DMC Pug - PAT1503S - Downloadable PDF

DMC Pug Cross Stitch Pattern (PAT1503S) – Free Downloadable PDF

This free downloadable PDF pattern from the DMC Library features an adorable pug (carlin) design worked in coloured cross stitch with backstitch. Released as part of DMC's extensive pattern library, this charming animal motif is ideal for intermediate embroiderers looking to practise realistic colour blending and fine detail work on a manageable, characterful subject.

What You Will Make

The finished project is a coloured cross stitch portrait of a pug dog, capturing the breed's distinctive wrinkled face, expressive eyes, and compact form. The design uses a carefully chosen palette of DMC thread colours including shades 779, 803, 3371, 07, and 09, which together recreate the warm fawn, deep brown, and near-black tones characteristic of a pug's colouring. The result is a detailed, lifelike textile artwork suitable for framing, mounting, or incorporating into a finished home décor or gift item.

Techniques Used

• Coloured cross stitch – the primary technique, used to build up the body, fur texture, and overall form of the pug across the full design area
• Backstitch – used as an outlining and detail technique to define the pug's features, add fine lines, and sharpen the overall image; backstitch is worked after the cross stitch fill is complete and gives the design crisp, graphic definition

Cross stitch is a counted embroidery technique in which X-shaped stitches are placed on an evenweave or Aida fabric following a charted grid. Each square on the chart corresponds to one cross stitch worked over a set number of fabric threads. Backstitch, by contrast, is a linear stitch that travels in a continuous line, making it perfect for outlines, whiskers, facial details, and any area requiring a clean, precise edge.

Stitches Used

• Cross stitch – the foundational stitch forming the coloured body of the design
• Backstitch – used for outlines and fine detail work throughout the pug motif

Materials Required

• DMC Mouliné Spécial Embroidery Thread (117MC) – the pattern is specifically designed for use with this six-strand divisible cotton embroidery floss, available in the full range of DMC colours
• Thread colours referenced in the chart: 779, 803, 3371, 07, 09 – a palette of warm taupes, rich browns, and deep near-blacks
• Evenweave or Aida cross stitch fabric – required as the counted ground fabric for the design
• Tapestry needle – a blunt-tipped needle appropriate for counted cross stitch on evenweave or Aida
• Embroidery hoop or frame – recommended to keep fabric taut and stitches even during work

Pattern Format and Difficulty

The pattern is provided as a 5-page downloadable PDF and includes a coloured cross stitch chart alongside a backstitch diagram, making it straightforward to follow both the colour placement and the detail stitching in sequence. Rated as intermediate in difficulty, this design is well suited to embroiderers who are comfortable reading a counted chart and working with multiple thread colours, but who may not yet have tackled highly complex shading or very large-scale projects. The use of backstitch for detail does require a degree of confidence with needle control, making this a satisfying next step for those progressing beyond beginner level.

About the DMC Library

This pattern is part of the DMC Library (Bibliothèque DMC), a curated collection of free and premium embroidery, cross stitch, and needlework designs published by DMC, one of the world's most recognised manufacturers of embroidery thread. Finished creations can be shared with the DMC community using #dmcthreads across social platforms.