Crescent Moon
A crescent moon with four small stars, 14×14.
Free Baby and Nursery Cross Stitch Patterns
Gentle motifs for new-baby cards, bibs, blankets and birth samplers. Combine a few with a name and a date from the text generator to make a keepsake.
10 free patterns · PDF, PNG and editable chart
Baby & nursery patterns
Spotted Toadstool
A red mushroom cap with white spots on a cream stem, 15×13.
Bright Sun
A round sun with straight and diagonal rays, 15×15.
Rainbow and Clouds
A six-colour rainbow arching between two clouds, 19×10.
Little Sailboat
A sailboat with two sails and a red pennant on the waves, 15×14.
Happy Whale
A smiling blue whale with a water spout, 19×11.
Spring Bunny
A sitting white bunny with long pink ears, 13×17.
Clever Fox
A fox face with pointed ears and a white muzzle, 15×13.
Christmas Angel
A small angel with a gold halo, wings and a blue gown, 13×14.
Winter Penguin
A little penguin wearing a red scarf, 11×14.
Motifs for birth samplers and baby gifts
A birth sampler is usually a name, a date and a few small pictures. The designs here are the pictures: a rainbow, a sun, a moon, a toadstool, a penguin, an angel. They are small on purpose, so three or four fit around a name without crowding it.
Make the lettering in the text generator, where you can choose an alphabet, add a border and see the exact size, then open the result in the Studio and use “Add motif” to place the pictures around it. Everything stays editable until you print.
Sizes and stitching time
Smallest first. Finished size is on 14-count Aida; times assume about 120 full stitches an hour, a relaxed pace, so treat them as a guide and allow more for a first project.
| Pattern | Stitches (w × h) | On 14‑count | Colours | Total stitches | Rough time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent Moon | 14 × 14 | 1.0 × 1.0 in 2.5 × 2.5 cm | 3 | 81 | under 1 hour |
| Bright Sun | 15 × 15 | 1.1 × 1.1 in 2.7 × 2.7 cm | 3 | 97 | under 1 hour |
| Little Sailboat | 15 × 14 | 1.1 × 1.0 in 2.7 × 2.5 cm | 5 | 107 | under 1 hour |
| Christmas Angel | 13 × 14 | 0.9 × 1.0 in 2.4 × 2.5 cm | 5 | 118 | about 1 hour |
| Happy Whale | 19 × 11 | 1.4 × 0.8 in 3.4 × 2.0 cm | 5 | 121 | about 1 hour |
| Winter Penguin | 11 × 14 | 0.8 × 1.0 in 2.0 × 2.5 cm | 4 | 123 | about 1 hour |
| Clever Fox | 15 × 13 | 1.1 × 0.9 in 2.7 × 2.4 cm | 4 | 133 | about 1 hour |
| Rainbow and Clouds | 19 × 10 | 1.4 × 0.7 in 3.4 × 1.8 cm | 7 | 138 | about 1 hour |
| Spotted Toadstool | 15 × 13 | 1.1 × 0.9 in 2.7 × 2.4 cm | 5 | 141 | about 1 hour |
| Spring Bunny | 13 × 17 | 0.9 × 1.2 in 2.4 × 3.1 cm | 4 | 170 | about 1 hour |
Stitching for babies
- Choose washable materials
- Use colourfast stranded cotton and wash the finished piece before giving it. Anything a baby will touch or chew should be backed so no thread ends are loose.
- Use waste canvas on clothes
- To stitch on a bib, a vest or a blanket, tack waste canvas over the fabric, stitch through both and pull the canvas threads out afterwards.
- Soften the palette
- In the Studio, replace strong colours with paler ones for a traditional nursery look. Keep enough contrast between a colour and the fabric that the shape still reads.
- Leave room for the details
- If the baby has not arrived yet, stitch the motifs and the border first and leave the middle free for the name, date and weight.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a personalised birth sampler?
Type the name and date into the text generator, choose an alphabet and a border, and open the result in the Studio. Use “Add motif” to place designs from this page around the lettering, then print the combined chart as a PDF.
What fabric is best for a baby sampler?
14-count Aida in white, cream or a pale colour is the easiest to stitch and frame. For stitching directly on baby clothes, use waste canvas or soluble canvas over the garment.
Are these patterns free to use for gifts I sell?
Yes. The patterns are licensed CC BY 4.0, so finished pieces may be given or sold. Credit this site only if you republish the chart itself.