Caduceus medical symbol: winged staff with two snakes cross stitch pattern

31 × 44 stitches 4 colors 2.2 × 3.1 in on 14-count

A PDF for 14-count on US Letter paper: overview, symbol charts and thread list. Change the count or paper

You will need

Fabric: 14-count Aida, cut 9 × 10 in (the design is 2.2 × 3.1 in; 14-count has 14 squares to the inch)
Needle: Tapestry, size 24
Thread: 4 DMC colors, 2 strands at a time (DMC is the thread maker whose color numbers charts use)

Your thread palette: 4 threads ↓

DMC 783 Medium Topaz
DMC 3346 Hunter Green
DMC 989 Forest Green
DMC 782 Dark Topaz

Want to make it yours? opens this chart in the pattern maker, where every stitch can be changed too. Or download it just as it is.

Fabric count and finished sizeCount is the number of squares per inch. Higher count makes the same design smaller; the stitches and thread colors stay the same. Sizes shown are the stitched area; allow extra fabric for finishing.

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About this pattern

The caduceus: an upright gold staff with a round knob on top and a pair of gold wings spread level below it, each with two darker feather lines. Two snakes, one dark green and one light green, wind down the staff in loops that get a little smaller toward the foot, crossing over each other twice, and their two heads face each other across the staff just under the wings, each with one gold eye. The shape mirrors left to right exactly; the two greens swap sides at each crossing. It has no outline. Full crosses only. It is 31 by 44 stitches and uses four thread colors.

31 stitches wide by 44 high: 536 full cross stitches in 4 DMC colors (Medium Topaz 783, Hunter Green 3346, Forest Green 989 and 1 more).

Finished size by fabric count
Fabric	Inches	Centimeters
11-count Aida	2.8 × 4.0	7.2 × 10.2
14-count Aida, or 28-count over two	2.2 × 3.1	5.6 × 8.0
16-count Aida, or 32-count over two	1.9 × 2.8	4.9 × 7.0
18-count Aida	1.7 × 2.4	4.4 × 6.2
22-count Hardanger	1.4 × 2.0	3.6 × 5.1

Sizes are the stitched area. Add about 3 inches (7.5 cm) on every side when you cut your fabric.

The fabric color changes the preview only: every cross matches your chart.

Thread list & pattern notes

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“Find it” opens a search for that thread on Amazon, in a new tab. Floss Field is not affiliated with DMC or Amazon.

Symbol	Thread	Stitches	Buy
●	DMC 783 Medium Topaz	230	Find it
X	DMC 3346 Hunter Green	142	Find it
▲	DMC 989 Forest Green	136	Find it
+	DMC 782 Dark Topaz	28	Find it

Suggested DMC colors. Screen colors are approximate. Previews show the exact chart.

Print the chart (opens the PDF in a new tab)

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Count is the number of squares to the inch: 14-count fabric has 14, and a higher count makes the same design smaller. DMC is the thread maker whose color numbers most charts use.