Modern Love in DMC - PAT0972 - Downloadable PDF

Modern Love Embroidery Pattern by DMC – PAT0972

Modern Love is a free, downloadable embroidery pattern from the DMC Library collection, designed for intermediate embroiderers who want to explore a variety of classic hand-embroidery techniques within a single decorative project. The pattern is presented bilingually in English and French, reflecting DMC's international crafting community.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a decorative hand-embroidered design titled Modern Love (Amour Moderne in French). The finished piece is a colourful, textured embroidery intended to be worked in a hoop and displayed as a finished artwork or keepsake. The design incorporates a variety of botanical and decorative motifs rendered in a contemporary style, brought to life through a rich palette of eight thread colours and five distinct embroidery stitches.

Techniques Used

The pattern is classified as 3D embroidery, meaning it uses dimensional stitches that raise elements off the fabric surface to create tactile depth and visual interest. This approach goes beyond flat surface embroidery, combining both traditional flat stitches and raised, sculptural techniques to build a layered, lifelike result. Working with DMC Coton Perlé thread enhances this effect, as the twisted, lustrous thread adds natural sheen and definition to each stitch.

Stitches Used

• Satin Stitch (Passé Plat) – A: A classic filling stitch worked in smooth, parallel threads laid closely together to cover a shape solidly and evenly. It creates a flat, silky surface ideal for petals, leaves, and bold design areas.
• Back Stitch (Point Arrière) – B: A strong, continuous line stitch used for outlines, fine details, and lettering. Each stitch doubles back to meet the end of the previous one, producing a clean, solid line.
• French Knot (Point de Noeud) – C: A small, raised knot formed by wrapping the thread around the needle before inserting it back into the fabric. French knots add texture and dimension, often used for flower centres, berries, or decorative dot clusters.
• Lazy Daisy Stitch (Point de Bouclette) – D: A detached chain stitch that forms individual petal or leaf shapes. Each loop is anchored at its tip, making it perfect for simple floral and foliage motifs.
• Bullion Stitch (Point de Poste) – E: An advanced dimensional stitch in which the thread is wrapped multiple times around the needle to create a raised, coiled bar or spiral. Bullion stitches are commonly used to form roses, buds, and textured botanical elements, and are a hallmark of three-dimensional embroidery work.

Colours and Thread

The design calls for eight skeins of DMC Coton Perlé No. 5 – Medium (Art. 115AR/5), one skein each in the following DMC colour numbers:

• DMC 413 – Dark Pewter Grey
• DMC 817 – Very Dark Coral Red
• DMC 351 – Coral
• DMC 353 – Peach
• DMC 947 – Burnt Orange
• DMC 890 – Ultra Dark Pistachio Green
• DMC 320 – Medium Pistachio Green
• DMC 471 – Very Light Avocado Green

DMC Coton Perlé No. 5 is a twisted, non-divisible pearl cotton thread with a natural sheen, well suited to dimensional and textured embroidery techniques. Its firm twist holds the shape of raised stitches such as bullion and French knots particularly well, making it the ideal choice for this style of 3D embroidery.

Materials and Tools Required

• Embroidery needle appropriate for pearl cotton thread
• Embroidery hoop (tambour) to keep fabric taut during stitching
• Fabric: