Anchor Aromatic Plants - Pictures - Wormwood, Thyme and Coriander - 0060044-00901_04 - Downloadable PDF

Anchor Aromatic Plants Embroidery Pattern – Wormwood, Thyme and Coriander (Design No. 0060044-00901-04)

This free downloadable PDF embroidery pattern from Anchor, designed by Anchor Studio, presents a charming collection of three botanical herb pictures: Wormwood, Thyme, and Coriander. Each design captures the delicate, natural character of aromatic plants, making this an ideal project for embroiderers who appreciate botanical illustration rendered in thread. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to stitchers who are comfortable with counted cross stitch and ready to work with a varied palette of thread colours.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces three individual framed embroidery pictures, each depicting a different aromatic herb. These can be stitched and displayed separately or grouped together as a coordinated botanical set. The finished pieces are intended to be mounted and displayed as wall art, celebrating the beauty of traditional herb illustration through needlework.

• Wormwood Picture: Stitched onto fabric measuring approximately 40 x 55 cm, with a design area of 15 x 35.5 cm.
• Thyme Picture: Stitched onto fabric of approximately the same outer size, with a design area of 15 x 19.5 cm.
• Coriander Picture: Stitched onto fabric of a similar size, with a design area of 13 x 18.5 cm.

Techniques Used

The primary technique throughout all three designs is counted cross stitch, a classic and widely practised embroidery method in which X-shaped stitches are formed over an even-weave fabric. Cross stitch is worked in two stages: the lower diagonal stitch is worked first from left to right, and the upper diagonal stitch is then worked from right to left to complete each cross. This two-stage method ensures that all top stitches lie consistently in the same direction, giving the finished work a neat, uniform appearance.

In addition to cross stitch, backstitch is used, most commonly for outlines and fine detail. Backstitch creates a continuous, smooth line that defines the edges of motifs and adds crispness and definition to the botanical illustrations. This combination of filled cross stitch areas with backstitch outlines is a hallmark of detailed counted embroidery work.

• Cross stitch worked over 2 fabric threads each way, building up the coloured areas of each herb design.
• Backstitch (also referred to as outline stitch in the pattern) used for fine detail and outlines, worked with a single strand of thread for delicacy.

Stitches Used

• Cross stitch – the main filling stitch, worked with 2 strands of Anchor Stranded Cotton over 2 fabric threads in each direction.
• Backstitch – used for outlines and detail lines, worked with just 1 strand of Anchor Stranded Cotton for a finer, more refined finish.

Materials – Thread and Needles

All three designs use Anchor Stranded Cotton (8-metre skeins), which is a divisible six-strand embroidery floss. The pattern specifies working with 2 strands for cross stitch and 1 strand for backstitch outlines. A No. 24 tapestry needle is recommended — tapestry needles have a blunt tip, which is ideal for counted work on even-weave fabric as they pass between fabric threads without splitting them.

Each design uses its own carefully selected palette of Anchor Stranded Cotton colours:

Wormwood Thread Colours

• 1 skein each of #176, #226, #241, #246, #876, and #1076
• 2 skeins of #129

Thyme Thread Colours

• 1 skein each of #1, #129, #162, #226, #241, #246,