Cross stitch guide
Cross stitch ideas
Stitch something small that you can finish and use: a bookmark, an ornament, a card, a coaster or a gift tag. Or choose by occasion: a baby, a wedding, Christmas. Each idea below leads to patterns that fit it and to the page on making it up.
On this page 6 parts
Ideas by what you make
Each of these has a page of patterns chosen to fit, by size or by shape.
- A bookmark. A tall, narrow design on a strip of cloth: small, and useful when it is done. Patterns: bookmarks. Making it up: How to make a bookmark.
- An ornament. A small design made up to hang, on a tree or in a window. Patterns: ornaments and Christmas ornaments. Making it up: How to finish ornaments.
- A card. A small design set behind the opening of a folded card. The card patterns all fit an opening of 3 by 4 inches (7.6 by 10.2 cm) on 14 count, and there is a page of Christmas cards. Making it up: How to make a greeting card.
- A coaster. A design that is close to square. The coaster patterns are 30 to 40 stitches each way, just under 3 inches (7.3 cm) on 14 count. Measure your coaster first.
- A gift tag. The smallest finish of all. The gift tag patterns are 28 stitches or fewer each way, which fits a 2 inch (5.1 cm) square on 14 count.
- A towel, a bag or a shirt. A small motif can go on things you already own. The motifs are 32 stitches or fewer on their longer side. For plain cloth, see waste canvas. For a band to sew onto a towel, see Aida band.
- A pillow. A larger design becomes the front of a pillow. How to turn a cross stitch into a pillow shows how.
- Wall art. A piece to frame and hang. The wall art patterns are the larger designs, 63 stitches or more on their longer side. Framing: How to frame a cross stitch. A small piece can stay in its hoop: How to finish in a hoop.
- A magnet, a pin or a patch. Tiny designs for a fridge, a jacket or a bag: Magnets and pins, patches and small finishes.
Ideas by occasion
- A baby. Something for the nursery wall, or a card for the parents: baby patterns and nursery patterns.
- A wedding. A piece to frame for the couple, or a card: wedding patterns and anniversary patterns.
- Christmas. Ornaments, cards and pictures: Christmas patterns.
- A birthday. Birthday patterns.
- Through the year. Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween.
Ideas by size
- Little time. The Small patterns are 700 stitches or fewer.
- New to it. The Easy patterns are four colors or fewer and 1,000 stitches or fewer, all in full crosses.
To see how big any design comes out, and how much cloth to cut, put its size in stitches into the fabric calculator.
Ideas of your own
- A name or a saying. Type it into the text generator and it becomes a chart.
- A drawing. Draw on a grid in the pattern maker.
- A photo. The photo to pattern tool turns a picture into a chart.
What to do with a finished piece
Most pieces are washed if they need it and pressed, then framed or made into something. What to do with finished cross stitch sets out the ways, from a frame to a quilt.
Where to go next
Still choosing? Browse cross stitch patterns by subject. If this is your first piece, Cross stitch for beginners helps you pick one and start.