Winter Snowflake
A symmetrical snowflake in two blues, 15×15.
Free Christmas Cross Stitch Patterns
Small, original Christmas designs for ornaments, cards, gift tags and stockings. Every chart prints as a PDF with a colour key and DMC suggestions, and none needs an account.
25 free patterns · PDF, PNG and editable chart
Christmas patterns
Christmas Tree
A decorated fir with a gold star and a red pot, 15×18.
Friendly Snowman
A snowman with a top hat, carrot nose and red scarf, 13×15.
Holly Sprig
Two spiky holly leaves over three red berries, 15×13.
Candy Cane
A red-and-white striped candy cane, 13×20.
Christmas Stocking
A red stocking with a white cuff and green heel and toe, 12×16.
Wrapped Gift
A red present tied with a gold ribbon and bow, 13×13.
Gingerbread Man
A smiling gingerbread man with icing cuffs and red buttons, 13×16.
Santa Hat
A red hat with a white brim and pompom, 13×15.
Christmas Bauble
A round red ornament with a gold band and hanging loop, 13×14.
Golden Bell
A gold bell with a red clapper, 13×13.
Red-Nosed Reindeer
A reindeer face with antlers and a bright red nose, 15×15.
Christmas Wreath
A leafy green wreath with berries and a red bow, 17×17.
Christmas Candle
A red candle with a glowing flame and holly at the base, 9×16.
Poinsettia
A red poinsettia with eight pointed bracts and green leaves, 17×17.
Nordic Star
A Scandinavian eight-point star with corner crosses, 17×17.
Winter Mitten
A blue mitten with a snowflake and a white cuff, 11×15.
Christmas Angel
A small angel with a gold halo, wings and a blue gown, 13×14.
Santa Face
Santa with a red hat, rosy nose and a full white beard, 15×16.
Christmas Pudding
A round pudding with white icing and a sprig of holly, 13×13.
Winter Penguin
A little penguin wearing a red scarf, 11×14.
Merry Christmas
A framed “Merry Christmas” sampler with a star and two sprigs.
Let it Snow
A two-line “Let it Snow” sign in navy and ice blue.
Joy
The word “JOY” in red inside a gold geometric frame.
To and From Gift Tag
A stitched gift tag with “TO:” and “FROM:” lines and a heart.
Choosing a Christmas pattern you will finish in time
Christmas stitching has a deadline, so size matters more than usual. The table below lists every design with its stitch count and a rough time, so you can match a pattern to the evenings you have left. Most of the single motifs take one or two sittings; the lettered samplers and the wreath are weekend projects.
The motifs are drawn to work together. Holly, bells and baubles share the same reds, greens and golds, so you can stitch a set of matching tree ornaments or arrange several on one piece of fabric. Open any design in the Studio to change a colour or add a year, and use “Add motif” there to place several designs on one chart.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Candle | 9 × 16 | 0.6 × 1.1 in 1.6 × 2.9 cm | 6 | 74 | under 1 hour |
| Winter Snowflake | 15 × 15 | 1.1 × 1.1 in 2.7 × 2.7 cm | 2 | 77 | under 1 hour |
| Holly Sprig | 15 × 13 | 1.1 × 0.9 in 2.7 × 2.4 cm | 5 | 91 | under 1 hour |
| Golden Bell | 13 × 13 | 0.9 × 0.9 in 2.4 × 2.4 cm | 3 | 91 | under 1 hour |
| Christmas Tree | 15 × 18 | 1.1 × 1.3 in 2.7 × 3.3 cm | 5 | 102 | under 1 hour |
| Candy Cane | 11 × 20 | 0.8 × 1.4 in 2.0 × 3.6 cm | 3 | 107 | under 1 hour |
| Santa Hat | 13 × 15 | 0.9 × 1.1 in 2.4 × 2.7 cm | 4 | 111 | about 1 hour |
| Nordic Star | 17 × 17 | 1.2 × 1.2 in 3.1 × 3.1 cm | 3 | 117 | about 1 hour |
| Christmas Angel | 13 × 14 | 0.9 × 1.0 in 2.4 × 2.5 cm | 5 | 118 | about 1 hour |
| Christmas Stocking | 12 × 16 | 0.9 × 1.1 in 2.2 × 2.9 cm | 5 | 120 | about 1 hour |
| Christmas Bauble | 13 × 14 | 0.9 × 1.0 in 2.4 × 2.5 cm | 4 | 121 | about 1 hour |
| Red-Nosed Reindeer | 15 × 15 | 1.1 × 1.1 in 2.7 × 2.7 cm | 5 | 123 | about 1 hour |
| Winter Penguin | 11 × 14 | 0.8 × 1.0 in 2.0 × 2.5 cm | 4 | 123 | about 1 hour |
| Christmas Pudding | 13 × 13 | 0.9 × 0.9 in 2.4 × 2.4 cm | 7 | 126 | about 1 hour |
| Santa Face | 15 × 16 | 1.1 × 1.1 in 2.7 × 2.9 cm | 6 | 130 | about 1 hour |
| Gingerbread Man | 13 × 16 | 0.9 × 1.1 in 2.4 × 2.9 cm | 5 | 137 | about 1 hour |
| Winter Mitten | 11 × 15 | 0.8 × 1.1 in 2.0 × 2.7 cm | 4 | 137 | about 1 hour |
| Wrapped Gift | 13 × 13 | 0.9 × 0.9 in 2.4 × 2.4 cm | 4 | 138 | about 1 hour |
| Friendly Snowman | 13 × 15 | 0.9 × 1.1 in 2.4 × 2.7 cm | 5 | 139 | about 1 hour |
| Christmas Wreath | 17 × 17 | 1.2 × 1.2 in 3.1 × 3.1 cm | 5 | 154 | about 1 hour |
| Poinsettia | 17 × 17 | 1.2 × 1.2 in 3.1 × 3.1 cm | 4 | 169 | about 1 hour |
| To and From Gift Tag | 36 × 22 | 2.6 × 1.6 in 6.5 × 4.0 cm | 2 | 197 | about 2 hours |
| Let it Snow | 37 × 34 | 2.6 × 2.4 in 6.7 × 6.2 cm | 2 | 225 | about 2 hours |
| Joy | 27 × 17 | 1.9 × 1.2 in 4.9 × 3.1 cm | 2 | 228 | about 2 hours |
| Merry Christmas | 76 × 42 | 5.4 × 3.0 in 13.8 × 7.6 cm | 4 | 669 | about 5–6 hours |
Making Christmas ornaments and cards
- Pick the fabric for the white stitches
- Santa’s beard, the snowman and the stocking cuff use white thread. They are outlined in grey so they show on white Aida, but they look best on red, green, navy or natural linen-coloured fabric.
- 14-count for ornaments, 18-count for cards
- A 15-stitch motif is just over 1 inch (2.7 cm) on 14-count Aida, a good ornament size. On 18-count it shrinks to under an inch and fits a standard aperture card.
- Back ornaments with felt
- Cut the stitched fabric and a piece of felt to the same shape, add a ribbon loop between them and join the edges with blanket stitch or fabric glue. Perforated paper and plastic canvas need no hemming at all.
- Add sparkle sparingly
- Swap the gold thread for a metallic, or blend one strand of metallic with one strand of cotton. Use short lengths: metallic thread frays and tangles more than cotton.
Frequently asked questions
Are these Christmas patterns really free?
Yes. Every pattern can be printed as a PDF or opened in the editor without paying or creating an account. They are licensed CC BY 4.0, so you may stitch them, give them away and sell the finished pieces.
Which Christmas pattern is best for a beginner?
The Christmas stocking, the golden bell, the Santa hat and the “Joy” sign use few colours and solid shapes. The wreath and the poinsettia need more counting and suit someone with a little experience.
How long does a small Christmas ornament take to stitch?
Most single motifs here have between 80 and 200 stitches. At a relaxed pace of about 120 stitches an hour that is one to two hours of stitching, plus finishing. Beginners should allow longer.
Can I add a name or a year to a pattern?
Yes. Make the name or year in the text generator and open it in the Studio, then use “Add motif” to place the stocking, bauble or any other design beside it. You can also draw small letters by hand, or outline them with the backstitch tool.