Avlea Folk Embroidery Star Of Chios - Downloadable PDF

Avlea Folk Embroidery Star Of Chios Downloadable PDF Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Star of Chios is a historically inspired embroidery design featuring eight-pointed stars arranged within octagons and set off by double squares. This striking geometric pattern measures 7 x 7 inches (93 x 93 stitches) and is based on an authentic textile dating to 1820 from the island of Chios in Greece. The design captures the Byzantine artistic influence that characterized Greek island embroidery during this period, with the eight-pointed star motif holding symbolic significance representing the "eighth day of creation," resurrection, and new life in Byzantine tradition.

Craft and Technique

This is a counted thread embroidery project, a traditional embroidery technique that involves working stitches on evenweave fabric by counting threads rather than following a drawn design. Counted thread embroidery allows for precise geometric patterns and is ideal for creating the symmetrical, interlocking star and octagon motifs featured in this design. The technique produces crisp, well-defined shapes perfect for reproducing historical textile patterns. This method is beginner-friendly while still achieving sophisticated visual results through careful thread counting and stitch placement.

Stitches Used

While the PDF content provided does not specify individual stitch names, counted thread embroidery typically employs fundamental stitches such as cross stitch and backstitch to create the geometric patterns. These foundational stitches are worked across the counted threads of the fabric to build the eight-pointed stars, octagons, and double square elements of the design.

Materials Required

• Fabric: One piece of 26 count counted thread fabric measuring 15 x 15 inches (the pattern shown uses Traditional Groundcloth)
• Thread: DMC Floss in the following colors and quantities:
  • 10 yards of 347 (coral)
  • 2 yards of 729 (antique gold)
  • 6 yards of 3012 (light grey green)
  • 10 yards of 924 (grey green very dark)

Design Details

Designed by Krista West for Avlea Folk Embroidery, this pattern draws inspiration from historical Greek textile traditions. The original 1820 textile from Chios was worked in muted shades, offering embroiderers the option to recreate the historical color palette or adapt the design with their preferred thread colors. The finished embroidery, exclusive of finishing techniques, measures 7 x 7 inches, making it an appropriately scaled project for framing, mounting on garments, or incorporating into larger textile projects.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner level project, the Star of Chios pattern is accessible to embroiderers new to counted thread work. Despite its beautiful intricacy and geometric complexity, the design is described as "easy to work," making it an excellent introduction to historical embroidery techniques and counted thread methodology.