Charted alphabets are one of the most popular areas of cross stitch, needlepoint and other charted/counted crafts. Probably it’s because they are so generally useful.
Use a single letter to make a monogram, stitch a name, create a personalized gift, or use them for a sampler — all these possibilities and more happen when you have a good alphabet.
Calli is based on basic calligraphic letters and includes both upper and lower case. It was designed by me several years ago to be used to personalize Christmas stockings. It’s still a great use for these letters because they have an elegance that makes them work when a piece will be treasured for decades.
This alphabet is unusual, as you can see from the A&B chart above. The capitals aren’t much bigger than the basic lower case letters. In addition lower case letters that are tall are bigger than the capitals. Keep this in mind when charting a name and leave enough room.
Unlike most of my charts, this is charted with the symbols in the squares of the grid instead on on the intersections. One symbol is still one needlepoint Tent Stitch.
This alphabet can be used for perler beads, other beadwork, knitting, cross stitch, or any craft that uses whole stitches.
To see the full-size chart, click on it.
Here’s the rest of the letters:
- C & D
- E & F
- G & H
- I & J
- K & L
- M & N
- O & P
- Q & R
- S & T
- U & V
- W & X
- Y & Z
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Thanks for this chart. A great addition to alphabets
I already have. ng
I am trying to needlepoint names on the top of 2 Christmas stockings. There is about 2″ at the top. I am trying to find an alphabet that I can use. Please help me with this. I don’t have much time left. Thank you.
This site has many alphabets charted on it as well as links to ones on other sites. Just click on the alphabets category under design types.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Hi. I’d like to add a name to an already completed needlepoint Christmas stocking. The band at the top where the name goes has already been filled in w needlepoint stitches. I tried cross-stitching on top of the needlepoint but it’s difficult to keep the x’s straight going in a vertical line. What method do you suggest? Based on that what type of floss should I use? Thank you!
You can stitch over existing needlepoint stitches. If it would I would look into using Blackwork alphabets which use straight stitches and can be placed, often between the needlepoint stitches. If this would not work because you need something bigger, I’d go with finding a yarn or thread that is thick enough for the letters and use couching. The good thing about couching is that it does not need to be as exact as making stitches over existing stitches.
Keep stitching,
Janet