Avlea Folk Embroidery Grecian Urn 3 - Downloadable PDF

Avlea Folk Embroidery Grecian Urn 3 – Embroidery Pattern by Krista West

The Avlea Folk Embroidery Grecian Urn 3 is a downloadable PDF embroidery pattern designed by Krista West of Avlea Folk Embroidery. It is part of a delightful series celebrating traditional Greek folk embroidery motifs centered around decorative urns and flowers. The finished design measures 6-3/4 x 8-3/4 inches and spans 81 x 89 stitches, making it an approachable and rewarding project for beginner embroiderers who want to explore the rich heritage of Mediterranean needlework.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a charming counted thread embroidery piece featuring a classic Grecian urn surrounded by folk-inspired floral sprays. The flower arrangements include roses, daisies, and Persian-inspired carnations, all rendered in a palette drawn from traditional Greek textile traditions. The design is grounded by a horizontal border composed of small geometric patterns and repeating colors — a hallmark of authentic Greek folk embroidery historically used on double-ended table runners. In this piece, the border has been thoughtfully adapted into a frame, making it perfectly suited for display as a finished decorative object rather than a functional textile.

The pattern includes three finishing options with full directions and supply lists for each:

• Framed textile – displayed behind glass as a traditional framed needlework piece
• Pillow cover – transformed into a decorative accent pillow
• Wall hanging – finished as a fabric wall hanging for a more relaxed, artisan display

Techniques Used

This design is worked as counted thread embroidery, a technique in which stitches are placed by counting threads on an evenweave or Aida fabric rather than following a printed design. This method is deeply rooted in folk embroidery traditions across Europe and the Mediterranean, where geometric and floral motifs were passed down through generations using counted methods on woven cloth. The structured, grid-based nature of counted thread work makes it an excellent entry point for beginner embroiderers, as each stitch placement is guided precisely by the chart provided in the PDF.

The design draws on the aesthetic vocabulary of Greek folk embroidery, which is characterized by bold, symmetrical compositions, repeating geometric borders, and stylized botanical motifs including the carnation forms associated with Persian textile influence that spread throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.

Stitches Used

As a counted thread embroidery pattern in the Greek folk tradition, the design is primarily worked in cross stitch or similar counted stitches typical of this regional style. The geometric border elements and repeating floral motifs are well suited to the regularity and clean finish that counted thread techniques provide.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for the following specific materials:

• Fabric: One piece of 26-count counted thread fabric, cut to 12 x 13 inches
• Thread (floss): The following specific colors and quantities are required:
  • 3 yards – 347 coral
  • 2 yards – 3012 light green
  • 2 yards – 469 green
  • 1 yard – 598 turquoise
  • 2 yards – 924 teal
  • 2 yards – 832 golden olive
  • 8 yards – 815 garnet

The thread palette reflects the warm, earthy, and jewel-toned colors characteristic of traditional Greek folk textiles — deep garnet as the dominant color anchoring the composition, with accents of coral, teal, turquoise, and olive lending the piece its vibrant, folkloric character.

About the Grecian Urn Series by Avlea Folk Embroidery

The Grecian Urn series by