Bless This Baby Birth Record - PDF

Bless This Baby Birth Record Cross Stitch Pattern – Kooler Design Studio (KDS #2083)

The Bless This Baby Birth Record is a charming cross stitch birth record pattern designed by Linda Gillum for Kooler Design Studio (design number KDS #2083). Released in 2018 as part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection, this downloadable PDF pattern creates a personalized keepsake decoration — perfect for commemorating a new arrival. Birth record samplers are a beloved tradition in needlework, combining decorative stitching with meaningful personal details to produce a lasting heirloom that can be framed and displayed in a nursery or gifted to new parents.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a decorative birth record sampler intended for display as home décor. The finished piece is designed to be personalized with the baby's birth information along a dedicated personalization line (marked on the chart as "Do Not Stitch" — the stitcher adds their own lettering or leaves space for hand-written or printed text). The overall design is soft, celebratory, and nursery-appropriate, making it an ideal handmade gift or keepsake decoration.

Finished Size and Fabric Count Options

The design has a stitch count of 209 stitches wide by 123 stitches high, and the pattern provides finished dimensions across three popular fabric counts:

• 14-count Aida: approximately 14⅞ inches wide × 8¾ inches tall
• 16-count Aida: approximately 13 inches wide × 7⅝ inches tall
• 18-count Aida: approximately 11½ inches wide × 6¾ inches tall

The pattern recommends adding 4–6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric to allow sufficient border for framing or finishing.

Techniques Used

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it accessible to those who are new to counted cross stitch while still offering enough variety to engage more experienced stitchers. The techniques called for include:

• Full cross stitch – the primary technique, used to fill the majority of the design with color and form
• Quarter stitches (¼ stitch) – used for refined edges and curved details, adding smoothness and definition to the design's outlines
• French knots – small, textured knots that add dimensional detail, such as flower centers or decorative accents
• Backstitch – used for outlining, lettering, and fine linear details that give the finished piece a crisp, polished appearance

Stitches Used

• Full cross stitch worked with 3 strands of embroidery floss
• Quarter stitch (¼ stitch) worked with 3 strands of embroidery floss
• French knots worked with 1 strand of embroidery floss
• Backstitch worked with 1 strand of embroidery floss

The variation in strand count between techniques is intentional: the heavier 3-strand coverage creates bold, well-filled cross stitches, while the single-strand backstitching and French knots deliver fine, delicate detail without overwhelming the design.

Materials – Fabric

The design is specified to be stitched on 14-count White Aida cloth, the most widely available and beginner-friendly counted embroidery fabric. Aida is a woven cotton fabric with an even, open weave that creates a clear grid of holes, making it easy to count stitches accurately. White Aida provides a clean, bright background that complements the soft pastel color palette of this baby-themed design. Stitchers may also choose 16-count or 18-count Aida for a smaller, more finely detailed finish.

Materials – Embroidery Floss

The pattern uses DMC embroidery floss throughout, with a large and varied palette of colors to create