Design Your Own Cross Stitch Pattern in Photoshop

I got this crazy idea that I wanted to relearn how to cross stitch. The last time I tried my hand at cross stitch I was about eight years old, so it only made sense that I would not only try cross stitch again but I would also design my own pattern in Photoshop.

I search Google and found this site and I tweaked their directions so it would work for me.

Original Photograph. I deleted the background.

 

Step 1: Click Filter-->Pixelate-->Mosaic. 

I set my cell size to 80 for this image. You need to play around and decide what works best for you.

Step 2:  Click Image-->Adust-->Posterize  

Play with the different values to decide what looks best for you. The higher the number the more colors of floss you will have.

Step 3: Open up a new file that is the same width as your cell size in Step 1.

With a transparent background and using your pencil tool set to 1 pixel draw across the top and down the left side.

In Photoshop Elements I am able to save this as a pattern. 

Press <ctrl>A to select all. Click Edit-->Define Pattern.

Step 4: Go back to your original image. Select all --> Edit --> Fill Selection

Select Pattern from the and then select your pattern that you created in Step 3. 

This will create a grid on top of your image. 

I converted my image to black and white and then I added a blue hue because I thought it would be easier for me to see the color variations. Because my image was small I split the image up into quadrants and printed them out individually. I then hand numbered each square with the corresponding floss color. I know there has to be an easier way, but I haven't figured it out (yet!)

My finished portrait came out so tiny. It was to, shall we say, tedious to take up cross stitch and work on the size 18 aida cloth.  Now I just have to figure out what to do with it!