DMC Strawberries - PAT2022 - Downloadable PDF

DMC Strawberries Embroidery Pattern (PAT2022) – Free Downloadable PDF

The DMC Strawberries embroidery pattern (PAT2022) is a charming free downloadable PDF from the DMC Library – Bibliothèque DMC, designed to help embroiderers create a beautifully detailed strawberry motif. With its rich botanical subject matter and classic hand-embroidery approach, this pattern is a wonderful project for those who enjoy nature-inspired needlework. The design is rated intermediate difficulty, making it an ideal step up for stitchers who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore more refined techniques and shading.

What Is Being Made

This pattern guides you through stitching a decorative strawberries (fraises) embroidery design. The finished piece captures the lush, organic look of ripe strawberries, complete with foliage and fine detail work. The motif is well-suited for embellishing items such as linen, fabric panels, clothing, or hoop art displays. The colour guide included in the PDF reveals a rich palette of reds, greens, and accent tones that bring the fruit and leaves to life with realistic depth and dimension.

Techniques Used

As an intermediate-level embroidery project, the DMC Strawberries pattern draws on a combination of hand-embroidery techniques that build texture and visual interest across the design. These techniques are typical of the DMC Library's approach to botanical and decorative needlework:

• Colour shading and blending – The detailed colour guide references multiple DMC thread shades across the design sections (labelled A1, B2, C5, D3, D6, E4, E9, F7, F8), indicating that careful thread colour selection and blending are central to achieving the finished look.
• Filled embroidery – Areas of the strawberry and foliage are worked with filling stitches to create solid, smooth, or textured surfaces.
• Outline and detail work – Fine lines and defining details around the fruit and leaves are created using precise outline stitching techniques.
• Botanical illustration style – The overall approach mirrors traditional botanical embroidery, where layering of stitches and careful colour placement create a naturalistic, painterly result.

Stitches Used

While the PDF's stitch list is referenced within the instructions section, the technical chart and colour diagram indicate a multi-stitch design typical of DMC's intermediate embroidery patterns. Stitches commonly employed in DMC Library designs of this style and complexity include:

• Satin stitch – Used to fill the body of the strawberries and leaf sections with smooth, lustrous coverage.
• Stem stitch or outline stitch – Applied along edges and stems to define the shapes cleanly.
• French knots – Likely used to represent the seeds or texture on the strawberry surface, a hallmark of fruit embroidery designs.
• Straight stitch – Used for fine details and accent marks within the design.

Stitchers should refer directly to the instructions pages of the PDF for the exact stitch list and placement guidance as specified by DMC.

Materials Required

This is a needle and thread embroidery project — no knitting needles or crochet hooks are required. The materials toolkit referenced in the pattern includes:

• DMC embroidery thread (stranded cotton) – The colour guide specifies nine distinct colour references (A1, B2, C5, D3, D6, E4, E9, F7, F8), all from the DMC thread range. These cover the reds and pinks of the strawberry fruit, the greens of the foliage, and additional accent shades.
• Embroidery needle – Referenced directly in the pattern's tool kit section as an essential supply.
• Fabric – A suitable embroidery ground fabric such as linen or cotton evenweave is standard for DMC Library projects of this type.
• Embroidery hoop – Recommended for keeping fabric taut and stitches even during work.

Pattern Format and Availability

The DMC Strawberries pattern PAT2022 is available as