White Christmas Cross Stitch Pattern

Oh my god. When I created this White Christmas cross stitch pattern two years ago, I had no idea how difficult it would be to convert my lowly Excel spreadsheet into something someone else could use!

First: Unfortunately, there’s no background grid. When I set it to “Print Gridlines,” it obscures some of my backstitches! And the alternative–hand-changing all of my borders on every individual square, without ruining my current ones–is not feasible at this time. However! I have provided 10 x 10 grid marks to help you locate the snowflakes.

Next: This pattern owes a huge debt to Wee Little Stitches, my favorite Etsy store. They make amazing Pixel People patterns for all kinds of nerdy things: superheroes, TV shows, etc. The only reason I made my own was because they didn’t have any White Christmas patterns. Buy their stuff!

White Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies, one that I’ve actually appreciated more as the years have gone by. I think it’s because the driving force behind the movie isn’t romantic love.

The original! You thought it was my pattern, didn’t you?

In case you haven’t seen the movie: we open on World War II, out on the battlefield, where Captain Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Private Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) are putting on a show to celebrate Christmas and pay tribute to Major General Thomas F. Waverly (Dean Jagger), their beloved leader, who is being replaced by a new General. They even close with a song about how much they love him!

My White Christmas cross stitch pattern, in all its amateur glory!

These battlefield relationships drive the rest of the film. Phil saves Bob’s life, bonding them, so that they embark on a successful showbiz career. As a favor to a former army colleague (or so they think) they meet the lovely Haynes sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) and join their adventure. And then! When they travel to Vermont and realize their former General has sunk his pension into a failing Inn, they bring their show to his stage to bring customers–but they also move heaven and earth to bring his old division to the Inn to make sure the General knows how much he’s valued. Tear!

Okay, okay. So back to my White Christmas cross stitch. I used Aida cloth instead of my usual linen, because I wanted it to be “VistaVision” worthy and super square. I used a light-blue 14 count fabric, which yielded a design 8″ x 4 1/8″. Download the file here: WhiteChristmas_Final

Sorry this finally went up after Christmas, but really, what better time to get a head start on next year, right?!? Plus: I have also designed, but never made, two other White Christmas pieces: the Haynes sisters in their feathered blue ensemble, and Bob and Phil as . . . the Haynes sisters, as well. Hopefully I’ll have them up by next fall!