Outline stitch linked rings hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 3 colors · 2 kinds of stitch

Outline stitch linked rings: preview of the stitched design

Six linked rings stand in a circle, purple and teal by turns, as a picture to practice outline stitch on. Each ring is a band between two lines and passes over the ring on one side of it and under the ring on the other, as the links of a chain do, so a line stops where it runs under another band. Every line is outline stitch, which does all the line work. A gold French knot sits in the middle of each ring, and one more at the center of the whole.

Size and details

Easy. Simple stitches in three colors.

3 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)	1.5 × 1.7 in	3.8 × 4.3 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2.3 × 2.5 in	5.8 × 6.4 cm
5 in (13 cm)	3.1 × 3.3 in	7.9 × 8.4 cm
6 in (15 cm)	3.8 × 4.2 in	9.7 × 10.7 cm
8 in (20 cm)	5.4 × 5.8 in	13.7 × 14.7 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 208 Very Dark LavenderPurple linked rings
DMC 3809 Very Dark TurquoiseTeal linked rings
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawKnots in the rings and knot at the center

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

Outline stitch 2 strandsLinked rings
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsKnots in the rings, knot at the center

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.