A To Z Wedding Sampler - PDF

A To Z Wedding Sampler – Kooler Design Studio Cross Stitch Pattern (PDF)

The A To Z Wedding Sampler is a beautifully detailed counted cross stitch sampler designed by Sandy Orton for Kooler Design Studio (KDS #2474). Released as a downloadable PDF chart under the Kooler Classic Charts series, this intermediate-level embroidery project is designed as a decorative piece — making it an ideal handmade wedding gift, keepsake, or home decoration for a newly married couple. The sampler spans the full alphabet from A to Z, worked in a cohesive palette of soft, romantic colors perfectly suited to a wedding theme.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a large, heirloom-quality wedding sampler featuring an A-to-Z alphabetical design. Samplers have a long tradition in needlework history, often serving as both a demonstration of stitching skill and a meaningful commemorative piece. This particular design incorporates multiple embroidery techniques to add texture and visual interest beyond standard cross stitch, making it a rewarding project for an embroiderer with some experience. The finished piece is intended as a framed decoration or display item.

Finished Size and Fabric Count Options

• Stitch Count: 155 stitches wide × 163 stitches high
• 14 Count Aida: approximately 11w × 11⅝h inches
• 16 Count Aida: approximately 9⅝w × 10⅛h inches
• 18 Count Aida: approximately 8½w × 9h inches
• The pattern recommends adding 4–6 inches to each measurement when cutting your fabric to allow for framing and finishing.

Recommended Materials

Fabric

The design is specified to be stitched on 14 Count Beige Aida cloth. Aida is the most widely used evenweave fabric for counted cross stitch, featuring a uniform grid of holes that makes it easy to count and place stitches accurately. The beige colorway complements the soft, muted floss palette and gives the finished sampler a warm, antique feel appropriate for a wedding heirloom.

Embroidery Floss

The pattern uses DMC stranded cotton embroidery floss exclusively. The full color palette consists of soft, romantic tones including mauves, roses, greens, and violets. The specific DMC thread colors called for are:

• DMC 223 – Shell Pink-Medium
• DMC 224 – Shell Pink-Light
• DMC 316 – Antique Mauve-Medium
• DMC 501 – Blue Green-Dark
• DMC 712 – Cream
• DMC 3041 – Antique Violet-Medium (requires 2 skeins)
• DMC 3042 – Antique Violet-Light
• DMC 3363 – Pine Green-Medium
• DMC 3364 – Pine Green
• DMC 3726 – Antique Mauve-Dark
• DMC 3727 – Antique Mauve-Light

Note: DMC 3041 Antique Violet-Medium is the most heavily used color in this design and requires two skeins.

Stitches and Techniques Used

This sampler is classified as an intermediate difficulty project because it incorporates a variety of embroidery stitches beyond the basic full cross stitch. Each stitch type serves a specific visual purpose — from filling large areas with color to adding fine detail, texture, and decorative borders.

Full Cross Stitch

The primary stitch used throughout the sampler is the full cross stitch, worked using 3 strands of DMC floss over one square of Aida fabric. Full cross stitches form the main body of the lettering and decorative motifs, creating solid areas of color.