Pheasants - PDF

Pheasants Cross Stitch Pattern (KDS #2228) by Kooler Design Studio

The Pheasants pattern, catalog number KDS #2228, is a cross stitch embroidery design created by Kooler Design Studio, Inc., based in Lafayette, California. This intermediate-level, downloadable PDF chart belongs to the Kooler Classic Charts collection and is intended to be stitched as a decorative piece. The finished embroidery depicts pheasants rendered in rich, naturalistic tones, making it a striking decorative work suitable for framing or display.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a decorative embroidered textile featuring pheasants as the central subject. The design is worked on fabric and, once completed, is typically framed or mounted as home décor. The stitch count is 154 stitches wide by 194 stitches high, making it a substantial and detailed piece. Finished dimensions vary depending on the fabric count chosen:

• 14 Count fabric: approximately 11 inches wide by 13¾ inches high
• 16 Count fabric: approximately 9⅝ inches wide by 12⅛ inches high
• 18 Count fabric: approximately 8½ inches wide by 10¾ inches high

Stitchers are advised to add 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric to allow for framing and finishing allowance.

Recommended Fabric

The design is specified to be stitched on 14 Count Cream Aida fabric. Aida cloth is the most widely used fabric for counted cross stitch, featuring an even weave with clearly defined holes that guide needle placement. The cream coloring of the Aida provides a warm, neutral background that complements the earthy, natural palette of the pheasant design. Stitchers may also choose 16 or 18 Count Aida for a finer, smaller result.

Techniques Used

This is an intermediate-level embroidery project that employs multiple counted cross stitch techniques. Intermediate skill is recommended because the design combines several stitch types and requires careful attention to strand counts and color changes across a large, detailed composition.

• Full Cross Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the design, worked with 3 strands of embroidery floss. Full cross stitches form the main body of the image, building up color and texture across the fabric grid.
• Quarter Stitch (¼ Stitch): Used to refine curves, edges, and fine detail areas, also worked with 3 strands. Quarter stitches fill only one quarter of a fabric square, allowing for smoother outlines and more realistic shaping — particularly important when depicting the curved contours of birds.
• Backstitch: Used for outlining, defining feather details, and adding fine linear elements. The pattern specifies 1 or 2 strands for backstitching depending on the area, allowing for variation in line weight and visual emphasis. Backstitch is a fundamental outlining technique in cross stitch that brings crispness and definition to a finished piece.

Stitches Used

• Full Cross Stitch — 3 strands
• Quarter Stitch — 3 strands
Backstitch — 1 to 2 strands

Materials: Floss and Thread

The pattern uses DMC embroidery floss throughout, with a broad palette of colors that capture the complex, multi-toned plumage of pheasants. The color range spans deep blacks and navies through warm tans, browns, and greens, reflecting the naturalistic coloring of the birds and their environment. Several colors require 2 skeins due to their extensive use across the design:

• DMC 436 – Tan (2 skeins)
• DMC 839 – Beige Brown, Dark (2 skeins)
• DMC 840 – Beige Brown, Medium (2 skeins)