DIY Cross Stitch Font Generator (Use Any Font!)
Cross stitching letters and words is very fun, but they can be really complicated to design. On top of that, a lot of the font generators have a limited, somewhat outdated selection of fonts to use. That doesn’t have to be the case though, thanks to cross stitch software that allows you to generate your own patterns. This post will show you how you can easily generate a pattern using any font you want!
Cross Stitch Font Generator
In order to generate your very own cross stitch font, you’ll need to utilize a design tool called Canva and a cross stitch chart maker. There are many different websites that allow you to create and generate cross stitch charts, but the one I recommend is Stitchfiddle. It’s got quite a lot of capability and there is a free version of it.
We’ll be utilizing the chart generator on the website that allows you to upload photos. This is how you’ll be able to create a pattern using any font you want!
Note: If you plan to sell the designs you create or use them in any commercial capacity, be sure to review the terms and conditions for use.
Create A Design In Canva
The very first thing you’ll need to do is create the design using the font you’d like to stitch. There are hundreds of free fonts you can use, and if you have a paid version of Canva there are even more you can choose from.
Creating the Canvas
Create a new design in Canva, preferably one that is a decent size (at least 1080 x 1080px) so that the details will be good quality when you download the image.
Choosing a Font
Now is the fun part: choosing a font you’d like to cross stitch. Bolder fonts will be easier to generate fonts from, but you can select any font your heart desires!
Keep in mind that fonts that are thinner and more intricate may need some tweaking in the cross stitch font generator once you upload the image.
Make sure to fill the canvas with whatever letter or words you want to cross stitch.
Once you are happy with the design, it’s time to download it.
At the top right corner, there is a “Share” button. Click this and you will see an option to download the image. I like to download it as a png because it will be the best quality this way.
Generating the Cross Stitch Chart
- Next, you’ll want to create an account on Stitch Fiddle if you haven’t already.
- Then you’ll select “Create New Chart”.
- Select whatever floss you’ll be using.
- Then select “From Picture”
- Select the picture you created in Canva.
Once you upload the image, it may appear to be illegible or too fuzzy. You’ll need to do some tweaking in order to get a better chart.
The controls on the left hand side of the screen will allow you to control how many colors the generator has pulled from the image. It will also allow you to control the size or cross stitch count.
For more intricate letters with fine lines, you’ll most likely need to make the design larger. The larger the size, the more detail you will be able to add into the chart. Keep in mind that you don’t want to make this too big, though!
Tip: In order to calculate the finished size of the cross stitch, you can divide the horizontal and vertical cross stitch count numbers by the thread count of the fabric you are using.
For example, if I have 14 count Aida fabric and my design is 150 x 150, I would divide 150 by 14. My finished design would be 10.7 inches by 10.7 inches.
And here is the finished cross stitch pattern that got generated!
I feel like this really opens up a million possibilities of what kinds of designs you can make with lettering, and I hope you found it helpful! You can also include simple graphics that are also available in Canva to make your very own monogram designs.
Want to learn even more cross stitch techniques? Check out even more tutorials here.
Amanda is a hand embroidery artist and teacher. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get inspired and creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.