Filigree cross hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 2 colors · 3 kinds of stitch

Filigree cross: preview of the stitched design

A Latin cross is made of scrolls: each arm is a pair of lines that part round an eye-shaped opening and curl outward at the end, the long foot has a second opening and a pair of small curls at its waist, and loops fill the openings, the ends of the arms and the four corners of the crossing. The scrolls are stem stitch, every loop is one lazy daisy stitch and the dots are French knots.

Size and details

Easy. Simple stitches in two colors.

2 colors of floss and 3 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters
3 in (8 cm)	1.3 × 1.9 in	3.3 × 4.8 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2 × 2.9 in	5.1 × 7.4 cm
5 in (13 cm)	2.6 × 3.8 in	6.6 × 9.7 cm
6 in (15 cm)	3.3 × 4.8 in	8.4 × 12.2 cm
8 in (20 cm)	4.6 × 6.7 in	11.7 × 17 cm

In a 3 inch hoop the French knots are drawn smaller than about 2 mm (a little over 1/16 in). Use one strand of floss for them there, or choose a larger hoop.

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

What you need

DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawScrolls and ring at the crossing
DMC 208 Very Dark LavenderLoops and dots

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 strandsScrolls, ring at the crossing
Lazy daisy stitch 2 strandsLoops
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsDots

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.