Learn How to Cross Stitch With Yarn, Crochet Thread or Embroidery Floss on a Crocheted Background.

Most crafters work cross stitch onto Aida fabric — but did you know that you can hand crochet suitable fabrics for cross stitching onto? It’s true! You can.

So far, I’ve tried cross stitching onto fabrics crocheted using afghan stitch and single crochet stitch. Either way, I’ve found that the results are lovely.

How to Cross Stitch on Crochet

To cross stitch on crochet, the first step is to create a fabric you can work your cross stitches into. Ideally, you’d want to choose a stitch like afghan stitch or single crochet, because these stitches provide some built-in indicators on where to insert your needle and place your stitches.

Next, thread your needle with embroidery floss or yarn. Some crafters tie a knot at the end, and some prefer not to knot; if you don’t tie knots in your work, you’ll want to be sure of leaving a 6″ tail at the end and weaving your ends in when you are finished like you would with any other crochet project.

Next, you bring your needle up through the back of the crochet fabric at the starting point of the cross stitch design.

Make a diagonal stitch to the opposite corner, then bring the needle back down through the fabric at the other end of the stitch. Repeat this process, making sure to keep the stitches consistent.

There is no set-in-stone order to how you follow a cross-stitch-on-crochet pattern. However, I frequently approach it by working a line’s worth of adjacent stitches — doing the first half of each cross stitch and then working back in the other direction to complete the second half of each cross stitch.

I recommend working your cross stitches in a consistent way, with the cross always going in the same direction.

Once the design is complete, you’ll want to finish the work; leaving a 6″ tail at the end, cut the yarn and weave the loose end into the back of the fabric.

Free Cross Stitch on Crochet Patterns

If you’d like to try this technique, I invite you to check out the following free cross-stitch-on-crochet patterns we’ve made available on our website:

Striped Crochet Christmas Potholders: Free Pattern

Free Crochet Heart Edging Patterns: Cross-Stitch on Crochet and Filet Crochet

Cross-Stitch-On-Crochet Plus Tapestry Crochet

I really enjoy making colorful needlework projects. Tapestry crochet is usually my favorite technique for making multicolored items — but tapestry crochet gets to be tedious when you use more than 2-3 colors, because with this technique, you have to crochet overtop of all the colors that you aren’t actively using. You also have to constantly untangle multiple balls of yarn.

So when I want to create a project that has lots of colors in it, one of my preferred solutions is combining cross stitch with tapestry crochet. By combining these 2 techniques, you can create projects that offer the eye-catching effect of multiple colors, without the associated hassles.

One example is this crochet cupcake potholder. Most of the potholder is worked in tapestry crochet, but I did the cherry on top using cross-stitch-on-crochet. That allowed me to use 4 colors in the design without risking my sanity. I love the colorful outcome of the design.

Crochet and Cross Stitch Christmas Tree Square

To make this square, you first work the background and tree shape in tapestry crochet; then you complete the frame around the tree using the cross-stitch-on-crochet technique. Then you can use the squares to make Christmas pillows, Christmas blankets or whatever other project you have in mind.

So there you have it: That’s a brief introduction to the topic of cross stitch on crochet, along with links to a bunch of free patterns you can use for practicing this fun and useful needlework technique. I hope you’ll enjoy the free patterns and ideas. Happy stitching!

Learn More About Crochet Colorwork

• Tapestry Crochet — Free Step-By-Step Tutorial, Patterns, Pictures, Examples and Ideas
• Corner-to-Corner Crochet
• Discover Even More Colorwork Techniques

Learn More About Hand Sewing and Embroidery

• Find Embroidery Projects, Instructions and Ideas
• Free Vintage Sunflower Border Design for Embroidery
• Check out our guide to hand sewing stitches

Posted By: Amy Solovay

This page was last updated on 1-22-2023.