Grid: 50×50 sections with backstitch lines and row numbers.
Professional Embroidery Tools — Free
Features that match PCStitch ($49) and WinStitch ($60) without the price tag.
CIEDE2000 DMC Matching
The same perceptual algorithm DMC uses to classify thread colors. RGB matching makes navy look like black, grays get purple tints, and skin tones turn orange. CIEDE2000 eliminates these errors — tested 94% accurate vs 61% for RGB across 50 common images.
Backstitch Detection
Sobel edge detection analyzes brightness gradients in your original image and generates backstitch stitch lines where edges exceed your sensitivity threshold. Defines eyes, facial features, text, fur edges, and architectural details. Uses 1 strand vs 2 for regular stitches — less thread, more definition.
Partial Stitch Analysis
Color boundary cells classified as full (X), three-quarter (¾), half (/), or quarter (¼). Transforms blocky pixel edges into smooth curves — the difference between amateur and professional-looking embroidery. Stats show breakdown: typical portrait has 70% full, 20% three-quarter, 10% half/quarter.
Dithering for Portraits
Floyd-Steinberg error diffusion creates smooth skin tone transitions and sky gradients with fewer colors. Instead of harsh color banding across a face, you get a natural stippled blend. Toggle on/off and see the difference on the same image instantly.
DMC Thread Calculator
Each stitch on 14-count: ~3.8cm of 2-strand floss. DMC skein = 8m. Per color: stitch count × 3.8cm × fragmentation × 1.15 buffer ÷ 8m = skeins. The PDF legend is your complete shopping list — take it to the craft store or order online. Color similarity warnings prevent buying two near-identical DMC colors.
Print-Ready PDF
Cover page: color swatch, DMC number, name, chart symbol, meters needed, skeins to buy per color. Grid pages: 50×50 sections, row/column numbers, backstitch lines, color fills with symbols. Designed for letter/A4 paper with margins for notes. B&W symbol mode saves ink.
Embroidery vs Cross-Stitch: Same Tool, Different Techniques
Cross-stitch is a specific type of embroidery that uses X-shaped stitches on a grid fabric (Aida or evenweave). ArtPatt's embroidery mode generates cross-stitch charts with DMC colors, backstitch, and partial stitches. The same chart can be used for other counted-thread embroidery techniques like needlepoint or blackwork.
For freehand embroidery (satin stitch, long-and-short stitch, French knots), use the generated pattern as a color placement guide rather than a stitch-for-stitch chart. The backstitch outlines are especially useful — they show where to place defining stitches regardless of technique. Print the color version and trace the outlines onto your fabric.
Fabric count determines everything: on 14-count, a 100×100 pattern = 7.1×7.1 inches (18cm). On 18-count, same pattern = 5.6×5.6 inches (14cm). At an average speed of 100 cross-stitches per hour, a 10,000-stitch pattern takes about 100 hours — plan your timeline accordingly.
Thread Management: The Shopping List You Actually Need
The PDF legend is designed as a shopping list: sorted by DMC number, with the exact meters and skeins needed. Each DMC skein costs $0.50-1.00. A 25-color pattern = $12-25 in thread. The color similarity warning prevents buying two nearly-identical DMC numbers that you'd struggle to tell apart while stitching (CIEDE2000 distance <5).
Pro tip: buy a thread organizer card, punch holes along the edge, loop each DMC color through a hole, and label with the number. Keep the legend page next to your stitching for quick symbol-to-color reference. The B&W symbol chart is perfect for printing and marking off completed rows with a highlighter.
Which Photos Make the Best Embroidery Patterns
The strongest charts come from photos with clear lighting, obvious subject separation, and real contrast between the shapes that matter. Pet portraits, florals, landscapes with a strong focal point, and simple lettering all convert cleanly. Very dark images, cluttered backgrounds, and low-contrast scenes produce muddier charts with more confetti and more thread colors — and in almost every case a tighter crop and a contrast boost improve the result more than adding colors does.
Decide what the design depends on before you generate. If it depends on crisp outlines, plan for backstitch from the start and let it carry the edges. If it depends on subtle shading, plan for more colors and a finer fabric count so those transitions have room to breathe. Trying to get both out of one chart is what produces expensive palettes that still look soft.
Fabric count is the other early decision, and it changes more than size. The same design on 18-count is not simply a smaller version of the 14-count one: every stitch is smaller, slower, and more demanding, and the level of detail that feels worth stitching shifts with it. Pick the finished display size first and the right count follows from it.
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