With so many cross stitch books out there, I’ve read my way through a library just to give you a rundown of the best cross stitch books, categorized by difficulty.
Best Books For Beginners
The Mr X Stitch Guide to Cross Stitch
Difficulty: X to XX
By Jamie Chalmers
Perfect for the beginner, it doesn’t get too technical, and everything it written with an entertaining edge. Its fun, chatty and includes some awesome modern patterns. We have a full review here.
The New Cross Stitcher’s Bible
Difficulty: X to XXXX
By Jane Greenoff
A staple in many cross stitchers collections, the Jane Greenoff Cross Stitch bible has been updated a series of times over the years, and covers everything from the very basics, so complex theories and stitches. It can be a great learning resource, but is a bit hard to get into.
Cross Stitch: A beginner’s step-by-step guide
Difficulty: X to XX
By Charlotte Gerlings
A general beginners book with a slant on smaller projects, this book offers clear and concise advice without going off topic. Small at only 48 pages.
Best Intermediate Books
Mega Mini Cross Stitch
Difficulty: XX to XXX
By Makoto Oozu
A compendium of small cross stitches by Japanese cross stitch master Makoto Oozu, over 900 simple patterns and some basic instructions. The diffuculty comes from the language; the whole book is in Japanese.
Cross-Stitch to Calm: Stitch and De-Stress
Difficulty: XX to XXX
By Leah Lintz
These simple patterns, mostly using less than 5 colors are great practice, but offer little in the way of very complicated designs. The 40 patterns included are all well created however, making each pattern a worth while stitch.
The Cross-Stitch Garden
Difficulty: XX to XXX
By Kazuko Aoki
A great selection of delicate patterns and designs make this a book intermediate book, capable of stretching newer and more advanced stitchers alike.
Best Advanced Books
Storyland Cross Stitch
Difficulty: XX to XXXX
By Sophie Simpson
A great book with a series of interesting patterns ranging from fairly simple to advanced, with each pattern having its own kit items attached; ready for stitching.
Criss Crossing Paris
Difficulty: XXX to XXXX
By Fiona Sinclair & Sally-Anne Hayes
Our personal all time favorite cross stitch book, Criss Crossing Paris takes a fresh look at cross stitch, and how sometimes not sticking to the pattern can produce a fantastic piece. Check out our review.
Subversive Cross Stitch
Difficulty: XXX to XXXX
By Julie Jackson
Rude and lude, but a great set of patterns, made specifically to make you chuckle. Whilst the book does have basic instructions, its patterns are far from simple.
Do-It-Yourself Stitch People
Difficulty: XXX to XXXX
By Elizabeth Dabczynski-Bean
A book with no guide at all seems like a bad idea, however this fantastic resource allows you to create your own cross stitch people by picking hair, faces, bodies, legs and accessories. As a result there is no pattern to follow, meaning you have to work it out yourself.
Do you know if there is a list anywhere that matches DMC colours to Fuzzy Stuff. With no actual needlework shops in Ireland I can’t make the comparisons myself
I’m afraid not, sorry!