Luscious Tree Peony - PDF

Luscious Tree Peony Cross Stitch Pattern – Kooler Design Studio (KDS# 1255)

The Luscious Tree Peony is a stunning counted cross stitch embroidery design created by Barbara Baatz Hillman for Kooler Design Studio, published under design number KDS# 1255. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is part of the Kooler Classic Charts collection and is rated suitable for beginner embroiderers. The finished piece depicts a richly colored tree peony bloom, making it an ideal decorative embroidery project for framing, display, or home décor.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a decorative embroidered panel featuring a luscious tree peony floral design. With its layered petals and botanical detail, the finished piece is well suited for framing as wall art or incorporating into decorative home accessories. The design is charted on a grid and stitched from a counted chart, meaning the embroiderer follows a symbol-coded diagram rather than a printed transfer.

Design Size and Fabric Information

The design has a stitch count of 192 stitches wide by 123 stitches high. Depending on the fabric count chosen, the finished embroidery will measure:

• 10 Count fabric: approximately 17⅜ inches wide × 11⅛ inches high
• 14 Count fabric: approximately 13⅝ inches wide × 8¾ inches high
• 16 Count fabric: approximately 12 inches wide × 7⅝ inches high
• 18 Count fabric: approximately 10⅝ inches wide × 6¾ inches high

The design is specified to be stitched on 14 Count White Aida cloth as the primary recommended fabric. Embroiderers are advised to add 4 to 6 inches to each measurement when cutting fabric to allow for framing and finishing margins.

Techniques Used

This pattern uses two core counted embroidery techniques:

• Full Cross Stitch: The primary technique used to fill the design and build the floral imagery. Cross stitch involves forming an X-shaped stitch over the intersections of the fabric weave, counted carefully from the charted grid. Using Aida cloth makes counting straightforward, as the fabric's even weave provides a clear grid structure for beginners.
• Backstitch: Used for outlining and adding fine detail and definition to the design. Backstitch creates a continuous line of stitches and is commonly used in cross stitch projects to sharpen edges, define petal shapes, and add depth to floral motifs.

Stitches Used

• Full Cross Stitch – worked using 3 strands of embroidery floss
• Backstitch – worked using 1 strand of embroidery floss for fine, precise detailing

Materials Required

This pattern is worked in DMC embroidery floss, a widely available, colorfast stranded cotton thread. The pattern calls for 21 DMC floss colors, spanning a rich palette of pinks, reds, greens, and warm neutrals to capture the natural beauty of a tree peony in bloom. The specific DMC colors listed in the pattern include:

• Pinks and reds: DMC 309, 321, 605, 956, 3689
• Greens: DMC 772, 895, 905, 986, 3347, 3813, 3816
• Warm oranges and rusts: DMC 920, 922, 977, 3827
• Light blue and neutral: DMC 747, 815, Blanc

It is recommended to pre-wash floss in warm water with mild soap before stitching to ensure colorfastness, rinsing thoroughly and laying flat to dry.

In terms of tools, embroiderers will need a