Rayed arch frame hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 3 colors · 2 kinds of stitch

Rayed arch frame: preview of the stitched design

An arch frame has a round head on two piers, open in the middle. The lines of the arch are navy stem stitch. In the head eleven gold satin stitch rays fan out, each widening from the inner line toward the outer one. Each pier holds three upright teal satin stitch strips, and a navy satin stitch capital lies across the top of each pier where the head begins. The arch stands on a foot of two navy satin stitch bars, the lower one shorter. The open middle takes an initial.

Size and details

Easy. Short satin stitches, no shading.

3 colors of floss and 2 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size and the widest satin stitch, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters	Satin stitch up to
3 in (8 cm)	1.6 × 1.6 in	4.1 × 4.1 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
4 in (10 cm)	2.4 × 2.4 in	6.1 × 6.1 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
5 in (13 cm)	3.2 × 3.2 in	8.1 × 8.1 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
6 in (15 cm)	4 × 4 in	10.2 × 10.2 cm	1/4 in (6 mm)
8 in (20 cm)	5.5 × 5.6 in	14 × 14.2 cm	5/16 in (8 mm)

The pattern is drawn inside a circle about half an inch (1.3 cm) smaller all around than the hoop.

What you need

DMC 336 Navy BlueLines of the arch, capitals and foot
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawRays of the head
DMC 3809 Very Dark TurquoiseStrips of the piers

The floss is six-strand cotton; the stitch guide says how many strands to use. You also need a hoop, an embroidery needle (a size 7 to 9 suits two or three strands) and plain cotton or linen fabric. To frame the piece in its hoop, cut a square 3 inches (8 cm) wider than the hoop: a 9 inch (23 cm) square for a 6 inch hoop.

Stitch guide

Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsLines of the arch
Satin stitch 2 strandsRays of the head, strips of the piers, capitals, foot

Getting it onto your fabric

The PDF holds the pattern twice at actual size: once as drawn, and once mirrored for an iron-on transfer pen. Print it at 100% with scaling off and check the one-inch square (25.4 mm) with a ruler before you trace. How to transfer a pattern explains tracing, carbon paper and the other ways. The files are under Downloads.