Best cross stitch pattern makers, compared
Ten tools that turn photos or drawings into cross stitch charts. We are one of them, so we are biased — we put our own weak spots in the table too. Prices checked 2026-11-15 unless a row says otherwise.
| Tool | Platform | Price | Free plan | Photo | Selling | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cross Stitch Pattern Maker (this site) | Web (computer and phone) | Free; Pro $3.99 for 30 days, $24 a year, $59 lifetime (one payment, never renews) | 300 × 300 stitches, 50 colors, first PDF free, PNG always free | First PDF free, then Pro | Converted in your browser; kept in your account only if you sync with Pro | Yes, on every plan | 2026-11-15 |
| Stitchmate | Web, Mac and Windows app | PDF $5.99 each (5 for $12, 10 for $20); Personal Pass $14.99 / 30 days, $59 / year, $99 lifetime; Plus Pass $24.99 / $99 / $149 | Unlimited designing, PNG export and PDF preview; up to 10 saved patterns | Paid | Converted on your device | Only with Plus Pass | 2026-11-15 |
| FlossCross | Web | Free | Everything; stitchers report a 300 × 300 maximum | Free, with custom settings | Patterns stored in your browser | Not stated | 2026-11-15 |
| Pic2Pat | Web and phone app | Free; sells floss and fabric kits | Up to 1000 × 1000 (Pic2Pat site, read 2026-11-13) | Free | Stays on your device; only the finished pattern is sent to make the PDF | Not stated | 2026-11-15 |
| Stitch Fiddle | Web | Free; Premium $5 for a month or $30 for a year (one payment, never renews) | 15 charts, 300 × 300, 50 colors | Not clear on the pricing page | Not stated | Yes | 2026-11-15 |
| StitchThis | Web | First PDF free, then $5.99 each or 5 for $20; Maker $5.99 a month | Up to 600 × 600 (read 2026-11-13) | First free, then paid | Not stated | Yes, on every plan including free | 2026-11-15 |
| Knytstudio | Web | First private PDF free, then €2.99 each; Pro $4.99 a month | Designing and converting unlimited | First free, then paid | Not stated | With Pro | 2026-11-13 |
| BeadPattern | Web | Free photo conversion; paid plans for other crafts | 10–300 stitches wide | Not stated | Stays in your browser | Not stated | 2026-11-13 |
| MakeBead | Web | Free | 50–200 stitches wide, 20–80 colors | Free | Stays in your browser | Not stated | 2026-11-13 |
| WinStitch / MacStitch | Windows / Mac software | One-time purchase, about $50–60 (stitchers on Reddit) | Trial | Yes | On your computer | Yes | 2026-11-13 |
The Cross Stitch Pattern Maker (this site)
Good for: Turning a photo into a printable chart fast, with a stitchability check before you buy floss
Not for: Editing stitch by stitch, half stitches or backstitch, Anchor floss (we only have full stitches and 454 DMC colors)
Stitchmate
Good for: Detailed editing and a large set of PDF options
Not for: Anyone who wants a free printable PDF, or to sell patterns without the $24.99+ Plus Pass
Stitchmate compared with us in detailFlossCross
Good for: A free full editor with half stitches and backstitch, 498 DMC colors and OXS files
Not for: Beginners who want a quick result: many settings, desktop-first
FlossCross compared with us in detailPic2Pat
Good for: A free PDF with skein counts and a one-click kit
Not for: Fine control over colors and clean-up before the PDF
Pic2Pat compared with us in detailStitch Fiddle
Good for: Drawing your own charts for cross stitch, knitting and crochet in one place
Not for: Photo conversion with a floss check; free plan stops at 300 × 300 and 50 colors
Stitch Fiddle compared with us in detailStitchThis
Good for: Occasional patterns with commercial use included
Not for: Several patterns a month on a budget
Knytstudio
Good for: AI-generated designs and many export formats (PDF, OXS, XLSX)
Not for: Stitchers who dislike AI-generated patterns
BeadPattern
Good for: A quick DMC grid with sizes for 14/16/18-count
Not for: Patterns wider than 300 stitches
MakeBead
Good for: Small free patterns with floss cost estimates
Not for: Anything wider than 200 stitches
WinStitch / MacStitch
Good for: Designers who chart everything by hand and sell patterns
Not for: One or two photo patterns a year
How to choose
Making one gift from a photo? Any free tool works; check the confetti before you buy floss — our pattern maker shows it as a percentage. Making several a month? Compare the price of a month: $3.99 here, $5 at Stitch Fiddle, $14.99 at Stitchmate. Selling? Check the selling column: Stitchmate needs its Plus Pass. Want the free plans side by side? Read what each free plan really includes, or work out sizes with the fabric and skein calculator. New to it? The six-step photo tutorial walks through one pattern, and turning a photo into a chart lists which photos work. This list is written by the people behind this site — who we are.
Questions
What is the best free cross stitch pattern maker?
For a free full editor, FlossCross. For a free PDF straight from a photo, Pic2Pat. For a photo pattern with a stitchability check and one free PDF, this site.
What software do cross stitch designers use?
Many sellers use desktop software such as WinStitch or MacStitch (about $50–60 once), or web tools such as Stitchmate (Plus Pass for selling) and FlossCross.
Is an app better than a website?
Not for making patterns: the web tools here work on phones without installing anything. Apps help for following a pattern while you stitch, for example Pattern Keeper on Android.
Free or Pro? Pro
Free, no sign-up
Photo to pattern, stitchability check, floss list with skeins, PNG, and your first PDF complete — re-download the same photo within 24 hours. Patterns saved in this browser and a stitch tracker for one pattern. Up to 300 × 300 stitches and 50 colors.
Pro adds
Every PDF for the period, names and dates on the pattern, print options, a seller kit (your covers, OXS, ZIP), a floss box with shopping lists, only the floss you own, deeper clean-up, your name instead of ours on the PDF, your patterns and stitch progress on every device, up to 1000 × 1000 stitches and 250 colors.