Cross-Stitch Blog
Tutorials, tips & updates for cross-stitch creators — straight from the team building ixo.
Floss converter: DMC ↔ Anchor, Gamma, PNK, Madeira
Find the closest match for every DMC color across four floss brands. Official DMC↔Anchor table plus ΔE-scored substitutions.
"How to turn a photo into a cross stitch pattern"
Automatic photo-to-pattern converters often spit out a blurry "soup" of squares instead of a recognisable subject. Here is what actually drives the result — resolution, palette size, source contrast — and how to get a readable chart instead of colour noise.
"How to read a cross stitch pattern: symbols, grid, and legend"
How to read a cross stitch pattern — grid, symbols, legend, center arrows. A step-by-step routine plus answers to the most common questions.
"Aida count: the resolution that decides your finished size"
There are different numbers on canvas labels — 11, 14, 16, 18. That's the count, the chart's resolution on fabric. It decides the finished size, the floss usage, and whether the work will fit your chosen frame. Here's the formula, the four standard values, and the limits where the grid can't just be shrunk.
What is cross stitch? A complete beginner's guide
Cross stitch is the most beginner-friendly form of hand embroidery — a grid, an X, and a chart to follow. This guide covers the fabric, the floss, the technique, and your first five stitches.
"What's new in ixo v1.6 — complete Help & FAQ"
A full in-app user guide, instant ⌘K search across Help, spotlight tours that jump straight into the editor, and a stricter bead/tool link.
How to import a PDF pattern and trace it pixel-perfect
A complete walkthrough of dropping a PDF into ixo, aligning the grid, dialling in opacity for tracing, and exporting a clean DMC-ready chart. Includes the three pitfalls that ruin most imports.
Picking a DMC palette that actually photographs well
Why eight colors usually beats twenty-four, and how to test contrast before you order floss.