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Free Sunflower Cross-Stitch Pattern with DMC Codes

Stitch a bright sunflower with this free printable cross-stitch pattern. The chart includes DMC floss colors, fabric sizing, and an editable preview before you download the finished PDF.

Why the centre is the hardest part

The sunflower's seed disc follows a Fibonacci spiral — the same mathematical pattern found in pine cones and nautilus shells. In cross-stitch this translates to the most colour-dense area of the chart: tight concentric arcs of deep brown and near-black stitches. Work the disc outward from the centre using your darkest thread first so the spiral reads cleanly, then build the lighter petals around it.

Chart generated by StitchBitz, licensed under the StitchBitz Generated Chart License.

Source photo by Md Joni Hossain, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

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What You'll Need

To stitch this design, you will need a piece of Aida fabric measuring at least 15×15 cm on 16-count Aida. The full DMC floss palette for this chart uses 24 colors:

  • DMC 796
  • DMC 797
  • DMC 798
  • DMC 580
  • DMC 728
  • DMC 307
  • DMC 3051
  • DMC 725
  • DMC 742
  • DMC 976
  • DMC 977
  • DMC 741
  • DMC 434
  • DMC 921
  • DMC 433
  • DMC 970
  • DMC 918
  • DMC 975
  • DMC 3776
  • DMC 300
  • DMC 934
  • DMC 919
  • DMC 801
  • DMC 890

Frequently Asked Questions

What fabric count is best for a sunflower cross-stitch pattern?

14-count Aida is the easiest choice and gives this sunflower a bold, poster-like look with clear petals. If you want softer detail in the flower centre, step up to 16- or 18-count Aida, which packs more stitches into the same area for finer shading.

Which DMC colors do I need for the sunflower petals?

The petals are built from warm DMC yellows and golds, the centre from deep browns, and the foliage from muted greens. The full floss key with exact DMC codes and skein estimates is generated in the pattern below — adjust the palette live to match the threads in your stash.

Does a sunflower look better on white or colored Aida?

Bright yellow petals pop most on a mid-tone fabric. Try a soft sky-blue, sage, or natural linen Aida to make the gold stand out; pure white can wash out the lightest highlights. A darker fabric also lets you skip stitching some background areas.

94 × 94
Grid Size
15×15 cm on 16-count Aida
Fabric Size
advanced
Difficulty

Shading the petals like real light

Young sunflowers exhibit heliotropism — they track the sun across the sky, so petals are almost always lit from one side. Mimic this in thread by placing your palest DMC yellow at the petal tips facing the light source and stepping down through golds to a warm ochre where the petal meets the disc. The result reads as three-dimensional even on a flat piece of 14-count Aida.

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