DMC Advent Calendar Embroidery Pattern - PAT1631_2

DMC Advent Calendar Embroidery Pattern (PAT1631_2) – Free Downloadable PDF

This free downloadable embroidery pattern from DMC guides stitchers through creating a charming advent calendar design featuring 24 individual numbered motifs, one for each day of the countdown to Christmas. Released as part of the DMC Library collection, this pattern is an ideal seasonal project for anyone who enjoys hand embroidery and wants to celebrate the festive period with a handmade heirloom piece. Because the pattern is completely free and available as a PDF, it is accessible to a wide range of crafters, from absolute beginners to more experienced embroiderers looking for a relaxed holiday project.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is an embroidered advent calendar featuring 24 separate numbered panels or motifs, arranged and stitched according to the technical chart provided in the PDF. Each numbered section corresponds to a day in December leading up to Christmas, making the completed piece both decorative and functional as a seasonal display. The colour guide and technical diagram included in the pattern show exactly where each DMC thread colour is placed across the full design, ensuring a vibrant and cohesive finished result.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner level, making it a wonderful introduction to hand embroidery. The stitches used are straightforward and well-suited to those who are just learning the craft, while still producing a visually impressive finished piece that more experienced stitchers will also enjoy working through at a relaxed pace.

Stitches Used

The pattern instructions reference the following embroidery stitches:

• Backstitch (Point arrière) – A foundational hand embroidery stitch used to create clean, continuous outlines and fine details. Each stitch is worked backwards to meet the end of the previous stitch, producing a solid, unbroken line ideal for lettering, numbers, and defining the edges of motifs.
• Satin Stitch – Referenced in the instructions section, satin stitch is used to fill areas of a design with smooth, closely packed parallel stitches that lie flat against the fabric, creating a neat, almost glossy surface. It is commonly used to fill small shapes such as stars, berries, and decorative elements typical of advent and Christmas designs.
• Additional stitch codes (A, B, C) are indicated in the colour and stitch guide within the PDF, directing the stitcher to apply specific techniques to designated areas of the design.

Techniques Used

The pattern makes use of a colour guide and a technical chart to direct placement of each thread colour across the 24-motif layout. Stitchers follow the coded diagram, matching letter and number codes to the correct DMC Mouliné Spécial thread colours. The design also references the use of a magic sheet or transfer pen to transfer the pattern outline onto the fabric before stitching begins, which is a practical technique that helps beginners accurately position their design without freehand drawing.

Materials Required

The pattern specifies the following materials:

• DMC Mouliné Spécial Art 117 – the standard six-strand divisible embroidery floss used throughout the design. The pattern calls for 14 individual colours, each requiring one skein, using the following DMC colour codes:

• 972 – one skein
• 310 – one skein
• 433 – one skein
• 434 – one skein
• 729 – one skein
• 3865 – one skein
• 613 – one skein
• 3362 – one skein
• 3348 – one skein
• 930 – one skein
• 3841 – one skein
• 948 – one skein
• 606 – one skein
• 608 – one skein

• Needle – a No. 12 needle is specified, which is a fine embroidery needle suited to working