A Christmas cross stitch gets finished on time when you match the chart size to the evenings you have left, not to the photo. Count the stitches, divide by 14, and you know the hoop size before you buy a skein. Below are 20 ideas you can pick from in a minute.
The fear is real. You start a chart in October, find a missing colour on page three, and lose the evenings you had.
Quick answer: for a first finish before December, pick a chart under 60 by 60 stitches with five colours or fewer. That is about 4 inches on 14 ct aida and a few weekends of work.
For a stocking or a sampler, start by mid-October and plan on 60 hours or more.
The stitch count, not the photo, tells you whether a Christmas chart will be done by December.
What is a Christmas cross stitch pattern?
A Christmas cross stitch pattern is a counted chart of a holiday motif, with one symbol per stitch and a DMC colour key. You read it square by square onto aida.
Every kit in this row ships with fabric, sorted floss and a needle, so a christmas cross stitch hoop can start the day it arrives. Picked by rating and number of reviews, not by price.
Printed kits suit a first project, counted kits suit a stitcher who reads charts.
Dimensions 70-08998 Winter Farm Christmas Counted Cross Stitch Kit
18" x 6", 14 Cnt. Blue Aida, 5pcs
Dimensions
8778, Santa Claus, Gold Collection Personalizable Counted Cross Stitch Christmas Stocking Kit, 16" Long, 16 Cn
Santune Christian Embroidery kit
Nativity Scene Needlepoint Cross Stitch Kits for Beginners Adult,Needle Point Sets,4 Embroidery,2 Hoops,Christ
A good one prints its stitch count, finished size and colour list on page one. Then you can judge a tree, a stocking or a card before you thread a needle.
How do you choose Christmas cross stitch patterns that finish on time?
Run three checks. Each takes a minute.
- Size in stitches and on fabric. Divide the width by 14 to get inches. Free charts often skip the count, so you find out on the last row.
- Number of DMC colours. Under 10 means a few weekends. Thirty or more means confetti stitches.
- Whether the chart reads. You want symbols plus colour, with a grid line every ten. A screenshot chart blurs two reds into one.
1. Mini holly wreath tree ornament
A mini holly wreath hangs on the tree from the first weekend of December. Back it with felt and you have an ornament you can finish in two evenings.
The design is a ring of holly leaves with three red berries and a small bow at the bottom.
You need DMC 699 and 702 for the leaves, 321 for the berries and bow, and 890 for the leaf shadows.
The chart runs 32 by 32 stitches, about 2.3 inches on 14 ct aida. The tricky spot is the ring itself: one stray stitch and the circle bulges.
I stitch the top half first, then mirror it. You can check the curve by folding the printout in half.
- Best for: beginners making a first Christmas ornament
- Avoid for: a large framed piece
2. Gingerbread house Christmas card
A gingerbread house fits the front of a 5 by 7 inch Christmas card for a grandparent who keeps every card.
The design shows a brown cottage with a white icing roofline, candy windows and a gumdrop door. For a fuller street, see our house cross stitch patterns.
You need DMC 435 and 433 for the walls, blanc for the icing, 321 and 909 for the candy, and 3371 for the outlines.
The chart runs 44 by 48 stitches, about 3.1 by 3.4 inches. The tricky spot is the icing, which is backstitch over the crosses.
Work it last. I use one strand, after every cross is done.
- Best for: a handmade card for a grandparent
- Avoid for: stitchers who skip backstitch
3. Christmas cross stitch stockings with a name cuff
A full-size stocking hangs from the mantel on Christmas Eve and comes back out every year. A child’s name on the cuff makes it a gift for life.
The design is a stocking shape with a cream cuff, a red body, and a small tree and gifts in the middle.
You need DMC 321 and 498 for the body, 3865 for the cuff, 699 for the tree and 725 for the gifts.
The stitched area runs about 110 by 170 stitches, near 7.9 by 12.1 inches on 14 ct aida. The tricky spot is centring the name.
I chart the name on graph paper first and count its width. You split the leftover columns evenly on each side.
- Best for: a family heirloom started in October
- Avoid for: a start after mid-November
4. Counted cross stitch Christmas stockings in a mini Nordic set
Mini Nordic stockings hang on the tree, or you can tie one onto a wrapped gift as a second present. A set of four covers a whole family.
Each stocking carries a band of snowflakes and a band of tiny reindeer.
You need DMC 321 and blanc, or 3750 navy and blanc for a cooler-looking tree.
Each one runs 34 by 48 stitches, about 2.4 by 3.4 inches. The tricky spot is the repeat: the reindeer band must line up across the toe curve.
I stitch the bands first, edge to edge, and fill the plain red last. Your count stays true when the pattern rows go in before the background.
- Best for: a matching set of gift-wrap ornaments
- Avoid for: stitchers who dislike filling solid colour
5. Snowman face jar topper
A snowman face sits in the lid of a jar of homemade fudge for a neighbour.
The design is a round white face with a carrot nose, coal eyes and a red knit hat.
You need blanc and 762 for the face, 740 for the nose, 310 for the coal and 321 for the hat.
The chart runs 36 by 36 stitches, about 2.6 inches across. The tricky spot is white on white.
On white aida the face disappears, so I use pale blue aida instead. You can also outline the face in 762 so it reads from across the room.
- Best for: a last-minute neighbour gift
- Avoid for: white fabric without an outline
6. Nativity silhouette under one star
A nativity silhouette belongs on a church fair table, or framed in a hallway from Advent to Epiphany.
The design shows Mary, Joseph and the manger in solid black under a single star, on a dark blue night.
You need DMC 310 for the figures, 3750 and 336 for the sky, and 725 for the star.
The chart runs 100 by 70 stitches, about 7.1 by 5 inches. The tricky spot is the sky. It covers almost every square.
I stitch the figures first so the sky has edges to meet. You can skip the sky and stitch on navy aida, as our crescent moon charts do.
- Best for: an intermediate stitcher with time in October
- Avoid for: a first project
7. Santa face sofa pillow
A Santa face pillow sits on the sofa from December 1 and gets packed away with the lights.
The design is a round Santa face with rosy cheeks, a full white beard and a red hat with fur trim.
You need DMC 321 and 815 for the hat, blanc and 3865 for the beard, 754 for the skin and 3713 for the cheeks.
The chart runs 120 by 120 stitches, about 8.6 inches square. The tricky spot is two whites side by side.
I thread blanc and 3865 on two needles and park them. You stop the shades mixing if each needle stays in its lane.
- Best for: a sofa pillow for a family with kids
- Avoid for: a mid-December start
8. Advent calendar countdown hoop
An Advent calendar hoop hangs by the kitchen door and has to be done by November 30. Each day you pin a tiny ornament over a number.
The design is a grid of 24 numbered squares inside a holly border, with a small tree on top.
You need DMC 321 for the numbers, 699 for the border and tree, and 725 for the star.
The chart runs 130 by 150 stitches, about 9.3 by 10.7 inches. The tricky spot is the gaps. You are counting blank aida.
I baste a running stitch every ten columns before I start. You can then count from a line, not across a long empty space.
- Best for: a family that counts down together
- Avoid for: anyone who hates counting blanks
9. Poinsettia band for a table runner
A poinsettia band runs along the end of a linen table runner for Christmas dinner.
The design is a row of three red poinsettias with gold centres, joined by a green leaf vine.
You need DMC 321, 498 and 815 for the petals, 699 and 701 for the leaves, and 725 for the centres.
The band runs 220 by 50 stitches, about 15.7 by 3.6 inches on 14 ct aida band. The tricky spot is the join between repeats.
I count every repeat from the centre flower outward. That way both sides end on the same leaf, not on half a petal.
- Best for: a gift for whoever is hosting dinner
- Avoid for: anyone without an aida band or a hemmed runner
10. Baby’s first Christmas reindeer
A baby’s first Christmas hoop goes on a nursery wall in December and into a memory box after.
The design shows a small reindeer with a red nose, the baby’s name and the words First Christmas 2026.
You need DMC 435 and 437 for the reindeer, 666 for the nose, 3747 for the snow and 310 for the eyes.
The chart runs 70 by 90 stitches, about 5 by 6.4 inches. The tricky spot is the name, which you cannot test-stitch.
I write the name on the chart in pencil first, letter by letter. Count the gaps between letters twice before you cut the floss.
- Best for: a new-baby gift from a grandparent
- Avoid for: a name you have not confirmed
Halfway through the list is a good moment to pick a kit for the next evening. These sets keep the colours already matched to the chart.
Check the fabric count on the listing before you buy, since 11, 14 and 16 count stitch up at different sizes.
11. One-colour snowflake gift tags
A snowflake gift tag ties onto a present with baker’s twine on Christmas morning. Make six and every gift under the tree matches.
The design is a single six-arm snowflake inside a small square border.
You need one colour: DMC 3750 navy on white aida, or blanc on navy aida.
Each tag runs 19 by 19 stitches, about 1.4 inches. The tricky spot is the arm tips, which end in a single cross.
One extra stitch makes a blunt arm. I count each arm from the centre stitch, not from the last arm.
- Best for: a last-minute make for beginners
- Avoid for: a tag you want to read across a room
12. Christmas band sampler for the piano
A Christmas sampler is framed over the piano and stays up from Thanksgiving to New Year.
The design stacks an alphabet, a row of trees, a house, birds and a border, in the old band-sampler layout.
You need about 12 colours, including DMC 321, 890, 3371, 3865, 725 and 932.
The chart runs 150 by 110 stitches, about 10.7 by 7.9 inches. The tricky spot is the alphabet band, where letters sit one blank column apart.
I tick off each letter on the chart as I finish it. That way you catch a skipped column there, not three bands later. Plan about 60 hours.
- Best for: an experienced stitcher who wants an heirloom
- Avoid for: a November start
13. Woodland fox in a red scarf
A woodland fox in a red scarf fills a 5-inch hoop for a teenager’s bedroom door.
The design shows a sitting fox with its tail wrapped around its paws, a striped scarf and falling snow.
You need DMC 920 and 921 for the fur, blanc for the chest, 321 for the scarf and 310 for the nose.
The chart runs 60 by 64 stitches, about 4.3 by 4.6 inches. The tricky spot is the ears. They use quarter stitches.
I pierce the centre of the aida square with a sharp needle for each quarter. You get a cleaner point than full crosses would give.
- Best for: a teen or adult who loves woodland themes
- Avoid for: stitchers new to fractional stitches
14. Snowy village mantel banner
A snowy village banner runs along the mantel above the stockings all December.
The design is a row of five small houses with lit windows, plus a church, with snow on every roof.
You need DMC 3865 for the snow, 3750 for the sky, 725 for the windows, and 321, 699 and 437 for the walls.
The chart runs 160 by 50 stitches, about 11.4 by 3.6 inches. The tricky spot is matching the roof lines from house to house.
I stitch the snow on each roof first, then the walls. Your skyline stays level when every roof starts on the same row.
- Best for: a long mantel or bookshelf
- Avoid for: a small wall space
15. Holly sprig bookmark in a card
A holly bookmark slips into a Christmas card for a teacher or a book club friend.
The design is a vertical sprig of holly with berries and a narrow red border.
You need DMC 699 and 702 for the leaves, 321 for the berries and border, and 890 for the veins.
The chart runs 24 by 100 stitches, about 1.7 by 7.1 inches. The tricky spot is the long border.
A single miscount at the top shows at the bottom. I stitch the border in sections of ten and check each one against the chart.
- Best for: a teacher gift that posts in a card
- Avoid for: a fast finish with no border work
16. Chunky penguin card for kids
A penguin card makes a good first Christmas project for a child of eight stitching with you at the kitchen table. The finished card goes to a grandparent.
The design is a round penguin in a red hat, made of big solid blocks with no backstitch.
You need four colours: DMC 310, blanc, 321, and 740 for the beak and feet.
The chart runs 28 by 34 stitches, about 2 by 2.4 inches. The tricky spot is the white belly against the black body.
Children lose the edge between them. I outline the belly with one row of black first. Then you fill in white inside a shape the child can see.
- Best for: kids aged 8 and up learning to count
- Avoid for: adults who want fine detail
17. Gold star tabletop tree topper
A stitched star tops a small tabletop tree in a flat or a dorm room. Back it with felt and stiffen it, and you can slide it onto the top branch.
The design is an eight-point star in two golds with a pale centre. More shapes are in our star cross stitch designs.
You need DMC 725 and 783 for the rays and 3865 for the centre, or E3821 metallic gold for shine.
The chart runs 50 by 50 stitches, about 3.6 inches across. The tricky spot is the metallic thread, which frays and twists.
I cut it to 12 inches and let the needle hang every few stitches. That stops it knotting.
- Best for: a small tree in a small home
- Avoid for: a full-size tree over 6 feet
18. Hot cocoa mug coaster set
A set of hot cocoa coasters goes in a gift basket with mugs for a coworker or a host. Set them in clear coaster blanks and they survive hot drinks.
The design is a red mug with steam, a candy cane and marshmallows, one mug per coaster.
You need DMC 321 for the mug, blanc for the steam, 433 for the cocoa and 3713 for the marshmallows.
Each coaster runs 42 by 42 stitches, about 3 inches square. The tricky spot is the steam, stitched in single-strand backstitch.
On cream aida it vanishes, so I use 762 grey instead of blanc. Then you can see the curl from across the sofa. A set of four takes about a week.
- Best for: a coworker gift set
- Avoid for: a single show piece
19. Merry and Bright word hoop
A Merry and Bright word hoop hangs on the front door wreath or a hallway hook.
The design is two words in a script font, with a string of tiny lights looping between them.
You need DMC 310 for the letters, and 321, 725, 702 and 798 for the bulbs.
The chart runs 90 by 40 stitches, about 6.4 by 2.9 inches. The tricky spot is the script, which is half cross stitch and half backstitch.
I stitch the crosses first and add the backstitch joins last. You get smooth curves when the backstitch runs in one direction. Use two strands for it.
- Best for: a front door hoop
- Avoid for: stitchers who dislike backstitch
20. Winter cabin heirloom scene
A winter cabin scene is framed for the living room and handed down. It is the one Christmas cross stitch you start in summer, not in November.
The design shows a log cabin at dusk, pines heavy with snow, a lit window and a deer at the treeline.
You need about 35 colours, including DMC 3371, 890, 3865, 3750, 725 and several greys.
The chart runs 200 by 150 stitches, about 14.3 by 10.7 inches. The tricky spot is confetti: single stitches of one colour scattered through the snow.
I work it in 10 by 10 blocks, finishing every colour in a block before moving on. You lose fewer stitches that way. Plan about 150 hours.
- Best for: an advanced stitcher with a long winter ahead
- Avoid for: a November start with a December deadline
Pick a kit and stitch one of these christmas cross stitch ideas tonight. A complete kit saves the trip for floss and fabric.
Gift sets with two or three hoops work well for a stitching friend.
Dimensions Stamped Cross Stitch Baby Quilt 34" X 43"
Dimensions Stamped Cross Stitch Baby Quilt 34" X 43"
Bradove Alphabet Embroidery Kit for Beginners with Patterns
Bradove Alphabet Embroidery Kit for Beginners with Patterns
If it goes wrong
- The chart runs off the page. Check every page edge before you cut the aida. I tape the pages together first.
- You run out of a colour. Buy one extra skein of the main red and white at the same time, because dye lots differ.
- A miscount shows ten rows later. Grid your aida with basting every ten stitches. The same habit helps with small heart motifs.
- Two symbols look the same in print. Print in colour, or mark each symbol with a highlighter.
- You will not finish by December. Stitch the main motif, skip the background, and use coloured aida.
Key takeaways
- Divide the stitch count by 14 to get inches before you buy.
- Pick five colours or fewer for anything you start in November.
- Start stockings and samplers by mid-October.
- Grid your aida with basting every ten stitches.
- Stitch outlines and lettering last, with one strand.
When the free version isn’t enough
A free Christmas chart rarely comes with sorted floss, so you end up matching reds by eye at a shop rack.
A full kit fixes that: aida cut to size, floss sorted by DMC number and a checked chart. I buy kits for stockings, where one wrong red spoils the whole set.
The same check helps later in the year, as with our Valentine’s cross stitch kits.
Common questions
How long does a Christmas cross stitch take to finish?
A small Christmas cross stitch of 30 by 30 stitches takes two to four evenings, and a 120-stitch pillow takes about 40 hours. To estimate yours, count the stitches and allow about 100 per hour on 14 ct aida.
What size aida is best for Christmas cross stitch stockings?
14 ct aida suits most Christmas stockings. A 110 by 170 stitch design finishes near 8 by 12 inches, a true mantel size. On 11 ct the same chart grows to about 10 by 15 inches.
Where do I start with counted cross stitch Christmas patterns?
Start counted cross stitch Christmas patterns at the centre of the chart and the centre of the fabric. Fold the aida in quarters to find it. Then you stitch outward, so the design cannot drift off your hoop.
How many strands of DMC floss do I use on 14 ct aida?
Use two strands of DMC floss for full crosses on 14 ct aida and one strand for backstitch and lettering. Three strands cover better, but you use about a third more floss.
Can I sell a finished Christmas cross stitch from a chart?
You can usually sell a finished piece, but check the chart licence first. Many designers allow sales of finished items but ban copying the chart. If the licence says nothing, ask the designer before you list it.
