Turn a photo of a house into a cross-stitch pattern
Short answer: photograph the house straight on in daylight, crop away most of the sky and street, and make the pattern 80 to 150 stitches wide so windows and the door stay clear.
Taking the photo
- Straight on, not from an angle, so lines stay straight in the grid.
- Overcast daylight avoids hard shadows across the front.
- Crop close: cars, bins and wires all become stitches if they stay in the photo.
Windows and details
Windows read as dark rectangles, which is good. Small details like house numbers usually disappear; add them afterwards in backstitch.
Size
| Width | 14-count | 16-count | 18-count | 22-count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 stitches | 5.7 in (15 cm) | 5.0 in (13 cm) | 4.4 in (11 cm) | 3.6 in (9 cm) |
| 100 stitches | 7.1 in (18 cm) | 6.2 in (16 cm) | 5.6 in (14 cm) | 4.5 in (12 cm) |
| 150 stitches | 10.7 in (27 cm) | 9.4 in (24 cm) | 8.3 in (21 cm) | 6.8 in (17 cm) |
Make a pattern from your house photoUpload a photo, choose the size and colours, and see the full pattern before you pay. Your photo never leaves your device.Make my pattern
Questions people ask
Is a house cross-stitch a good housewarming gift?
Yes, and it works well from a photo, because buildings have strong shapes and simple colours.
Will the house number show?
Usually not at normal sizes. Stitch it on top in backstitch.
More guides
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