Anchor Butterfly Cross Stitch - ANC0003-113 - Downloadable PDF

Anchor Butterfly Cross Stitch Pattern (ANC0003-113) by Maggie Magoo – Free Downloadable PDF

The Anchor Butterfly Cross Stitch, design number ANC0003-113, is a charming embroidery pattern designed by Maggie Magoo and published by Anchor Crafts (MEZ Needlecraft GmbH, 2021). Available as a free downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated Easy, making it an ideal project for beginners who are just discovering the joy of cross stitch, as well as a relaxing quick-stitch for more experienced embroiderers looking for a delightful smaller piece.

The finished design measures approximately 15 x 10 cm, making it a perfectly sized motif for framing, greeting cards, hoop art, or embellishing fabric accessories. The butterfly subject matter is a perennially popular choice in needlework, offering a wonderful combination of delicate outlines and vibrant colour fills that showcase the versatility of cross stitch as a craft.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a butterfly motif worked in cross stitch on white Aida fabric. The design captures the intricate detail and natural beauty of a butterfly's wings through carefully charted stitches and a rich palette of Anchor Stranded Cotton thread colours. Once complete, the piece is well suited to display in an embroidery hoop or mounted in a frame as a piece of textile art.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The pattern makes use of three distinct embroidery stitches, each serving a specific purpose in building up the finished design:

• Cross Stitch – The primary stitch used throughout the design. Each cross stitch is formed by working two diagonal stitches over one square of the Aida fabric, creating the characteristic X shape. One square on the printed chart represents one complete cross stitch on the fabric.
• 3/4 Cross Stitch – A fractional stitch used to add curves and smoother edges to the butterfly's wings and body. Rather than completing the full X, only three-quarters of the stitch is worked, allowing for more refined, rounded shapes that a full cross stitch alone cannot achieve.
• Back Stitch – Used for outlining and adding fine detail and definition to the design. Back stitch creates clean, continuous lines that bring the butterfly's form into sharp focus, separating areas of colour and adding a polished, finished look to the overall piece.

Working with an embroidery hoop or frame is recommended throughout the stitching process to maintain an even tension across the fabric, which is especially important when combining full cross stitches with fractional stitches and back stitch detail.

Materials Required

Fabric

• 14-count white Aida fabric, sized 35 x 30 cm. Aida is the most widely used fabric for counted cross stitch due to its evenly woven grid of holes, which makes it easy to count stitches and maintain consistency across the design.

Thread

• Anchor Stranded Cotton, Art. No. 4635000, in 8-metre skeins. The following specific colour numbers are required for this design:
• #00031
• #00046
• #00073
• #00096
• #00167
• #00168
• #00297
• #00403
• #00410
• #01005

Anchor Stranded Cotton is a premium 6-strand embroidery thread known for its consistent colour quality and smooth finish. Strands can be separated and recombined to achieve different thicknesses depending on the stitch and fabric count being used.

Needle

• No. 24 Tapestry Needle – A blunt-tipped needle specifically designed for counted thread work on Aida and evenweave fabrics. The blunt tip passes cleanly through the holes in the fabric without splitting the fibres.