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
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
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.
Find The Sandy toes kit on the Historical Sampler Etsy store.
2. Otters by Little Beach Hut
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
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 'Otterly in Love' pun as an added bonus.
Find this kit on Little Beach Hut's Etsy store.
3. Feathers by Meloca Designs
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
Bring the botanical into your stitching with this beautifully illustrated Feathers kit.
It's the colour that sings out to us in this easy whole cross stitch design that is an excellent choice for people who prefer unusual cross stitch kits.
Find it on the Meloca Designs Etsy store
4. Modern Cross Stitch Kit With 5 Inch Hoop - Mountains Fuji
Difficulty: Beginner
Create a colourful modern masterpiece! This modern cross stitch uses whole cross stitch and block colours making it perfect for beginners.
The kit contains everything you'll need to complete the design and even a hoop so that you can frame it once you've finished!
Find it on RathboneSass Etsy shop.
5. Mountain Adventure by Hawthorn Handmade
Difficulty: Beginner
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.
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
Difficulty: Beginner
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
Difficulty: Beginner
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
Difficulty: Beginner
Here's an easy 4-inch modern cross stitch kit with a 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
Difficulty: Beginner
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 of 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
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
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 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
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
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. Go for a lower count if you are a beginner.
Find it on the Caterpillar Cross Stitch Website.
12. Girl in the rain by 3 Tiny Owls
Difficulty: Beginner
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
Difficulty: Intermediate
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
Difficulty: Beginner
Here's 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
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
Even while we are staring at the needlework in our hands, our minds wander into the heavens, which is perhaps why this Moon design appeals to us.
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
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
Can we include this in a list of modern cross stitch kits if it is celebrating a film that debuted in the 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. Summer Trees cross stitch kit
Difficulty: Beginner
Keep it modern with this bold and bright cross stitch kit! Made up of whole cross stitch only, this pattern is perfect for beginners. Everything you need is included in the kit, it's also packaged in a beautiful gift box – so ideal to give as a gift.
Get the kit now from HawthornHandmade.
18. Fox modern cross stitch kit by Love Poppet
Difficulty: Intermediate
Simple stitches and just two colours of thread combine in this Fox modern cross stitch kit from Love Poppet.
Worked in whole cross stitches on 32-count even weave, this is an ideal contemporary cross stitch kit to choose for advanced beginners looking to take on a bigger project. 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
Difficulty: Beginner
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
Difficulty: Beginner
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
Difficulty: Beginner
Stitch a cute cacti with this mini cross stitch kit. Perfect for beginners this design is made up of 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 Hannah Handmakes.
22. Hell Yeah cross stitch kit by the Make Arcade
Difficulty: Beginner
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. Tarot cards cross stitch kit
Difficulty: Advanced beginner
Choose from a variety of gorgeous tarot card designs from Innocent Bones. Made with whole cross stitch and stitched on 18-count aida, this project is ideal for advanced beginners.
Get the kit from Not on the Highstreet
24. Bananas cross stitch kit
Difficulty: Beginner
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
Difficulty: Beginner
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 Etsy
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!
Modern cross stitch to start today
If you want to try a cross stitch pattern, or you've got some leftover thread from your kit, try this lovely bird cross stitch, ideal for beginners.
