Cherry Blossom in DMC - PAT0015 - Downloadable PDF

Cherry Blossom Embroidery Pattern by DMC – PAT0015

This downloadable PDF embroidery pattern is part of DMC's Hello Japan collection, titled Cherry Blossom / Fleurs de Cerisier. It is a free, intermediate-level design that guides stitchers through creating a beautifully detailed Japanese cherry blossom composition, complete with delicate petals, pollen details, leaves, and stems. The finished design measures approximately 14.8 cm × 21.9 cm, making it a substantial and decorative piece suitable for framing, hoop art, or textile embellishment.

About the Design

The Cherry Blossom motif captures the elegance of Japanese sakura, featuring layered floral petals with distinct inside and outside shading, clusters of pollen, flowing stems, and surrounding foliage. The pattern uses a carefully considered colour placement system, with specific DMC thread colours assigned to each element — petals, pollen, leaves, stems, and outlines — to achieve a naturalistic, painterly result. The bilingual instructions (English and French) reflect DMC's international heritage and make the pattern accessible to a wide audience.

Materials Required

Thread

• DMC Mouliné Spécial ART 117 embroidery floss, used with 3 strands throughout
• DMC 310 (Black) – 2 skeins, used for all outlines
• DMC 3847 (Dark Teal Green) – 1 skein, used for leaves and stems
• DMC 3824 (Light Apricot) – 1 skein
• DMC 225 (Ultra Light Shell Pink) – 1 skein
• DMC 321 (Red) – 1 skein

Tools and Fabric

• Embroidery needle No. 12
• Base fabric of your choice
• Magic sheet, transfer pen, or transfer paper to transfer the design onto fabric

Stitches Used

This pattern introduces and combines a range of classic hand embroidery stitches, making it an excellent project for intermediate embroiderers looking to build their skills. Each stitch is assigned a letter code in the technical chart, clearly indicating where each technique is applied across the design.

• Stem Stitch (Code A) – A foundational embroidery stitch worked in a continuous line, ideal for curved stems and outlines. The needle is brought up ahead of the previous stitch while the thread is kept to one side, creating a twisted rope-like line.
• Backstitch (Code B) – A strong, clean outline stitch where each new stitch begins at the end of the previous one, producing a solid unbroken line. Used here for specific structural elements.
• Long and Short Filling Stitch / Passé Empiétant (Code C) – A classic shading technique used to fill larger areas with smooth colour gradations. Alternating long and short stitches interlock across rows, blending colours naturally. In this pattern it is applied with distinct outside and inside colour placement on the petals.
• French Knot (Code D) – A textural stitch created by wrapping the thread around the needle before inserting it back into the fabric, forming a small raised knot. Used here for all pollen details, adding dimensional realism to the floral centres.
• Satin Stitch / Passé Plat (Code E) – Parallel straight stitches laid closely side by side to fill a shape with a smooth, lustrous surface. Also used in a long and separated variation (Code B5 or E5) in specific areas of the design.

Techniques and Pattern Structure

The technical chart provided in the PDF assigns each design element — petals, pollen, leaves, stems, and outlines — a specific stitch code and colour reference, ensuring clarity throughout the stitching process. Notably, the pattern specifies that all pollen French knots must follow the same stitch direction, and that all stems are worked in a consistent direction