Koi fish in DMC - PAT0535 - Downloadable PDF

Koi Fish Embroidery Pattern by Liz Stiglets for DMC – PAT0535

This free downloadable embroidery pattern is a collaboration between Cozy Blue and DMC, designed by Liz Stiglets. It features a beautifully detailed koi fish motif — also known as carpe koï — rendered in hand embroidery. The design is rated as beginner level, making it an approachable and rewarding project for those new to embroidery as well as a satisfying stitch-along for more experienced needleworkers.

Koi fish are a beloved subject in textile art, symbolizing good fortune, perseverance, and beauty. This pattern captures the graceful, flowing form of the koi in a style that translates naturally into embroidery stitches, making it ideal for decorating hoops, clothing, tote bags, or home décor items.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is an embroidered koi fish design, suitable for display in an embroidery hoop or applied to fabric of your choice. The pattern includes a colour guide (diagramme en couleur) and a technical chart (diagramme technique) to guide stitchers through the full composition with clarity and precision.

Materials Required

• DMC Mouliné Spécial Art 117 – the primary embroidery thread used throughout the design, available in the specific colours referenced in the pattern's colour guide
• Needle – a No. 12 embroidery needle is recommended for this project
• Fabric – the pattern specifies a Magic Sheet combined with a transfer pen and transfer paper for transferring the design onto your chosen fabric

Techniques and Stitches

As a beginner-friendly embroidery pattern, this design from DMC and Liz Stiglets introduces stitchers to the fundamentals of hand embroidery using DMC Mouliné Spécial stranded cotton thread. The pattern is accompanied by a detailed technical chart that maps out the placement and direction of stitches across the koi fish motif.

• Hand embroidery is the primary craft technique used throughout
• The colour guide provided in the PDF helps stitchers select and place the correct DMC thread colours for each section of the design
• The transfer method using a magic sheet, transfer pen, and transfer paper allows the design to be accurately reproduced onto fabric before stitching begins

Pattern Format and Accessibility

This pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible after download. It is part of the DMC Library (Bibliothèque DMC) collection and was created in partnership with Cozy Blue and designer Liz Stiglets. The PDF includes 5 pages covering the colour diagram, technical chart, instructions, and tool list — everything a beginner needs to complete the project confidently.

Finished pieces can be shared with the embroidery community using the hashtag #dmcthreads across social platforms. This koi fish design is a wonderful introduction to the world of DMC embroidery and a charming decorative piece for any home or gift.