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Free animal cross stitch patterns

Free animal cross stitch patterns, from simple faces for beginners to realistic portraits made from photos. Stitch a cat, a dog, a fox, a panda, a hedgehog, a Highland cow, a barn owl, a hummingbird, or Audubon’s flamingo and blue jays. Each is a free printable PDF with the chart, a DMC thread key and how many skeins to buy.

Quick to stitch

Bigger projects from paintings, postcards and photos

Tips for stitching animals

  • The small animal faces are about 35 stitches across and use a handful of colors: good first projects.
  • The photo portraits are up to 120 stitches across. Stitch the eyes first: once they are in, the animal comes alive and the fur is easier to place.
  • Fur is many close browns and greys. Keep your tension even and stitch every cross in the same direction so the shades blend.

More free patterns

Browse all free patterns, or the Halloween patterns, or the Christmas patterns, or the Famous painting patterns, or the Landscape patterns. To stitch your own photo instead, use the pattern creator.

Questions

Are these animal patterns really free?

Yes. Every pattern downloads as a free printable PDF with the chart, the thread key and floss amounts, and no account is needed. You can stitch them as gifts or sell the finished pieces.

Which animal pattern is easiest?

The faces in the Quick to stitch group, such as the panda, cat, dog and fox, use whole stitches only and a few colors. The photo portraits are for when you have a few projects behind you.

Can I turn a photo of my own pet into a pattern?

Yes. The pattern creator on our home page turns a pet photo into a pattern with DMC colors, and the photo never leaves your browser. Choose the Large or XL size so the eyes and face get enough stitches.

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