A FlossCross Alternative for Photo Charts
FlossCross is a free cross stitch editor that runs in the browser and keeps your charts on your own computer. ArtPatt is the alternative when you start from a photo and want the chart to come out clean: it draws backstitch along faces and edges for you, reduces scattered single stitches, and turns the same photo into patterns for 16 crafts. Making and previewing a pattern is free; the printable PDF is $2.99.
Updated
Why stitchers look past FlossCross
Backstitch you don't have to draw
FlossCross gives you line and pen tools to draw backstitch yourself. ArtPatt finds the outlines in the photo, eyes, whiskers, lettering and edges, and places the backstitch for you. You can still edit it before you print.
Less confetti from a photo
A photo converted pixel by pixel leaves lots of lonely stitches in a colour of their own. ArtPatt has four confetti levels, from off to heavy, and shows what share of the chart is single stitches before you print.
More than cross stitch
FlossCross makes cross stitch charts. ArtPatt makes patterns for 16 crafts from the same photo: diamond painting with drill counts, needlepoint, C2C and tapestry crochet, knitting colourwork, Perler beads, and machine embroidery files (PES, DST, JEF, EXP).
Phone first
ArtPatt is built for the phone as much as the computer: choose a photo from your camera roll and the chart appears in the browser. The photo is converted on your device and is not uploaded.
FlossCross and ArtPatt compared
- Price
- FlossCross: Free, no registration
- ArtPatt: Free to make and preview one pattern a week, no sign-up. Printable PDF $2.99 per pattern, or Pro $6.99/month or $39.99/year
- Crafts
- FlossCross: Cross stitch
- ArtPatt: 16 crafts: cross stitch, diamond painting, crochet, knitting, needlepoint, embroidery and more
- Photo to chart
- FlossCross: Yes
- ArtPatt: Yes, with settings tuned for each craft
- Thread colours
- FlossCross: DMC floss
- ArtPatt: 489 solid DMC colours with perceptual matching
- Backstitch
- FlossCross: Drawn by hand with line and pen tools
- ArtPatt: Placed automatically along faces, text and edges, editable
- Half and petite stitches
- FlossCross: Yes
- ArtPatt: Partial stitches, optional
- Where charts are kept
- FlossCross: Only in your browser on that device
- ArtPatt: In your account library, on any device (1 saved free, 50 with Pro)
- Files
- FlossCross: PDF, OXS import and export
- ArtPatt: PDF, PNG, Pattern Keeper-compatible PDF; PES, DST, JEF and EXP for machine embroidery
- Largest chart
- FlossCross: Not stated on its site
- ArtPatt: 2,000 × 2,000 stitches
- Languages
- FlossCross: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian
- ArtPatt: English
| Feature | FlossCross | ArtPatt |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no registration | Free to make and preview one pattern a week, no sign-up. Printable PDF $2.99 per pattern, or Pro $6.99/month or $39.99/year |
| Crafts | Cross stitch | 16 crafts: cross stitch, diamond painting, crochet, knitting, needlepoint, embroidery and more |
| Photo to chart | Yes | Yes, with settings tuned for each craft |
| Thread colours | DMC floss | 489 solid DMC colours with perceptual matching |
| Backstitch | Drawn by hand with line and pen tools | Placed automatically along faces, text and edges, editable |
| Half and petite stitches | Yes | Partial stitches, optional |
| Where charts are kept | Only in your browser on that device | In your account library, on any device (1 saved free, 50 with Pro) |
| Files | PDF, OXS import and export | PDF, PNG, Pattern Keeper-compatible PDF; PES, DST, JEF and EXP for machine embroidery |
| Largest chart | Not stated on its site | 2,000 × 2,000 stitches |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian | English |
FlossCross details checked on flosscross.com on 11 October 2026. See the ArtPatt pricing for what each plan includes.
Other FlossCross alternatives
Stitchmate suits you when you stitch with Anchor, Cosmo, Madeira or hand-dyed floss, sell patterns and want your own branding on the PDF, or want a desktop app that works offline. Its FLOW score and confetti cleanup are well made.
Stitch Fiddle suits you when you design your own motifs stitch by stitch, want written row instructions for knitting or crochet, or like to share charts and work on them with friends. It also covers quilts, pixel macrame and latch hook as drawing grids.
Pic2Pat gives you a free photo to cross stitch PDF, with an optional floss and fabric kit.
PCStitch and WinStitch / MacStitch are paid desktop programs for designers who publish and sell patterns.
FlossCross Alternative FAQ
What is a free alternative to PCStitch or WinStitch?
For drawing charts by hand, FlossCross is free and reads and writes OXS files that WinStitch and MacStitch open. For turning a photo into a chart, ArtPatt is free to make and preview a pattern, one a week without an account, with the printable PDF at $2.99. Stitch Fiddle and Stitchmate are free to design in too, and charge for downloads.
How to make a cross stitch pattern from a picture?
Open the ArtPatt cross stitch generator, choose your picture, set the chart size in stitches and the number of DMC colours, and pick a confetti level. The chart, symbol key and skein list appear in the browser in a few seconds. Fix anything you don't like in the editor, then download the PDF ($2.99) or print it with Pro.
Is FlossCross free?
Yes. FlossCross can be used for free without registration. Your charts are stored only in your browser on that device, so clearing the browser or switching computers loses them unless you export a file.
Can ArtPatt open FlossCross or OXS files?
No. ArtPatt starts from a photo or picture, not from a chart file. If your work lives in OXS files, keep editing them in FlossCross, WinStitch or MacStitch.