Free Cross Stitch
Alphabet Patterns

Find over 30 readable cross stitch alphabet patterns that you can make your own!

Whether you need letters to complete your design or your letters ARE the design, these alphabets will help you to create truly unique and treasured keepsakes.

With them, you can

  • add names to personalize your cross stitch gifts
  • stitch favorite poems, lyrics, quotes or inspirational verses
  • commemorate special occasions, such as wedding and birth records
  • monogram clothing, linens, and other items
  • as an artist, sign your name, date and occasion on every cross stitch piece (future generations will thank you!)

Cross stitch alphabet patterns fall into three categories

"Line" cross stitch alphabet patterns

As the name implies, line alphabets, like "Mini Line" and "Fine Line," have letters that are are constructed entirely with back stitches.

This doesn't mean, however, that there is no style to the alphabet. Line letters do not have to be plain. Check out "Flourishes" It has stylized tips and swirls and portrays a completely different feel than either Mini Line or Fine Line.

"Block" cross stitch alphabet patterns

Made with full and partial cross stitches. The lines of each letter in a block alphabet can be primarily a single stitch wide, like in "Slim" and "Addicted."

Or, it may take multiple stitches to configure the letters, like "Cotton Candy." Good examples of this are "Robot" and the immensely popular "Curly Q's."

"Graphic" cross stitch alphabet patterns

The final category of alphabet patterns are those where a graphic image is used to portray the individual characters.

These can be understated and graceful, like the tiny flowers on the letters of "Floral. They can be bright and bold, like our unmistakably haunted "Happy Halloween."

More stitches give more opportunities to introduce more character into the characters!

Other ways to add interest

Beyond style, you can dramatically alter an alphabet if you

  • change the colors of the letters ("Freedom" looks remarkably different when stitched without its signature red, white and blue palette)
  • use colors to make a pattern in the letters, like stripes, checks or diagonals
  • use half stitches instead of full cross stitches
  • eliminate the cross stitches inside and use only backstitches for an outline
  • add stitches between the letters of a word, so script letters resemble handwriting
  • add whimsy by not stitching the letters in on a straight horizontal line

Start by finding a style you like and one that fits with the rest of the design, then find a way to make those letters your own!

Need help fitting those letters into your design?

Sometimes you find the perfect alphabet, and it fits perfectly into the space you have. But more often than not, it takes a few alterations.

If you need a little help, check out our detailed tips on how to adapt an alphabet to a pattern, please see The 123's of the Counted Cross Stitch Alphabet.

Our cross stitch alphabet patterns

We provide our patterns in PDF format. Although it is present on most computers, if you are not familiar with Adobe Reader, click here to see our instructions page for how to obtain this free PDF reader.

Click here for "Bones" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 26 stitches high

Click here for "Beloved" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 18 stitches high

Click here for "Happy Halloween" Cross Stitch Alphabet - letters 18 stitches high

Click here for "Freedom" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 9 stitches high

Click here for "Dog Tags" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 5 stitches high

Click here for "In My Heart" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 14 stitches high

Click here for "Santa" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 29 stitches high

Click here for "Cutlass" Cross Stitch Alphabet -13 stitches high

Click here for "Elongated Block" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 13 stitches high

Click here for "Basic Block" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 11 stitches high

Click here for "Holiday" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 12 stitches high

Click here for "Box Kite" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 11 stitches high

Click here for "Curly Qs" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 13 stitches high

Click here for "Short Block" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 7 stitches high

Click here for "Countdown" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 16 stitches high

Click here for "Cotton Candy" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 14 stitches high

Click here for "Robot" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 11 stitches high

Click here for "Christmas Holly" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 12 stitches high

Click here for "Addicted" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 10 stitches high

Click here for "Floral" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 10 stitches high

Click here for "Skyscraper" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 12 stitches high

Click here for "Lava Lamp" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 14 stitches high

Click here for "Slim" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 14 stitches high

Click here for "Outline" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 7 stitches high

Click here for "Curling Ribbon" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 11 stitches high

Click here for "Thanksgiving" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 8 stitches high

Click here for "Candy Cane" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 7 stitches high

Click here for "Locomotive" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 8 stitches high

Click here for "Fine Line" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 4 stitches high

Click here for "Flourishes" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 6 stitches high

Click here for "Angular Block" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 4 stitches high

Click here for "Mini Line" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 2 stitches high

Click here for "Storybook" Cross Stitch Alphabet - 5 stitches high


Now that you have sampled our cross stitch alphabet patterns, be sure to take at our other free cross stitch designs by clicking here.


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