How to use
- Choose an image and pick fuse beads or cross stitch.
- Drag the width slider to set the number of squares across, then choose how many colours; tick Leave the background colour empty for plain backgrounds.
- For beads choose the bead size and pegboard size; for cross stitch choose the fabric count. The total, finished size and number of pegboards appear below.
- Download the PDF pattern (A4 or Letter, with an overview and colour key on page 1) or one large PNG.
Options explained
- Width (squares)
- Beads or stitches across; the height follows the image's proportions. Portraits and keychains usually need 30–60 squares.
- Number of colours
- Picks the most representative colours from the image using median cut, from 4 to 64.
- Pegboard size
- Red lines mark each pegboard so you can build large designs from several boards. A Perler large square board is 29 pegs per side.
- Fabric count
- Squares per inch of Aida cloth; 14-count is the most common. A higher count makes a smaller finished piece.
Working from the printed pattern
- Print the PDF at Actual size or 100%. The thumbnail on page 1 shows where each page belongs, so you can tape the pages together in order.
- Sort your beads by the colour key first. The counts are the number of squares; buy about 10% extra for spills and mistakes.
- Bold lines every 10 squares and the row and column numbers make it easy to count without losing your place; red lines show the pegboard edges.
- When ironing fuse beads, cover them with ironing paper, keep the iron moving at a medium setting, and let one side cool before turning the piece over.
For cross stitch, starting from the centre makes it easier to stay aligned; marking a grid every 10 squares on the fabric with a water-soluble pen helps you follow the bold lines.
If you only want a pixel-art picture without symbols and counts, use the pixel art converter.
Frequently asked questions
Does it give brand colour numbers?
Not yet. The colours are taken from your image as hex values, so match each one to the nearest bead or floss colour from your own chart. Brand colour data has not been verified, so it is not included.
My photo looks messy as a pattern. What can I do?
Beads and stitches give limited detail. Crop the photo to the main subject, choose an image with a simple background and strong contrast, and start with 8–16 colours. Cartoons and pixel-style art give the best results.
How is the finished size worked out?
For beads it uses the bead pitch, about 5 mm for standard (midi) beads and 2.6 mm for minis. For cross stitch it uses the fabric count, so 14-count is about 1.81 mm per square. A 50-bead-wide piece in standard beads is about 25 cm (10 in) across.
Is my image uploaded?
No. The image is processed in your browser and the PDF is made on your device.
Privacy
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files and text are processed on your device and are never uploaded to our servers.