Guardians of the Home PDF

Guardians of the Home – Cross Stitch Pattern PDF by Kooler Design Studio

Guardians of the Home (KDS #1148) is a decorative cross stitch design created by Sandy Orton for Kooler Design Studio, a well-established independent design house based in Lafayette, California. Released as part of the Kooler Classic Charts series, this intermediate-level embroidery pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for stitchers eager to bring a charming home-themed piece to life.

About the Design

As the title suggests, Guardians of the Home is conceived as a decorative piece celebrating the spirit and warmth of home — a timeless subject in needlework art. The finished piece is intended as home décor, making it a meaningful handmade gift or a beautiful addition to any interior. The design features a rich palette of purples, greens, pinks, and warm neutral tones, giving it a lush, cottage-inspired aesthetic.

Stitch Count and Sizing

The design has a stitch count of 169 stitches wide by 154 stitches high, offering a substantial and detailed composition. Depending on the fabric count chosen, the finished dimensions will vary:

• 14 Count Aida: approximately 12 inches wide by 11 inches high
• 16 Count Aida: approximately 10½ inches wide by 9⅝ inches high
• 18 Count Aida: approximately 9⅜ inches wide by 8½ inches high

The pattern recommends adding 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting your fabric to allow for framing and finishing.

Techniques Used

This is a cross stitch embroidery pattern that incorporates several classic needlework techniques, making it a satisfying project for stitchers with some prior experience. The techniques included are:

• Full Cross Stitches – the primary stitch forming the bulk of the design, worked with 3 strands of floss
• Quarter Stitches (¼ Stitches) – used to add fine detail and smooth curved edges, also worked with 3 strands
• Backstitch – used for outlining and adding definition, worked with either 1 or 2 strands of floss depending on the area
• French Knots – small, textured accent stitches worked with 1 strand of floss, adding dimensional detail to the composition

The combination of these four techniques gives the finished piece depth, dimension, and crisp detail — hallmarks of the Kooler Classic Charts style. Quarter stitches in particular allow for more realistic curves and refined shapes, which is one reason this pattern is rated as intermediate rather than beginner level.

Materials – Fabric

The pattern is designed to be stitched on 14 Count White Aida fabric, the most commonly used evenweave fabric in cross stitch. Aida cloth features a uniform grid of holes that makes it easy to count and place stitches accurately. Stitchers may also choose to work on 16 Count or 18 Count Aida for a smaller, finer finished piece.

Materials – Embroidery Floss

The design uses DMC embroidery floss throughout, with a palette spanning purples, lavenders, greens, pinks, tawny neutrals, and off-whites. Several colors require two skeins due to their extensive use in the design. These are:

• DMC 341 – Blue Violet Light (2 skeins)
• DMC 746 – Off White (2 skeins)
• DMC 951 – Tawny Light (2 skeins)
• DMC 3747 – Blue Violet Very Light (2 skeins)

Additional DMC colors used in the design include 208, 209, 211, 333, 335, 340, 369, 402, 453, 535, 561, 563, 647, 738, 745, 758, 839, 912