Faerie Godmother - PDF

Faerie Godmother Embroidery Pattern PDF by Kooler Design Studio

The Faerie Godmother is a charming counted cross stitch embroidery design created by Barbara Baatz Hillman for Kooler Design Studio (KDS #2330), published under the Kooler Classic Charts collection. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a detailed decorative piece featuring a faerie godmother figure, rendered in a rich palette of DMC floss colors. The finished piece is well-suited as a framed decoration, a stitched keepsake, or a display piece for fans of fantasy and fairy-tale themed needlework.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single decorative embroidery design depicting a Faerie Godmother. With a stitch count of 117 stitches wide by 148 stitches high, the design is a substantial and detailed composition. The finished size varies depending on the fabric count chosen:

• 14 Count Aida: approximately 8¼ inches wide by 10½ inches tall
• 16 Count Aida: approximately 7¼ inches wide by 9¼ inches tall
• 18 Count Aida: approximately 6½ inches wide by 8⅛ inches tall

The pattern instructs stitchers to add 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric, ensuring adequate margin for finishing and framing.

Techniques Used

This is an intermediate-level counted cross stitch pattern that employs multiple embroidery techniques to achieve depth, detail, and dimension in the finished design:

• Full Cross Stitch: The primary technique used to fill the design, worked with 3 strands of DMC floss for solid coverage and rich color.
• Quarter Stitch (¼ Stitch): Used alongside full cross stitches to create smoother curves and more refined outlines within the design. Quarter stitches are also worked with 3 strands (or 4 strands as noted in the design information).
• Backstitch: Used for outlining, detailing, and adding fine linear elements to the design. Backstitching is worked with just 1 strand of floss, giving crisp, delicate definition to the figure and surrounding elements.

Counted cross stitch is a form of embroidery in which each stitch is placed precisely on an even-weave or Aida fabric by counting threads or holes. The combination of full stitches, quarter stitches, and backstitching is a hallmark of intermediate-level cross stitch design, allowing for realistic shading, smooth curves, and fine detail that simpler patterns do not achieve.

Stitches Used

• Full Cross Stitch — worked with 3 strands of DMC floss
• Quarter Stitch (¼ Cross Stitch) — worked with 3 to 4 strands of DMC floss
• Backstitch — worked with 1 strand of DMC floss

Materials Referenced

The pattern specifies the following materials for stitching the Faerie Godmother design:

• Fabric: 14 Count Cream Aida is the recommended base fabric. Aida cloth is a woven cotton fabric with an even, open grid that makes it easy to count stitches and place them accurately — ideal for counted cross stitch at an intermediate level.
• Thread — DMC Stranded Cotton Floss: A wide range of DMC colors is used, including DMC 210, 301, 309, 353, 400, 436, 451, 452, 453, 471, 676, 742, 744, 745, 746, 818, 838, 937, and 943, among others. DMC Blanc is noted as requiring 2 skeins, indicating it is used extensively in the design.
• Specialty Thread — Kreinik Blending Filament (KBF): The pattern references Kreinik Blending Filament, a fine metallic thread that is typically combined with standard floss strands to add a subtle