Cat in DMC - PAT0523 - Downloadable PDF

Cat Embroidery Pattern by Ruby Taylor x DMC (PAT0523) – Free Downloadable PDF

This Cat embroidery pattern is a charming collaboration between illustrator Ruby Taylor and thread brand DMC. Available as a free downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level design invites embroiderers to stitch a beautifully detailed cat portrait using DMC's signature stranded cotton threads. The pattern is part of the DMC Library collection and reflects Ruby Taylor's distinctive illustrative style, translated into a rich, painterly needlework design.

What You Will Make

The finished project is an embroidered cat (chat) design, rendered with a full colour palette and fine detail. The colour guide included in the PDF uses a coded reference system (such as A3, A5, A6, A8, B1 through B9, and C10) to map specific DMC thread colours to precise areas of the design, allowing stitchers to recreate the illustration with accuracy and depth. The technical chart provided alongside the colour diagram helps embroiderers understand thread placement and stitch direction.

Techniques Used

• Long and Short Stitch (Passé Empiétant): This is the primary technique used throughout the pattern. Long and short stitch is a classic embroidery method used to blend colours seamlessly, mimicking the soft gradations of fur, shadow, and light. Rows of alternating long and short stitches interlock with one another, allowing subsequent rows of colour to blend naturally into the previous ones. This technique is particularly well-suited to realistic animal portraits like this cat design.
• Colour blending: The extensive colour guide with multiple thread codes across the A, B, and C series indicates careful, layered colour work, requiring the stitcher to transition smoothly between shades to build up form and texture.

Stitches Used

• Long and short stitch – the foundational stitch of this pattern, used to fill large areas with blended colour and realistic texture, ideal for capturing the look of a cat's coat

Materials Required

• DMC Stranded Cotton (Mouliné) – multiple colours as specified in the pattern's colour guide, referenced by the coded chart included in the PDF. The pattern notes specify the number of strands and skeins required for each colour.
• Embroidery needle – suitable for stranded cotton thread
• Embroidery hoop or frame – recommended to keep fabric taut while working long and short stitch
• Fabric – an even-weave or plain-weave embroidery fabric appropriate for surface embroidery

Skill Level and Suitability

This pattern is rated intermediate, making it ideal for embroiderers who are comfortable with basic stitches and are ready to develop their skills in colour blending and thread painting. Long and short stitch can be challenging to master, as consistent stitch length and careful attention to direction are important for achieving a smooth, realistic finish. However, the detailed colour diagram and technical chart provided by DMC offer excellent guidance throughout the process.

About the Designer

Ruby Taylor is an illustrator whose collaboration with DMC brings a fresh, contemporary aesthetic to traditional embroidery. Her designs are known for their warmth, character, and careful use of colour — qualities that translate beautifully into the medium of thread and needle. This Cat pattern is a wonderful example of her illustrative style reimagined for the embroidery enthusiast.

Pattern Format

The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and includes a full colour guide, a technical chart, and written instructions in both English and French. Embroiderers are encouraged to share their finished makes using the hashtag #dmcthreads across DMC's social media community on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.