Filigree pumpkin hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 3 colors · 3 kinds of stitch

Filigree pumpkin: preview of the stitched design

A squat pumpkin has four ribs that sweep down from the stem and curl into filigree scrolls near the foot, with a stem that bends over and winds into a scroll of its own and one curled vine tendril beside it. The outline, the ribs, the stem and the tendril are stem stitch, the drops between the ribs are lazy daisy stitches, and the dots in the curls and under the drops are French knots.

Size and details

Easy. Simple stitches in three colors.

3 colors of floss and 3 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters
3 in (8 cm)	1.7 × 1.5 in	4.3 × 3.8 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2.6 × 2.3 in	6.6 × 5.8 cm
5 in (13 cm)	3.5 × 3 in	8.9 × 7.6 cm
6 in (15 cm)	4.3 × 3.8 in	10.9 × 9.7 cm
8 in (20 cm)	6.1 × 5.3 in	15.5 × 13.5 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 922 Light CopperPumpkin outline and ribs
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawDrops under the stem, drops between the ribs, dots in the rib curls and dots between the ribs
DMC 986 Very Dark Forest GreenStem, tendril, and dots in the stem and tendril curls

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 strandsPumpkin outline, ribs, stem, tendril
Lazy daisy stitch 2 strandsDrops under the stem, drops between the ribs
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsDots in the rib curls, dots between the ribs, dots in the stem and tendril curls

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.