Evil Eye in DMC - PAT0725 - Downloadable PDF

Evil Eye Embroidery Pattern by DMC – PAT0725

This free downloadable PDF embroidery pattern from the DMC Library guides stitchers through creating a beautifully detailed Evil Eye design, known in French as Mauvais Œil. Released as part of the DMC Étoile collection, this intermediate-level project combines multiple classic hand embroidery techniques to produce a striking, symbolic motif with rich colour and texture. The finished design measures approximately 15.7 cm × 16.9 cm, making it an ideal size for framing, hoop art, or incorporating into a larger textile project.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a detailed Evil Eye motif — a widely recognised protective symbol found across Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian cultures. In embroidery form, the evil eye typically features concentric layers of colour radiating outward from a central pupil, creating a mesmerising, jewel-like effect. This DMC version uses a carefully curated palette and a variety of stitches to give the design both visual depth and tactile dimension. The result is a decorative embroidery piece suitable for display or use in accessories and home décor.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to embroiderers who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to develop more advanced surface embroidery skills. The design incorporates five distinct stitch types, each serving a specific purpose in building up the layers of the motif:

• Long and Short Stitch (Passé Empiétant): Used to blend colours smoothly across larger areas, this technique involves alternating rows of longer and shorter stitches that interlock to create seamless colour gradients. It is one of the most important stitches in traditional needle painting and shading work.
• Split Stitch (Point Fendu): A foundational outlining and filling stitch where the needle pierces the centre of the previous stitch, creating a neat, chain-like line. It is often used to define edges cleanly before filling with other stitches.
• Satin Stitch (Passé Plat): Parallel straight stitches laid closely side by side to fill a shape with a smooth, flat, almost glossy surface. Satin stitch is ideal for creating bold blocks of solid colour within the design.
• Backstitch (Point Arrière): A versatile outlining stitch that produces a continuous, solid line. Backstitch is used here to define contours and add fine linear detail to the evil eye motif.
• French Knot (Point de Nœud): A raised, textured knot stitch formed by wrapping the thread around the needle before inserting it back into the fabric. French knots add three-dimensional detail and decorative accents to the composition.

Colour Palette and DMC Thread Colours

The pattern uses six colours of DMC Mouliné Étoile thread, worked with 2 strands throughout. The full colour list specified in the pattern instructions is as follows:

• Blanc (White) – 1 skein
• DMC C820 – 1 skein
• DMC C798 – 1 skein
• DMC C519 – 1 skein
• DMC C972 – 1 skein
• DMC C310 (Black) – 1 skein

The use of DMC Mouliné Étoile thread is particularly noteworthy. This specialty thread incorporates a subtle shimmer into the classic six-strand cotton floss construction, adding a gentle luminosity to the finished embroidery that enhances the mystical quality of the evil eye motif. The colour codes beginning with C denote the Étoile range specifically.

Materials Required

• DMC Mouliné Étoile embroidery thread in the six colours listed above
• Embroidery needle No. 12 – a fine needle appropriate for detailed surface embroidery work
• Fabric suitable for embroidery (the pattern references a base fabric