Free Christmas Ornament Cross Stitch Patterns (PDF)

There’s something about a handmade ornament that makes the whole tree feel warmer. These free Christmas ornament cross stitch patterns are the little designs I’d stitch first if I only had a few evenings before December: small, cheerful and kind to stitch, with a short floss list and almost no confetti.

The short version: there are three free patterns, a cozy cottage, a tiny tree and a folk star. Each is between 28 and 40 stitches wide, uses 3 to 7 DMC colors and is full stitches only, so they’re great for beginners. You get them as instant PDF downloads when you join The Hearth Letter on the free patterns page.

When you’ve stitched them, my guide to making cross stitch ornaments shows three ways to finish them, including a no-sew version.

Meet the patterns

Little Hearth House Ornament

A little cottage with a glowing window, the kind of house you’d want to come home to on a snowy night. It’s the closest thing Hoop & Hearth has to a mascot.

• Size: 36 x 40 stitches (2.6 x 2.9 inches on 14 count, 2.0 x 2.2 inches on 18 count)
• Colors: 7 DMC colors
• Level: beginner

Tiny Tree Ornament

A small Christmas tree with a star on top. It’s the quickest of the three, perfect for a first ornament or for stitching several as gift toppers.

• Size: 28 x 34 stitches (2.0 x 2.4 inches on 14 count, 1.6 x 1.9 inches on 18 count)
• Colors: 5 DMC colors
• Level: beginner

Little Star Ornament

A folk-style star in just three colors. It’s very calm to stitch, and it looks lovely in a mini hoop or as a felt-backed ornament.

• Size: 30 x 30 stitches (2.1 x 2.1 inches on 14 count, 1.7 x 1.7 inches on 18 count)
• Colors: 3 DMC colors
• Level: beginner

Will it fit my hoop?

All three suit a 4 inch hoop on 14 count with room to spare. If you love the look of tiny 3 inch hoop ornaments, stitch them on 18 count. A round shape like the star can squeeze into a 3 inch hoop on 14 count too, because its points don’t reach the corners of the box.

What you’ll need

• Fabric: a piece of 14 count (or 18 count) aida, about 7 x 7 inches per ornament. That leaves 2 inches or so all round. White, cream and oatmeal are all lovely.
• Floss: the DMC colors listed on each pattern’s key. One skein of each is plenty for all three ornaments.
• Needle: a size 24 tapestry needle for 14 count, or 26 for 18 count.
• Hoop: a 4 or 5 inch hoop for stitching.
• For finishing: felt, card, ribbon and fabric glue, or a 3 to 4 inch hoop to display it in.

If you’re brand new, my cross stitch supplies list explains each of these, and the beginner’s guide walks through the stitching.

Download your free PDFs

a little gift for you

Get the three free ornament patterns

Join The Hearth Letter and download all three PDFs straight away. One sign-up unlocks every freebie in the library.

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Each download includes:

1. A full-color chart with symbols.
2. A black-and-white symbol chart that prints clearly on any printer.
3. A large-print chart, with bigger squares for tired eyes.
4. A Pattern Keeper friendly PDF, if you stitch from a tablet. My Pattern Keeper guide shows how to import it.
5. A floss key with DMC numbers and strand counts, plus finished sizes.

Already on the list? Head to the free patterns page to download them again any time.

Stitching tips for little ornaments

Small designs come together fast, but a few habits make them look extra neat when they’re trimmed and finished.

1. Start in the center. Fold the fabric to find the middle and follow the chart’s arrows in. It keeps the design centered for finishing.
2. Stitch the outline color first if there is one. Then fill in. It’s easier to count from a shape than from empty fabric.
3. Use two strands on 14 count and keep your tension gentle. Ornaments are seen up close.
4. Don’t jump across gaps on the back. On small, light pieces, dark floss carried across the back can show through after finishing. End and restart instead.
5. Keep every top leg leaning the same way. On a little ornament, a single stitch crossed the wrong way really stands out.
6. Leave backstitch until last, with one strand.

Finishing them as ornaments

Once they’re stitched, wash and press them face down on a towel, then pick a finish:

• Flat and felt-backed: glue over a card shape, add a ribbon loop, back with felt. No sewing at all.
• Stuffed: sew to a backing fabric, turn, stuff lightly and close with a ladder stitch.
• Mini hoop: gather the fabric to the back of a 3 or 4 inch hoop and cover it with felt.

My step-by-step guide to making cross stitch ornaments has diagrams for all three, and tips for making a whole batch for gifts. For a quick finish with a card back, my Stitching Gift Tags & Labels printable includes hoop backing cards in 4, 5 and 6 inch sizes.

Make a whole set: the full Christmas Ornament collection

If these get you hooked (they might), there are more little designs in the Cozy Christmas Ornaments collection: a gingerbread man, a red mitten, a snowy log cabin, a robin on holly and a striped stocking. They’re all 30 to 42 stitches, mostly beginner level, and they look lovely together on one tree.

Looking for something wintry rather than Christmassy? The Snow Folk & Friends and Winter Woodland collections stay up from November to February. And if you’re stitching against the clock, here are my favorite last-minute cross stitch gifts.

Share your finish

I’d love to see your ornaments. If you post them, tag them #hoopandhearth so other stitchers can find them too. Wonky ones very much included.

Happy stitching, and happy decorating.