How it works
- Start a chart. Set a width and height in stitches, or open an OXS file, a CraftPatterns PDF, a .cpat project or a photo.
- Build your palette. Add threads from the DMC or Anchor chart by code, name or family.
- Draw. Use pencil (1–3 stitch brush), fill, line, rectangle, filled rectangle and ellipse, with unlimited undo and redo. The select tool moves, copies, flips and rotates part of the chart, and centre guides mark the middle. Backstitch lines run between grid points (drag to draw, click a line to remove it) and French knots sit on grid points; both appear on the PDF and count towards your thread. The text stamp (A) writes a word in any of the pixel fonts, and Versions keeps up to ten named snapshots in your browser so you can go back after a big change.
- Export. Download a PDF chart with key and skein counts, or OXS, PNG, SVG or a .cpat project.
Tips for a great cross stitch pattern from a blank grid
Sketch the outline first. Use the line tool in one dark thread to block in the main shapes, then fill them. It is much faster than placing single stitches and easier to adjust before colour goes in.
Design at the size you will stitch. It is easy to draw something that looks perfect on screen and then discover it is 11 inches wide on 14-count. Decide the fabric and frame first and use the fabric size calculator to set the grid dimensions.
Keep your palette short and deliberate. Hand-drawn designs usually look strongest with five to fifteen threads. Give each shade a job: a dark for outlines, a mid-tone, a highlight. Number keys 1–9 then cover almost everything, so you rarely reach for the mouse.
Watch for lonely stitches. A single stitch in a colour that is not used nearby means starting and ending a thread for one cross. Unless it is a deliberate highlight, switch to the Colour view, click the thread in the key to highlight it, and tidy any strays.
Use mirrors for traditional motifs. Blackwork-style borders, monograms in a frame and folk-art flowers are usually symmetrical. Draw one quarter with both mirrors on and the rest appears as you go.
Test with the Realistic view. The thread rendering shows how colours sit next to each other once stitched, which can reveal that two shades are too close to tell apart.
Swap the theme of a whole piece. Replace colour makes it quick to try a design in autumn tones and then in blues. Download a .cpat after each version you like so you can compare.
Build curves from even steps. The grid works in full crosses, so curves are built from steps. Gentle curves look smoothest when each step is two or three stitches long rather than alternating one-and-one, which reads as a jagged edge once stitched. Zoom out now and then to judge outlines at something close to the real size.
Before you print
The PDF marks every tenth line in bold with numbers along the edges, puts arrows at the centre, and repeats two rows of overlap between pages so it is easy to follow. To track progress on a tablet, open the file in the stitch tracker.
If you would rather start from a picture and refine it by hand, the photo pattern generator gives you a first draft in seconds, and every chart it makes opens straight into this editor with the same thread palette and tools.
What you get
| Sizes | 20–400 stitches wide from a photo; editor up to 2,000 × 2,000 |
|---|---|
| Colours | 2–120, matched by CIEDE2000 colour difference |
| Palettes | DMC, Anchor |
| Downloads | PDF (cover, colour key, numbered chart pages, optional colour pages), PNG, SVG, shopping list CSV, .cpat project, OXS |
| Files accepted | JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, AVIF, iPhone HEIC; .cpat and OXS patterns; PDFs made by CraftPatterns |
| Privacy | Runs in your browser. Images are never uploaded. |
| Price | Free — no sign-up, no watermark |
How it compares with other free tools
What you can expect here, every time — no tiers, no trial.
| Free printable PDF | Yes, with no watermark |
|---|---|
| Sign-up needed | No |
| Image uploaded to a server | No — processed on your device |
| Editor | Yes — pencil, fill, line, rectangle, mirror, undo |
| Progress tracker | Yes — free, works offline |
| Switch the same pattern to another craft | Yes — one tap |
Frequently asked questions
How large can a blank chart be?
Up to 2,000 by 2,000 stitches. In practice most original designs sit well under 300 stitches across; a large grid is mainly useful for big samplers or for editing a full-coverage chart.
Can I edit a chart I made in other software?
If the other program can save an OXS file, you can open it here, change it and save it again as OXS, PDF or a .cpat project. You can also reopen any PDF made on CraftPatterns, because the editable project is embedded inside it.
Where is my design saved?
It autosaves in your browser's own storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded, so clearing your browser data would remove it. After 10 minutes of work the editor reminds you to download a backup .cpat file.
How do I draw a symmetrical motif?
Turn on mirror left–right, top–bottom or both. Every stitch you place is copied to the matching position, which is ideal for snowflakes, medallions and Assisi-style borders.
Can I replace a thread I do not have?
Yes. Use replace colour to swap every stitch of one thread for another, or merge two similar shades into one. Search the chart by code, name or colour family, or ask for the nearest match to any colour.
What are the keyboard shortcuts?
B pencil, E eraser, G fill (Shift+G replaces every stitch of that colour), I colour picker, L line, R rectangle, O ellipse, S select, T backstitch and N French knot. [ and ] change the brush between 1, 2 and 3 stitches. H and V toggle left–right and top–bottom mirroring, 1–9 pick your first nine threads, X steps to the next thread in the key, and Ctrl or Cmd+Z undoes (add Shift, or use Ctrl+Y, to redo). With a selection, Ctrl or Cmd+C, X and V copy, cut and paste, Delete clears it and Esc deselects.
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