Custom cross stitch pattern PDF guide
What each page of the file does, how many pages your design takes, and how to print it at the right size.
One page
Anatomy of a chart sheet
Every sheet shows the same parts, so you only learn them once.
Rulers count from the chart origin rather than the page, so stitch 60 is labeled 60 on every sheet that shows it. Bold lines fall on the same multiples of ten across sheets. If you lose your place on a join, the numbers bring you back.
The cover
The page assembly map
The cover shows how sheets fit together.
Each sheet is named by row and column. Page 2-3 sits in the second row, third column. Every sheet heading shows the same name, so you can spread the pages out on a table and join them in a minute.
Reference
Sheets and pages by design size
The whole file is 1 cover, 2 × sheets, and one legend page per 40 colors.
| Design size | Sheets across × down | Sheets per version | PDF pages, up to 40 colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 × 40 | 1 × 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 64 × 64 | 2 × 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 100 × 100 | 3 × 2 | 6 | 14 |
| 120 × 120 | 3 × 2 | 6 | 14 |
| 140 × 90 | 3 × 2 | 6 | 14 |
| 140 × 140 | 3 × 3 | 9 | 20 |
| 200 × 200 | 5 × 3 | 15 | 32 |
| 300 × 300 | 7 × 5 | 35 | 72 |
Each version repeats the same sheets, once in color and once in B&W. Each new column of sheets adds 48 stitches of width, and each new row adds 68 of height, because 2 stitches repeat at every join. The live Pro panel in the pattern maker shows your own numbers.
Getting it right
Paper and printing
| Choice | US Letter | A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Page size | 8.5 × 11 in (612 × 792 pt) | 210 × 297 mm (595 × 842 pt) |
| Chart tile | 50 × 70 stitches | 50 × 70 stitches |
| Square size | 3.6 mm | 3.6 mm |
| Sheet count | Same on both | Same on both |
Choose Actual size or 100 % in your print dialog. After printing, measure a 10 × 10 block: it should be 36 mm. If it is smaller, your printer scaled the page to fit, so print again with scaling turned off.
Color pages are great for seeing the picture. B&W pages use less ink, take highlighter marks better and print well on laser printers. Many stitchers print B&W only and keep the color version on a tablet.
Beyond paper
Tablets and project files
A reader app such as Pattern Keeper reads symbols as text, which is why a PDF built from images will not work in one. The separate Pattern Keeper pack uses the same text symbols with no overlap between sheets. See the Pattern Keeper compatible PDF generator for the details.
The .oxs file is a project file rather than a chart to read. It keeps your palette, stitches and backstitch lines in Open Cross Stitch format, so chart software can open and edit the pattern.
What you get
Free or $4.99 pass
| Feature | Free | $4.99 7-day pass |
|---|---|---|
| Whole online studio with every setting and all three views | Yes | Yes |
| Watermarked screen preview PNG, up to 1000 px | Yes | Yes |
| Size summary TXT | Yes | Yes |
| 1:1 multi-page chart PDF, color and B&W | No | Yes |
| Full DMC legend with stitches, strands and skeins | No | Yes |
| Pattern Keeper friendly PDF and .oxs project | No | Yes |
| 300 DPI mockup, bobbin labels and SVG chart | No | Yes |
The pass is one payment with no renewal, and it covers unlimited exports for 7 days. Monthly and lifetime plans unlock the same files. See pricing for all three.
FAQ
Common questions
What pages are in a custom cross stitch pattern PDF?
One cover with a stitched preview and page assembly key map, then every chart sheet in color with symbols, every sheet again in black and white, then the DMC legend. A 100 × 100 design with up to 40 colors comes to 14 pages.
How many pages will my pattern be?
Sheets depend only on the stitch grid, because each one holds 50 × 70 stitches with a 2-stitch overlap. The total is 1 + 2 × sheets + one legend page per 40 colors. A 200 × 200 design with up to 40 colors takes 32 pages.
Why print at 100 % instead of Fit to page?
Each chart square is 3.6 mm, so ten squares should measure 36 mm. Fit to page shrinks the grid, and the symbols get harder to read. In your print dialog, choose Actual size or 100 %, then measure a 10 × 10 block on the first sheet.
Should I print on Letter or A4?
Choose whichever your printer holds. Both use the same 50 × 70 tile, so the sheet count stays the same. Letter is the default for US visitors, and A4 is under Fine tuning. The file uses 612 × 792 pt or 595 × 842 pt pages.
Does the color version use a lot of ink?
It can, especially on large dark designs. The B&W version of every sheet needs far less ink and stays readable, because each color has a distinct symbol. Many stitchers print B&W to mark progress and keep color on a screen.
What exactly does the free version include?
Free covers the whole online studio, a watermarked mockup PNG up to 1000 px and a size summary TXT. The 1:1 multi-page chart, the DMC skein list, the tablet files and the seller pack need a plan, starting with the $4.99 7-day pass.
The family