The Best of Christmas - PDF

The Best of Christmas Cross Stitch Chart – KDS# 1473 by Kooler Design Studio

The Best of Christmas is a downloadable PDF cross stitch chart published by Kooler Design Studio, Inc. and designed by Linda Gillum. Catalogued as KDS# 1473, this intermediate-level embroidery pattern was released in 2013 and is part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection. It is designed to be stitched as a large-format Christmas decoration, making it an ideal seasonal needlework project for experienced stitchers looking for a detailed and rewarding holiday piece.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single, substantial Christmas-themed decorative embroidery. With a stitch count of 156 wide by 156 high, the finished design is a richly detailed square composition suited for framing, displaying as a seasonal decoration, or incorporating into a holiday home textile. The large stitch count and variety of techniques used place this firmly in the intermediate difficulty category, requiring familiarity with multiple stitch types and careful thread management.

Fabric and Materials

The design is specified to be stitched on 14 Count White Aida fabric, which is the standard recommended ground cloth for this pattern. Aida is a woven evenweave fabric with clearly defined holes that make it particularly well-suited to counted cross stitch. The chart also provides stitch dimensions calculated for several alternative fabric counts, giving stitchers flexibility in choosing their preferred ground:

• 10 Count Aida: approximately 15½ inches wide by 15½ inches high
• 14 Count Aida: approximately 11⅛ inches wide by 11⅛ inches high
• 16 Count Aida: approximately 9¾ inches wide by 9¾ inches high
• 18 Count Aida: approximately 8⅝ inches wide by 8⅝ inches high

As is standard practice in counted embroidery, the pattern recommends adding 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric, ensuring sufficient border material for framing or finishing. Thread requirements are listed in a Floss and Symbol Listing included within the PDF, with each symbol on the chart corresponding to a specific floss color.

Stitches Used

This pattern employs a range of classic counted embroidery stitches, which together create depth, texture, and fine detail in the finished piece. The stitches specified include:

• Full Cross Stitches – the primary stitch forming the main body of the design, worked with 3 strands of floss
• Half Stitches (½ Stitches) – used to render angled or transitional areas of color, also worked with 3 strands
• Quarter Stitches (¼ Stitches) – used for fine detail and curved edges, worked with 3 strands
• Backstitch – used for outlining, lettering, and fine linear detail, worked with either 1 or 2 strands depending on the area of the design
• Straight Stitches – used for accent details, worked with 1 strand of floss

The combination of full, half, and quarter stitches allows the design to achieve smooth curves and realistic shading across the Christmas imagery. Backstitching and straight stitches add crisp definition and fine detail that bring the composition to life.

Techniques and Craft

As a counted cross stitch project, this pattern requires the stitcher to follow a charted grid, placing each stitch in a precise location on the evenweave fabric by counting threads or holes. This is distinct from stamped embroidery, where the design is pre-printed on the fabric. Counted cross stitch demands careful attention to placement and is considered an intermediate skill level here due to the large stitch count, the use of multiple stitch types, and the varied strand counts required for different elements of the design.

Working with different strand counts — switching between 3 strands for coverage stitches and 1 or 2 strands for detail work — is a key technique in this pattern. Using fewer strands produces finer, more delicate