Point de marque 1 in DMC - PAT0268 - Downloadable PDF

Marking Stitch 1st Series – Cross Stitch Pattern by Thérèse de Dillmont for DMC (PAT0268)

This free downloadable PDF embroidery pattern is part of the celebrated DMC Library / Bibliothèque DMC collection, edited by Thérèse de Dillmont. Known as Point de Marque – 1ère Série (Marking Stitch, 1st Series), it presents a classic counted cross stitch design rooted in the long tradition of European marking and monogram embroidery. The pattern is presented as Spread / Planche No. 01 and is an ideal starting point for anyone new to counted needlework.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a counted cross stitch embroidery worked on fabric, measuring approximately 17.8 × 30.1 cm (7⅛ × 11⅞ inches) when stitched on 14-count Aida cloth. The design belongs to the tradition of marking stitches — decorative alphabets, motifs, or sampler-style arrangements historically used to mark household linens and personal items with initials or numerals. This first series in the DMC collection introduces the foundational forms of that tradition in a clean, charted format.

Techniques Used

• Counted Cross Stitch: The primary technique throughout the pattern. Each cross stitch is formed by working two diagonal stitches over an equal number of fabric threads to create a neat X shape. Working from a counted chart means the embroiderer follows a grid rather than a pre-printed design on fabric, developing accuracy and pattern-reading skills.
• Backstitch: Used as a finishing and outlining technique alongside the cross stitch. Backstitch creates clean, continuous lines that define edges, add fine detail, and give the finished design crispness and definition. The pattern is described as a coloured cross stitch chart with backstitch / diagramme point de croix en couleurs avec point arrière.

Stitches Used

• Cross Stitch (Point de Croix): The foundational stitch of the design, worked in a grid formation on even-weave fabric.
• Backstitch (Point Arrière): A secondary stitch used for outlines and linear detail, worked after the cross stitches are complete.

Materials Required

The pattern specifies the following materials, all referenced directly in the PDF:

• DMC Mouliné Spécial embroidery thread — the recommended stranded cotton floss. DMC Mouliné Spécial is a six-strand divisible thread, allowing embroiderers to adjust the number of strands used for finer or bolder coverage depending on fabric count. The pattern references DMC colour 648 specifically within the chart.
• Cross stitch fabric Aida (Toile Aida): The recommended ground fabric. Aida is a woven fabric with an evenly spaced grid of holes that makes counting stitches straightforward. The pattern is sized based on 14-count Aida, meaning 14 stitches per inch — the most widely used count and the one recommended for beginners.
• Cross stitch needle (Aiguille): A blunt-tipped tapestry needle appropriate for counted work on Aida fabric, which guides thread through the pre-formed holes without splitting the fabric weave.
• Embroidery hoop (Tambour) — optional: A round or oval frame used to keep the fabric taut and even while stitching, helping to maintain consistent tension across the design.
• Scissors (Ciseaux): Small, sharp embroidery scissors for trimming thread ends neatly.

Difficulty and Suitability

This pattern is rated beginner level, making it an excellent introduction to counted cross stitch. The use of 14-count Aida produces a comfortable stitch size that is easy to see and count, and the two-stitch technique — cross stitch combined with backstitch — covers the core skills needed for virtually all counted embroidery projects. The clear coloured chart format, with a separate black-and-white grid diagram also included, makes it easy to follow even for first-time stitchers.