A tabby kitten pokes its head through a weathered garden fence, paws hooked over the rail, surrounded by big pink clematis blooms and trailing green leaves. It’s a warm, sunlit scene that leans more “storybook illustration” than photo-realistic, which makes it a genuinely relaxing one to stitch — lots of soft fur shading balanced by bold, satisfying blocks of flower color.
At 53 colors, it sits comfortably in the same size range as a lot of popular animal-and-flower kits: substantial enough to feel like a real project, without tipping into the 300+ stitch marathon territory.
In this article:
Pattern At a Glance
- DifficultyAdvanced
- Fabric14–28 ct Aida
- Stitch Count193 × 200 stitches
- Finished Size (14 ct)approx. 13.8 × 14.3 in / 35.1 × 36.3 cm
- Colors53 Gamma thread colors
- Estimated Time70–130 hours, depending on skill level and pace
Pattern Preview
Here’s how the finished piece comes together — striped tabby fur, bright green eyes, and those two big clematis blooms anchoring the bottom corners.
Materials & Supplies
- Aida fabric, 14–28 count, in White, Antique White, Cream, Ivory, Pale Blue, Soft Aqua, Light Oatmeal, or Natural Linen-Look
- Gamma brand embroidery thread (53 colors) — note this pattern uses Gamma threads, not DMC, so double-check your color numbers before substituting
- Tapestry needle, size 24–26
- Embroidery hoop or frame
- Embroidery scissors
- Thread organizer or bobbins (handy for keeping 53 colors sorted)
Your download includes both the full-color chart and a black & white symbol-only chart, so you can work from whichever is easier on your eyes.
Tips for This Pattern
- Sort your floss onto bobbins before you start — 53 colors is manageable, but only if you’re not hunting through loose skeins every few stitches.
- This is a full-coverage design, so the fence, sky, and shadowed background are all stitched, not left bare — budget your thread accordingly.
- The kitten’s fur uses a lot of closely related browns and terracottas; stitch a small test patch of two or three neighboring shades first so you can tell them apart before committing to the larger areas.
- Consider stitching the two clematis blooms first — they’re bold, high-contrast blocks of color that give you an early sense of progress before you settle into the more detailed fur work.
- Work from the center out to keep the whole design aligned as you go.
Color & Symbol Guide
All 53 colors below are Gamma brand threads. Each symbol in the chart corresponds to one color — the number in parentheses is how many stitches that color covers in the full design.
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What size fabric should I use?
At 193 × 200 stitches, your finished size depends on the fabric count you choose:
| Aida Count | Finished Size |
|---|---|
| 14 ct | 13.8 × 14.3 in / 35.1 × 36.3 cm |
| 16 ct | 12.1 × 12.5 in / 30.6 × 31.8 cm |
| 18 ct | 10.7 × 11.1 in / 27.2 × 28.2 cm |
| 20 ct | 9.7 × 10.0 in / 24.5 × 25.4 cm |
| 22 ct | 8.8 × 9.1 in / 22.3 × 23.1 cm |
| 25 ct | 7.7 × 8.0 in / 19.6 × 20.3 cm |
| 28 ct | 6.9 × 7.1 in / 17.5 × 18.1 cm |
Lower counts (14–16) give you larger, easier-to-see stitches; higher counts (22–28) give a finer, more detailed finish in a smaller footprint.
Is this pattern DMC or Gamma thread?
This pattern’s color chart is provided for Gamma brand threads, not DMC. If you’d rather stitch with DMC, you’ll want a Gamma-to-DMC conversion chart to cross-reference each of the 53 colors before you start.
Is this a good pattern for beginners?
It’s rated Advanced because of the 53-color palette and full coverage, so it’s better suited to stitchers who’ve already finished at least one smaller project. It’s a reasonable next step up, though — not nearly as demanding as a large, 300+ stitch design.
How long will this pattern take to finish?
Expect somewhere in the range of 70–130 hours, depending on your stitching speed and how many hours a week you can put in.
What’s included in the download?
You’ll get both a full-color chart and a black & white symbol-only chart, so you can pick whichever is more comfortable to stitch from.
Final Thoughts
There’s something especially charming about a “peeking through” composition like this one — the fence and flowers frame the kitten so it feels like you’ve caught it mid-moment, rather than posed for a portrait. It’s a lovely one for a garden room, a porch, or anywhere that could use a little extra warmth.
If you give it a try, we’d love to hear how your fence and flower shades turn out — the balance between the muted wood tones and the bold pink blooms is really what makes this piece pop.
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