Snowman in a top hat and red scarf
- Easy
- 40×68 stitches
- 5 DMC colors
- ≈ 6 skeins
- Aida 14: 7.3×12.3 cm
A smiling snowman in a black top hat and red scarf, outlined in bold black. Five DMC colours and whole crosses only, so it suits a first Christmas project.
- Size
- 40×68
- Stitches
- 1,939
- DMC colors
- 5
- Skeins
- ≈ 6
- Level
- Easy
- Time
- ≈ 19 hours
No sign-up · colour and b/w · works with Pattern Keeper
Colors
- B5200 Snow White×1,116
- 310 Black×597
- 347 Salmon Very Dark×165
- 433 Brown Medium×46
- 922 Copper Light×15
Snowman in a top hat and red scarf pattern: description
This snowman cross stitch pattern is free to download and makes an easy Christmas project: 40 by 68 stitches, five DMC colours and no backstitch at all. More than half of the stitches are white. The background stays as bare fabric, so the black outline is the only thing separating the snowman from the cloth. White thread on pale fabric barely shows by itself, and without that line the head and body would fade into the Aida.
Should you stitch the black outline or the white fill first?
Both orders work, and the choice comes down to which problem bothers you more. Stitching the outline first draws a map on the fabric. Once the shapes are closed you can fill them with very little counting, which is a relief in the big white belly where the chart gives you few landmarks. The cost is that the white thread travels right beside finished black and can pick up dark fibres.
Starting with the white keeps it clean, since no black thread has touched the fabric yet. You do need to count carefully, because a one-stitch slip in a large white area only shows up later, when the outline refuses to meet it. If you go this way, work from the centre of the chart and check your count more often than usual.
How do you keep white thread clean?
Wash your hands before each session and leave the hand cream for afterwards. Keep the black skein and its cut ends in a separate bag, because short black tails are what usually leave grey specks in white stitches. If you started with the outline, plan on a gentle hand wash at the end in cool water with a little mild soap, then press the piece face down on a towel.
Which fabric colour shows the white best?
Bright white Aida makes a white snowman look flat, since the stitches and the cloth are the same shade. Cream, light blue or pale grey gives the white something to stand against.
On Aida 14 the design measures about 7.3 by 12.3 cm and takes around 19 hours. The tall, narrow shape fits places a square design can't go: a small wall hanging the size of a bookmark, the front of a Christmas card, or a generous gift tag tied to a parcel.
The main colours are DMC B5200 Snow White (58%), DMC 310 Black (31%), and DMC 347 Salmon Very Dark (9%). On 14-count Aida it comes out at 7.3×12.3 cm, on 18-count at 5.6×9.6 cm. You'll need about 6 skeins of DMC floss.
Made in the PatternHoop editor: width 40, 5 colors. Photo and pattern under CC BY 4.0: share and use them, crediting «PatternHoop (patternhoop.com)».
- Where to start
- the centre: stitch 20, row 34
- Stitched area
- 7.3×12.3 cm on Aida 14
- Aida 14 to buy
- 17×22 cm
- Chart pages in the PDF
- 1 colour + 1 b/w
Shopping list
DMC floss for the Snowman in a top hat and red scarf pattern
Tick the threads you already have at home.
| I have it | Color | DMC | Name | Stitches | Skeins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| symbol ■ | B5200 | Snow White | 1,11657.6% | 2 | |
| symbol □ | 310 | Black | 59730.8% | 1 | |
| symbol ▲ | 347 | Salmon Very Dark | 1658.5% | 1 | |
| symbol △ | 433 | Brown Medium | 462.4% | 1 | |
| symbol ● | 922 | Copper Light | 150.8% | 1 |
- B5200 Snow White2 skeins
- 310 Black1 skein
- 347 Salmon Very Dark1 skein
- 433 Brown Medium1 skein
- 922 Copper Light1 skein
Every DMC thread color with its number — in the palette
The Snowman in a top hat and red scarf pattern by zones
It's easier to stitch in parts: here is what each third of the height holds.
Toprows 1–23
533 stitches · 27%
- DMC 310 · 61% Black
- DMC B5200 · 31% Snow White
- DMC 433 · 9% Brown Medium
Middlerows 24–45
644 stitches · 33%
- DMC B5200 · 51% Snow White
- DMC 347 · 24% Salmon Very Dark
- DMC 310 · 23% Black
Bottomrows 46–68
762 stitches · 39%
- DMC B5200 · 82% Snow White
- DMC 310 · 17% Black
- DMC 347 · 2% Salmon Very Dark
The Snowman in a top hat and red scarf pattern on different fabric
| Fabric | Embroidery | Inches | Fabric with margin | Strands | Needle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aida 11 | 9.2×15.7 cm | 3.6×6.2″ | 19×26 cm | 3 strands | size 22 |
| Aida 14 | 7.3×12.3 cm | 2.9×4.9″ | 17×22 cm | 2 strands | size 24 |
| Aida 16 | 6.4×10.8 cm | 2.5×4.3″ | 16×21 cm | 2 strands | size 26 |
| Aida 18 | 5.6×9.6 cm | 2.2×3.8″ | 16×20 cm | 2 strands | size 26 |
How to stitch the Snowman in a top hat and red scarf pattern in 4 steps
Prepare the fabric
Cut Aida 14 to 17×22 cm: 5 cm of margin on every side.
Sort the threads
The pattern uses 5 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 Snowman in a top hat and red scarf pattern
5 DMC colors, about 6 skeins in all, stitched with 2 strands on 14-count Aida.
40×68 stitches: 7.3×12.3 cm on 14-count Aida, 5.6×9.6 cm on 18-count.
For Aida 14, a piece of 17×22 cm: the design plus 5 cm on every side for the hoop and framing.
The pattern has 1,939 stitches — roughly 19 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.
