Free Cat Cross Stitch Patterns, From Black Kittens to a Ginger Tabby
By The Editorial Team·Updated ·6 min read
Here are 8 free cat cross stitch patterns, compared side by side: two black Halloween kittens, a kitten at a tea party, a ginger cat with a cocktail, a tabby asleep on a ball of yarn, a surprised ginger kitten, a big witch kitten and two Christmas kittens in a gift box. They range from about 42 hours of stitching to several months. Our top picks are below, then a full card for each pattern with what we like and what to keep in mind. Each pattern is a free PDF with the chart and the thread list.
How we compared them: every number on this page is read from the pattern's own chart, the same one in the free PDF. Stitching times assume 60 to 100 stitches an hour. All of them use full cross stitches only.
A black kitten in a purple witch hat, running with three pumpkins stacked on its head.
Good for: a first cat pattern, or a Halloween front door
Difficulty
Intermediate
Stitches
9,534 (141 x 151)
Finished size (14-count)
10.1" x 10.8"
Colors
14 DMC
Stitching time
95–159 hours
Fabric to cut
17" x 17"
What we like
Fewer stitches than the other Halloween cats: 9,534.
14 colors, and only 4 of them are used for fewer than 60 stitches.
The bright orange pumpkins stand out from across a room.
Keep in mind
Rated Intermediate, not Beginner.
The kitten is a very dark navy, so stitch it in good light.
Stitching tip: The kitten is DMC 939, a very dark navy, not black. Don't swap in black: the navy keeps the kitten from looking flat next to the orange.
A fluffy gray kitten in a lavender sweater and mustard overalls, sitting on a wicker bench next to a teapot and cookies.
Good for: a kitchen or a tea lover's wall
Difficulty
Advanced
Stitches
25,112 (180 x 230)
Finished size (14-count)
12.9" x 16.4"
Colors
20 DMC
Stitching time
251–419 hours
Fabric to cut
19" x 23"
What we like
An everyday scene that isn't tied to a season.
Every one of its 20 colors covers a large area. None is used for fewer than 60 stitches, so you rarely stop for a single stitch.
Keep in mind
25,112 stitches: plan on several months.
Four close grays and browns are used in both the fur and the stool.
Stitching tip: Four close grays and browns (DMC 451, 648, 3033 and 3862) are used in both the fur and the stool. Keep them labeled so you don't mix them up.
A ginger kitten with huge sparkly blue eyes and an open mouth, paws raised in surprise.
Good for: a kitchen, a desk or a friend who's always shocked
Difficulty
Intermediate
Stitches
4,555 (83 x 92)
Finished size (14-count)
5.9" x 6.6"
Colors
24 DMC
Stitching time
46–76 hours
Fabric to cut
12" x 13"
What we like
4,555 stitches: a few weeks of evenings.
40% of the fabric stays bare.
Keep in mind
24 colors, and 15 are used for fewer than 60 stitches each.
Both eyes have to match exactly.
Stitching tip: Stitch the second eye straight after the first, from the same thread lengths.
Which one should you stitch?
Your first cat pattern: the Tabby Cat with a Ball of Yarn. It has the fewest stitches (4,217).
A funny one: the Surprised Ginger Kitten.
A Halloween pair: the Black Kitten and the Witch Cat on a Broomstick.
A gift: the Ginger Cat for someone with a home bar, the Kitten on a Wicker Stool for a tea drinker.
For Christmas: the Kittens in a Gift Box.
A long project: the Witch Kitten. It takes many months, so start it well ahead.
What you need
Fabric: 14-count white Aida. Each card above says how big a piece to cut.
Thread: DMC floss in the colors on the PDF’s thread list. The big dark areas need more than one skein of the same color; buy those together so the shade matches. The cross stitch thread guide shows how to count skeins.
A frame to stitch on: a hoop works for the Black Kitten. For the Kitten on a Wicker Stool, the Kittens in a Gift Box and the Witch Kitten, use a scroll frame.
Questions
Are these cat patterns really free?
Yes. Open a pattern, click “Get the Pattern”, and the PDF downloads. No account or email is needed.
Are any of them good for beginners?
None of the eight is rated Beginner. If you’re new, start with an easy pattern from the beginner patterns and read how to cross stitch for beginners. Then try the Tabby Cat with a Ball of Yarn, the smallest of the eight.
Do you have a black cat cross stitch pattern?
Yes, two: the Black Kitten with Jack-o’-Lanterns and the Witch Cat on a Broomstick. Both kittens wear a purple witch hat, so they hang well as a pair.
How do I plan the big ones?
For the Kitten on a Wicker Stool and the Witch Kitten, read how to plan a large cross stitch project before you buy fabric and thread.
