5 Cross Stitch Name Charts for Kids’ Towels: A Complete Tutorial

Personalizing children’s towels with cross stitch names is more than just decoration—it’s a way of adding love, identity, and creativity into an everyday object. Whether you’re preparing a towel for daycare, school, or simply creating a meaningful handmade gift, learning how to embroider names in cross stitch can be both practical and rewarding. In this detailed tutorial, we will explore five unique name chart styles, step-by-step instructions, and useful tips to help you achieve professional results, even if you are a beginner.

Why Cross Stitch Names on Towels?

Before diving into the patterns and techniques, it is worth understanding the value of stitching names onto children’s towels:

Cross stitching a name transforms an ordinary item into a keepsake that parents and children cherish for years.

Essential Materials You Will Need

To get started, you’ll need a few basic supplies. Most of them are inexpensive and easy to find in craft stores.

Fabric & Towels

Threads

Needle

Tools

💡 Pro tip: Always use cotton threads to ensure softness and color resistance to frequent washing.

How to Read and Follow Cross Stitch Charts

A cross stitch chart is essentially a grid where each square represents one stitch. Understanding it is the first step toward a beautiful project.

Steps to read a chart correctly:

  1. Find the center: Fold your fabric and the chart in half both ways. Start stitching from the middle for symmetry.
  2. Identify colors: Each symbol or shade in the chart corresponds to a thread color.
  3. Work in sections: Focus on small areas at a time to avoid mistakes.
  4. Stitch method: Create one diagonal line ( / ) across a row, then return with the opposite diagonal ( \ ) to complete the X.
  5. Back finishing: Secure the thread by sliding it under existing stitches—never tie bulky knots.

This method keeps the design neat and helps beginners avoid common errors.

Five Creative Cross Stitch Name Chart Styles

Now, let’s look at five unique styles of name charts you can use to decorate children’s towels.

1. Classic Block Letters

2. Cursive Script Letters

3. Colorful Block Letters

4. Decorated Letters with Icons

5. Miniature Lettering

👉 You can even mix styles—use a bold block style for a bath towel and cursive script for a face towel in the same set.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Stitching the Name “Lucas”

To make this practical, let’s embroider the name “Lucas” using a block letter chart.

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Prepare your towel: Stretch the Aida band on an embroidery hoop.
  2. Mark the center: Align the center of the towel with the center of your chart.
  3. Start stitching the L: Work left to right, completing one letter at a time.
  4. Continue with U, C, A, S: Follow the chart carefully, row by row.
  5. Finish with bold outline (optional): Use backstitch in black for extra definition.
  6. Secure and finish: Hide thread ends neatly under the stitches.

Example Chart: “Lucas” in Block Letters

Here’s a simple ASCII-style chart to illustrate how names look in cross stitch. Each “X” represents one stitch. You can adapt it to your own designs.

L      U   U   CCCC   AAAAA   SSSSS
L      U   U  C       A   A   S
L      U   U  C       AAAAA   SSS
L      U   U  C       A   A      S
LLLL   UUUU   CCCC    A   A   SSSSS

👉 To use this: count each square on the grid as a stitch, choose thread colors, and follow the chart row by row. You can modify spacing or add icons around it (stars, cars, hearts).

Final Tips & Inspiration

Cross stitching names on children’s towels is not just a craft—it’s a way to personalize memories, create meaningful gifts, and add beauty to everyday life. With the five chart styles presented and the sample tutorial, you are ready to bring creativity into your needlework and make every towel truly unique.

Ana

A   N   N   A
A A  NN  N  A A
AAA  N N N  AAA
A A  N  NN  A A
A A  N   N  A A

 Sofia

 SSS   OOO   FFFF  III  AAAAA
S      O   O  F     I   A   A
 SSS   O   O  FFF   I   AAAAA
    S  O   O  F     I   A   A
SSSS   OOO   F     III  A   A

Leo

L      EEEEE  OOO
L      E      O   O
L      EEEE   O   O
L      E      O   O
LLLL   EEEEE  OOO

Clara

 CCCC   L      AAAAA  RRRR   AAAAA
C       L      A   A  R   R  A   A
C       L      AAAAA  RRRR   AAAAA
C       L      A   A  R R    A   A
 CCCC   LLLL   A   A  R  RR  A   A