Merry Christmas Owl - PDF

Merry Christmas Owl Cross Stitch Pattern – Kooler Design Studio (KDS #2091)

The Merry Christmas Owl is a festive counted cross stitch decoration design created by Maria Parrish for Kooler Design Studio, Inc., a well-established independent design house based in Lafayette, California. Published in 2018 as part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection, this charming holiday design is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for stitchers eager to add a whimsical touch to their Christmas décor.

About the Design

This delightful pattern features a Christmas-themed owl, rendered in a rich palette of warm browns, deep purples, pinks, and crisp whites — evoking the cozy, festive spirit of the holiday season. The finished design has a stitch count of 67 stitches wide by 83 stitches high, making it a satisfying but manageable project for embroiderers of all experience levels, including beginners. Depending on the fabric count chosen, the completed stitched area measures:

• 14 Count: approximately 4¾ inches wide × 5⅞ inches high
• 16 Count: approximately 4⅛ inches wide × 5⅛ inches high
• 18 Count: approximately 3⅝ inches wide × 4½ inches high

Stitchers are advised to add 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric, to allow sufficient margin for framing or finishing.

Recommended Materials

The design is intended to be stitched on 14 Count White Aida fabric, the most popular and widely available evenweave fabric for counted cross stitch. Aida cloth's evenly spaced holes make it especially well-suited for beginners, as it clearly guides needle placement. The pattern calls for DMC stranded cotton embroidery floss, a trusted and universally available thread brand. The full list of DMC colors used includes:

• DMC 154 – Very Dark Grape
• DMC 434 – Light Brown
• DMC 435 – Very Light Brown
• DMC 437 – Light Tan
• DMC 603 – Cranberry
• DMC 605 – Very Light Cranberry
• DMC 739 – Ultra Very Light Tan
• DMC 826 – Medium Blue
• DMC 915 – Dark Plum
• DMC 939 – Very Dark Navy Blue
• DMC 3607 – Light Plum
• DMC 3608 – Very Light Plum
• DMC 3609 – Ultra Light Plum
• DMC Blanc – White

Standard embroidery needles sized appropriately for the chosen Aida count are recommended. A tapestry needle (typically size 24 or 26 for 14-count Aida) is the traditional choice for counted cross stitch, as its blunt tip glides through fabric holes without splitting threads.

Stitches and Techniques Used

This pattern employs a combination of classic embroidery stitches that together create texture, detail, and dimension in the finished owl design. The techniques specified in the chart include:

• Full Cross Stitch – The primary stitch used throughout the design, worked using 3 strands of DMC floss for most colors. Full cross stitches form the main body of the image, filling in color and shape across the Aida grid.
• Quarter Stitch (¼ Stitch) – Used selectively to refine curves and edges, giving the design a smoother, more polished outline. Quarter stitches are worked with 1 strand of floss for fine detail.
• Backstitch –