Plastic canvas pattern maker
Turn a photo into a 7-mesh plastic canvas chart: each cell is one stitch over one bar, with a DMC color number to match your yarn, a stitch count per color and the finished size in inches and centimeters.
Updated
or drop or paste an image here. It stays on your device.
Your photo starts at 50 stitches wide (the sample below is 29 × 29); height follows the photo. Up to 150 wide free.
2 to 30 colors free; up to 80 with Pro.
Sample chart: a strawberry, 29 × 29 stitches (4.1 × 4.1 in on 7-mesh plastic canvas) in 11 DMC colors. Every cell is filled, background included, since plastic canvas is usually worked edge to edge. Choose a photo to chart your own at 50 stitches wide.
- Grid
- 29 × 29
- Finished size
- 4.1 × 4.1 in (10.5 × 10.5 cm)
- Colors
- 11 DMC
- Stitches
- 841
| Symbol | Swatch | DMC | Name | Stitches | Share of yarn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | Ecru | Ecru | 458 | 54.5 % | |
| O | 347 | Salmon Very Dark | 101 | 12.0 % | |
| + | 498 | Red Dark | 85 | 10.1 % | |
| # | 543 | Beige Brown Ultra Very Light | 75 | 8.9 % | |
| @ | 350 | Coral Medium | 51 | 6.1 % | |
| % | 356 | Terra Cotta Medium | 20 | 2.4 % | |
| & | 904 | Parrot Green Very Dark | 20 | 2.4 % | |
| = | 523 | Fern Green Light | 12 | 1.4 % | |
| S | 937 | Avocado Green Medium | 10 | 1.2 % | |
| T | 06 | Driftwood Medium Light | 6 | 0.7 % | |
| V | 434 | Brown Light | 3 | 0.4 % |
Share of yarn is each color's part of all stitches. How much yarn that is depends on your yarn weight and tension: work a 10 × 10 swatch, weigh or measure the yarn it used, and scale by these counts. Thread and bead colors on screen are approximations of the real material.
Free PDF up to 60 × 60 stitches (vector chart with real text symbols, color key and estimates). PNG has no size limit.
Pro, $14 once: PDF at any size with a page map, 31 to 80 colors, symbol-only or color charts, a shopping-list CSV and saved projects.
What this plastic canvas pattern maker makes
Plastic canvas is a stiff grid, usually stitched in worsted-weight yarn at 7 holes per inch. It is used for coasters, boxes, ornaments and signs, because the finished piece holds its own shape.
The tool uses DMC numbers as a universal color reference. Acrylic yarn brands use their own color names, so treat the key as a shopping guide and match the colors in the store.
The plastic canvas preset
| Grid material | 7-mesh plastic canvas |
|---|---|
| Size of one stitch | 3.63 mm square |
| Stitches per inch | 7 |
| Stitches in 10 × 10 cm | 729 |
| Color palette | 489 DMC colors; DMC Mouliné stranded cotton (art. 117) |
| Suggested width | 50 stitches = 18.1 cm (7.1 in) |
| Suggested color limit | 12 colors (free tool: up to 30) |
| Shopping list in the key | stitch count per color (yarn amount depends on your yarn: measure a swatch) |
How big a plastic canvas chart comes out
Finished width = stitches × 3.63 mm. The table uses the nominal grid (7-mesh plastic canvas); real pieces vary slightly with the material, your yarn and your tension.
| Width (stitches) | Width (cm) | Width (in) | Square design: stitches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 plastic canvas stitches | 10.2 | 4.0 | 784 |
| 49 plastic canvas stitches | 17.8 | 7.0 | 2,401 |
| 70 plastic canvas stitches | 25.4 | 10.0 | 4,900 |
| 91 plastic canvas stitches | 33.0 | 13.0 | 8,281 |
The same 49-stitch design on other mesh sizes
The chart counts stitches, so the mesh decides the finished size. A 49-stitch-wide design measures:
| Mesh | Width (in) | Width (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-mesh plastic canvas | 9.8 in | 24.9 cm |
| 7-mesh plastic canvas | 7.0 in | 17.8 cm |
| 10-mesh plastic canvas | 4.9 in | 12.4 cm |
| 14-mesh plastic canvas | 3.5 in | 8.9 cm |
How to read a plastic canvas chart
Each square on the chart is one stitch. On plastic canvas you count bars and holes: a 7-mesh sheet has 7 holes per inch, and a continental stitch crosses one bar intersection.
Cut the canvas to the stitched area plus one bar on every side, then stitch from the center outward and overcast the edges in the border color.
Materials for plastic canvas charts
- 7-mesh plastic canvas sheets (or 10- or 14-mesh for finer work, then adjust the width).
- Worsted-weight yarn in the colors from the key; DMC numbers are a color guide.
- A blunt plastic-canvas or tapestry needle and sharp scissors.
- Felt for backing coasters and wall pieces.
Make a plastic canvas chart from a photo
-
Choose a simple image
Bold shapes and few colors read best at 7 holes per inch.
-
Set the width in stitches
The page shows the inches and centimeters; a 4-inch coaster is 28 stitches wide.
-
Keep the colors few
Eight to twelve yarn colors is plenty for most plastic canvas projects.
-
Cut and stitch
Cut the canvas one bar outside the design and stitch the chart in continental or tent stitch.
-
Overcast and back
Whip-stitch the edges and glue felt on the back for coasters.
Tips for plastic canvas charts
- Count bars twice and cut once; plastic canvas cannot be un-cut.
- Worsted yarn covers 7-mesh well in tent stitch; on 10-mesh use a lighter yarn or fewer plies.
- Yarn use depends on the yarn and the stitch, so the key gives stitch counts; stitch a 10 × 10 test square, weigh or measure the yarn, and scale.
- Dark yarn on white canvas can leave white specks showing; use clear or colored canvas for dark designs.
DMC color pages
Each page lists the color's hex value and its nearest equivalents in other brands by CIEDE2000.
Common DMC colors
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn a picture into a plastic canvas pattern?
Yes. Upload it, set the width in stitches and the color limit, and the tool makes a stitch chart with a DMC color guide and stitch counts per color.
How many stitches per inch is 7-mesh plastic canvas?
Seven. A 70-stitch design is 10 inches wide, and the page lists other widths in inches and centimeters.
Which yarn matches the DMC numbers in the key?
No acrylic yarn uses DMC numbers. The numbers name the colors precisely, so compare them on screen or on a DMC color card and pick the closest yarn.
How big is a 70-stitch plastic canvas chart?
70 stitches at 3.63 mm each come out 25.4 cm (10.0 in) wide. A square design that size has 70 rows and 4,900 stitches.
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