DMC Terriers Embroidery Pattern - PAT1740 - Downloadable PDF

DMC Terriers Embroidery Pattern (PAT1740) – Free Downloadable PDF

This DMC Terriers Embroidery Pattern (PAT1740) is a free downloadable PDF from the DMC Library collection, designed to help embroiderers create a richly detailed, lifelike portrait of terrier dogs using a carefully curated palette of thread colours and a variety of classic hand embroidery stitches. The pattern is rated advanced beginner, making it an excellent next step for those who have mastered basic embroidery and are ready to tackle more nuanced shading and texture work.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is an embroidered depiction of terriers, rendered in fine thread work that captures the distinctive coat textures, facial features, and tonal depth characteristic of these beloved dog breeds. The design is produced by DMC, one of the world's most recognised names in embroidery, and is part of their ongoing DMC Library free pattern series. The colour guide and technical chart included in the PDF show a complex arrangement of thread colour zones, indicating a detailed, multi-toned composition with careful attention to realistic fur rendering.

Materials Required

Thread

• DMC Mouliné Spécial Art 117 embroidery floss is the specified thread for this pattern
• The design calls for 14 individual thread colours, each requiring one skein, as follows:
• 3865 – a near-white shade
• 01 – a light neutral
• 3799 – a deep charcoal grey
• 310 – black
• 758 – a soft terracotta
• 3778 – a medium terracotta
• 754 – a pale peach
• 03 – a light grey
• 04 – a medium grey
• 535 – a soft ash grey
• 436 – a warm tan
• 435 – a medium brown
• 434 – a deeper brown
• 433 – a rich dark brown

This palette spans cool greys, warm tans, earthy browns, and soft skin tones, providing everything needed to recreate the varied coat colours and facial details typical of terrier breeds.

Fabric and Tools

• Fabric: The pattern specifies a suitable embroidery fabric or toile; a magic sheet or transfer pen is recommended for transferring the design onto the fabric
• Needle: A No. 12 needle is specified, which is a fine needle well suited to detailed thread work and close stitching

Stitches Used

The pattern employs five distinct embroidery stitches, each assigned a letter code (A through E) in the technical chart. Together, these stitches create the realistic texture and dimension that define this design.

Long and Short Stitch (Code A)

Long and short stitch is the primary shading stitch used throughout the terrier design. It involves alternating longer and shorter stitches in adjacent rows, allowing thread colours to blend seamlessly into one another. This technique is ideal for replicating the soft gradations of a dog's fur and is widely considered one of the most effective methods for realistic embroidered portraiture.

Satin Stitch (Code B)

Satin stitch consists of smooth, parallel stitches placed closely together to fill a shape completely, creating a flat, polished surface. In this pattern, it is used extensively across many areas of the design, as indicated by the high frequency of B-coded zones in the colour guide. It is particularly effective for rendering smooth facial features and solid colour areas within the terrier's coat.

Stem Stitch (Code C)

Stem stitch produces a neat, rope-like line and is used here for outlines, contour definition, and linear details. It is worked by overlapping each stitch slightly with the previous one, creating a continuous, slightly