Colin Kaepernick - Downloadable PDF

Colin Kaepernick Embroidery Pattern – Downloadable PDF by Bianca Springer

This downloadable PDF embroidery pattern is designed by Bianca Springer (@thanksimadethem) and published by LoveCrafts. It guides stitchers through creating a detailed portrait of Colin Kaepernick, capturing his iconic look including his afro hair, jersey, beard, and signature style. Rated as a beginner-friendly project, this pattern is an excellent introduction to figurative embroidery, making it accessible to those who are just starting out with needlework while still producing a striking and meaningful finished piece.

What You Will Make

The finished embroidery is a portrait-style depiction of Colin Kaepernick, rendered in thread on fabric using a combination of classic hand embroidery stitches. The design includes carefully considered details such as his afro hair, jersey, pants, arms, shoes, nose, eyebrows, and beard, each worked in a specific stitch and thread count to give the portrait depth, texture, and realism. The result is a bold, expressive piece of textile art suitable for display in an embroidery hoop.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This pattern introduces and reinforces three core hand embroidery techniques, each chosen deliberately to suit the texture and detail of different areas of the portrait:

• Split Stitch – The primary outlining and fill stitch used throughout the pattern. Split stitch is worked by making a stitch forward, then bringing the needle back up through the middle of the previous stitch, effectively splitting the thread. This creates a smooth, rope-like line ideal for outlines and curved shapes. The pattern includes a helpful tip: letting the needle split through one or two strands of the embroidery floss (rather than between strands) keeps the line looking seamless and gap-free.
• French Knots – Used specifically for the afro hair, French knots create a dense, textured surface that mimics the natural volume and curl of the hair. The needle is brought up through the fabric, the floss is wrapped around the needle tip several times, and the needle is reinserted just slightly in front of the starting point. The more wraps used, the larger and denser the knot — the pattern encourages practice to achieve the desired look.
• Single Stitch – A simple, straight stitch used for fine detail work on the nose, eyebrows, and beard. The needle is brought up through the back of the fabric and pushed back down a short distance away. Multiple single stitches may be layered or angled to build the ideal shape for each facial feature.

Stitch and Thread Breakdown by Section

The pattern specifies exactly which stitch and how many strands of thread to use for each section of the portrait, ensuring consistent results:

• Afro Hair – 3-strand French Knots, using DMC 403 Black
• Shoes – 2-strand Split Stitch, using DMC 403 Black
• Eyebrows – 1-strand Single Stitch, using DMC 403 Black
• Beard – 1-strand Single Stitch, using DMC 403 Black
• Arms – 2-strand Split Stitch, using DMC 420 Hazelnut Brown
• Nose – 1-strand Single Stitch, using DMC 420 Hazelnut Brown
• Jersey – 2-strand Split Stitch, using DMC 498 Dark Red
• Pants – 2-strand Split Stitch, using DMC 972 Canary

Materials Required

To complete this embroidery pattern, you will need the following materials:

• DMC Embroidery Threads in the following colours:
  • DMC 403 Black
  • DMC 420 Hazelnut Brown
  • DMC 498