MINI MOTIFS
This collection of mini patterns is exactly what you need to fully customize your graduation project! There are lots of designs that represent common college majors or school subjects, as well as some that are favorite education and graduation symbols. Each is no more than 15 x 15 stitches so they can fit in the customizable graduation patterns, but you can also add them into your project as a spacer or simply stitch them on their own!
Placement Ideas
Sometimes simple designs or pieces with shorter names need a little something extra. That’s when these mini motifs come in handy. For example, a short name or school initials might leave lots of space on each side, so stitching a few notes or another design in that open area can create a more balanced look.
The books, laptop, and medal patterns (here-here) all have an open area designed to hold one of these mini motifs.
When adding a design to those patterns, you can use the planning grid on this page to choose the best placement. You can also stitch the larger pattern first and then add in the mini pattern, either adding background stitches or leaving the fabric unstitched around it.
Faces
A few of these patterns have sweet smiling faces, which are formed with French knots and backstitching. They are cute and easy to stitch, but if you want to avoid French knots, you can stitch eyes with regular cross stitches. You can also leave the faces off if you’d prefer. Want to add a face to a pattern that doesn’t have one? Choose the face style from another chart and stitch it where you want it!
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352 (DMC)
989 (DMC)
351 (DMC)
964 (DMC)
745 (DMC)
958 (DMC)
743 (DMC)
156 (DMC)
742 (DMC)
208 (DMC)
472 (DMC)
437 (DMC)
433 (DMC)
743 (DMC)
02 (DMC)
211 (DMC)
03 (DMC)
02 (DMC)
04 (DMC)
03 (DMC)
B5200 (DMC)
310 (DMC)
310 (DMC)Apple
An apple for teacher! Its round shape even makes it ideal to use in place of an O in a name.
Graduation Cap
This classic graduation symbol is useful for so many cross stitch projects. Use long backstitches for the tassel and customize the colors for your favorite graduate!
Crayons
Perfect for preschool and kindergarten graduations, you can cross stitch these art supplies in any colors you want.
Jersey
Stitching for an athlete? Make a jersey in team colors and switch out the numbers for their number or the graduation year. The numbers from the tassel border chart (here) will fit perfectly.
Trophy
Celebrate a champion with a happy trophy! You can also easily make this silver by swapping the yellows for grays, or try stitching it with metallic thread.
Globe
A globe is a great design for history and geography fans, but it’s also good for students who love to travel or study abroad.
Music Notes
This mini motif will be the high note of your project! Music notes work well on their own, but you could also stitch a row of them as a border.
Art Palette
Artists of all ages will love this little paint palette. The paint is in a rainbow of hues, but you can easily change them out to match your overall design.
Molecular Compound
This may not be patterned after a real compound, but it could be! Use the elements to stitch your own compound and use long backstitches to connect them.
Chef’s Hat
To make this culinary school icon more visible on a white background, the pattern has a backstitch outline. You can also leave this off if you’re working on a colored fabric or surrounding it with contrasting stitches.
Stethoscope
Anyone in the medical field will love this colorful stethoscope. Add this to patterns intended for graduates looking to become doctors, nurses, paramedics, or veterinarians.
Beaker
Know a graduate who enjoys spending time in the lab? This cheerful beaker is perfect for them! If you want to make this in a different color, be sure to use a very light matching thread color for the backstitching.
Bar Graph
This mini motif is all business. You can also easily change the design to match real data, adding in additional markings or extending the graph.
Lightbulb
Here’s a bright idea! Stitch this happy little lightbulb for anyone graduating with a degree in a creative field.
Plant
Gardeners, botanists, farmers, and more all work with things that start as tiny sprouts. This plant is also a great symbol of growth and the start of something new!
Math Symbols
From simple math to complex equations, these symbols are the basis for anyone who loves working with numbers. A whole line of these would also make an excellent border or dividing line—no pun intended!
Gears
Engineers, builders, and folks who like to make things work will love these little gears. You can stitch them in less traditional colors or add more gears to expand the design.
Book
Anyone studying anything knows the power of a book! And while some students may be ready to take a break from books after school is done, this sweet smiling book is sure to still be welcome. Want to customize it? Try dropping the face and adding an initial to the cover!
