You've Got a Friend - PDF Cross Stitch Pattern

You've Got a Friend – Cross Stitch Pattern by HugSandwich

You've Got a Friend is a downloadable PDF cross stitch pattern designed by independent designer HugSandwich, available exclusively through www.hugsandwich.shop. Inspired by the beloved Toy Story franchise, this charming embroidery design captures the warmth and nostalgia of one of animation's most iconic friendships, making it a delightful project for fans of the film and needlework enthusiasts alike.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a counted cross stitch embroidery worked on 14-count Aida fabric. The completed design measures 3.43 inches wide by 3.79 inches tall, spanning a stitch grid of 48 x 53 stitches. Its compact size makes it well suited for framing, hoop display, card inserts, or small decorative finishing projects. The pattern is intended for personal use only and may not be sold or redistributed in any form.

Techniques Used

This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and employs several core counted embroidery techniques:

• Counted cross stitch – the primary technique, worked over a grid of 48 x 53 squares on evenweave Aida fabric, following a charted symbol map included in the PDF.
• Backstitch – used extensively for outlining, detail work, and fine line elements throughout the design. Multiple thread colors are specified for backstitching, allowing for precise definition of shapes and features.
• Color blending and shading – the large palette of DMC thread colors creates depth, dimension, and smooth tonal transitions across the design.

Counted cross stitch requires the stitcher to follow a symbol-coded chart, placing each X-shaped stitch over the intersections of the Aida weave. Backstitch lines are added after the cross stitches are complete and are typically worked with a single strand of thread to create crisp, clean outlines and expressive details.

Stitches Used

• Cross stitch – the foundational stitch filling all color areas of the design
• Backstitch – applied in multiple DMC colors including DMC-307, DMC-310, DMC-320, DMC-322, DMC-413, and additional colors as specified in the pattern legend, to outline and define key elements of the composition

Thread Colors

The pattern uses a rich palette of 17 DMC stranded cotton thread colors, providing a wide range of tones from deep darks to soft highlights. The full color legend includes:

• DMC-310 (Black)
• DMC-320 (Medium Pistachio Green)
• DMC-321 (Red)
• DMC-322 (Baby Blue)
• DMC-413 (Dark Pewter Gray)
• DMC-414 (Dark Steel Gray)
• DMC-552 (Medium Violet)
• DMC-598 (Light Turquoise)
• DMC-744 (Pale Yellow)
• DMC-754 (Light Peach)
• DMC-798 (Dark Delft Blue)
• DMC-801 (Dark Coffee Brown)
• DMC-938 (Ultra Dark Coffee Brown)
• DMC-954 (Nile Green)
• DMC-3778 (Light Terra Cotta)
• DMC-3829 (Old Gold)
• DMC-White

This broad selection of colors enables the design to render skin tones, costume details, and background elements with warmth and accuracy befitting its Toy Story theme.

Materials Required

• Fabric: 14-count Aida