Quilt Sampler Christmas Cross Stitch Pattern

By
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional needlecrafter with over 10 years of hands-on embroidery, sewing, and knitting experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small." Mollie also designs and sells stitching projects, co-hosts a crafting podcast, and has taught online embroidery courses.
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Updated on 10/29/20
Christmas Quilt-Inspired Sampler Cross Stitch

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

Get in the holiday spirit with this free Christmas cross stitch pattern, inspired by cozy winter quilts and super cute seasonal motifs. Because it's simple and broken down into small chunks, it's perfect for kids and beginners. The border around this sampler is like a quilt border with the decorative "blocks" between the rows. In the center, there's a saw-tooth star quilt design to finish off the look.

To keep this modern and fun, use bright neon shades of embroidery floss. They aren't traditional Christmas colors, but that's what makes cute. However, you can also use different thread colors in classic colors. It's OK to mix it up and use what makes you happy.

Tip

Cross stitch typically uses an embroidery hoop of some kind, but you can also stitch without a hoop by rolling the edge of the fabric in and holding it while you stitch. This allows you to dip the needle down through the fabric and come back up again in a single stitch, like the sewing method in embroidery. 

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Cross stitch needle
  • Scissors

Materials

  • 16-count Aida cloth
  • DMC embroidery floss: 839, 992, 991, 165, 742, 893, 891, 917, 915, 310
  • Embroidery hoop (optional)

Instructions

  1. Download the Christmas Quilt Cross Stitch Sampler

    Save the Christmas Quilt Sampler cross stitch pattern to your computer, then print it out or save it to your tablet or another device for easy access as you work.

    Christmas Quilt Mini Sampler Cross Stitch Chart
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  2. Place Cloth in Hoop

    Get your Aida cloth ready by placing it in hoop (if you're using one) and mark out the grid if you want. Because of the grid style of this pattern, you can also use the pattern itself as a grid. For this, start by stitching the quilt frame. From there you can stitch each motif within the squares.

  3. Secure the Thread

    To start your cross stitching without a knot, fold a strand of embroidery floss in half and thread the two loose ends through the needle. Begin the first half of the first stitch without pulling the thread all the way through, then pass the needle through the loop on the back of your work. This secures the thread without weaving the starting ends.

    Tip

    When working on 16-count Aida, use two strands of embroidery floss throughout the design (with the starting method above, you only need one folded strand). All the stitches in this pattern are whole cross stitches, plus the details for the faces.

  4. Stitch the Faces

    The faces on these motifs make them friendly and cute! Stitch them with two strands of black embroidery floss. Use french knots for the eyes and back stitch for the mouths. If you don't want the faces on your designs, skip this step

  5. Finish the Sampler

    Frame your finished cross stitch in a hoop or with a professional frame. You can also use the pattern, or pieces of it, to make other projects like pins or bookmarks.

    Tip

    To add some extra sparkle to your holiday cross stitch, use a few metallic threads. After all, Christmas is known for a bit of glitz! You can also add beads to the wreaths and trees.

9 Christmas-Themed Cross Stitch Patterns