Under the Sea Mermaid

Under the Sea Mermaid Cross-Stitch Pattern by Magical Minnie Crafts

The Under the Sea Mermaid pattern by Magical Minnie Crafts is a colourful, beginner-friendly cross-stitch design featuring a cute mermaid motif perfect for creating a personalised piece of home décor or a thoughtful handmade gift. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is accessible immediately after purchase and includes everything a stitcher needs to get started, from a full colour and symbol chart to a black and white alternative pattern for easy printing.

What You Will Make

This pattern produces a charming under-the-sea themed mermaid design rendered in 17 embroidery floss colours. The finished piece is vibrant and decorative, suitable for framing, displaying in an embroidery hoop, or gifting to someone who loves whimsical ocean-inspired artwork. The design is described as cute and colourful, making it an appealing project for stitchers of all ages, particularly those new to the craft.

Design Dimensions

The design measures 104 stitches wide and 112 stitches high. The physical size of the finished piece depends on the count of Aida fabric chosen:

• 11 count Aida: approximately 28 cm wide x 28 cm high (10.9 x 10.9 inches) — recommended hoop size 38 cm x 38 cm
• 14 count Aida: approximately 22 cm wide x 22 cm high (8.6 x 8.6 inches) — recommended hoop size 33 cm x 33 cm
• 16 count Aida: approximately 19 cm wide x 19 cm high (7.5 x 7.5 inches) — recommended hoop size 30 cm x 30 cm

Stitchers are free to use any count of Aida fabric they prefer — the higher the count, the smaller and finer the finished design will appear.

Craft and Technique

This is a cross-stitch embroidery pattern, one of the most popular and approachable forms of needlework. Cross-stitch involves forming small X-shaped stitches on an even-weave fabric, following a charted grid where each square on the chart corresponds to one stitch on the fabric. Because the technique is straightforward and repetitive, it is widely considered ideal for beginners — no prior embroidery experience is required to complete this design.

The pattern includes both a colour and symbol chart and a black and white chart, giving stitchers flexibility depending on their printing preferences or working environment. Each symbol on the chart corresponds to a specific floss colour, making it easy to follow even for first-time cross-stitchers.

Stitches Used

• Cross stitch — the primary and defining stitch of the pattern, worked over the grid of the Aida fabric to build up the mermaid image colour by colour

Materials Required

The pattern calls for a concise and straightforward toolkit, keeping costs accessible for beginners:

• Aida fabric — available in 11, 14, or 16 count; any preferred count may be used
• Embroidery thread (floss) in 17 colours — only 1 skein of each colour is needed, keeping material costs low
• Cross-stitch needle — a blunt tapestry-style needle appropriate for counted cross-stitch
• Embroidery hoop — optional but recommended to keep the fabric taut and even while stitching
• Scissors

Getting Started

The included instructions guide stitchers through the process of finding the centre of the Aida fabric by folding it in half in both directions, then correctly mounting the fabric in an embroidery hoop so it sits taut like a drum. Stitching is recommended to begin from the centre of the design — specifically at stitch 35 across and 35 down — and work outward, which is