Scandinavian Snowflakes Cross-stitch Machine Embroidery Designs – Set of 2

Scandinavian Snowflakes Cross-stitch Machine Embroidery Designs is a set of two different square motifs featuring geometric snowflakes, stars and Nordic-style borders. Both files have the same prepared dimensions but different patterns. Stitch them separately, repeat them as quilt-style blocks or reverse the red and white threads to build a coordinated winter textile collection.

The product photo shows both motifs repeated twice in a 2 × 2 arrangement on a light linen insert set into a red velvet pillow. The four embroidered squares are an application example made from the two included files; the archive does not contain four separate designs.

By knowing the speed of your embroidery machine, you can estimate how long each design will take to stitch.
To use the embroidery calculator, click the stitch count in the product description.

Size: 103.5x105.0 mm (4.07x4.13"), Stitches: 29524
Size: 103.5x105.0 mm (4.07x4.13"), Stitches: 29523
Formats: .dst, .jef, .pec, .vip, .hus, .pes, .exp, .sew, .dat, .vp3, xxx

What Is Included

• two different square cross-stitch machine embroidery designs;
• one prepared size for each motif;
• two unique thread colors and three programmed color blocks in each file;

This is a digital machine embroidery product. You need an embroidery machine and software or a device capable of transferring the selected file format to your machine. No fabric, thread, pillow or finished embroidery will be shipped.

Design Size, Stitch Count and Hoop Compatibility

Important: neither file fits a 100 × 100 mm / 4 × 4 in embroidery field because the design measures 103.5 mm wide and 105.0 mm high. Select a hoop whose actual usable field is at least 103.5 × 105.0 mm. A standard 130 × 180 mm / 5 × 7 in hoop provides a practical working margin.

The old product name says 2 sizes, but that is technically incorrect. The download contains two different designs of the same size, not one design supplied in two sizes.

How to Build a 2 × 2 Pillow Panel

1. Mark the vertical and horizontal centerlines of the complete composition on the fabric.
2. Mark the center of each of the four squares before the first hooping.
3. Stitch each square separately, aligning the hoop center marks with the fabric grid after every rehooping.
4. Place the two different files diagonally and repeat them in the opposite diagonal positions.
5. Reverse red and white in the second pair when you want the checkerboard effect shown in the product example.

With no space between the motifs, four squares occupy approximately 207 × 210 mm / 8.15 × 8.27 in. With a 5 mm gap between neighboring blocks, plan an embroidered field of about 212 × 215 mm / 8.35 × 8.46 in.

For a velvet pillow, the cleanest method is to embroider the four motifs on a separate linen or cotton insert and sew that panel into the pillow front. The even-weave surface keeps the crosses crisp, while the velvet pile remains outside the detailed stitched area.

Fabric, Stabilizer, Needle and Speed

• Fabric: medium-weight linen or cotton with a stable, square weave.
• Thread: 40-weight machine embroidery polyester or rayon.
• Needle: a new 75/11 embroidery needle. If dense linen causes skipped stitches, check the needle condition and upper-thread path before changing file settings.
• Backing for a pillow insert: medium-weight cut-away stabilizer gives reliable support under approximately 29,500 stitches.
• Backing for table linen: strong tear-away can be tested when a cleaner reverse side is important, but it must hold the entire square without distortion.
• Hooping: hoop fabric and stabilizer together without stretching the weave. Temporary spray adhesive may be used to prevent shifting.
• Speed: use a moderate embroidery speed so repeated cross-stitch rows maintain consistent shape and tension.

The density comes from thousands of separate cross stitches rather than broad fill areas. A full test on the same fabric, stabilizer, thread, needle and machine settings is essential before stitching the final pillow panel, runner or quilt block.

Original Ackermann Thread Chart

Each motif uses red and white only. Both files contain three programmed blocks in a red–white–red sequence, which means two thread changes per motif. The second pair of squares in the product example is created by reversing the two thread colors.

Thread-chart note: the supplied source sheets identify Ackermann Isacord and Isafil, not Madeira. Madeira numbers are therefore not substituted with approximate conversions. Screen swatches are visual guides only; choose physical thread with the manufacturer's color card.

Do not merge blocks 1 and 3 simply because they use the same red thread. The red color returns after the white block for a technical stitching reason. Combining identical-color stops may change overlap order and reduce the clarity of the cross-stitch pattern.

More Nordic and Cross-stitch Designs

Browse the Snowflakes and Stars machine embroidery collection for winter motifs in different sizes and techniques. For coordinated holiday projects, open the Christmas cross-stitch machine embroidery collection or the monochrome cross-stitch collection.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the new name say two designs instead of two sizes?

The archive contains two different snowflake patterns. Both measure 103.5 × 105.0 mm / 4.07 × 4.13 in. The old wording 2 sizes was technically inaccurate.

Can I stitch these files in a 4×4 hoop?

No. Both dimensions exceed a 100 × 100 mm field: the files are 103.5 mm wide and 105.0 mm high. Use a hoop with an actual embroidery field of at least 103.5 × 105.0 mm; a standard 130 × 180 mm / 5 × 7 in hoop is suitable.

Can I make the light version on red fabric?

Yes. Use red fabric with white thread for an open background effect, or reverse the red and white thread assignments in the machine. Preview the complete sequence first and preserve the red–white–red block order.

Why should the two red blocks remain separate?

The second red stop is programmed after the white section so later red crosses and details are laid in the intended order. Automatic color sorting may change overlaps and make the geometric pattern less clean.

How do I prevent the square border from pulling inward?

Keep the fabric weave square, do not stretch it in the hoop, support all 29,500 stitches with adequate backing and stitch at moderate speed. If the test square bows, increase stabilization before changing density or tension.

Can I embroider the motifs directly on velvet?

Only after testing, with cut-away stabilizer underneath and water-soluble topping over the pile. For sharper cross stitches and more predictable alignment, embroider a linen insert first and sew it into the velvet pillow front.

How can I align four squares accurately?

Draw one complete layout grid and mark all four motif centers before stitching. At every rehooping, align both center marks and check that the fabric grain remains parallel to the grid. A printed template at 100% helps verify spacing before the first stitch.

Digital Download and License

The designs may be used for personal projects and limited small-business production of finished embroidered items. The digital files may not be copied, shared, exchanged, published, distributed, modified for digital resale or sold in any electronic format. Mass industrial production is not included in the standard license.

Designer: Ludmila Konovalova, Royal Present Embroidery.