How to Stitch a Free Happy Halloween Cross Stitch Pattern

Halloween cross stitch

The Spruce Crafts / Mollie Johanson 

Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Ready for some spooky stitching? You'll love this free Halloween cross stitch pattern. This full-color chart with symbols includes a smiling pumpkin, a friendly bat and cat, cheerful candy, and some barely-there ghosts. Designed as a small sampler of sorts, the overall design fills a hoop but also works as individual Halloween motifs. You can stitch the whole chart or just one little character. 

This pattern is perfect for cross stitchers of all levels. Because it uses only whole stitches and some back stitch, it's easy for beginners and a fast and fun project for more experienced stitchers.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Embroidery hoop
  • Cross stitch needle
  • Scissors

Materials

  • 16-count Aida cloth
  • DMC embroidery floss: 839, 310, 414, 415, blanc, 3746, 155, 554, 720, 721, 722, 3855, and 728

Instructions

  1. Download the Pattern

    Download the Happy Halloween cross stitch chart and either print it out or save it to your tablet or another device for easy access as you work.

  2. Stitch the Design

    Following the pattern, start cross-stitching the main design in the middle of the pattern—the pumpkin.

    Place your fabric in a hoop and mark the grid if that is helpful for you.

    Begin with a waste knot or use the knotless loop method. For this method, fold a single strand of embroidery floss in half and thread the two ends through the needle. After making the first half of the cross stitch, take the needle through the loop left on the back of your work, so it secures the thread without needed to weave the starting ends.

    Complete for the rest of the whole stitches in the pattern.

    A few tips as you begin working:

    • Use two strands of embroidery floss throughout this design. (If you use the knotless loop to start, remember that means working with one strand that's doubled.)
    • This pattern uses only whole stitches and some back stitch. 
    • The eyes on the smaller motifs show off the Xs, which can look like the characters are ill or even dead. For Halloween, that's probably not a bad thing! If you want them to look more solid, you can stitch the eyes with three or four strands. Another option is to outline the eyes with back stitch. 
    Cross Stitching a Happy Pumpkin
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson
  3. Stitch the Back Stitch

    As you stitch the back stitch details, use two strands of embroidery floss. If you want a bolder look for the letters, you can use additional strands. 

    The candy corn has a light outline around the white part so it's easier to see. The ghosts, on the other hand, don't have an outline. They're so spooky that you want to just barely see them! Of course, if you want them more visible, add a light gray back stitch outline around them.

    Stitching the Back Stitch Halloween Text
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

Halloween Cross Stitch Ideas

Want to make your cross stitch fancy? Try swapping in some sparkly threads or even glow-in-the-dark embroidery floss for the ghosts.

If you only want to make one or two of the motifs in this pattern, they'd look great in tiny hoops, made into pins, or other small projects

The faces make these designs extra cute, but it's easy to stitch those eyes with the background color they're on. 

When you finish this, try another Halloween cross stitch pattern or two.

Happy Halloween Cross Stitch Design on Purple Background

The Spruce Crafts / Mollie Johanson