Free Spring Cross Stitch Patterns: Daffodils, Tulips, Bluebells and Bees

By The Editorial TeamUpdated 4 min read
Five spring cross-stitch pattern previews in a row: a magenta tulip, a yellow daffodil, a pink rose, blue bluebells and a bumblebee on a daisy

Here are 7 free spring cross stitch patterns, compared side by side: four spring flowers, a bee on a daisy, a pastel butterfly and a badger carrying a peony. Most are small, so you can finish one in a weekend or a few weeks. Start with our top picks, then read the card for each pattern. Each one is a free PDF with the chart and the thread list.

Our top picks

Best quick project

Magenta tulip bloom with yellow center and two curved green leaves, cross-stitch pattern previewTulip

Beginner · 2.6" x 2.9" · 7–11 hours

Get the free PDFWhy we picked it

Best for Easter

Yellow daffodil with orange trumpet center and two green stems, cross-stitch pattern previewDaffodil

Beginner · 3.4" x 5.8" · 18–30 hours

Get the free PDFWhy we picked it

Best Mother's Day gift

Pink rose in full bloom with layered petals and green leaves, cross-stitch pattern previewPink Rose

Intermediate · 5.0" x 5.3" · 30–50 hours

Get the free PDFWhy we picked it

Compare the patterns

Free Spring Cross Stitch Patterns: Daffodils, Tulips, Bluebells and Bees: difficulty, size, colors and stitching time of each pattern
PatternBest forDifficultySize (14-count)ColorsStitching timeDownload
TulipBest quick projectBeginner2.6" x 2.9"197–11 hoursFree PDF
DaffodilBest for EasterBeginner3.4" x 5.8"1318–30 hoursFree PDF
BluebellsBest for a bedroomIntermediate5.4" x 6.4"1521–34 hoursFree PDF
Bumblebee on a DaisyBest for a nurseryIntermediate3.9" x 5.2"2423–38 hoursFree PDF
Pink RoseBest Mother's Day giftIntermediate5.0" x 5.3"1630–50 hoursFree PDF
Badger Carrying a PeonyBest bigger spring pieceIntermediate10.4" x 12.3"14128–214 hoursFree PDF
Pastel Butterfly with Heart WingsBest pastel spring designBeginner5.1" x 4.1"2128–47 hoursFree PDF

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.

Best quick project

Tulip

Magenta tulip bloom with yellow center and two curved green leaves, cross-stitch pattern preview

A single magenta tulip with a yellow center and two green leaves.

Good for: a quick weekend project, a card or a small hoop

Difficulty
Beginner
Stitches
669 (36 x 41)
Finished size (14-count)
2.6" x 2.9"
Colors
19 DMC
Stitching time
7–11 hours
Fabric to cut
9" x 9"

What we like

  • Only 669 stitches: about 7 to 11 hours.
  • Rated Beginner.
  • Fits on a 9" x 9" piece of fabric.

Keep in mind

  • 19 colors in a small flower, so you change thread often.
  • 15 colors are used for fewer than 60 stitches.

Stitching tip: Nine colors are used only once or twice. Circle them on your printed chart before you start.

Best for Easter

Daffodil

Yellow daffodil with orange trumpet center and two green stems, cross-stitch pattern preview

A single yellow daffodil with a deep gold trumpet, on a tall stem.

Good for: an Easter or early-spring gift without eggs or bunnies

Difficulty
Beginner
Stitches
1,796 (48 x 81)
Finished size (14-count)
3.4" x 5.8"
Colors
13 DMC
Stitching time
18–30 hours
Fabric to cut
10" x 12"

What we like

  • Rated Beginner, with 13 colors.
  • A tall shape (3.4" x 5.8") that suits a narrow frame.

Keep in mind

  • Two of the yellows are easy to mix up.
  • 1,796 stitches, more than twice the Tulip.

Stitching tip: Stitch the black outline first. Then each yellow has a clear edge, and you won't mix up DMC 307 and 3078.

Best for a bedroom

Bluebells

Blue bellflowers hanging from a curved green stem, cross-stitch pattern preview

Three blue bellflowers hanging from one curved stem, with long leaves.

Good for: a bedroom, bathroom or reading corner

Difficulty
Intermediate
Stitches
2,051 (75 x 90)
Finished size (14-count)
5.4" x 6.4"
Colors
15 DMC
Stitching time
21–34 hours
Fabric to cut
12" x 13"

What we like

  • One color covers almost half of the design, so it fills in fast.
  • Calm blues that suit a quiet room.

Keep in mind

  • Four blues sit side by side and look alike.
  • 9 colors are used for fewer than 60 stitches.

Stitching tip: Four blues sit side by side (DMC 797, 996, 3766 and 792). Label them on a floss card before you start.

Best for a nursery

Bumblebee on a Daisy

Smiling cartoon bumblebee on a white daisy with a blue sky and cloud background, cross-stitch pattern preview

A smiling bumblebee sitting on a white daisy, with a small blue cloud above.

Good for: a nursery or a baby-shower gift

Difficulty
Intermediate
Stitches
2,299 (55 x 73)
Finished size (14-count)
3.9" x 5.2"
Colors
24 DMC
Stitching time
23–38 hours
Fabric to cut
10" x 12"

What we like

  • 2,299 stitches: a few weeks of evenings.
  • The only spring animal here small enough for a hoop.

Keep in mind

  • 24 colors, the most of the seven.
  • 16 colors are used for fewer than 60 stitches.

Stitching tip: Six colors are used for just one stitch each. Circle them on your chart so you don't miss them.

Best Mother's Day gift

Pink Rose

Pink rose in full bloom with layered petals and green leaves, cross-stitch pattern preview

A single pink rose in full bloom, with green leaves.

Good for: a Mother's Day gift

Difficulty
Intermediate
Stitches
3,004 (70 x 74)
Finished size (14-count)
5.0" x 5.3"
Colors
16 DMC
Stitching time
30–50 hours
Fabric to cut
11" x 12"

What we like

  • 3,004 stitches: a few weekends.
  • At 5.0" x 5.3" it fits a 7-inch hoop.

Keep in mind

  • Five pinks look almost the same under indoor light.
  • 9 colors are used for fewer than 60 stitches.

Stitching tip: Lay the five pinks out from lightest to darkest (DMC 963, 223, 761, 3354 and 151). Under indoor light they look almost the same.

Best bigger spring piece

Badger Carrying a Peony

Cross-stitch pattern of a striped badger walking upright through clover and grass, carrying a huge pink blossom with green leaves over its shoulder

A badger walking through clover, carrying a large pink flower over its shoulder.

Good for: a larger spring wall piece, or a gift for a gardener

Difficulty
Intermediate
Stitches
12,811 (145 x 172)
Finished size (14-count)
10.4" x 12.3"
Colors
14 DMC
Stitching time
128–214 hours
Fabric to cut
17" x 19"

What we like

  • 14 colors, and only 2 are used for fewer than 60 stitches.
  • A wall-sized spring piece (10.4" x 12.3").

Keep in mind

  • 12,811 stitches: about 130 to 210 hours.
  • One thread's name doesn't match its color.

Stitching tip: DMC 535 is called "Ash Gray – Very Light" but it's a dark charcoal. It's the right thread for the badger's body, so trust the number, not the name.

Best pastel spring design

Pastel Butterfly with Heart Wings

Cross-stitch pattern of a smiling lilac butterfly with mint green wings decorated with pink, blue and teal hearts

A smiling lilac butterfly with mint wings patterned with pink, blue and teal hearts.

Good for: a girl's room, a nursery or an Easter card

Difficulty
Beginner
Stitches
2,814 (72 x 57)
Finished size (14-count)
5.1" x 4.1"
Colors
21 DMC
Stitching time
28–47 hours
Fabric to cut
12" x 11"

What we like

  • Rated Beginner: big flat wings.
  • One color fills 40% of the stitches.

Keep in mind

  • 21 colors in a small design.
  • The outline is purple, not black.

Stitching tip: Place the hearts first, then fill the mint green (DMC 955) around them.

Which one should you stitch?

What you need

Questions

Are these patterns really free? Yes. Open a pattern, click “Get the Pattern”, and the PDF downloads. No account or email is needed.

How long do these take? The small flowers can be finished in a few weekends. The badger takes about 130 to 210 hours, so start it a few months before you want it on the wall.

Do you have Easter patterns with eggs or bunnies? Not on the site at the moment. The Daffodil and Tulip suit an Easter table or card.

Want more? See all floral patterns, the summer patterns, the small and mini patterns, or how to cross stitch for beginners.

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