25 of the best modern cross stitch kits
Cross stitch is a hobby for everyone. If you prefer more modern cross stitch kits, or want contemporary cross stitch kits to stitch, we have them for you here!
Join us as we round up the brightest, boldest and most eye-catching modern cross stitch kits on the market!
You might think cross stitch is a little old-fashioned, but with these modern cross stitch kits, things have changed! As tastes and styles have evolved, so has cross stitch.
Support the cross stitch revolution and embrace modern cross stitch kits as your own – and perhaps choose one of these contemporary cross stitch kits for a friend to spread the stitching love far and wide.
There is nothing better than choosing a design you love and making that first stitch – although making that the last stitch to finish a design is even better!
Support modern designers by purchasing projects you love to make sure they make more contemporary cross stitch kits and keep the modern cross stitch kits movement alive and growing.
What's in a modern cross stitch kit?
Typically a cross stitch kit will come packaged neatly in a box containing everything you need to create a finished design.
That can include fabric, threads, needles and the chart. Occasionally scissors or a hoop is included, but not always, so check the description before you buy!
25 modern cross stitch kits to buy today!
1. Sandy Toes by The Historical Sampler Company
Perhaps it is odd to include a kit from a Company called The Historical Sampler Company in a round-up of modern cross stitch kits, but this British beach hut design combines the old with the new so wonderfully that we could not resist.
We love the whitework designs they have in their range too for a contemporary cross stitch kits feeling. Find The Sandy toes kit on the Historical Sampler Etsy store.
2. Otters by Little Beach Hut
Cuteness overload alert! There are so many lovely wildlife-inspired modern cross stitch kits in Little Beach Hut's range, but we think these otters are our favourite.
This would be a fun take on a family tree or birth sampler for a growing family. There is an otter couple version available too which would be good for weddings or engagements with the Otterly in Love pun as an added bonus.
Find this kit on Little Beach Hut's Etsy store.
3. Feathers by Meloca Designs
Bring the botanical into your stitching with this beautifully illustrated Feathers kit.
It's the colour that really sings out to us in this easy whole cross stitch design that is a great choice for people who prefer unusual cross stitch kits.
Find it on the Meloca Designs Etsy store
4. Home by Stitch Kits
We love it when there are flowers in the house, and this cute modern cross stitch kit from Stitch Kits makes sure there are always flowers inside your home!
Also, there are ladybirds, buzzing bees, berries and spiders who are quite appropriate for our abode too. The kit contains everything you need to complete this design!
Find it on Stitch Kits Etsy store.
5. Mountain Adventure by Hawthorn Handmade
Sometimes the sight of a particular image brings a feeling of calm – like a long exhale when you did not realise you holding your breath at all! That's just how we feel about this Mountain Adventure hoop from Hawthorn Handmade.
More like this
This store has a lovely range of modern cross stitch kits and embroidery kits to browse, but this one is our favourite. Find it on the Hawthorn Handmade Etsy store.
6. Polska mini by Rathbone Sass
Black fabric isn't for everybody, but boy does it make the colours pop in this mini Polska design from Rathbone Sass.
The kit includes aida fabric, which is much easier to work with than black evenweave. Find the kit on the Rathbone Sass Etsy store.
7. Love yourself cross stitch kit
Remind yourself to be an advocate for self-love with this modern cross stitch kit featuring delicate roses and hearts, the perfect gift to yourself. The kit includes everything you need to create this design! Find it on Pindependant crafts Etsy shop.
8. What the Duck by Pyro Dog Pins
Here's an easy 4 inch modern cross stitch kit with hoop that's perfect for all levels of cross stitcher and is designed to be displayed in the hoop for an easy modern finish. Also, we love the duck!
There is a great selection of bird pun cross stitch kits on the Pyro Dog Pins Etsy store if you want to make a set of unusual cross stitch kits. Find the kit on the Pyro Dog Pins Etsy Store.
9. Avocado cross stitch kit
If avocados aren't the epitome of modern, we don't know what is! This cute kawaii avocado cross stitch is bound to put a smile on your face.
Made up f whole cross stitch, this project will be perfect for beginners, or to give as a gift to somebody wanting to try cross stitch.
Find the kit on Starry Aloha Designs Etsy.
10. Don't tell me to smile by Plastic Little Covers
We love the mix of vintage styling with modern phrases in the designs from Little Plastic covers – be warned that some of them feature swearing.
This design speaks to the feminist needlewoman in us – we'll smile when we want to smile, and scowl when we want to scowl, okay?! Find the kit in the Little Plastic Covers Etsy store.
11. Hello Pumpkin by Caterpillar Cross Stitch
Who can resist the rich colours and sweet autumnal motifs in this contemporary cross stitch kit. The lack of backstitch makes this design appealing – it looks to be worked entirely in whole cross stitch which makes it a nice relaxing design to work on.
There's also the option to choose the fabric you want in your kit as well – 14 or 16-count aida or 28-count evenweave. Find it on the Caterpillar Cross Stitch Website.
12. Girl in the rain by 3 Tiny Owls
There is a whole collection of iconic modern cross stitch kits featuring this cute character from 3 Tiny Owls and we love the way each design has such movement and personality expressed using just 2 shades of stranded cotton.
The kit includes 16-count aida fabric and the embroidery hoop along with threads and chart you need. Find it on the 3 Tiny Owls Etsy store.
13. Poodle Balloon by Geo Creations UK
Geo Creations specialise in geometric bright animal cross stitch portraits, but it is this poodle balloon design that has really won our hearts in their range of contemporary cross stitch kits.
Perhaps it is the cool shading effect that makes the balloons look so appealingly round even in cross stitch form, but we love this as a statement design!
You can choose different colours for your poodle if you prefer. The kit includes an 18-count aida fabric. Find it on the GeoCreations Etsy store.
14. Be Kind by Cotton Clara
Here is one of Cotton Clara's modern cross stitch kits with a difference! The cross stitch motto is worked onto a wooden banner with pre-cut holes to make adding the lettering super straightforward.
This would be a great project for someone totally new to cross stitch, and a fun speedy finish to display your new skills. You can choose the yarn colour you want in your kit, and you can find it on the Cotton Clara Etsy store.
15. Moon cross stitch design
Even while we are staring at the needlework in our hands, our minds are off wandering in the heavens, which was perhaps why this Moon design appeals to us so much.
Looking at the shaded shape framed by its circular hoop has us imagining we are looking out of a porthole in a space-going starship – engage! Find it in the Cross stitch kits gifts Etsy store.
16. Sweet Dreams by The Witchy Stitcher
Can we include this in a list of modern cross stitch kits if it is celebrating a film that debuted in 80s? For sure we can, and we certainly weren't seeing designs like this at the time.
This cool unusual cross stitch kit from The Witchy Stitcher creeps us out in all the best ways with green and red striped hearts and terrifying knife-hands, Elm Street style.
We love the raw linen in this photo, but you can choose to have 14-count fiddlers cloth in your kit if you prefer. Find it on The Witchy Stitcher's online store.
17. Quarantine Marathon by Oh Wow Stitch
Okay, these are charts rather than modern cross stitch kits but still too good to miss! Typically these are PDF downloads to so if you have materials at home already you can get stitching straight away!
This one is perfect to hang in your bathroom to hammer home the hygiene message! Get the download from Oh Wow Stitch Etsy Store.
18. Fox modern cross stitch kit by Love Poppet
Simple stitches and just two colours of thread combine in this Fox modern cross stitch kit from Love Poppet.
Worked in easy whole cross stitches on 32-count even weave, this is an ideal contemporary cross stitch kit to choose if you are working over two threads of the fabric for the first time. You don't need to worry about changing your thread colour, you can just concentrate on your counting.
Find the kit on the Love Poppet Not on the High Street store.
19. I never finish anything by Bobo Stitch
Whoops! Did I start another craft project before finishing my last one? Whoops! Did I do it again? Just like Britney Spears meant, this is a common problem for crafters everywhere.
Own this tendency and raise a smile with this brilliant unusual cross stitch kit from Bobo Designs – unusual because it is designed to be shown off with the needle still attached to the embroidery cotton and the wording seemingly incomplete.
The kit includes a chart, thread, needle and 14-count oatmeal aid with the option to add a hoop if you would like one. Find it on the Bobo Stitch Not on the High Street store.
20. Toadstool cross stitch kit
Mushrooms make wonderful subjects for stitching, and this cute pink toadstall is just perfect!
A design by Cotton Clara, this sweet kit contains everything you need apart from a pair of scissors. It makes a beautiful gift for someone special too.
Get the design from Not on the Highstreet.
21. Catcus cross stitch kit
Stitch a cute set of cacti with this mini cross stitch kit. Perfect for beginners this design is made up from whole cross stitch only, so no tricky fractionals to contend with.
You can get this kit from Not on the Highstreet which was designed by Meloca Designs.
22. Hell Yeah cross stitch kit by the Make Arcade
If you're looking for bright, bold and in your face this one is for you! This hoop will remind you how awesome you are each and every day when it's hanging in your home!
Get the kit from Not on the Highstreet.
23. Ravising radish t-shirt cross stitch kit
Yes, you can update clothing with cross stitch, and yes, it looks fabulous! You'll receive all the materials to stitch with plus a supersoft t-shirt.
Get the kit from Not on the Highstreet
24. Bananas cross stitch kit
Let someone special know how bananas you are for them with this modern cross stitch kit by Mint and Make. The kit contains everything you need.
Get it from LoveCrafts
25. Dinosaur cross stitch kit
How cute is this pair? Stitch these sweet dinos for someone you love. This kit by Hawthorne contains everything you need and is packed with high-quality materials.
Find the kit on LoveCrafts
Modern cross stitch for the win!
Once you've picked your favourite modern cross stitch kit and stitched it up, make sure to display it with pride and show off those stylish stitches! As most of these cross stitch kits come with everything included, they'd also fun and stylish gifts for your trendy friends!
Cool cross stitch books to try
If you've already got plenty of supplies, or have well and truly caught the cross stitch bug after making your modern kit, you can find plenty more contemporary designs to stitch by checking out the best cross stitch books with Gathered.
Authors
Hannah has worked on Gathered for 3 years, since our launch in 2019. At school Hannah learned to knit collaborating on dorcas blankets – now she edits our knitting section. She inherited her love of stitching and embroidery from her talented grandmother, and her passion for thread led her to be Editor of The World of Cross Stitching for six years. Card making is a more recent passion, developing from her position as editor of Cross Stitch Card Shop. She loves using kinetic techniques to make cards that move – she was editor of Papercraft inspirations magazine for over four years, creating loads of card making video tutorials at www.youtube.com/PapercraftTV.
