Open Wreath in DMC - PAT0716 - Downloadable PDF

DMC Open Wreath Cross Stitch Pattern (PAT0716) – Free Downloadable PDF

The DMC Open Wreath (also known as Guirlande Ouverte in French) is a charming cross stitch embroidery pattern released by DMC as a free downloadable PDF. The design depicts a softly coloured, open botanical wreath — an elegant and versatile motif that works beautifully as a decorative piece, a greeting card insert, or a framed home accent. This is an intermediate-level project, making it suitable for stitchers who are comfortable with basic cross stitch and ready to work with a small palette of coordinated thread colours.

What Is Being Made

The finished embroidery is an open wreath design measuring approximately 9.5 × 11.4 cm (3.07 × 4.48 inches) when stitched on standard 14-count Aida fabric. The open wreath style means the circular botanical arrangement is intentionally left incomplete, giving the design a relaxed, organic feel rather than a fully enclosed ring. The soft, muted colour palette lends the finished piece a delicate, vintage-inspired aesthetic.

Techniques Used

• Full cross stitch – the primary technique used to build the main body of the wreath design, worked by crossing two diagonal stitches to form an X shape over each fabric square
• Quarter cross stitch (¼ stitch) – indicated in the chart to add finer detail and smoother curves to the botanical elements, allowing for more refined shaping within the grid

Cross stitch is a counted embroidery technique worked from a gridded chart, where each symbol or coloured square on the chart corresponds to one stitch on the fabric. The stitcher counts threads or fabric squares to place each stitch accurately, following the colour-coded diagram provided in the PDF.

Stitches Used

• Full cross stitch – forms the bulk of the design
• Quarter cross stitch (¼ stitch) – used for detail and curved edges within the wreath motif

Colours and Thread

The pattern uses DMC Mouliné Spécial Embroidery Thread (117MC) — the brand's iconic, widely available 6-strand divisible cotton floss. The design calls for the following six DMC thread colours:

• DMC 3354 – a soft dusty rose pink
• DMC 225 – a very pale shell pink
• DMC Ecru – a warm off-white neutral
• DMC 369 – a light pistachio green
• DMC 368 – a medium light pistachio green
• DMC 666 – a bright Christmas red, used as an accent

Together these shades create a gentle, botanical colour story with soft pinks and greens punctuated by a touch of vivid red, ideal for seasonal or year-round decorative stitching.

Materials and Tools Required

• DMC Mouliné Spécial Embroidery Thread in the six colours listed above
• Cross stitch fabric / Aida – 14-count Aida is recommended, as the stated design dimensions are based on this count; higher-count fabrics will produce a smaller finished design
• Cross stitch needle – a blunt-tipped tapestry needle appropriate for the chosen Aida count
• Embroidery hoop – optional but recommended to keep fabric taut and stitches even
• Scissors – small, sharp embroidery scissors for clean thread cuts

Pattern Format and Availability

The Open Wreath pattern is provided as a free downloadable PDF from the DMC Library. The PDF includes both a coloured cross stitch chart and a black-and-white symbol chart for easy reference, along with a full colour key and getting-started guidance. The bilingual layout (English and French