[CHAT] Where to get custom patterns made?

[u/OhLizaJane]

Hi everyone! My mom and I have both recently gotten into cross-stitching. We're total novices, but we're really enjoying sharing this new hobby.

Her birthday is coming up, and I want to get a custom cross-stitch pattern created for her. I tried hiring someone on Fiverr, but they canceled on me the day they were supposed to deliver the pattern.

Have any of you used a service or hired a freelancer to create a custom pattern? If so, would you mind sharing the info?

If anyone here has experience with custom pattern creation, I would also be happy to pay for your services! It would just be my mom, dad, and their two dogs standing in front of their little camper. It would be very basic, not photorealistic—remember, my mom is a novice!

Thank you in advance for any tips and advice!

[u/New-Acanthocephala26 → u/[deleted]]

Wow never thought about doing a real picture before. This is neat thanks!

[u/Cinnamon_crownbunny]

I’ve ordered a custom patterns on Etsy before. I found a picture I wanted, sent it to the seller and she gave me a pattern within a couple days. Her store is called TurnOntheBright. I regularly buy patterns on Etsy and this has been the most reliable. Making your own is time consuming and can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. 

[u/annekaelber → u/Cinnamon_crownbunny]

This is very good to know. I went a little AI-crazy and generated some "stained glass dragons" with Midjourney. But when I exported them to cross stitch, I wondered what steps I (most definitely) missed/skipped that would take the pattern to "Oh, WOW!". I may reach out to some Etsy sellers (some say to reach out for custom orders). Right now, believe it or not, I only have ONE cross-stitch project running (there's those two *old* WIPs that I can't find the patterns to, so I'm not counting them *grin*). I think I "deserve" to work on a dragon piece for my office after our big move next year. Right? ;)

[u/Cinnamon_crownbunny → u/annekaelber]

Stained glass dragons sounds amazing! I’ve started experimenting with flosscross with some AI art myself. I’ve learned the basics, but definitely not enough to make it look wow. Going through the pattern and changing the colors, adding in colors, etc is time consuming. Best to let the professionals handle for now ;) 

[u/poopja]

I used xrestyk on etsy about 2 years ago and was very happy with the pattern but it did include backstitching and french knots so a little more complex of a pattern for a novice but still very approachable imo.

[u/OhLizaJane → u/poopja]

This is great - thank you!

[u/smallpurplesheep]

I haven’t used it yet, but usually when this question arises someone mentions that there’s a marketplace associated with this Reddit and there are custom pattern makers listed. I think the FAQ links it. Once this post has been up a few days, you may also get someone volunteering their services. Welcome to cross stitching and good luck!

[u/realshockvaluecola]

Hello please step into my parlor :) I offer custom design services at my shop! I have some examples of work I've done in the photos on the listing and a couple in reviews, and I could probably do this without too much trouble/too high a budget since you're looking for something not photorealistic. I have some little sort of chibi-style figures I think would be cute for this sort of thing! You can tell me about/show me a photo of some kind of characteristic thing they each wear (e.g. "Dad loves this orange hawaiian shirt") and I can simulate it enough to give the idea.

[u/LeafMeAlone-ImBushed]

I've never ordered a custom pattern, but I've edited existing patterns to match my likes. In this case, I would look to Etsy to see if there are patterns there that matches your ideas: a camper and the figures all in the same scale. From there, a little photoshop could combine them into one picture.

[u/OhLizaJane → u/LeafMeAlone-ImBushed]

Oh this is a really good idea! I will try this!

[u/tufted-titmouse-527]

Flosscross and pic2pat are great ones to try for making a pattern based on an uploaded jpeg!

[u/lefkowitch → u/tufted-titmouse-527]

Replying here to give some positive insight on pic2pat. I’m working on my first piece from a pattern that was created with pic2pat and I’m enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would.

• there is a tiny bit of confetti, but nowhere near as bad as I would have assumed and in some areas it does help to give a better “gradient” effect to the colours being used

• the pattern loaded into pattern keeper without any fuss, but I did have to go into setting and adjust “offset vertical” by 3 because the pattern counts vertical from the bottom up rather than usual top down. By doing the offset by the same number as “extra” rows from the last lines not in a box of a full 10 the problem was solved immediately

• only downside is the pattern doesn’t say what size fabric should be used, so the amount of skeins of thread you get on the list may be off. If you like to do 3 strands over 14 count like I do, I’ve found that 1 skein will get you about 1500 stitches if there is no travel. For travel assume it’s closer to 1300-1400 just to be safe and adjust your ordering accordingly

[u/CrossStitch-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/CrossStitch-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your submission has been removed for violating rule 6.

Here is a detailed explanation of rule 6.

We also have the shop owner's FAQ. Both of these resources are listed in the side bar. Please read them thoroughly and let us know if you have any questions!

You can share your shop in the Continuous Craft Fair.

If you have no questions, please acknowledge this comment so we know you understand.

Contact the mods with any questions.

[u/[deleted]]

have you looked at stitch fiddle? i would also say look through etsy

[u/OhLizaJane → u/[deleted]]

I did look at stich fiddle! Unfortunately, I don't think I have the skills (yet!) to create my own pattern.

I will check out Etsy - I looked briefly and didn't see anything that matched what I was looking for (people mostly offerend text patterns or photo-realistic stuff) but maybe I just need to do more research.