Cross Stitch vs Embroidery: What's the Difference?

Here's the short answer to the cross stitch vs embroidery question: cross stitch is technically a type of embroidery. Embroidery is the umbrella term for decorating fabric with a needle and thread, and cross stitch is one specific technique underneath it. In practice, though, the two words describe quite different crafts, with different fabrics, different needles and a very different way of working.

If you've been using the terms interchangeably, you're in good company. Plenty of experienced stitchers have had their cross stitch called embroidery, their embroidery called cross stitch, and both called knitting by a well-meaning relative. In this guide, we'll cover what sets the two apart, what supplies each one needs, where needlepoint fits in, and which craft makes the friendlier starting point, whether that's freehand stitching or one of our cross stitch kits.

Yes. Embroidery is simply defined as the art of decorating fabric using a needle and thread. That definition covers a huge family of techniques, and cross stitch is one member of it. So all cross stitch is embroidery, but not all embroidery is cross stitch.

In everyday conversation, the words have drifted apart. When someone says "embroidery", they usually mean free-form surface embroidery: flowing lines, leaves, lettering and florals stitched onto plain fabric. When someone says "cross stitch", they mean counted needlework, where X-shaped stitches are placed on gridded fabric by following a chart.

If you only remember one line from this article, make it this one: embroidery draws with thread, while cross stitch builds a picture square by square, like pixel art. That single difference explains almost everything else, from the fabric each craft uses to how the finished piece looks on your wall.

What Is Cross Stitch?

Cross stitch is a form of counted needlework. You create small X-shaped stitches on evenly woven fabric, usually aida or evenweave, and each X sits in its own square of the grid. Row by row, those squares build up into a picture, which is why a finished cross stitch piece has that charming, pixelated look.

Rather than working freehand, you follow a printed chart (sometimes called a pattern). The chart works with a colour key to show you the shade and position of every stitch, so you always know exactly where your needle goes next. Think painting by numbers, but with thread.

Most patterns use up to five stitch types: full cross stitch, half cross stitch, fractional stitches, backstitch and French knots. 

One thing that catches beginners out: counted cross stitch has nothing printed on the fabric itself. You count your stitches from the separate chart. That's different from stamped cross stitch, where the design is printed onto the fabric and you stitch over it. All of our cross stitch kits are counted, with a clear printed chart, fabric, pre-sorted threads and a needle in the box.

What Is Embroidery?

Embroidery, in the everyday sense of the word, is free-form stitching on plain fabric. There's no grid to follow, so you can stitch in any direction, at any length, anywhere on the cloth. That freedom is exactly what draws people to it.

Because there's no grid to count from, the design usually goes onto the fabric first. You might use an iron-on transfer, trace the design with a water-soluble pen, or draw it straight onto the cloth with a pencil and stitch over the lines.

Where cross stitch uses a handful of stitch types, embroidery has dozens. Backstitch, French knots, satin stitch and chain stitch are among the most popular, and techniques like colour blending and thread painting add shading and texture that make embroidery look more dimensional and painterly than the flat, tiled finish of cross stitch.

There's plenty of overlap, too. Backstitch and French knots appear in both crafts, so if you learn one, you're already partway into the other.

Cross Stitch vs Embroidery: Side-by-Side

Here’s a look at the difference between cross stitch and embroidery at a glance:

The table tells most of the story, but the "following the design" row is the one that decides it for most people. If you like knowing exactly where every stitch belongs, the chart-based approach of cross stitch will feel calming. If a grid sounds restrictive and you'd rather make it up as you go, embroidery will suit you better.

What Supplies Do You Need?

The two crafts share more in common than you might expect, but the differences matter, so here's what you need for each.

Fabric

Cross stitch needs evenly woven fabric so every stitch comes out the same size. Aida is the most popular choice, and it comes in different counts, which means the number of holes per inch. 14 and 16 count are the most common, with evenweave as the finer alternative once you've found your feet. Our guide to cross stitch fabrics walks through the options, and every one of our kits includes Zweigart aida or evenweave, the fabric we trust for all our designs.

Embroidery is far less fussy. A plain, medium-weight cotton or linen in a solid colour works well, and part of the fun is that you can stitch on almost anything, from tea towels to denim jackets.

Needles

This is where beginners most often buy the wrong thing. Cross stitch uses blunt tapestry needles, which slide through the ready-made holes in aida without piercing the weave or splitting your existing stitches. As a rule of thumb, a size 24 tapestry needle suits 14-count aida and a size 26 suits 16-count.

Embroidery needs the opposite: a sharp embroidery needle (sometimes called a crewel needle) that pierces through plain fabric cleanly, since there are no ready-made holes to aim for.

Threads, Hoops and Extras

Good news for anyone tempted by both crafts: threads transfer across. DMC stranded cotton suits cross stitch and embroidery alike. You'll sometimes see it called "floss", which is just the American name for the same thing. 

For cross stitch you'd usually separate the six strands and stitch with two, while embroidery often uses more strands for bolder, raised lines. Every one of our kits comes with pre-sorted DMC threads on a thread holder, so there's no untangling before you start.

Hoops work for both crafts too. The inner and outer rings separate so you can sandwich your fabric between them and keep it taut while you stitch. Our hoops and stands suit either craft, as do a small, sharp pair of embroidery scissors for snipping thread ends. And a needle minder will save your needle from vanishing into the sofa, whichever craft you choose.

So if you're wondering what carries over between the two: threads, hoops, scissors and needle minders all do. Fabric and needles don't, so those are the two things to buy fresh when you switch.

What About Needlepoint and Tapestry?

There's a third craft that often gets tangled up in this conversation. Needlepoint, which many UK stitchers know as tapestry, is worked on stiff, open-weave canvas rather than fabric. The stitches, most commonly tent stitch, cover the entire surface of the canvas, and the thread is usually thicker, often wool. The result is a dense, hardwearing piece that has traditionally been turned into cushions, upholstery and bags rather than framed pictures.

A quick way to keep all three straight:

• Embroidery is free-form stitching on plain fabric, with the design transferred or drawn on first.
• Cross stitch is counted X-shaped stitches on gridded fabric, following a separate chart.
• Needlepoint (tapestry) is full-coverage stitching on canvas, usually in wool.

Like cross stitch, needlepoint uses a blunt tapestry needle, which is where the needle gets its name. If you've come across the term in our cross stitch glossary, that's the craft it refers to.

Which Should You Start With?

Honest answer: it depends on which kind of stitcher you are, and you might not know until you try.

If you like order, structure and the satisfaction of watching a picture appear one neat row at a time, counted cross stitch will feel like a treat. Some people find the counting genuinely relaxing, a bit like doing a puzzle with your hands. And because every stitch has a defined home on the chart, mistakes are easy to spot and easy to unpick.

If counting sounds like a chore and you'd rather have creative freedom, embroidery may click faster for you. Stitches don't all have to be the same size, so a slightly wonky leaf still looks like a leaf. The trade-off is a blank piece of fabric and dozens of possible stitches, which some beginners find liberating and others find intimidating.

For most complete beginners, cross stitch is the gentler entry point. There's one stitch to learn on day one, the chart removes all the guesswork, and our patterns are designed so you can start with full cross stitches only. Our step-by-step guide to how to cross stitch for beginners will take you from threading your first needle to finishing your first piece.

Whichever way you go, neither choice is wrong. The skills overlap, plenty of stitchers happily do both, and if you're weighing up other crafts too, we've compared crochet vs cross stitch as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cross stitch a form of embroidery?

Yes. Embroidery is the umbrella term for decorating fabric with needle and thread, and cross stitch is a counted technique within that family. In everyday use, though, "embroidery" usually refers to free-form surface stitching, while "cross stitch" means counted X-shaped stitches worked on gridded fabric from a chart.

Is it easier to cross stitch or embroider?

Cross stitch is generally easier to start. There's one stitch to learn, the chart tells you where every stitch goes, and the gridded fabric keeps everything even. Embroidery has more stitches to learn, but it's more forgiving of slightly uneven stitching, so neither craft is out of reach for a beginner.

Can you use embroidery thread for cross stitch?

Yes. Stranded cotton (often called embroidery floss) works for both crafts. The difference is how much of it you use: cross stitch usually takes two of the six strands, while embroidery often uses more strands for bolder lines. All of our kits include pre-sorted DMC stranded cotton.

Do cross stitch kits come with the design printed on the fabric?

Counted cross stitch kits, including all of ours, don't. The fabric is blank and you count your stitches from a separate printed chart. Stamped cross stitch kits are the ones with the design printed on the fabric for you to stitch over. Check which type you're buying, as the two are often mixed up.

What is the difference between needlepoint and cross stitch?

Needlepoint (known as tapestry in the UK) is worked on a stiff canvas, uses thicker thread or wool, and covers the whole surface with stitches, most commonly tent stitch. Cross stitch is worked on softer gridded fabric like aida, uses X-shaped stitches, and leaves the unstitched fabric showing as the background.

Does cross stitch help with anxiety?

Many stitchers say it does. The counting and repetition give your mind a single, gentle focus, which is why so many people describe cross stitch as their switch-off time. Research into needlecraft and wellbeing supports the calming effect of repetitive stitching, and the finished piece gives you something to show for it.

Cross Stitch or Embroidery: Your Next Step

So that's the difference in a nutshell: embroidery draws freely with thread, cross stitch builds a picture from counted Xs, and needlepoint fills a canvas. They're all lovely ways to slow down, put your phone away and make something with your hands.

If you'd like to give cross stitch a go, our beginner cross stitch kits come with everything you need in the box, so there's no guesswork on day one. And if you get stuck or just want to show off your first finished piece, our Facebook group is full of stitchers who'd love to cheer you on.

Happy stitching!