In order to optimize the recrystallization texture of ferritic stainless steel sheets, the crystallographic texture was modified by means of cross rolling. The as-received hot band displayed pronounced through-thickness texture gradients with a strong rotated cube orientation in the sheet center layer. After the conventional normal rolling, the strong initial texture was retained. Pronounced {001}<110> in the rolling textures led to the formation of {334}<483> in the final recrystallization texture. Cross rolling in the present work was performed by a 45degrees rotation of RD around ND. Cross-rolling led to a weakening of {001}<110> orienations. After recrystallization annealing the cross-rolled samples displayed stronger {111}//ND orientations. The orientation stability during the rolling deformation was tackled by means of Taylor deformation model.