Counted cross stitch designs are stitched from patterns onto a clearly gridded cross stitch fabric, such as aida or evenweave.
Each symbol you see on the chart corresponds to a single cross stitch on the fabric. Backstitches are often added for detail and usually shown as coloured lines on the pattern. These are stitched at the end, on top of your completed cross stitches.
Counted cross stitch is different from stamped cross stitch, where the pattern is printed onto the fabric and you work your cross stitch on top of it, without needing to refer to a separate pattern.
You'll find a lot more variety of counted cross stitch patterns than stamped, making it a great craft to learn how to do. Best of all it's so easy! Anybody can give it a go with just a few essential supplies and some basic knowledge. Let's take a look at how counted cross stitch works with our easy guide below.
You can also learn how to cross stitch with our complete beginners guide.
How to read a counted cross stitch key
In counted cross stitch you need a pattern with an accompanying key (sometimes known as a legend) to recreate your chosen cross stitch design on the fabric, like this free tomato juice design below.
The key tells you what symbols on the chart correspond with which colours of cross stitch thread.
Gathered’s cross stitch charts and keys usually list DMC, Anchor and Madeira thread conversions, with a close match given for each brand to suit your preference.
We always recommend using a single brand of thread in your complete cross stitch design however, as some variation in shade can occur between brands, so pick just one to use throughout. We also colour tint our symbol squares to help you pick out different areas of the design much more easily.
The headings in the key also tells you how many strands of thread to use for the cross stitch and backstitch, and whether there are any half stitches, French knots or other stitch types used in the design.
You can also see the stitch count of the design at the bottom of our keys on Gathered, and its finished size when stitched on the recommended fabric HPI (holes per inch). Just be aware this may be displayed in other ways on different designer's cross stitch patterns.
Starting a counted cross stitch pattern
If you're completely new to cross stitching, see our in depth guide on how to use a cross stitch pattern, and find out more about the basics of how to cross stitch.
The centre of most counted cross stitch patterns is usually marked. This is the best place to start stitching, so you end up with the design stitched in the middle of your piece of fabric.
The centre of our patterns on Gathered is where the heavy vertical and horizontal lines intersect – these lines are marked by triangular black arrows.
To find the centre of your fabric, fold it in half horizontally, open it up and fold it vertically. When you open the fabric again, you’ll find the creases mark the centre.
Look at the pattern, and start stitching with the thread colour that’s nearest to the centre, as indicated by the triangular black arrows. Our patterns are divided up every 10 squares with heavy grid lines, to help make counting easy.
Where to find counted cross stitch patterns
All downloadable PDF patterns and those found on Gathered and in The World of Cross Stitching magazine will be counted cross stitch. Order copies of the magazine online or download digital editions now. Stamped cross stitch designs are only available as kits, where you'll receive the printed fabric to stitch directly onto.
We've rounded up of some of the best free easy cross stitch patterns to get started with counted cross stitch.
Also explore some of our great free counted cross stitch designs right here on Gathered, including a selection of animal cross stitch patterns or get stitching festive Christmas cross stitch designs in time for the holidays. Check out our selection of some of the best small cross stitch patterns to stitch in a weekend too.
You'll also find more lovely counted cross stitch PDF download patterns on Etsy, like this magical Northern Lights design among others in The World of Cross Stitching Etsy shop.
