Lace frame for a wedding monogram hand embroidery pattern

Intermediate · 3 colors · 4 kinds of stitch

Lace frame for a wedding monogram: preview of the stitched design

An oval frame of lace leaves its middle open for a wedding monogram, two names or a date. No letters come with it: draw your own inside the frame. Two ovals of stem stitch hold a row of French knots between them like a beaded edge, and scallops of back stitch run round the outside with a French knot in each one except the two beside the bow. A ribbon bow of satin stitch sits at the foot, and its tails fall to either side.

Size and details

Intermediate. Dozens of French knots.

3 colors of floss and 4 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 × 1.9 in	3.6 × 4.8 cm	1/16 in (1.6 mm)
4 in (10 cm)	2 × 2.8 in	5.1 × 7.1 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
5 in (13 cm)	2.7 × 3.7 in	6.9 × 9.4 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
6 in (15 cm)	3.4 × 4.6 in	8.6 × 11.7 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
8 in (20 cm)	4.7 × 6.5 in	11.9 × 16.5 cm	5/16 in (8 mm)

In a 3 or 4 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 152 Medium Light Shell PinkScallops and bow loops
DMC 3350 Ultra Dark Dusty RoseKnots in the scallops, frame, bow tails and bow knot
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawBeads of the frame

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 strandsScallops
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsKnots in the scallops, beads of the frame
Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsFrame
Satin stitch 2 strandsBow tails, bow loops, bow knot

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.