Mountain Hands in DMC - PAT0669 - Downloadable PDF

Mountain Hands Embroidery Pattern by femme-broidery x DMC (PAT0669)

This free downloadable PDF embroidery pattern is a collaboration between femme-broidery and DMC, titled Mountain Hands (also presented in French as Montagnes en Main). It is a beginner-friendly hand embroidery design featuring a stylised mountain landscape held within or formed by hands — a striking illustrative motif that translates beautifully onto fabric using a single, clean stitch technique. The pattern is available at no cost and is part of the DMC Library collection.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a hand-embroidered textile artwork depicting the Mountain Hands motif. The design measures approximately 12 cm x 11.7 cm at its standard size, with a larger alternative referenced at 18.3 cm x 17.7 cm. It is suitable for display in a hoop, application to clothing, or incorporation into any number of textile projects. Because it uses only a single stitch type and one thread colour, it is an ideal project for those new to embroidery.

Techniques Used

• Backstitch — the sole embroidery technique used throughout the entire design. Backstitch is one of the most fundamental hand embroidery stitches, creating a solid, continuous line that is perfect for outlining and illustrative work. Each new stitch is inserted at the end of the previous stitch, producing a neat, unbroken line with no gaps.
• Design transfer — the pattern instructs the use of a magic sheet, a transfer pen, and transfer paper to accurately reproduce the motif onto the base fabric before stitching begins.

Stitches Used

• Backstitch (Point arrière) — worked throughout using 6 strands of thread. Using all six strands gives the finished lines a bold, graphic quality that suits the illustrative nature of the mountain hands motif.

Materials Required

• Thread: DMC Mouliné Spécial Art 117 in colour code 310 (black), 1 skein required. This is DMC's classic six-strand divisible cotton embroidery floss, known for its consistent colour, sheen, and smooth finish.
• Needle: A No. 12 needle is recommended for this project.
• Fabric: The pattern references a base fabric of the maker's choice, prepared using a DMC Magic Sheet alongside a transfer pen and transfer paper to apply the design accurately.

Difficulty and Accessibility

Rated as a beginner level project, Mountain Hands requires no prior embroidery experience beyond a basic understanding of backstitch. The use of a single colour and a single stitch type keeps the project approachable, while the bold, graphic design ensures a visually rewarding result. The included colour guide and technical chart provide clear visual references for placement and stitching direction.

Pattern Format

This pattern is delivered as a downloadable PDF and is completely free of charge. It is a collaboration between independent embroidery designer femme-broidery and thread manufacturer DMC, and forms part of the wider DMC free pattern library. Makers are encouraged to share their finished work using the hashtag #dmcthreads across social media platforms.