Vintage-Style Fluffy Lamb Cross Stitch: A Nostalgic Series Free Pattern

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Supplies To Start Cross Stitching

If you are new to cross-stitching, no worries, because it’s a very simple process. I’ll guide you through step-by-step. First, you need the proper supplies, which are readily available at any craft store and on Amazon. Here is a list of items you’ll need for this Fluffy Lamb project. Click the underlined items to link.

• Aida Cloth 14 count – I use a precut rustic oatmeal color for a vintage feel.
• DMC Embroidery Needles
• Cotton Pearl 712 Cream Yarn (for the fluffy colonial knot stitch)
• If you are new to cross-stitch or embroidery, it may be more economical to order this embroidery floss kit.
• DMC Embroidery Floss used in the following colors:
  • 3860 – very dark taupe
  • 60 – very dark coca
  • 225 – very light shell pink
  • 167 – dark yellow beige
  • 3726 – dark antique mauve
  • 3864 light mocha beige
  • 3371 – dark rich black/brown (used for the eyes only)
  • 3866 – ultra very light mocha brown
• Small Embroidery Hoop (optional)
• Scissors
• Needle Threader
• Download and print the FREE Fluffy Lamb Cross Stitch Pattern here.

Important Tips For Understanding Cross Stitch & The Pattern – Please Read Before Beginning

• Thread your needle with your beginning floss color.
  • Use two strands of floss.
  • Note: each DMC Floss has 6 strands, so you will need to separate them and load them onto the needle. To separate, cut to the length you need, then at the center of that length, separate and pull two strands apart. It’s easy to tangle if you pull from one end.
  • The Cotton Pearl Cream is just one heavy strand for all the stitches indicated.
• You will notice several candlewick (or colonial knot) stitches in this pattern.
  • I used a mixture of both the colonial knot and cross stitch to achieve the fluffy lamb design. This will help to speed up the process.
• Another common problem is the thread knotting up.
  • This happens if you try to use extra-long pieces at a time, so keep each piece a reasonable length. When I pull through the thread, I like to only extend just beyond the fabric. Another reason is that the thread begins to twist as you work. To adjust, allow the needle and thread to hang from the fabric, and the needle will spin to unwind.
  • (Note: Ensure that the needle is secure about halfway along the floss, so that it doesn’t fall off the thread.)
• In addition, the orange dot (167 DMC Color) is randomly located on the lamb’s body. Don’t worry about following the pattern exactly. I added several more of these stitches than the pattern called for, and just placed them randomly as I desired.
• This is a very forgiving pattern except for around the face and ears. Therefore, I recommend finishing that area first.
• Lastly, cross-stitch is not a two-hour project. Consider it a project that you will work on for several days. One you will pick up and put down several times until it is finished. It took me a week to finish the lamb, which included drawing the pattern.

How To Cross Stitch

Cross-stitch is one of the easiest stitches to make. It is exactly as it sounds: you are making a cross with the embroidery floss. However, there are some key tips that will make your project much easier and neater.

• Don’t begin making crosses immediately; instead, add the whole section left to right and then work your way back by bringing the needle up on the lower right corner, cross over, and insert the needle into the upper right corner to form crosses until you reach the beginning.
• This will keep your stitches uniform and use less thread.
• You’ll also notice that you want to work as many stitches as possible in the same yarn

How To Create The Colonial Knot or Candlewick

I recently shared how to make a candlewick pillow that uses only colonial knots. For this pattern, I used a combination of both colonial knots and cross stitches to fill in the body and head of the fluffy sheep. Both stitches were completed using one strand of the Pearl Cream thread.

I began by adding the colonial knot along the outside edge of the body so that I wouldn’t have to count as I filled in. In addition, I added random cross stitches in DMC 167, dark yellow beige. I found that adding a row of cross stitches under most of the beige color worked well. I also mixed the regular cross stitch with the rows of the colonial knots to speed up the process.

You can see how I added several more dark yellow-beige stitches to my design. Then I filled in around those with the cream thread.

Vintage-Inspired Nostalgic Cross-Stitch Design

After completing the vintage-inspired cross-stitch pattern, I decided to frame mine using a thrifted vintage frame. It would also be cute as a pillow.

I mentioned that I cut my fabric close to the pattern before beginning, and therefore was limited as to what size frame I could use. Fortunately, I had this one that worked perfectly.

I’m loving the vintage feel of the cross stitch. It took a week to complete this project, but it was fun watching it come to life one stitch at a time.

I’m currently working on my office area and recently added a small gallery wall of art. The fluffy lamb adds a touch of old-world nostalgic charm to the wall of thrifted art.

Bonus Simple Lamb Cross Stitch Pattern

I’m including a simple lamb pattern if you’d rather start out small in your cross-stitch journey. Click – Simple Lamb Cross Stitch Pattern to download. Here is a preview of the pattern.

I hope you enjoyed today’s Old School Nostalgic craft idea. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and if you make this lamb, I’d love to see a photo. I share any crafts that you duplicate on my Sunday, Dirt Road Adventures.