Pine Cones - PDF

Pine Cones Cross Stitch Pattern – Kooler Design Studio (KDS #1803)

The Pine Cones pattern, catalogue number KDS #1803, is a counted cross stitch design created by designer Nancy Rossi and published by Kooler Design Studio, Inc., based in Lafayette, California. Released in 2018 as part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection, this design is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for stitchers who want to begin their project right away. The finished piece is intended as a decorative embroidery, perfectly suited to seasonal or nature-inspired home décor.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a detailed pine cone botanical composition, rendered in counted cross stitch on fabric. With a stitch count of 169 stitches wide by 169 stitches high, it is a square design that finishes at the following approximate sizes depending on the fabric count chosen:

• 14-count fabric: approximately 12 inches wide by 12 inches high
• 16-count fabric: approximately 10½ inches wide by 10½ inches high
• 18-count fabric: approximately 9⅜ inches wide by 9⅜ inches high

The pattern recommends adding 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric, to allow adequate margin for framing or finishing. The resulting piece makes a beautiful framed picture, pillow front, or seasonal decoration celebrating the natural textures and earthy tones of pine cones.

Techniques Used

This is a beginner-friendly embroidery project that relies on two fundamental counted cross stitch techniques:

• Full cross stitches – the primary technique used to build up the main body of the design, worked with 3 strands of embroidery floss for good coverage on the recommended fabric counts
• Backstitching – used to add fine detail, outlines, and definition to the design, worked with a reduced thread count of 2 strands of floss for a crisper, finer line

Counted cross stitch is a form of embroidery in which each stitch is placed precisely on a grid of evenly woven fabric. The stitcher follows a charted symbol grid, matching each symbol to a specific thread color listed in the floss key. This makes the technique highly accessible for beginners, as no freehand drawing or transferring of designs is required — the fabric's weave acts as a natural guide.

Stitches Used

• Full cross stitch – worked over one square of Aida fabric using 3 strands of DMC floss
• Backstitch – worked using 2 strands of DMC floss to outline and define design elements

Materials Required

The pattern specifies stitching on 14-count Touch of Gray Aida fabric as the recommended ground cloth, though the stitch count information provided allows stitchers to adapt the design to 16-count or 18-count Aida as well. Aida is the most widely used cross stitch fabric, featuring a clearly defined grid of holes that makes it easy to place stitches accurately — ideal for beginners.

The thread palette calls for DMC embroidery floss in a rich, naturalistic range of colors. A total of 32 DMC colors are used in this design, reflecting the complex, layered tones found in real pine cones and their surrounding foliage. The palette includes:

• Warm browns and tans – DMC colors such as 435, 437, 841, 842, 3781, 3826, 3828, 3862, 3864 to capture the rich, woody texture of pine cone scales
• Greens and sage tones – including 523, 734, 772, 890, 3013, 3363 for foliage, needles, and natural background elements
• Soft neutrals and grays – such as 415, 646, 762 to add depth and shadow