Vintage gold skeleton key with a three-loop head cross stitch pattern

20 × 44 stitches 4 colors 1.4 × 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 8 × 10 in (the design is 1.4 × 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 938 Ultra Dark Coffee Brown
DMC 783 Medium Topaz
DMC 3822 Light Straw
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

An old-fashioned gold key standing upright. Its head is three open loops set like a clover leaf, with cloth showing through each; below it are a turned collar, a long round shaft and, at the bottom right, a square bit with two teeth. One gold, with a pale highlight along its upper left and a darker gold in the shade. Dark brown outline. Full crosses only. It is 20 by 44 stitches and uses four thread colors.

20 stitches wide by 44 high: 384 full cross stitches in 4 DMC colors (Ultra Dark Coffee Brown 938, Medium Topaz 783, Light Straw 3822 and 1 more).

Finished size by fabric count
Fabric	Inches	Centimeters
11-count Aida	1.8 × 4.0	4.6 × 10.2
14-count Aida, or 28-count over two	1.4 × 3.1	3.6 × 8.0
16-count Aida, or 32-count over two	1.3 × 2.8	3.2 × 7.0
18-count Aida	1.1 × 2.4	2.8 × 6.2
22-count Hardanger	0.9 × 2.0	2.3 × 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

Check my threads and make a shopping list

“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 938 Ultra Dark Coffee Brown	172	Find it
X	DMC 783 Medium Topaz	132	Find it
▲	DMC 3822 Light Straw	51	Find it
+	DMC 782 Dark Topaz	29	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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New to cross stitch? How to cross stitch

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.