Love Rose in DMC - PAT0297 - Downloadable PDF

Love Rose Cross Stitch Pattern by DMC – PAT0297

The Love Rose (Rose d'Amour) is a charming cross stitch embroidery pattern from the DMC Library, available as a free downloadable PDF. This design features a beautifully rendered rose motif, making it a timeless and romantic project suited to stitchers of all experience levels, including those just beginning their embroidery journey. The pattern is presented as a coloured cross stitch chart (diagramme point de croix en couleurs), meaning the chart uses colour-coded symbols to guide placement of each stitch with clarity and ease.

About the Design

The Love Rose motif is a classic floral subject in the world of counted cross stitch. Roses have long been a favourite in needlework traditions, and this design captures the layered petals and rich foliage of a full bloom. The coloured chart format makes it straightforward to follow, even for beginner embroiderers, as each colour zone is clearly indicated directly on the grid. The bilingual presentation (English and French) reflects the international heritage of the DMC brand, one of the world's most respected names in embroidery thread manufacturing.

Techniques Used

• Counted cross stitch – the primary technique, where X-shaped stitches are placed on an even-weave or Aida fabric by counting squares on the chart grid
• Quarter stitches (1/4 stitches) – indicated on the chart, these partial stitches are used to add detail and smooth curved edges such as the rounded petals of the rose, giving the finished piece a more refined and realistic appearance

Cross stitch is one of the oldest and most accessible forms of embroidery. It is worked by forming two diagonal stitches that cross at the centre to create a neat X shape. When combined with quarter stitches, the design gains additional definition, allowing curves and fine outlines to be rendered more accurately on the fabric grid.

Stitches Used

• Full cross stitch – the foundation stitch of the entire design, filling the main areas of the rose petals and leaves
• Quarter stitch (1/4 stitch) – used for detailing and shaping, particularly along curved or diagonal edges within the floral motif

Colour Palette and DMC Thread Colours

The pattern specifies the following DMC Mouliné Spécial embroidery thread colours, each carefully chosen to build the depth and natural shading of the rose and its foliage:

• DMC 894 – a soft carnation pink, used for lighter petal areas
• DMC 892 – a medium carnation pink, adding mid-tone warmth to the petals
• DMC 3801 – a vivid light Christmas red, providing rich depth and contrast within the bloom
• DMC 816 – a deep garnet red, used for the darkest shadows and inner petal shading
• DMC 562 – a medium jade green, forming the lighter areas of the leaves and stem
• DMC 505 – a jade green tone contributing to mid-range foliage shading
• DMC 319 – a very dark pistachio green, providing the deepest shadow tones in the leaves and stem

Together, these seven colours create a harmonious gradient from soft blush through to deep crimson in the petals, and from fresh mid-green through to rich forest green in the foliage — giving the finished rose a lifelike, dimensional quality.

Materials Required

• DMC Mouliné Spécial Embroidery Thread (117MC) – the recommended stranded cotton thread, available in all seven colours listed above. DMC Mouliné Spécial is a six-strand divisible thread, allowing stitchers to adjust the number of strands used depending on the fabric count and desired coverage.
• Cross stitch fabric – an even-weave or Aida fabric is required. The specific count (e.g., 14-count or 16-count Aida) will determine the final size of the finished piece. Higher counts produce a smaller, finer result.