Birthday Faeries December - PDF

Birthday Faeries December Cross Stitch Pattern – Kooler Design Studio (KDS# 1379)

This Birthday Faeries December cross stitch pattern (KDS# 1379) is a downloadable PDF chart designed by Barbara Baatz Hillman for Kooler Design Studio. It is part of the beloved Kooler Classic Charts series and features a charming December birthday faerie motif, making it a delightful project for creating decorations, framed pieces, or seasonal gifts. Rated as a beginner-friendly embroidery project, this design is accessible to those new to counted cross stitch while still offering enough detail to satisfy more experienced stitchers.

About the Design

The Birthday Faeries December design celebrates the magic of December with a whimsical faerie illustration rendered in counted cross stitch. The finished piece captures a festive, wintry character full of color and personality. With a stitch count of 70 wide by 97 high, the design offers a compact but detailed composition that works beautifully as a framed decoration or a seasonal display piece.

Depending on the fabric count chosen, the finished design size varies:

• 10 Count: approximately 6-1/4 inches wide by 8-3/4 inches high
• 14 Count: approximately 5 inches wide by 6-7/8 inches high
• 16 Count: approximately 4-3/8 inches wide by 6 inches high
• 18 Count: approximately 3-7/8 inches wide by 5-3/8 inches high

As with all counted cross stitch projects, it is recommended to add 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting your fabric to allow for framing and finishing.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several classic counted cross stitch techniques, making it a wonderful opportunity to practice and refine foundational embroidery skills:

• Full Cross Stitch – the primary technique used to fill the design with color and form the main body of the faerie illustration
• Quarter Stitch (1/4 Stitch) – used to create smoother curves and finer details within the design, particularly along edges and facial features
• Backstitch – used for outlining, adding definition, and creating fine linear details that bring the faerie to life
• French Knots – used as decorative accent stitches to add texture and dimension to specific areas of the design

Understanding these techniques is straightforward for beginners. Full cross stitches are formed by crossing two diagonal stitches to create an X shape. Quarter stitches use only one diagonal leg of the cross, allowing for more precise shaping. Backstitching creates a continuous line by working stitches in a back-and-forth motion, ideal for outlines and lettering. French knots are small, knotted stitches formed by wrapping the thread around the needle before inserting it back into the fabric, creating a raised dot of texture.

Stitches at a Glance

• Full Cross Stitch
• Quarter Stitch (1/4 Cross Stitch)
• Backstitch
• French Knots

Materials – Fabric

The design is stitched on 14 Count White Aida fabric, which is the recommended and most commonly used ground fabric for counted cross stitch. Aida cloth features an evenly woven grid of holes that makes it easy to count and place stitches accurately, making it especially suitable for beginners. The pattern includes size information for 10, 14, 16, and 18 count fabric options, giving stitchers flexibility in choosing their preferred fabric and finished size.

Materials – Floss and Thread

The pattern uses a rich and varied palette of DMC embroidery floss colors, providing the warm, festive tones appropriate for a December theme. The full color and symbol listing includes the following DMC thread numbers: