Celtic Cross Stitch Patterns

Knot Your Average Celtic Cross Stitch

Four designs, one elemental set. Stitch Earth, Air, Fire and Water as individual hoop pieces, or work all four and join them into a twelve inch pillow that holds the whole circle.

Earth Air Fire Water

What you get with the set

Each design finishes at a fraction over six inches square when worked over two threads on 28 count evenweave. The charts are instant PDF downloads, so you choose the fabric, the colour, and the order you stitch them in.

Before you start, a quiet honest note

These four patterns sit a step beyond first finish territory. Every design uses fractional stitches and a touch of metallic thread, both of which behave better on evenweave than on Aida. If you have worked quarter stitches before and you are comfortable handling metallic floss, you will be in safe water here.

Aida 14 will work and finish the same size, but the quarter stitch corners are easier to count on evenweave. If you have not met fractional stitches yet, the fractional stitches guide walks you through what they are and where they sit on the chart.

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Pattern 1 of 4

Earth

Intermediate

£4.00

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Earth tones, soft greens, and a single line of gold metallic in the border. Mother Earth sits at the centre, held inside the Celtic knotwork with the plants she nurtures growing through the design.

This is the gentle one of the four. The colour palette is calm and grounding, and the gold border lifts it just enough to feel special on a wall or as a gift for someone who keeps a quiet garden.

Finished size: just over 6" square (over 2 on 28 count)

Format: instant PDF download

Threads: DMC stranded cotton + one metallic gold

Pattern 2 of 4

Air

Celtic Air cross stitch pattern on denim blue fabric with metallic bronze owls in each corner, a central moon motif, and small stars between the owls

Intermediate

£4.00

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Four owls in metallic bronze, one in each corner, with white feet picking up the light. The moon sits at the centre and small stars scatter between the owls.

The model was stitched on denim blue Jobelan, which gives the design its night sky feel. Black evenweave also works beautifully if you want the metallic threads to glow more strongly. This is the one to choose if owls are your thing, or if you stitch in the evening and want a piece that holds that quiet mood.

Finished size: just over 6" square (over 2 on 28 count)

Format: instant PDF download

Threads: DMC stranded cotton + metallic bronze

Pattern 3 of 4

Fire

Intermediate

£4.00

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The sun sits at the centre, ringed by flames. In each of the four corners, a pair of eagles face one another with their necks entwined inside the Celtic knotwork. The palette is built from hot reds, oranges and yellows, with gold metallic accents threaded through.

This is the bold one. The sun nods to the Celtic sun god, and the paired eagles carry the Roman Jupiter symbol into the corners, two mythologies meeting in one design. If you stitch best when there is plenty of colour change to keep things interesting, Fire is the one to start with.

Finished size: just over 6" square (over 2 on 28 count)

Format: instant PDF download

Threads: DMC stranded cotton + metallic gold

Pattern 4 of 4

Water

Intermediate

£4.00

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A central star surrounded by four fishes, with sixteen more fishes hidden through the Celtic knotwork border. Worked in blues, jade and silver, with metallic accents holding the design together.

This is the puzzle one. The hidden fishes give you something to find every time you look at the chart, and the cool palette makes it the natural counterpoint to Fire. Several stitchers have told me this is the design their family ends up sitting in front of, counting the fish.

Finished size: just over 6" square (over 2 on 28 count)

Format: instant PDF download

Threads: DMC stranded cotton + metallic silver

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If you fall for all four

Stitch all four, finish a twelve inch pillow

The four designs are sized to sit together. If you stitch all of them and join them in a two by two square, you have a twelve inch elemental pillow with earth and water cool on one diagonal and air and fire warm on the other.

If you plan to do this from the start, it helps to choose one fabric that sits sympathetically with all four palettes. A natural cream or antique white evenweave is the safest choice and lets each design speak for itself. If you would rather lean into one element more strongly, the denim blue used for Air also works beautifully for Water, and a warm sand for Earth and Fire.

A quiet permission: you do not have to stitch them in any particular order, and you do not have to commit to the pillow from day one. Most stitchers buy one element first, finish it, then come back for the next. The patterns will still be here.

Keep stitching

Where to go from here

Three pages that pair naturally with the Celtic Elements set, whether you are checking your skills before you start or browsing for the next project.

Fractional stitches, properly explained

Quarter and three quarter stitches are the part of these charts that catches people out. This guide shows how they look on the chart, how to work them, and how to keep them tidy.

Read the fractional stitches guide

All my downloadable cross stitch patterns

Celtic Elements is one set in a wider catalogue. Wildlife, dragons, baby designs and more, all instant PDF downloads with clear DMC keys.

Browse all cross stitch patterns

Counted cross stitch on evenweave

If you have only ever worked on Aida and you are eyeing the evenweave recommendation with suspicion, this page explains the difference and why over two threads is friendlier for fractional designs.

Read the evenweave guide