Goldfish in DMC - PAT0775 - Downloadable PDF

DMC Goldfish Cross Stitch Pattern (PAT0775) – Free Downloadable PDF

This free downloadable cross stitch pattern from the DMC Library features a charming goldfish (poisson rouge) design, rendered in a full-colour cross stitch chart. Ideal for beginner embroiderers, this pattern is a wonderful introduction to counted cross stitch, offering a manageable subject with vibrant, eye-catching colours. The goldfish motif is a timeless and popular choice in needlework, symbolising good luck and adding a decorative touch to framed pieces, hoop art, or embellished home accessories.

About the Design

The pattern presents a single goldfish motif worked in a richly coloured palette drawn entirely from DMC Mouliné Spécial embroidery thread. The design is presented as a coloured cross stitch chart (diagramme pont de croix en couleurs), making it easy for beginners to follow without needing to interpret symbol-only grids. The finished piece captures the flowing fins and warm, luminous tones characteristic of a classic goldfish illustration.

Colour Palette

The design uses the following DMC Mouliné Spécial thread colours:

• DMC 310 – Black, used for outlining and fine detail
• DMC E436 – A light tan metallic or specialty thread, adding shimmer and warmth
• DMC 3856 – Ultra light mahogany, a soft peachy-orange tone
• DMC 970 – Light pumpkin, a vivid mid-orange
• DMC 722 – Light orange spice, a warm medium orange
• DMC 720 – Dark orange spice, a deep, rich orange-brown
• DMC 3865 – Winter white, used for highlights and light areas

Together, these seven shades create a warm, glowing colour gradient across the goldfish's body, fins, and tail, with strong contrast provided by the black detailing and bright white highlights.

Techniques Used

Cross Stitch

Cross stitch is the primary technique used throughout this pattern. It is one of the oldest and most widely practised forms of hand embroidery, worked by forming an X-shaped stitch over the intersections of an evenweave or Aida fabric. Each stitch is counted carefully from the chart, allowing the stitcher to build up the design square by square. Cross stitch is particularly well-suited to pictorial designs like this goldfish, as the grid-based structure naturally lends itself to rendering shapes, shading, and colour gradients.

Quarter Stitches

The pattern also incorporates quarter stitches (1/4 stitches), as indicated on the chart. Quarter stitches cover only one quarter of a full cross stitch square and are used to refine curved edges and fine details — such as the rounded contours of the goldfish's body and the delicate tips of its fins — giving the finished design a smoother, more polished appearance than full stitches alone could achieve.

Stitches Used

• Full cross stitch – The foundational stitch used to fill the body of the design
• Quarter stitch (1/4 stitch) – Used for curved outlines and refined detailing

Materials Required

Thread

The pattern is designed to be stitched using DMC Mouliné Spécial embroidery thread (Article 117MC), a 6-strand divisible cotton floss that is the global standard for cross stitch and embroidery. Stitchers typically work with two strands of thread for full cross stitches on standard Aida fabric, though the exact strand count may vary depending on fabric count and personal preference.

Fabric

The pattern specifies the use of DMC cross stitch fabric (Aida). Aida is a stiff, evenweave cotton fabric woven with clearly visible holes, making it the ideal choice for beginners as it guides needle placement without the need for additional counting aids. Common fabric counts for this type of