Rose Wreath in DMC - PAT0718 - Downloadable PDF

Rose Wreath Cross Stitch Pattern – DMC PAT0718

This free downloadable PDF pattern from DMC presents a charming Rose Wreath (Couronne de Rose) design worked in coloured cross stitch. The finished piece depicts a circular floral wreath composed of roses and foliage, making it an elegant project suited to intermediate embroiderers who are comfortable reading a colour-coded cross stitch chart and managing multiple thread colours at once.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a decorative rose wreath motif — a classic circular arrangement of blooms and leaves rendered entirely in cross stitch. Designs like this are traditionally framed or mounted as wall art, used on greeting cards, or incorporated into soft furnishings such as cushion covers and tote bags. The wreath format gives the composition a balanced, symmetrical appearance that works beautifully as a standalone decorative piece.

Techniques Used

• Full cross stitch – the primary technique used to build up the solid areas of colour across the design, including the rose petals, stems, and leaf shapes
• Quarter cross stitch (1/4 stitch) – indicated on the chart to refine curved edges and fine details, giving the roses and foliage a smoother, more realistic outline
• Colour chart reading – the pattern is supplied as a coloured cross stitch chart, meaning each symbol or coloured square on the grid corresponds directly to a specific DMC thread shade, requiring the stitcher to follow the key carefully

Stitches Used

• Cross stitch – the foundational stitch of the entire design, formed by two diagonal stitches crossing at the centre of each grid square
• Quarter stitch (1/4 cross stitch) – a partial stitch used at the edges of shapes to create smoother curves and more delicate detailing within the floral elements

Colours and Thread

The pattern calls for DMC Mouliné Spécial embroidery thread, the brand's signature 6-strand divisible cotton floss, which is widely available and known for its consistent colour quality and sheen. The following DMC thread shades are specified in the chart:

• 741 – a warm tangerine orange, used as an accent within the floral arrangement
• 225 – a very pale dusty rose, ideal for the lightest highlights on the petals
• 3326 – a soft light rose pink, contributing gentle mid-tones to the blooms
• 962 – a medium dusty rose, adding depth and warmth to the rose petals
• 335 – a deeper, vivid rose pink that anchors the darker areas of the flowers
• 666 – a bright Christmas red, used for the richest, most saturated floral tones
• 369 – a very light pistachio green, providing the palest leaf and stem highlights
• 368 – a light pistachio green, used for mid-tone foliage areas throughout the wreath

Together, these eight shades create a harmonious palette that moves from pale blush through vivid red in the roses, and from soft sage to fresh green in the leaves, giving the wreath a lively, naturalistic quality.

Materials Needed

• DMC Mouliné Spécial embroidery floss in the eight colours listed above
• Even-weave or Aida fabric – a standard cross stitch ground fabric; count is not specified in the extracted content, so stitchers should refer to the full PDF for the recommended fabric count
• Tapestry needle – the blunt-tipped needle traditionally used for cross stitch to pass cleanly between fabric threads without splitting them
• Embroidery hoop or frame – recommended to keep the fabric taut and stitches even throughout the project

Pattern Format and Availability

This is a free pattern available as a downloadable PDF directly from DMC (© 2018 DMC Library). The chart is presented in