Stitch Some Small Cross Stitch Patterns for Fall

I have a pretty short attention span these days (I was going to say when it comes to cross stitch, but actually it’s everything) so I’m always on the lookout for little patterns that can add some cuteness to my decor without taking a lot of time. So here are some small cross stitch patterns for your fall stitching and decorating enjoyment.

One thing I do still try to pay attention to is reading, so I had to share this little pumpkin bookshop from Mango Charm Studio. At 46 by 48 stitches, it shouldn’t take long to stitch up the project, which uses 16 colors (because small doesn’t have to mean it lacks details!). On 14 count fabric this one comes out to 3.3 by 3.4 inches, or 8.3 by 8.7 cm.

These cozy autumn icons from Stitch Bloom Garden would be fun to stitch on a single hoop as shown or work each little one on a different project. You could stitch leaves on napkins or use the designs in little frames. The full set is 108 by 106 stitches, which some out to 7.7 by 7.6 inches, or 19.5 by 20 cm, on 14 count fabric. The full set fits in a 9 inch frame and uses 21 colors.

Pattern House US has this cute maple leaf stamp cross stitch pattern that comes out to 3.93 by 4.64 inches/9.98 by 11.79 cm on 14 count fabric, but you can make it even smaller if you like. This project uses 7 colors and is 55 by 65 stitches.

Another one that reminds me a bit of a stamp is this pumpkin design from KC Patterns Studio. This one uses 6 colors and is 40 by 40 stitches, which comes out to 2.5 inches or 6.5 cm on 14 count fabric.

Find more cute minis at Dreaming Cat Patterns, which has a set of 12 mini fall motifs, leaning toward Thanksgiving but really pumpkins and pies and turkeys are great all throughout the fall, right? The designs are all 50 stitches wide and vary a little bit in height (all are 40 or fewer stitches tall) and number of colors needed. The biggest one is 3.57 by 2.86 inches, or about 9 by 7.3 cm on 14 count fabric.

And if you want to get super tiny, try the pumpkin and fall leaves minis from Bella Rose Craft that fit in tiny frames (just the pumpkin is shown above). The pumpkin is just 12 by 12 stitches and the leaves are 15 by 21, and they both fit in a tiny 1.5 by 2 inch hoop. So cute!

I came across a post recently from Lord Libidan wondering about where all the good cross stitch alphabets have gone. While you can find lots of fonts on Etsy (and I even shared a few good cross stitch fonts recently) it can be difficult to know exactly what you’re getting when you buy a pattern for an alphabet online. You might find just what you want but it’s the wrong size, or maybe everything is plain and you want something fancier.

One option is to hit up your local library for cross stitch books. If you’re looking for large, fancy lettering to use as a stand alone for projects, I found Felicity Hall’s Stitch Alphabets & Numbers on the shelves at my local library.

This book includes lots of guidance in terms of materials, how to stitch and ways to use lettered projects, from simple framing to making alphabet blocks, pillows and a stretched canvas.

There are three sets of letters and three sets of numbers in this book. The circus letters are colorful and include circles and other details inside the letters that make some of them look like faces. They come in a variety of widths but are all 80 stitches high (making them 5.7 inches, or 14.5 cm tall on 14 count fabric.

Woodblock letters vary from a straightforward, blocky H to a G that looks like a fish tail, and they’re designed to have details in the background. There are all 80 by 80 stitches. Shadow letters are blocky with a drop shadow in a color; they vary in width but are 55 stitches tall. All the letter fonts also include an ampersand.

The number fonts include screen print numbers, which are worked in two colors that look sort of like printing; vintage numbers, which have flowers inside the numbers that also have a striped shadow; and floral numbers, where the number is a solid color surrounded by flowers and vines. These are all 79 by 80 stitches, while the vintage ones are 55 by 55 and the screen print ones vary in both width and height.

These aren’t the sorts of letters you’d add to another project, but if you want to stitch a single letter, a monogram, a short word or the table numbers for a wedding, this book offers some fun options and nice project ideas for how to use them.

About the book: 128 pages, paperback. Published 2014 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

Have you read?