Noah’s Friends Ornaments - PDF

Noah's Friends Ornaments – Cross Stitch Embroidery Pattern (KDS# 1485) by Kooler Design Studio

Noah's Friends Ornaments is a charming counted cross stitch embroidery pattern designed by Linda Gillum and published by Kooler Design Studio, Inc. under their Kooler Classic Charts collection. Released in 2013, this downloadable PDF pattern (KDS# 1485) is a delightful choice for stitchers who want to create handmade holiday or decorative ornaments inspired by the theme of Noah's Ark and its beloved animal passengers. The finished pieces are intended to be used as decorations and ornaments, making them perfect for seasonal display, gifting, or adding a whimsical handcrafted touch to any home.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a set of Noah's Friends ornaments — small, intricately stitched embroidery pieces featuring animal and ark-themed imagery drawn from the classic story of Noah. Each ornament is compact and self-contained, designed to be finished and displayed individually. With a stitch count of 45 wide by 52 high, each design is sized perfectly for ornament finishing, making them approachable projects that can be completed relatively quickly. These ornaments make wonderful seasonal decorations, thoughtful handmade gifts, or charming additions to a collection of needlework keepsakes.

Techniques Used

The pattern employs several classic counted cross stitch techniques that together create depth, detail, and dimension in the finished ornaments:

• Full Cross Stitches: The primary technique used to fill in the main design areas, worked with 3 strands of floss for solid, rich coverage on the fabric.
• Quarter Stitches (1/4 Stitches): Also worked with 3 strands of floss, quarter stitches allow for more refined curves and detailed outlines within the design, giving the animal figures a smoother, more natural appearance.
• Backstitching: Used to outline and define shapes, add fine details, and bring the characters to life. Backstitching is worked with either 1 or 2 strands of floss depending on the area being stitched, allowing for both delicate fine lines and slightly bolder outlines where needed.
• French Knots: A classic embroidery embellishment stitch worked with 1 strand of floss, French knots add small, raised dots of texture — typically used for eyes, tiny decorative details, or accents that give the design character and charm.

Stitches Used

• Full Cross Stitch – the foundational stitch forming the body of each design
• Quarter Stitch (1/4 Stitch) – for refined curves and detailed shaping
• Backstitch – for outlining, detailing, and definition
• French Knot – for textural accents and fine decorative details

Materials Referenced

The pattern specifies stitching on 14 Count White Aida fabric, which is the standard even-weave fabric used in counted cross stitch. The 14-count designation means there are 14 stitchable squares per inch, providing a manageable grid size that is well-suited to beginner and intermediate stitchers alike. Stitchers are instructed to add 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting their fabric to allow adequate margins for finishing and framing.

The design is worked in embroidery floss, with the pattern providing a full floss and symbol listing to guide color selection. Multiple strand counts are used throughout — 3 strands for full and quarter stitches, 1 strand for French knots, and 1 to 2 strands for backstitching — so having a needle suitable for each strand count is recommended. A standard tapestry needle appropriate for 14-count Aida is the typical tool used for counted cross stitch projects of this type.

Skill Level and Designer

This pattern is well-suited for beginner to intermediate cross stitch enthusiasts, as the stitches involved — cross stitch, backstitch,