MotifSmithCrochet pattern generator
Turn a picture, a word or a drawing into a chart with counts for every row, then see it as real fabric in 3D.
Free, with no account. Your image stays on your device.
or drop it here. It stays on your device.
Charts you can start tonight
Open any of them and work it row by row, for free.
What happens to your picture
Start with any picture
Here it is at 96 stitches across. Lovely on a screen, but about 11,000 stitches and a dozen yarns to manage.
Lose your place less often
- The row you are on stays highlighted, and finished rows fade back.
- Each row is written out in the direction you work it.
- Your place is saved on this device, so you can put it down for a week.
Row 24
of 62, work left to right
- 8 A
- 3 E
- 1 C
- 3 E
- 1 A
- 3 E
- 1 C
- 3 E
- 16 A
- 3 F
- 1 C
- 3 F
- 1 A
- 3 F
- 1 C
- 3 F
- 8 A
8 × A, 3 × E, 1 × C, 3 × E, 1 × A, 3 × E, 1 × C, 3 × E, 16 × A, 3 × F, 1 × C, 3 × F, 1 × A, 3 × F, 1 × C, 3 × F, 8 × A
What makes a good crochet graph
Bold shapes and few colors. A graph has far fewer “pixels” than a photo, so a logo, pet silhouette or simple illustration reads better than a busy snapshot. Start around 50 stitches and 4 to 8 colors, then raise the count only if details get lost.
Graphs like these suit tapestry crochet, corner-to-corner blankets, and single crochet colorwork. Turn on “Remove stray single stitches” to avoid lone stitches that mean constant yarn changes.
How to read the chart
Start at the bottom row. Worked flat, odd rows go right to left and even rows go left to right, and the written counts already follow that direction. Heavy lines mark every ten stitches and rows so you can keep your place.
Questions
What is the best free crochet pattern generator?
It depends on what you are making. For flat colorwork from an image or text, MotifSmith is free to use online without an account and gives a chart, row-by-row counts and a yarn estimate. For 3D toys or garments, no generator is reliable yet, so use a tested pattern from a designer.
How do I turn a picture into a crochet pattern?
Simplify the picture, choose how many stitches wide you want it, limit it to 4 to 8 colors, then convert it to a graph where each cell is one stitch. MotifSmith does the conversion in your browser: choose an image, set the size, and follow the chart row by row.
Does MotifSmith use AI?
No. Charts are made by a color-matching algorithm that runs in your browser, so the same image and settings always give the same chart. The starter designs in the gallery, labeled MotifSmith Originals, began as AI-drawn images that were then converted by this same algorithm.
Is MotifSmith free?
Making and following patterns online is free, with no account needed. A clean PDF costs one credit (5 for $6.99), or it is free if you publish the design to the public gallery, up to three times per account.
Are my images private on MotifSmith?
Yes. Images are processed in your browser and are never uploaded. Only the finished chart is saved when you download it, and it becomes public only if you choose to publish it.
Can MotifSmith make amigurumi or sweater patterns?
No. It makes flat colorwork charts, such as blankets, pillow panels, wall hangings and bags. It does not write shaping instructions for 3D toys or garments.