Cross Stitch Font Generator

Turn any name or word into a stitchable letter chart — free, no sign-up.

Enter your text

A name or word, up to 30 characters. Block is uppercase A–Z; Script includes lowercase.

Font style

Letter height is built into each alphabet: Block 10 cells, Script 12, Outline 9.

Letter spacing

Empty cells between letters. 2 is a readable default.

2 cells

Wrap width

Max stitches per line. 0 keeps the chart on a single line.

Chart padding

Empty cells around the whole chart, 0 to 10. Default 2.

2 cells

Background grid shading

Tints every other 10-count block so you can count easier on screen and on the PNG.

Each filled square is one stitch. Drag to pan, use the buttons to zoom. Outline letters are meant to be backstitched.

Chart size

30 × 14 stitches

86 stitches to work, including 2 cells of padding

14ct: 2.1 in (5.4 cm) wide, 1 in (2.5 cm) tall
16ct: 1.9 in (4.8 cm) wide, 0.9 in (2.2 cm) tall
18ct: 1.7 in (4.2 cm) wide, 0.8 in (2 cm) tall

These sizes are the stitched chart only. Leave extra cloth for a hoop or frame, or use our fabric calculator.

How to cross stitch letters

Choose a font style
Block is a clean pixel sans for names and samplers. Script is taller and a little more decorative, with lowercase. Outline / Backstitch is a sparse alphabet you stitch as running backstitch, not as filled crosses.
Type the text and set spacing
Enter a name, a date, or a short word. Letter spacing is empty Aida squares between glyphs; 2 cells is the default because letters stay readable without drifting apart. If a character is not in that alphabet, the warning lists it and the chart skips it.
Fit the chart to your cloth
Leave wrap width at 0 for a single line. For a long phrase, cap the line in stitches so the strip does not run off the page. Padding adds empty cells around the whole chart so the first and last stitches are not sitting on the cut edge.
Download the printable PNG
Switch between Chart (filled squares) and Symbols (the same grid with an X in each stitch). Download a high-resolution PNG with a white background, fine 10-count lines, and a small xstitchmaker.com watermark in the corner.
Transfer and stitch
Print the PNG and work each filled square as a cross in one floss color of your choice. For Outline / Backstitch, follow the sparse cells with backstitch instead of filling them as crosses. The info panel lists finished size on 14ct, 16ct, and 18ct Aida.

What is a cross stitch font?

A cross stitch font is an alphabet drawn as a grid: each letter is a small bitmap, and each filled cell is one stitch. That is different from picking Arial or a handwriting font on a computer. Those outlines have curves that do not sit on Aida squares. A letter chart is already counted, so you can stitch it the same way you stitch any other chart.

Letter height is measured in cells. A 10-cell capital is 10 Aida squares tall. On 14-count fabric that is about 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) before you add padding around the whole word. Spacing matters because letters that share a vertical stem, such as H and I, look glued together if you leave only one empty column. Two or three empty cells is the usual reading gap on a sampler.

Which font style should I use?

Use Block for clean names, house signs, and samplers where every letter should be even and easy to count. The 10-cell height stays readable on 11ct and 14ct. Drop to 16ct or 18ct if you want the same word to finish smaller, such as a tag or ornament.

Use Script for monograms and pieces that should feel a little more written. Capitals are about 12 cells high, and lowercase is included, so a mixed-case name sits more like handwriting than a block sampler. Pair Script with 14ct if you want the curves to stay bold, or 16–18ct if the piece is small.

Use Outline / Backstitch when you want a delicate line, not a filled letter. Stitch the sparse cells as backstitch (or a single-thread running stitch) so the letter is an outline on the cloth. It is the better match for a wedding date on linen-look Aida, or a name that should sit lightly over a floral border. Smaller Outline letters hold up better on 16ct and 18ct; go to 11–14ct if you need the word to read across a room.

Ideas for letter patterns

Names. A first name in Block is the fastest framed piece: type it in capitals, leave spacing at 2, and stitch it in one dark floss on cream Aida. Keep padding at 2 or more so the frame does not crowd the first and last letters.

Baby samplers. Combine a name with a year, “2026”, on a second wrapped line. Script lowercase works well for a short middle name under a Block capital. 14ct keeps the letters large enough for a nursery wall.

Monograms. Three Script capitals with spacing at 3 or 4 look like a classic trio. Outline / Backstitch is the quieter option if the monogram sits inside a wreath you already have charted.

Wedding dates. Type the couple’s initials and a date such as JUNE 12 2024. Wrap width around 70 stitches keeps a long date from becoming a banner. Stitch Outline letters in a single muted color so the date does not overpower the rest of the piece.

House signs. A family name in Block on 11ct or 14ct reads from a doorway. Add a small border in the padding cells, or stitch the chart as-is and mount it in a deep frame with extra cloth around the design.

Cross stitch font generator FAQ

How do I make a cross stitch name chart?

Type the name in the text box, pick a font style, and set letter spacing. The chart updates as you type. Download a printable PNG when the preview looks right, then stitch each filled square as a cross (or backstitch the Outline style).

Can I use any font?

No. This tool uses built-in cross stitch alphabets, not computer fonts like Arial or a handwriting scan. Each style is a cell grid designed to stitch. If a character is missing from that alphabet, the warning lists it and the chart skips it.

What does "10 cells high" mean?

Each letter is a bitmap. Height is how many Aida squares tall a capital is. Block letters are 10 cells high, Script about 12, Outline about 9. On 14-count Aida, 10 cells is about 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) tall before you add padding around the whole chart.

Which Aida count should I use for letter patterns?

Use 11ct or 14ct when you want large, readable names (house signs, baby samplers). Use 16ct or 18ct when the same chart should finish smaller, such as a tag or ornament. The info panel shows finished inches and centimeters for 14, 16, and 18 count.

Can I sell items I stitch from these charts?

You can stitch and sell a finished physical piece. Selling the digital PNG as your own pattern file is different: you should not present the export as an official DMC product, and you need rights to any name or wording that is a trademark. If you plan to sell the chart itself, get advice for your situation.

Is the font generator really free?

Yes. Type, preview, and download without an account. The PNG includes a small xstitchmaker.com watermark in a corner, the same idea as the photo pattern maker. There is no payment on this page.

How many colors do I need?

One. The chart is a single-color alphabet on empty cloth. Pick any floss you like when you stitch. The screen uses black on white so the grid is easy to read, not because you must stitch in black.

Will a long word wrap onto more than one line?

Only if you set wrap width above 0. Wrap width is a stitch cap per line, not a character count. 0 keeps the whole phrase on one row. For a long name or date, try 60–80 stitches so the chart stays a comfortable page width.