30 Cross Stitch Tattoo Ideas That Elevate the Craft to Art

Some of the most exciting tattoo trends today are all about making ink look like something entirely different. Cross stitch tattoos elevate needlecraft to art by employing the same basic visual elements to form shapes on the skin. These designs range from fancy florals to pop culture touchstones and everything in between.

We wanted to get a better understanding of the trends and limitations of cross stitch tattoos so we turned to social media to discover the latest and greatest designs. We were pleasantly surprised to find so many stunning examples to share with you. While this is an emerging trend, it’s currently on fire with more and more people requesting the style from tattoo artists. Take a look at the examples we curated to understand why people are flocking to these designs.

Meet Your New Obsession, Cross Stitch Tattoos!

Get Into It

Roses are extremely popular among cross stitch tattoos. As with the needlecraft, floral tattoos in this style are all the rage. Here’s one of our favorite roses we saw while researching these tattoos but it won’t be the last one you’ll see on this list.

Partially Stitched

The artist has taken a unique approach to this cross stitch tattoo that finds a rosebud partially in stitch form and partially in a photorealistic style. Feel free to experiment with this style until you devise a concept that expresses your point of view.

Two Roses

Here’s another handsome example of florals in cross stitch tattoo form. We find one pink and one red and they look so exceptional next to one another. The precision here is remarkable and the artist who completed it deserves praise.

A Winged Beauty

Butterflies are also popular among cross stitch tattoos. We find an attractive Monarch here with vibrant orange and gold colors.

Feeling Blue

In this design, we find a blue flower that almost looks abstract. It’s a fantastic effect that plays on the elements that make actual cross stitch so fascinating to look at.

Half Stitch and Half Patch

Patch tattoos are also an emerging trend related to cross stitch tattoos. We find both forms married together in this evocative design that shows the best of both worlds.

Hello, Cap!

Captain America proves a fun subject in this energetic design. We did not expect to find as many pop cultural references as we did with cross stitch tattoos but you will be treated to many more as this list continues.

Cheerful

Here’s a cheerful blue flower that’s made sweeter with the inclusion of white ink highlights. Florals are clearly the way to go with this style of tattoo.

Stitched with Love

This is one of the most basic cross stitch tattoos on this list. It finds a simple heart stitched next to a needle. It’s understated and beautiful and a great idea for anyone who wants something modest.

Marvin

Marvin the Martian is here to cheer you up. How could you help but not smile when you see this little guy every day?

Cool Patterns

Patterns are also popular among cross stitch tattoos. This vaguely floral design looks so smart in peach and olive inks.

Totoro

Here, we find your favorite character from My Neighbor Totoro. It’s clear that animated figures work very well with this sort of design.

Jiggly

Here’s a Jigglypuff character that’s been composed of hundreds of tiny X’s. This tattoo has been applied so perfectly that it almost looks pixilated.

Multiple Methods

We find photorealism, embroidery, and stitching effects in this single tattoo. This tattoo artist is clearly a genius in multiple tattoo disciplines.

A Whole Lot of Cross

Here’s a more abstract and ornamental cross stitch tattoo that constitutes an entire half-sleeve tattoo. You can go big with these designs in a variety of ways but this is one cool one to consider.

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Spiderman

Comic book characters are welcome among cross stitch tattoos. Here, we find our old friend, Spiderman, looking unlike you’ve ever seen him before. The sky’s the limit, folks.

Ornamental

Ornamental cross stitch tattoos are some of the most elegant and beautiful options. This handsome cross-shape is an absolute dream.

Gorgeous

Wow! Take a look at the hundreds of crosses used to complete this detailed pattern. There is also a ton of color which appears vibrant and full of energy.

Placement

Experiment with placement for a cross stitch tattoo that really makes a statement. This one is wrapped around the forearm to form a sort of band.

It’s Fire

Here’s a flame that proves that cross stitch tattoos are red-hot. The photo was taken while the tattoo was still fresh but that purple color you see is simply the template that washes off.

For Mom

Here’s a tattoo that takes on more meaning as a tribute to a mom. We can think of no better way to honor a relative than by designing a tattoo inspired by something they loved.

Flower in a Diamond

Here’s a marriage of the pattern trend with the floral one that turned out splendidly. The diamond shape is also a very good idea if you’re interested in framing your piece in an interesting way.

Half and Half

Photorealism meets cross stitch in this thrilling design that stuns in both styles. If you don’t find the cross stitch style exciting enough, you should consider requesting something similar.

Stunning

Woo! Those are some teeny-tiny X’s. This tattoo has been applied so masterfully that it barely looks like a tattoo. Further, the shape and placement are perfect for the forearm and both make good use of the real estate.

For Dad

Here’s a winning tribute to a dad. We’re not sure if this person’s dad was into cross stitch but this tattoo is a warm and welcome design that we had to include on this list.

Alice in Wonderland

Do you remember these flowers from the animated feature Alice in Wonderland? The Disney classic proves a great source of inspiration for these beauties that will be instantly recognizable for fans of the film.

Pretty Peony

We’ve seen a lot of flower cross stitch tattoos on this list but this peony really stood out to us. The way shading has been applied is so fascinating. This design is so good it actually holds your attention captive.

Purple Pansies

Purple pansies shine in this cross stitch tattoo that’s got an excellent placement on the shoulder blade. Instead of X’s, tiny squares have been used to “fill” the design and give it texture.

Blackbird

By far, the most popular cross stitch tattoos are composed of colorful ink. However, color is not the only way to go. This is the single black cross stitch tattoo we found while researching this style. It’s an interesting look and could be applied to a variety of simple designs.

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Good Advice

“Be nice to your mom,” this tattoo instructs us. We’ll do it! It’s one of the few cross stitch tattoos to incorporate a hoop which most people use when making actual stitching. That paired with the pretty purple flowers and the sweet message really makes this design a standout.

How cool are these tattoos? We hope you feel inspired and have a better understanding of the limits and possibilities of cross stitch tattoos. There’s a lot you can do with this sort of design from flowers to your favorite characters from pop culture. Now, it’s time to go get stitched up!