Linked spiral ring hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 2 colors · 2 kinds of stitch

Linked spiral ring: preview of the stitched design

A ring of ten linked spirals for the edge of a hoop is drawn as one unbroken line that winds into the heart of each spiral, out again and across to the next, with a dot in every hollow between them. The line is stem stitch from start to finish and the dots are French knots.

Size and details

Easy. Simple stitches in two colors.

2 colors of floss and 2 kinds of stitch, all of them line stitches and knots:

The stitched size, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters
3 in (8 cm)	1.9 × 1.9 in	4.8 × 4.8 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2.8 × 2.8 in	7.1 × 7.1 cm
5 in (13 cm)	3.7 × 3.7 in	9.4 × 9.4 cm
6 in (15 cm)	4.7 × 4.7 in	11.9 × 11.9 cm
8 in (20 cm)	6.5 × 6.5 in	16.5 × 16.5 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 3809 Very Dark TurquoiseLinked spirals
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawDots between the spirals

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 strandsLinked spirals
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsDots between the spirals

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.