Anchor Adventure Awaits - 0022500-00003-12 - Downloadable PDF

Anchor Adventure Awaits Embroidery Pattern (Design No. 0022500-00003-12) by Joanne Aston

The Adventure Awaits pattern is a downloadable PDF embroidery design created by Joanne Aston and published under the Anchor brand by Quail Publishing Limited. Rated as an advanced level project, this design is available as a free downloadable PDF from AnchorCrafts.com, making it an accessible yet rewarding challenge for experienced embroiderers looking to expand their counted thread work portfolio.

About the Design

As its name suggests, Adventure Awaits carries a spirit of exploration and discovery, rendered in the detailed, structured language of counted cross stitch on fabric. The design is worked on 16-count white aida, a tightly woven evenweave fabric that provides a precise grid for accurate stitch placement. The 16-count specification means there are 16 stitches per inch, allowing for a fine level of detail that suits the advanced difficulty rating of this pattern. The result is a richly coloured, intricately worked piece suitable for framing or display.

Materials Required

• Fabric: 16-count white aida
• Thread: Anchor Stranded Cotton embroidery thread, Art. No. 4635000, in 10 m skeins
• Needle: Round-end embroidery needle, size 24
• Additional tools: Scissors

Anchor Stranded Cotton is a six-strand divisible embroidery thread renowned for its consistent colour quality and wide palette. For this pattern, threads are used at 1 strand per colour, which contributes to the fine, detailed finish achievable on 16-count aida. The size 24 round-end (tapestry) needle is the standard choice for counted thread work, as its blunt tip glides through the fabric holes without splitting the weave.

Thread Colours

The design calls for a rich and varied palette of 19 individual Anchor Stranded Cotton shades, allowing for nuanced shading and depth across the composition. The full list of required thread colours is as follows:

• #00169
• #01039
• #00160
• #00306
• #00305
• #00047
• #01024
• #00895
• #00211
• #00208
• #00206
• #00236
• #00400
• #00235
• #00398
• #00001
• #00374
• #00943
• #00942

Each colour is required in a quantity of 1 x 10 m skein, making it straightforward to gather all materials before beginning the project.

Stitches Used

The Adventure Awaits pattern employs four distinct embroidery stitches, each serving a specific purpose in building the finished design:

• Cross Stitch: The primary stitch of the design, cross stitch is formed by two diagonal stitches crossing at the centre of each fabric square. It creates the solid, pixelated blocks of colour that form the main body of the image. Working consistently — always crossing stitches in the same direction — ensures a neat, uniform texture across the piece.
• Half Cross Stitch: A single diagonal stitch covering half of a fabric square, the half cross stitch is used to create softer edges, subtle shading, or transitional areas within the design, adding visual refinement beyond what full cross stitches alone can achieve.
• Back Stitch: Back stitch is worked in straight lines to add outlines, fine details, lettering, or definition to elements within the design. It gives the composition crispness and clarity, separating areas of colour and adding a hand-