Acorn cross stitch pattern

About this design

The acorn’s cap is DMC 434 Brown Light with a check of 801 Coffee Brown Dark, which imitates the scaly texture of a real acorn cup. Below it, the nut is 976 Golden Brown Medium, shaded with 975 Golden Brown Dark along both edges and tapering to a point at the bottom. A short stalk of 3371 Black Brown rises from the top of the cap. It is a symmetrical design that takes only an hour or two.

How to work it

Start at the centre column with the stalk, then stitch the cap row by row, alternating the two browns. Fill the nut with the lighter brown and add the darker shading along the edges last.

Finishing ideas

At 21 × 15 stitches the design is about 1.5 × 1.1 inches (3.8 × 2.7 cm) on 14-count Aida and 1.2 × 0.8 inches on 18-count. Stitch a row of acorns along a table runner or napkin, or use one as a tiny autumn ornament backed with felt.

Colour plan

DMC 976 Golden Brown Med does the most work, 38% of the 175 stitches, followed by DMC 434 Brown Light at 35%. DMC 3371 Black Brown (2) is used only a little: small details worth marking on the chart so you don't miss them. 44% of the grid is left empty.

Working notes

9 squares stand alone in their colour, with no same-coloured neighbour along a side; stitch those as you pass rather than starting a new thread for each. The busiest row changes colour 20 times.