I have attempted to compile here a list of quality free cross stitch patterns that can be found online. I say “quality” because if you’re going to cross stitch something, I feel that it shouldn’t be a small pixelated image or not well designed. The ones I list here are of decent size and quality that I feel would be worth stitching. You can also check out the sites listed in the Top Cross Stitch Sites - many of these sites offer free patterns as well.

Free Patterns

• Teresa Wentzler Patterns - Teresa Wentzler is an amazing artist and cross stitch designer. Most of her patterns are often intricate and may require some advanced stitching, but the result is very beautiful. Her free charts vary in difficulty and most have a description of what the design includes.

• Dragon Dreams Patterns - Dragon Dreams is a company created by Jennifer Aikman-Smith for dragon artwork and cross stitch. The style is sort of cartoonish, but not too cutsie. Most of the sample designs are small pieces. I plan on stitching the Elemental Dragons some day!

• Solaria Patterns - These patterns look like paintings. They are rich in color and the style is realistic. The flower charts are especially beautiful, but I have not tried any of them yet.

• Vermillion Stitchery Pattern - This creator of cross stitch charts puts up a new free chart every month. Last year each monthly chart followed the theme “Birds & Butterflies”, featuring the month name along with the featured bird and a small butterfly.

Pattern Generators and Other Utilities

• Dark Lilac Pattern Generator - This free pattern generator creates a cross stitch chart from an image you upload. It lets you specify the background color, size, and a few other options. It does not do backstitching or specialty stitching, but does have great transform ability from image to pattern. You can also browse charts other people have created or make yours public for others to download.