A striking close-up scene: a honeybee resting on the petals of a large pink rose in full bloom, its delicate translucent wings caught mid-flutter. Dewdrops scatter across the petals and trail downward like soft rain, with smaller rosebuds and green leaves framing the base of the flower against a warm, softly blurred pink-and-grey background.
This is a large, photorealistic design built for stitchers who love fine detail and rich shading — expect to spend real time with this one, and love every hour of it. Whether you’re building toward a gift, a keepsake, or simply want a serious project to sink your teeth into, this chart delivers a finished piece with real presence on the wall.
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Pattern At a Glance
- DifficultyAdvanced
- Suggested Fabric14-count Aida
- Stitch Count230 × 342
- Finished Size (14-count)~16.4 × 24.4 in
- Colors80 Anchor thread colors
- Estimated Time100–170+ hours
Stitch count, finished size, and color count are read directly from the pattern file. Finished size is calculated for 14-count Aida — the pattern file also lists sizes for 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, and 28-count if you prefer a different fabric. Estimated time varies a lot by stitcher experience.
Pattern Preview
This photorealistic reference shows exactly how the finished piece comes together — warm pinks and corals in the rose, soft grey-pink tones in the background, and the bee’s fine black-and-gold striping picked out in careful detail.
Materials / Supplies
- Fabric: 14-count Aida in white, antique white, cream, or ivory (or your preferred count — see finished size note above; pale blue, soft aqua, and light oatmeal linen-look Aida are also recommended by the pattern)
- Thread: Anchor embroidery floss, 80 colors — full list and symbols in the Color & Symbol Guide below
- Needle: Size 24–26 tapestry needle
- Hoop or frame: Given the size of this piece, a Q-snap or scroll frame is strongly recommended over a hand hoop
- Extras: Thread organizer (floss bobbins or a project box) — with 80 colors, keeping them sorted will save you hours
- Stitch method: Full cross stitch, 2 strands of thread
- Includes: Both a full-color chart and a black & white symbol-only chart, so you can pick whichever is easier for you to follow
Tips for This Pattern
- This is a big chart — work it in sections (start with the bee itself, then expand outward into the rose petals) rather than trying to track the whole grid at once.
- Use a chart-reading app or printed chart with a highlighter to mark completed rows; with 80 colors it’s easy to lose your place.
- Pre-sort your thread by symbol before you start. It feels slow, but it pays for itself many times over on a piece this size.
- The rose petals use many closely related pinks, corals, and mauves — work under strong, consistent lighting to tell shades apart.
- The dewdrops rely on small pops of white and very light grey against darker background tones — take it slow through those areas so the highlights stay crisp.
Color & Symbol Guide
Reproduced directly from the original chart — every symbol, Anchor code, color name, and stitch count exactly as provided, so nothing gets mistranslated or miscounted along the way.
Color chart is for Anchor brand threads. The number in parentheses after each color name is the number of stitches worked in that color. (80 entries — worth a quick recount against the original before publishing, simply because a chart this size is easy to miscount by eye.)
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Get PDF Black & White Pattern for Free
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
Not as a first project. Between the 80 colors and the 230×342 stitch count, this is best suited to stitchers who’ve completed at least a few medium-sized pieces already.
Can I use DMC thread instead of Anchor?
Yes — the color list uses Anchor codes, but each shade has a close DMC equivalent. You’ll need to cross-reference manually since this chart doesn’t include DMC conversions.
How long will this realistically take me?
Most stitchers report 100–170+ hours for pieces this size and detail level, spread over several months of regular stitching.
What size should I frame it at when finished?
At 14-count, the finished stitched area is roughly 16.4 × 24.4 inches — plan your frame or hoop purchase with a few extra inches of fabric margin around that.
Conclusion
The Bee on Blooming Rose pattern is the kind of piece you come back to slowly, a few hours at a time, and watch take shape over weeks or months. It rewards patience more than speed — the 80-color palette and photorealistic shading mean every session adds something new to look at, from the translucent detail in the wings to the soft highlight on each dewdrop. If you’re ready for a project with real presence once it’s framed, this one won’t disappoint.
Download the color chart above, sort your threads by symbol, and start with the bee itself — the rest of the piece will follow naturally from there. Happy stitching!
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