Creating a New Canvas

Every pattern starts with a new canvas. The settings you choose here determine the size and detail level of your design.

Opening the New Pattern Dialog

Click Create New Pattern at the top right of the window, or choose File > New Pattern (Ctrl+N / Cmd+N).

Canvas Settings

Pattern Name

Give your pattern a name. It becomes the file name, and the name shown on the Home screen and on exports.

Mesh Count

The Mesh Count (holes per inch) sets how many stitches fit per inch on your needlepoint canvas. Choose from 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 22, or 24. The default is 18.

For a detailed explanation, see What is Mesh Count?.

Canvas Size

Set the canvas size in one of two ways:

Physical size — Enter the width and height in inches or millimeters (following the Measurement System in Settings). The stitch count is calculated from your mesh count
Stitches — Enter the width and height in stitches. The physical size is calculated for you

The default is 11 × 10 inches — 198 × 180 stitches at 18 mesh — which fits the largest canvas stitchalot.com prints.

Choose the background color of your canvas: White (the default), Tan, Grey, Black, or a custom color by hex code. It shows wherever there are no stitches, and is used as the background in exports.

After Creating

Click Create Pattern. Your pattern is saved right away into the library folder you have open on the Home screen, and opens on an empty grid ready for drawing. The canvas size is shown in the top bar, and the size and mesh count in the status bar.