DMC Athletics Embroidery Pattern - PAT2071 - Downloadable PDF

DMC Athletics Embroidery Pattern (PAT2071) – Free Downloadable PDF

The DMC Athletics Embroidery Pattern PAT2071 is a free, downloadable PDF from the DMC Library – Bibliothèque DMC, designed to bring the energy and movement of athletics and sport to life through hand embroidery. Rated as advanced beginner level, this pattern is an excellent step forward for stitchers who have mastered the basics and are ready to work with a broader colour palette and more refined stitch techniques. The finished design measures approximately 15.5 cm x 16.5 cm, making it a satisfying yet manageable project suitable for framing, hoop display, or incorporation into textile projects.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces an embroidered athletics-themed design. The subject matter celebrates the sport of athletics — referred to as athlétisme in the bilingual (English and French) pattern documentation — rendered in a richly coloured, detailed embroidery composition. The design uses a large number of distinct colour zones, as indicated by the extensive colour guide and technical chart included in the PDF, suggesting a vibrant, illustrative finished piece with careful shading and defined outlines.

Techniques Used

The pattern draws on a focused set of classic hand embroidery techniques that together create both filled areas of colour and clean, expressive outlines:

• Satin Stitch (Passé plat): The primary fill technique used throughout the design. Satin stitch involves laying parallel straight stitches closely side by side to completely cover a fabric area with smooth, solid colour. It is ideal for creating bold, polished shapes and is well suited to the athletic figures and graphic elements in this design. Working neat satin stitch requires consistent tension and careful attention to stitch direction, which is why this pattern is positioned at the advanced beginner level.
• Stem Stitch (Point de tige): Used for outlines and linear details. Stem stitch produces a rope-like line of overlapping stitches and is one of the most versatile and traditional embroidery stitches for defining edges, curves, and fine details within a design.
• Backstitch (referenced in the instructions): Also included as a technique, backstitch creates firm, continuous lines and is commonly used alongside stem stitch for crisp outlines and fine detail work in embroidery patterns of this style.

Stitches Used

• Satin Stitch – designated with code letter A in the pattern chart
• Stem Stitch – designated with code letter B in the pattern chart
• Backstitch – designated with code letter C in the pattern chart

The technical chart within the PDF maps each stitch type to specific areas of the design using these letter codes, allowing stitchers to follow the pattern with clarity and precision.

Colours and Thread

One of the most striking aspects of this pattern is its generous and vibrant colour palette. The design calls for 16 individual colours of DMC Mouliné Spécial Art 117 embroidery floss, with one skein of each colour required for the stated design size. The full list of DMC thread colours used includes:

• 738 – a warm tan
• 3341 – soft apricot
• 921 – russet orange
• 632 – deep mocha
• 310 – black
• B5200 – bright white
• 813 – soft blue
• 824 – deep blue
• 505 – medium green
• 725 – golden yellow
• 947 – bright orange
• 3804 – deep cyclamen pink
• 666 – bright red
• 3837 – deep lavender purple
• 169 – pewter grey
• 01 – white with metallic or specialty finish