The Yule Dance – PDF Pattern

“The Yule Dance” is a cheerful monochromatic cross-stitch chart inspired by Nordic textiles. It was the 2024 Holiday Countdown pattern which every year is organised by Evertote in Canada, with flosses and linen by Roxy Floss Co and with an original pattern by me. This pattern originally featured 25 unique colours but has now been re-charted (with some minor changes) as a monochrome chart so you can select your own favourite colour or colours.

The design was inspired by the rich cultural stitching heritage in the Nordic countries, especially Sweden and Norway.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

This design measures 113 crosses wide and 137 crosses high. It features only full crosses and has no specialty stitches. From the second page of the pattern onwards, you will notice a greyed-out area of 3 crosses wide — this indicates overlap with the previous page to make it easier for you to continue stitching.  Although this is a monochromatic design, you can stitch it with any colour of your choosing. I have worked my model with Roxy Floss Co’s “Falu Red”,  but you can use as many or as few colours as you want.

The graph below gives size estimates and floss calculations for a wide range of embroidery linen and aida fabric.
Floss calculations are based on working with two strands on 28- to 36-count linen (14- to 16-count aida). Higher counts use a single strand. You are free to stitch with as many strands as you like. A bonus alphabet allows you to personalise your design.

As this is a monochrome pattern, you can stitch it with any colour you like. Roxy Floss Co (sold through Evertote in Canada) dyes some beautiful flosses and linens that will surely inspire you. Falu Red is one of my personal favourite reds they do and is a colour I keep coming back to. It would look particularly beautiful worked on a linen such as “Porcelain” or “Speculaas”.