Anchor Dream - 0022500-00001-07 - Downloadable PDF

Anchor Dream Embroidery Pattern by Rosemary Drysdale – Free Downloadable PDF

This charming cross stitch embroidery pattern, titled Dream, is designed by Rosemary Drysdale and published under the Anchor brand. Available as a free downloadable PDF (Design No. 0022500-00001-07), it is rated Easy, making it an ideal project for beginners who are just starting their embroidery journey. The finished piece spells out the word Dream in a decorative cross stitch style, creating a simple yet elegant textile artwork suitable for framing or display.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a cross stitched word design — specifically the word Dream — worked on 14-count Aida fabric measuring 34 x 14 cm. This format makes it well-suited for a slim, horizontal display piece, such as a framed sampler or a decorative textile panel. The compact size and straightforward lettering design make it a satisfying quick-finish project, perfect for beginners or for experienced stitchers looking for a relaxing, low-complexity make.

Techniques Used

The pattern uses a single, classic embroidery technique:

• Cross Stitch: The entire design is worked exclusively in cross stitch, the most fundamental and widely recognised technique in counted thread embroidery. Each cross stitch is formed by working two diagonal stitches over one another to create an X shape, placed precisely on the grid of the Aida fabric. The instructions recommend starting from the centre of the fabric and working outwards, which is standard best practice for ensuring the design is centred correctly on the cloth.
• Hoop Tension: Stitchers are advised to use a medium embroidery hoop to maintain even tension throughout the work. Consistent tension is essential in cross stitch to prevent puckering and to keep stitches uniform in size and appearance.

Stitches Used

• Cross Stitch — the sole stitch used throughout the entire Dream design. Worked with 1 strand of Anchor Stranded Cotton over the 14-count Aida grid.

Materials Required

Fabric

• 14-count Aida fabric, cut to 34 x 14 cm. Aida is a specially woven evenweave fabric with a regular grid of holes, making it the ideal foundation for counted cross stitch. The 14-count specification means there are 14 stitches per inch, producing a fine, neat result.

Thread

• Anchor Stranded Cotton, Art. No. 4635000, 10 m skeins. Three colours are required, each used with 1 strand:
• Anchor colour #0121
• Anchor colour #0159
• Anchor colour #0329

Anchor Stranded Cotton is a 6-strand divisible thread, meaning stitchers can separate the strands to achieve different thicknesses. For this pattern, only a single strand is used at a time, producing delicate, fine stitching well-suited to the 14-count fabric.

Notions and Tools

• Round end embroidery needle, No. 24 — a tapestry-style needle with a blunt tip designed to pass through the holes of Aida fabric without splitting the fibres.
• Medium embroidery hoop — to hold the fabric taut and maintain even stitch tension.
• Scissors — for trimming thread ends neatly.

Pattern Details and Suitability

The Dream pattern by Rosemary Drysdale is published by Quail Publishing Limited in association with Anchor and is rated beginner/easy in difficulty. Because it uses only one stitch type — cross stitch — and a limited palette of just