Round Greek key frame hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 2 colors · 1 kind of stitch

Round Greek key frame: preview of the stitched design

A round frame is made of one band of Greek key. The key is a single navy line that turns square at every corner and repeats the same hooked step all the way around the circle. It runs between two plain blue rails, one outside it and one inside, each a full circle. The key and both rails are stem stitch, so the whole frame is line work in two threads. The open middle takes a name, an initial or a date.

Size and details

Easy. Stem stitch only, but a good deal of line to work.

2 colors of floss and 1 kind of stitch:

Stem stitch
Which stitch goes where

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)	2.9 × 2.9 in	7.4 × 7.4 cm
5 in (13 cm)	3.9 × 3.9 in	9.9 × 9.9 cm
6 in (15 cm)	4.8 × 4.8 in	12.2 × 12.2 cm
8 in (20 cm)	6.8 × 6.8 in	17.3 × 17.3 cm

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

What you need

DMC 322 Dark Baby BlueRails
DMC 336 Navy BlueGreek key

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 strandsRails, Greek key

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.