Greek key frame with gold squares hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 2 colors · 3 kinds of stitch

Greek key frame with gold squares: preview of the stitched design

A square frame of Greek key in navy back stitch lies between two ruled lines of gold stem stitch. The key is one closed line all the way round. At the middle of every side it steps inward around a small gold satin stitch square, and the keys run outward from that square both ways; one more gold square sits in each corner. Stitch it as it is round a name or a date, or lengthen every side by whole repeats for a placemat or a tray cloth.

Size and details

Easy. Back stitch and stem stitch, with some short satin stitches.

2 colors of floss and 3 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size and the widest satin stitch, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters	Satin stitch up to
3 in (8 cm)	1.4 × 1.4 in	3.6 × 3.6 cm	1/16 in (1.6 mm)
4 in (10 cm)	2.1 × 2.1 in	5.3 × 5.3 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
5 in (13 cm)	2.8 × 2.8 in	7.1 × 7.1 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
6 in (15 cm)	3.5 × 3.5 in	8.9 × 8.9 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
8 in (20 cm)	5 × 5 in	12.7 × 12.7 cm	1/4 in (6 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 BlueKey
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawRuled lines and gold squares

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

Back stitch 2 strandsKey
Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsRuled lines
Satin stitch 2 strandsGold squares

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.