Cats in the Kitchen PDF

Cats in the Kitchen – Cross Stitch Embroidery Pattern by Kooler Design Studio

Cats in the Kitchen (KDS# 1565) is a charming counted cross stitch embroidery design from Kooler Design Studio, Inc., created by designer Nancy Rossi and published in 2014 as part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is ideal for intermediate embroiderers looking to add a whimsical, cat-themed decorative piece to their home. The finished work is perfectly suited for framing, displaying in a kitchen, or gifting to any cat lover.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single decorative embroidery piece featuring cats in a kitchen setting. With a stitch count of 122 stitches wide by 169 stitches high, the design is substantial in size and rich in detail, making it a satisfying project for stitchers who enjoy working on larger, more complex compositions. The finished dimensions vary depending on the fabric count chosen:

• 14 Count Aida: approximately 8¾ inches wide by 12 inches high
• 16 Count Aida: approximately 7⅝ inches wide by 10½ inches high
• 18 Count Aida: approximately 6¾ inches wide by 9⅜ inches high

As noted in the pattern, stitchers should add 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric to allow for framing and finishing.

Techniques Used

This is a counted cross stitch pattern, meaning the stitcher follows a charted grid and counts threads on the fabric to place each stitch precisely. The design incorporates several embroidery techniques to achieve its detailed, layered appearance:

• Full Cross Stitches – the primary stitch used to fill in the main areas of the design, creating solid blocks of color across the fabric grid
• Quarter Stitches (¼ Stitches) – used alongside full stitches to render curves, fine edges, and subtle detail, particularly useful for capturing the rounded forms of cats and kitchen objects
• Backstitching – used to outline shapes, add definition, and create fine linear details such as whiskers, outlines, and lettering; backstitching gives the finished piece a crisp, polished look

The combination of full stitches, quarter stitches, and backstitching places this pattern at an intermediate difficulty level, making it appropriate for stitchers who are comfortable with basic cross stitch but ready to work with more nuanced techniques and a larger color palette.

Stitches Used

• Full Cross Stitch – worked with 1 or 3 strands of floss depending on the area of the design
• Quarter Stitch (¼ Stitch) – worked with 1 or 3 strands of floss for refined detail and curved edges
• Backstitch – worked with 1 or 3 strands of floss for outlining and fine linear detail

The variation in strand count — using either 1 or 3 strands — allows the stitcher to create contrast between delicate detail areas and bolder, more filled sections of the design, adding visual depth and texture to the finished piece.

Materials Referenced

The pattern specifies the following materials for completing the design:

• Fabric: 14 Count White Aida cloth is the recommended base fabric, though the chart also provides finished dimensions for 16 Count and 18 Count Aida, giving stitchers flexibility in their choice of fabric
• Embroidery Floss: The design uses a full color palette of embroidery floss as detailed in the pattern's Floss and Symbol Listing
• Specialty Thread: Kreinik Blending Filament – Gold (*002) is called for in the design, adding a subtle metallic shimmer to select areas of the composition; Kreinik blending filaments are fine metallic threads that are combined with regular floss strands to create a gl