Free Christmas Cross Stitch Patterns (PDF)

Free festive charts, printed at your kitchen table

Christmas is the one time of year when small stitched pieces earn their keep. A three-inch robin becomes a tree ornament, a stitched motif on cardstock becomes a greeting card that gets kept, and a band sampler with the year on it becomes something a family digs out every December. Every chart in this collection is a free PDF: ornaments and tree hangings, stockings, Christmas cards and gift tags, Nordic and Scandi-style snowflake motifs, advent and countdown designs, samplers and larger framed scenes.

Sizing your project before you start

A chart gives its size in stitches, not centimetres, and the finished dimensions depend entirely on your fabric count. Divide the stitch count by the count of the fabric to get inches: an 84-stitch-wide design on 14 count aida comes out at six inches, but on 18 count it's just over four and a half. Work this out before you cut, and add at least 5cm of spare fabric on every side for framing or hooping. It's the single most common mistake in festive stitching, usually discovered at the unfortunate moment that the reindeer's antlers run off the edge.

Fabric, thread and sparkle

• 14 count aida — easiest to count, works with two strands of stranded cotton, ideal for ornaments.
• 16 and 18 count aida — finer detail for portraits and dense scenes; use two strands on 16, one to two on 18.
• 28 count evenweave or linen, stitched over two threads, gives the same coverage as 14 count with a softer, more traditional finish.
• Red, green, gold, white, and a dark outline shade will cover most festive charts; keep a small stash, and you can start one at any time of year.
• Metallic braid or blending filament — run one strand alongside cotton for restrained sparkle, and use short lengths, as metallics fray.

Stitching techniques for festive designs

Full cross stitches do most of the work. Backstitch in one strand outlines holly leaves, baubles, and lettering, and is what makes a small design read clearly from a distance. French knots become berries, snow, and the dots on a string of lights. Fractional stitches — three-quarter stitches at diagonal edges — smooth curves on angels and robins. Work with lengths of thread no longer than about 45cm, use the loop start to avoid knots, and keep all your top stitches crossing in the same direction, which matters far more to the finished look than any other single habit.

Turning finished stitching into decorations

For an ornament, trim the aida with a 1.5cm margin, cut a piece of card the size of the design, lace the fabric over it at the back, then back with felt or a second piece of fabric and slip stitch around the edge, catching in a ribbon loop at the top. A little wadding behind the card gives a plump, professional finish. For cards, use aperture card blanks and double-sided tape. For a stocking, back your stitched panel with cotton lining and quilt lightly before making up.

Planning the festive season

Start large samplers and stockings in early autumn — a full-coverage design can take many weeks of evenings. Keep ornament-sized charts for November and December, when you want something finishable. If you're stitching gifts for a family, choose one small motif and repeat it in different colourways rather than starting six different charts; you'll get faster with each one, and they'll look like a set.

Washing, pressing, and storing

Wash finished pieces in lukewarm water with mild detergent if hands have marked the fabric, roll in a towel, then press face-down on a folded towel so the stitches stay raised. Never iron directly over metallic thread. Store finished ornaments flat in a lidded box with tissue between layers.

Questions

Are these Christmas cross stitch patterns really free? Yes — every chart here downloads as a free PDF and prints on standard A4.

What should I stitch first? A single ornament motif on 14 count. It's quick, forgiving, and on the tree by the weekend.

How do I add a name or a year? Drop letters and numerals in from our alphabet charts, counting the width first so it centres.

What supplies do I need? Aida, stranded cotton, a size 24 tapestry needle, a small hoop, and sharp scissors — see cross stitch supplies and a little metallic thread.