DMC x AROFORKIDS Turtle - PAT06402 - Downloadable PDF

DMC x AROFORKIDS Turtle Embroidery Pattern (PAT06402) – Free Downloadable PDF

This charming DMC x AROFORKIDS Turtle embroidery pattern is a collaborative design between DMC and AROFORKIDS, available as a free downloadable PDF. The project produces a delightful embroidered turtle motif, worked at an approximate finished size of 6 cm x 15 cm, making it an ideal small-scale project for decorating fabric items, accessories, or hoop art. Rated as a beginner-level design, it is perfectly suited to those who are new to embroidery and looking to build foundational hand-stitching skills.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is an embroidered turtle motif, rendered in a palette of soft and natural greens with a deep black accent. The design captures the characteristic shell, body, and outline of a turtle in a clean, graphic style that is both decorative and approachable for new embroiderers. The compact dimensions make it versatile enough to embellish clothing, tote bags, cushion covers, or to display in a small embroidery hoop as wall art.

Techniques Used

• Long and Short Filling Stitch (Point Passé Empiétant): Designated as Stitch Code A in the pattern, this classic technique involves alternating rows of longer and shorter stitches that blend together seamlessly. It is commonly used to fill large areas of a design with smooth colour gradation, and here it provides soft, natural-looking coverage across sections of the turtle's body or shell.
• Satin Stitch (Passé Plat): Designated as Stitch Code B, satin stitch consists of closely placed parallel straight stitches that lie flat against the fabric, creating a smooth, almost shiny surface. It is one of the most widely used filling stitches in embroidery and gives the design a polished, solid appearance in key areas.
• Backstitch (Point Arrière): Designated as Stitch Code C, backstitch is a fundamental outlining stitch where each new stitch begins at the end of the previous one, creating a continuous, firm line. It is used here to define the edges and details of the turtle design, giving the motif crisp, clear definition.

Stitches and Strand Counts

• Long and Short Filling Stitch (Code A) – worked with 2 strands of thread, using DMC colour 564 (a light jade green).
• Satin Stitch (Code B) – worked with 3 strands of thread, using DMC colour 562 (a medium jade green), giving this area slightly more texture and visual weight.
• Backstitch (Code C) – worked with 2 strands of thread, using DMC colour 472 (a light avocado green) for internal detailing, and DMC colour 310 (black) for bold outlining.

Colour Palette

• DMC 564 – Light Jade (Long and Short Filling Stitch areas, 1 skein)
• DMC 562 – Medium Jade (Satin Stitch areas, 1 skein)
• DMC 472 – Light Avocado Green (Backstitch detailing, 1 skein)
• DMC 310 – Black (Backstitch outlining, 1 skein)

Materials Required

The pattern calls for DMC Mouliné Spécial Art 117 embroidery floss, which is DMC's iconic 6-strand divisible cotton thread, renowned for its colour fastness, sheen, and wide colour range. A total of four colours are required, with one skein of each sufficient for the stated design size.

• Needle: A No. 12 embroidery needle is recommended, which is a fine needle well suited to working with 2–3 strands of Mouliné thread on fabric