Avlea Folk Embroidery Grecian Urn 1 - Downloadable PDF

Avlea Folk Embroidery Grecian Urn 1 – Embroidery Pattern by Krista West

The Avlea Folk Embroidery Grecian Urn 1 is a downloadable PDF embroidery pattern designed by Krista West of Avlea Folk Embroidery. This charming counted thread design celebrates the rich tradition of Greek folk embroidery, featuring a decorative urn motif surrounded by beautifully composed flower sprays. The finished design measures 7 x 9-1/2 inches and spans 90 x 126 stitches, making it an approachable and rewarding project for beginner embroiderers.

About the Grecian Urn Series

The Grecian Urn 1 pattern is part of a delightful series from Avlea Folk Embroidery that highlights the many urn-and-flower designs found throughout Greek folk embroidery traditions. Historically, these designs were used to embellish double-ended table runners, where a horizontal border composed of small geometric patterns and repeating colors would anchor the composition. In this pattern series, two of the Urn designs have been adapted so that the border becomes a frame, making them ideally suited for display as a framed textile, a pillow cover, or a wall hanging.

The floral elements in the design are inspired by traditional folk motifs and include roses, daisies, and Persian-inspired carnations, all arranged into charming flower sprays that complement the central urn. This blend of Greek and Persian-influenced botanical imagery reflects the rich cross-cultural heritage of Eastern Mediterranean embroidery traditions.

What Is Being Made

Stitchers working from this pattern will create a counted thread embroidery piece rooted in Greek folk art. The design is versatile and can be finished in multiple ways. The pattern includes directions and supply lists for three finishing options:

• Framed textile – displayed as a traditional framed piece of needlework art
• Pillow cover – transformed into a decorative home accent
• Wall hanging – presented as a textile wall hanging

Techniques Used

This pattern uses counted thread embroidery, a technique in which stitches are placed by counting threads on an evenweave or Aida-style fabric rather than following a printed or transferred design. This method is closely related to cross stitch and other forms of canvas work, and it is well suited to geometric and repeating folk patterns. The structured nature of counted thread work makes it particularly faithful to the geometric borders and symmetrical floral arrangements characteristic of Greek folk embroidery.

The horizontal border elements use small geometric patterns and repeating color sequences, a hallmark of traditional Greek needlework. The adapted frame version of this border surrounds the central urn motif on all sides, giving the piece a polished, finished appearance suitable for framing or display.

Stitches Used

As a counted thread embroidery pattern in the folk embroidery tradition, the design is worked using the foundational stitches of this craft. Counted thread patterns of this type typically employ:

• Cross stitch – the primary stitch used to fill the motifs and borders by counting fabric threads
• Geometric fill stitches – used in the repeating border and frame elements consistent with Greek folk embroidery conventions

Materials Required

The pattern calls for the following materials:

• Fabric: One piece of 26-count counted thread fabric, cut to 13 x 15-1/2 inches – the fine count of this fabric allows for precise, detailed rendering of the folk motifs
• Thread (floss): The design uses a carefully curated palette of embroidery floss in the following colors and quantities:
  • 5 yards – 224 (shell pink)
  • 4 yards – 347 (coral)
  • 4 yards – 355 (red)
  • 1 yard – 3012 (light green)