Nativity scene under a gold star
- Easy
- 60×60 stitches
- 2 DMC colors
- ≈ 3 skeins
- Aida 14: 10.9×10.9 cm
A dark blue stable with Mary, Joseph and the child beneath a gold star. Two DMC colours and long, simple rows make it an easy Christmas piece.
- Size
- 60×60
- Stitches
- 1,276
- DMC colors
- 2
- Skeins
- ≈ 3
- Level
- Easy
- Time
- ≈ 13 hours
No sign-up · colour and b/w · works with Pattern Keeper
Nativity scene under a gold star pattern: description
This nativity scene is a single-colour silhouette with a gold star above it. Of the 1276 stitches, 1105 are dark blue DMC 820 and 171 are gold DMC 3852, so most of the time goes on long rows, which makes it an easy Christmas cross stitch pattern. The stable, Mary, Joseph and the child in the manger are one flat shape, and the white inside the stable is bare fabric.
Where to start stitching the stable
Find the centre of the fabric and check it against the chart: it sits just under the peak of the roof, on empty fabric. Count up to the roof and stitch both slopes from the peak downwards, then the two posts down to the floor. Every figure can then be counted from a line you have already stitched.
The figures come next, Mary on the left, Joseph on the right and the manger between them, each built up from the floor. The heads need the most care. Both lean towards the manger, and the gaps between heads, manger and walls are narrow strips of bare fabric, so one stitch too many closes a gap and changes the outline. Count those rows twice. The whole design is in full cross stitches, and there is no backstitch to add at the end.
The star goes in last. It floats above the roof with a thin band of fabric between them, so count up from the peak before the first gold stitch.
Which fabric suits blue and gold?
The chart is planned for white Aida, where the blue looks crisp and the star stands out. Ivory or pale cream gives a softer, warmer look. Stay away from dark fabric, because the silhouette disappears on it and only the star is left. Solid blue shows every uneven stitch, so keep the top leg of each cross going the same way.
How to finish it for Christmas
At 10.9 cm square on Aida 14, the picture fits a small frame with a plain white mount. It can also stay in the hoop with felt on the back, or become a flat cushion with a ribbon for hanging on a door or a tree branch. Leave some spare fabric under the floor if you want to add a year or a family name. Allow about 13 hours of stitching.
The main colours are DMC 820 Royal Blue Very Dark (87%) and DMC 3852 Straw Very Dark (13%). On 14-count Aida it comes out at 10.9×10.9 cm, on 18-count at 8.5×8.5 cm. You'll need about 3 skeins of DMC floss.
Made in the PatternHoop editor: width 60, 2 colors. Photo and pattern under CC BY 4.0: share and use them, crediting «PatternHoop (patternhoop.com)».
- Where to start
- the centre: stitch 30, row 30
- Stitched area
- 10.9×10.9 cm on Aida 14
- Aida 14 to buy
- 21×21 cm
- Chart pages in the PDF
- 1 colour + 1 b/w
Shopping list
DMC floss for the Nativity scene under a gold star pattern
Tick the threads you already have at home.
| I have it | Color | DMC | Name | Stitches | Skeins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| symbol ■ | 820 | Royal Blue Very Dark | 1,10586.6% | 2 | |
| symbol □ | 3852 | Straw Very Dark | 17113.4% | 1 |
- 820 Royal Blue Very Dark2 skeins
- 3852 Straw Very Dark1 skein
Every DMC thread color with its number — in the palette
The Nativity scene under a gold star pattern by zones
It's easier to stitch in parts: here is what each third of the height holds.
Toprows 1–20
169 stitches · 13%
- DMC 3852 · 100% Straw Very Dark
Middlerows 21–40
358 stitches · 28%
- DMC 820 · 99% Royal Blue Very Dark
- DMC 3852 · 1% Straw Very Dark
Bottomrows 41–60
749 stitches · 59%
- DMC 820 · 100% Royal Blue Very Dark
The Nativity scene under a gold star pattern on different fabric
| Fabric | Embroidery | Inches | Fabric with margin | Strands | Needle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aida 11 | 13.9×13.9 cm | 5.5×5.5″ | 24×24 cm | 3 strands | size 22 |
| Aida 14 | 10.9×10.9 cm | 4.3×4.3″ | 21×21 cm | 2 strands | size 24 |
| Aida 16 | 9.5×9.5 cm | 3.8×3.8″ | 20×20 cm | 2 strands | size 26 |
| Aida 18 | 8.5×8.5 cm | 3.3×3.3″ | 18×18 cm | 2 strands | size 26 |
How to stitch the Nativity scene under a gold star pattern in 4 steps
Prepare the fabric
Cut Aida 14 to 21×21 cm: 5 cm of margin on every side.
Sort the threads
The pattern uses 2 DMC colors: lay the skeins out by the numbers in the table above.
Start in the centre
Find the middle of the fabric and of the chart: the PDF marks the centre with arrows on the page edges.
Mark your progress
Cross off finished areas on the printout, or open the PDF in Pattern Keeper.
Questions about the Nativity scene under a gold star pattern
2 DMC colors, about 3 skeins in all, stitched with 2 strands on 14-count Aida.
60×60 stitches: 10.9×10.9 cm on 14-count Aida, 8.5×8.5 cm on 18-count.
For Aida 14, a piece of 21×21 cm: the design plus 5 cm on every side for the hoop and framing.
The pattern has 1,276 stitches — roughly 13 hours at 100 stitches an hour.
Yes. The symbols in the PDF are text, so Pattern Keeper reads the chart and the legend.
Yes, in the PatternHoop editor: upload a photo, pick the size and the number of colours, and the pattern is ready in a second, for free.
