Question 1

Is Stitchloom free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Converting photos, editing, exporting PDF charts and tracking progress are all free right now. There is no sign-up.

Question 2

Do you upload my photos?

Accepted Answer

No. The photo is turned into a pattern inside your browser. It is never sent to a server.

Question 3

Where are my patterns saved?

Accepted Answer

In this browser, on this device. If you clear your browser data they are gone, so download a backup file (.stitchloom.json) for patterns you care about.

Question 4

Does it use AI to draw my pattern?

Accepted Answer

No. It shrinks your photo to the stitch grid, groups similar colours and matches each group to the closest real thread colour. Every colour in the pattern is the nearest thread to a colour group in your photo.

Question 5

Which thread and bead brands can I use?

Accepted Answer

DMC floss for cross stitch and needlepoint, DMC drill codes for diamond painting, Perler, Hama and Artkal for fuse beads, and Red Heart Super Saver for C2C crochet. You can also convert between them with the thread converter.

Question 6

What does the PDF include?

Accepted Answer

A cover page with a preview and the finished size, a colour key with symbols, codes, stitch counts and skeins, and numbered chart pages in colour, black and white, or both.

Question 7

What is confetti?

Accepted Answer

Confetti means lone stitches of one colour with no matching stitch next to them. Each one usually means a thread change. The cleanup tool merges them into the colour around them.

Question 8

What is the Stitch Ease score?

Accepted Answer

A number from 0 to 100 that shows how calm or busy a pattern will be to stitch. It looks at lone stitches, the size of colour areas, colour changes along each row and the number of colours. Higher is easier.

Question 9

Can I open files from other cross stitch programs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if it is an OXS file, a Stitchloom backup or a PDF made by Stitchloom. Pattern Maker (.xsd), PCStitch (.pat) and Stitchly files use closed formats we cannot read yet, so export them to OXS first if your program can. For other PDF charts, you can turn one page into a new pattern from a picture.

Question 10

Can I add names or dates?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the text tool in the editor, or the free text generator to make lettering on its own.

Question 11

Can I use half stitches, quarter stitches and French knots?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The editor has tools for half, quarter and three-quarter stitches and for French knots. They print on the chart, show up in the tracker, and have their own columns in the colour key. Photo conversion only makes full stitches, so add these by hand.

Question 12

Does it work on my phone or tablet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It runs in any modern browser. The tracker is made for phones and tablets, so you can mark stitches while you work.

Question 13

Can I sell patterns I make?

Accepted Answer

Your designs are yours. If you start from someone else's photo or artwork, make sure you have the right to use it.

Turn a photo into a cross stitch pattern