Summer Floral Cross - PDF

Summer Floral Cross – KDS# 1595 by Kooler Design Studio

The Summer Floral Cross (KDS# 1595) is a counted cross stitch decoration chart designed by Nancy Rossi for Kooler Design Studio, Inc., published in 2014 as part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a decorative floral cross motif — a timeless design well suited for framing, displaying as seasonal home décor, or gifting as a handmade keepsake. The finished piece carries a warm, summery aesthetic through its floral imagery arranged within or around a cross shape, making it equally appropriate for religious, seasonal, and decorative purposes.

What Is Being Made

Stitchers will create a decorative floral cross suitable for display as home décor or a wall hanging. The design is intended as a standalone decorative piece and is rated at an intermediate difficulty level, making it ideal for embroiderers who are comfortable with basic cross stitch but ready to work with a larger, more detailed composition that incorporates multiple stitch types.

Design Size and Stitch Count

The chart has a stitch count of 154 wide by 194 high, giving stitchers flexibility across several fabric counts:

• 14 Count: approximately 11 inches wide by 13⅞ inches high
• 16 Count: approximately 9⅝ inches wide by 12⅛ inches high
• 18 Count: approximately 8½ inches wide by 10¾ inches high

As recommended in the pattern, stitchers should add 4–6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric to allow sufficient border for framing or finishing.

Fabric and Materials

The design is specified to be stitched on 14 Count White Aida cloth. Aida is the most popular evenweave fabric for counted cross stitch — its evenly spaced, stiffened grid of holes makes it easy to count stitches accurately, which is especially helpful on a large, detailed design like this one. White Aida provides a bright, clean background that allows the floral colors to read clearly and vividly. While the pattern is charted for 14 count, it can be adapted to 16 or 18 count Aida or comparable evenweave fabrics for a smaller finished size.

Thread and Floss

The pattern includes a Floss and Symbol Listing, indicating that standard embroidery floss (such as six-strand divisible cotton floss) is used throughout. The chart specifies precise strand counts for each stitch type to achieve the correct coverage and texture:

• 3 strands for full cross stitches — providing solid, opaque coverage on 14 count Aida
• 1 strand for French Knots — creating delicate, fine-textured accent details
• 1 strand for backstitching — producing crisp, clean outlines and fine detail work

Using fewer strands for detail stitches is a standard technique that keeps fine lines sharp and prevents the embroidery from looking bulky in areas of intricate detail such as flower stems, petal edges, or lettering.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This pattern employs three distinct embroidery techniques, each serving a specific visual purpose in the finished design:

• Full Cross Stitch: The primary stitch used to fill in the body of the design. Each cross stitch is formed by two diagonal stitches crossing at the center of a fabric square. Working with 3 strands on 14 count Aida ensures full, even coverage with rich color saturation across the floral and cross motifs.
• Backstitch: Used with a single strand to add fine outlines, definition, and detail to elements such as flower petals, stems, and the cross shape itself. Backstitch is a running stitch worked in reverse, producing a continuous, unbroken line that gives the design crisp visual structure and depth.
• French Knots: Worked with a single strand, French knots are small, raised, knotted stitches that add dimensional texture and detail — commonly used to suggest flower centers, berries, or decorative dot accents. They require a specific wrapping technique around the needle before insertion back into the fabric, and