About
StitchPatternMaker, branded as StitchCraft, is an iOS app purpose-built for cross stitch enthusiasts who want to transform any photo into a stitchable pattern in seconds. Simply pick a photo from your library or take a new one, customize the grid size and color count, and the app automatically maps your image to real DMC floss colors from a palette of nearly 500 shades — ensuring you can buy the exact threads at any craft store. The built-in custom pattern editor lets you fine-tune your design on a pixel grid, adjust individual colors, and resize the canvas. When your pattern is ready, export a print-ready PDF complete with a symbol chart, thread list, and color key. The app also features a powerful progress tracker that lets you mark individual stitches or entire sections as complete, highlights your active working area, and shows a real-time completion percentage with weekly charts and a calendar heatmap to celebrate your stitching streaks. StitchCraft is free to download with no account required. The free tier allows 3 patterns per day, up to 20 DMC colors, and a grid width of 80 stitches. A one-time Premium upgrade ($44.99) unlocks unlimited patterns, up to 50 DMC colors, grids up to 200 stitches wide, and PDF export. It is ideal for hobbyist stitchers, crafters, and anyone who wants to create personalized gifts or art pieces from their own photos.
Key Features
- Photo-to-Pattern Conversion: Upload or photograph any image and the app instantly generates a stitchable cross stitch pattern in seconds.
- Automatic DMC Color Matching: Maps every pixel to real DMC floss colors from a palette of nearly 500 shades so you can buy the exact threads at any craft store.
- Custom Grid Pattern Editor: Fine-tune your pattern with a touch-based grid editor — adjust colors, resize the canvas, and perfect individual stitches.
- PDF Export with Symbol Chart: Export finished patterns as a print-ready PDF including a full symbol chart, thread list, and color key.
- Stitch-by-Stitch Progress Tracker: Mark individual stitches or sections complete, highlight your working area, and visualize progress with percentage stats, weekly charts, and a calendar heatmap.
Use Cases
- Converting a personal photo (pet, portrait, landscape) into a custom cross stitch gift or keepsake pattern
- Tracking stitching progress on large, multi-month embroidery projects without losing your place
- Exploring and selecting DMC thread color palettes before purchasing supplies for a new project
- Creating printable cross stitch patterns with professional symbol charts and thread lists for sharing or selling
- Beginners learning cross stitch who need an intuitive, guided tool that handles color selection and grid layout automatically
Pros
- No Account Required: Download and start creating patterns immediately without signing up or providing any personal information.
- Highly Accurate DMC Matching: Automatic color mapping to real-world DMC floss means patterns are immediately actionable at the craft store.
- All-in-One Toolkit: Combines pattern generation, editing, export, and progress tracking in a single app, eliminating the need for multiple tools.
- Affordable One-Time Premium: Premium is a lifetime purchase with no recurring subscription, making it cost-effective for regular crafters.
Cons
- iOS Only: Currently available only on iPhone and iPad — no Android, web, or desktop version is offered.
- Free Tier Is Fairly Limited: The free plan caps users at 3 patterns per day, 20 DMC colors, and an 80-stitch grid width, which may feel restrictive for complex projects.
- No Community or Pattern Library: The app focuses on personal photo conversion and does not include a shared library of pre-made patterns or a community feature for browsing other users' designs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is StitchPatternMaker completely free?
The app is free to download with no account required. The free tier allows 3 pattern conversions per day, up to 20 DMC colors, and a grid width of up to 80 stitches. A one-time Premium upgrade ($44.99, often discounted to $44.99 from $89.99) unlocks unlimited patterns, more colors, larger grids, and PDF export.
How does DMC color matching work?
The app analyzes every pixel in your photo and maps it to the closest real DMC floss color from a library of nearly 500 shades. This ensures the generated pattern only uses thread colors you can actually purchase at craft stores.
Can I export my patterns for printing?
Yes — with the Premium plan you can export your pattern as a PDF that includes a full symbol chart, a list of required DMC thread colors, and a color key, making it easy to print and stitch from.
Does the app work on Android or desktop?
Currently StitchPatternMaker is available only for iPhone and iPad via the iOS App Store. There is no Android or web version at this time.
How does the progress tracker help with large projects?
The progress tracker lets you tap to mark individual stitches or entire areas as complete, highlights your current working section to prevent losing your place, and shows your overall completion percentage alongside weekly activity charts and a calendar heatmap.
