Rose Ivy Wreath - PDF

Rose Ivy Wreath Cross Stitch Pattern – PDF by Kooler Design Studio

The Rose Ivy Wreath (KDS# 1437) is a beautifully detailed cross stitch embroidery design created by Barbara Baatz Hillman for Kooler Design Studio. Originally published in 2012 as part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection, this intermediate-level pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is designed to be stitched as a decorative piece. The finished design depicts a lush, circular wreath composed of roses and trailing ivy, making it an elegant addition to any home décor or a thoughtful handmade gift.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a decorative embroidered wreath featuring roses and ivy rendered in rich, layered colors. With a stitch count of 139 stitches wide by 134 stitches high, the design produces a nearly square composition that works beautifully as a framed piece. The pattern is suited for intermediate embroiderers who are comfortable working with multiple thread colors and a combination of stitch types.

Depending on the fabric count chosen, the finished stitched area will measure approximately:

• 10 Count: 13⅞ inches wide × 13⅜ inches high
• 14 Count: 9⅞ inches wide × 9½ inches high
• 16 Count: 8⅝ inches wide × 8⅜ inches high
• 18 Count: 7⅝ inches wide × 7⅜ inches high

The pattern recommends adding 4–6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric to allow adequate margins for framing or finishing.

Fabric and Materials

The design is specified to be stitched on 14 Count White Aida fabric, which is the standard recommendation included in the pattern. Aida cloth is a popular even-weave fabric widely used in cross stitch because its woven grid of holes makes it easy to count stitches accurately. Stitchers may also choose alternative fabric counts (10, 16, or 18 count) to adjust the finished size of the piece. The pattern uses DMC embroidery floss throughout, with a large and varied palette of colors to capture the natural beauty of roses and ivy foliage.

As noted in the general instructions, it is recommended to wash floss with warm water and mild soap before stitching to help set the colors and minimize any risk of bleeding onto the fabric.

Stitches Used

The Rose Ivy Wreath pattern incorporates three distinct embroidery stitch types, each serving a specific visual purpose in the finished design:

• Cross Stitch (Full and Quarter): The primary stitch used to fill in the body of the design. Full cross stitches are worked using 3 strands of DMC floss, while quarter cross stitches are also worked with 3 strands. These stitches form the solid areas of color that make up the roses, leaves, and background elements of the wreath.
• French Knots: Used as accent stitches to add texture and dimensional detail. French knots in this pattern are worked with 1 strand of floss, creating small, raised dots that add visual interest — often used to suggest flower centers, berries, or decorative accents within botanical designs.
• Backstitch: Used for outlining and adding fine detail and definition to the design. Backstitching is worked with 1 strand of floss, allowing for crisp, clean lines that define the edges of petals, leaves, and stems, giving the finished piece a polished, illustrated quality.

Techniques Used

Working this pattern involves several fundamental and intermediate counted cross stitch techniques:

• Counted cross stitch from a charted grid, where each square on the chart corresponds to one stitch on the fabric
• Color management across a large palette of DMC floss colors, requiring careful organization and threading of multiple shades
• Strand separation and recombination, as different stitch types in this pattern call for either 1 or 3 strands from the standard 6-