A personalised cross-stitch gift from a photo
Short answer: choose a photo that means something to the person, pick a size you can finish in time (60 to 100 stitches for a first gift), and plan the framing before you buy fabric.
Ideas that work well
- Their dog or cat
- Their house, as a housewarming gift
- A wedding photo or a couple portrait for an anniversary
- A pet memorial
- A place they love
Plan the time
Bigger patterns take much longer. If the gift has a date, choose a smaller size, around 60 to 100 stitches wide, and start early.
Framing
Buy the frame size first, then fit the pattern to it. Remember 3 inches of spare fabric on every side for mounting.
| Width | 14-count | 16-count | 18-count | 22-count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 stitches | 4.3 in (11 cm) | 3.8 in (10 cm) | 3.3 in (8 cm) | 2.7 in (7 cm) |
| 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) |
Make a gift pattern from your 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
What is a good first photo cross-stitch gift?
A pet or a silhouette at 60 to 100 stitches wide: personal, and quick enough to finish.
Can I give the pattern itself as a gift?
Yes. The PDF can be printed and given to someone who stitches.
More guides
- Turn a photo of your dog into a cross-stitch pattern
- Turn a photo of your cat into a cross-stitch pattern
- A pet memorial cross-stitch from your own photo
- Turn a wedding photo into a cross-stitch pattern
- A cross-stitch pattern from a baby photo
- A family portrait cross-stitch from your photo
- Turn a photo of a house into a cross-stitch pattern
- Which photos make good cross-stitch patterns?
- How big will my cross-stitch be?
- 14, 16 or 18-count Aida: which should you use?
- How many colours should a photo pattern have?
- How your photo's colours become DMC thread numbers
- Turn a photo of your horse into a cross-stitch pattern
- Turn a photo of your rabbit into a cross-stitch pattern
- Turn a photo of your bird into a cross-stitch pattern
- Two pets in one cross-stitch pattern
- Turn a black and white photo into a cross-stitch pattern
- Turn a travel photo into a cross-stitch pattern
- A cross-stitch of your grandparents from a photo
- Turn a photo of a couple into a cross-stitch pattern
- A silhouette cross-stitch from your photo
- Your first cross-stitch from a photo
- How to read a cross-stitch chart