A cross stitch chart is a map of your design. Every square on the chart is one stitch on the fabric, and every symbol or color tells you which thread to use. Once you know the parts of a chart, any pattern becomes easy to follow.
Squares, symbols and colors
Each filled square on the chart is one full cross stitch. Empty squares are left unstitched, so the fabric shows through. Most charts give each thread a symbol, and many also fill the square with the thread color, like the charts on this site. Symbols matter because two similar greens can be hard to tell apart on paper; the symbols never are.
Our PDFs come in two versions: a color chart, and a black and white chart with symbols only, which saves ink and is easier to read under some lamps.
The color key
The key lists every symbol with its thread number, the color name and how much you need. On our charts it shows:
- Symbol: the mark used on the chart.
- DMC number: the thread to buy, such as 321 for a classic red.
- Stitches: how many squares use that color.
- Skeins: an estimate of how many skeins to buy.
Grid lines every 10 stitches
Thick lines divide the chart into blocks of 10 × 10 squares, and the numbers along the edges count the columns and rows. Counting in blocks of 10 is much faster and safer than counting single squares. Many stitchers also draw a light grid on their fabric with a washable pen or a gridding thread to match.
Where to start
Most stitchers start in the middle, so the design ends up centered on the fabric. On our charts, small red arrows on the top and left edges mark the center column and row. Fold your fabric in half twice to find its center, then stitch the square where the arrows meet first.
Charts that span several pages
Large patterns are split into parts. Each page tells you which columns and rows it shows, for example "columns 1–59, rows 1–70". Stitch one part at a time, and use the numbers on the edges to line up the next page.
Stitching a row of the same color
For a row of several stitches in the same color, many stitchers work all the bottom legs from left to right, then come back with all the top legs. Whichever way you choose, keep every top leg slanting the same way: it makes the finished piece look smooth and even.
Ready to try? Start with an easy design like the red heart or the snowflake, which use only a few colors.