Design #772 · Rainy Day Teddy Bear
DMC Palette & Stitching Guide
A cheerful rainy-day embroidery with a plush brown teddy, vivid orange raincoat and boots, lavender umbrella, fluffy clouds, blue raindrops, and rippling puddles. Colors are visually estimated from the hoop preview and matched to practical DMC floss shades.
Likely DMC Color Palette
Palette based on the visible teddy fur, hooded raincoat, boots, umbrella panels, blue rain lines, fluffy white clouds, gray metal details, and watery puddle highlights. Percentages are visual coverage estimates, not exact floss usage.
Main teddy fur, muzzle warmth, paw midtones, soft ear centers.
Fur shadows around hood, arms, legs, and under the face.
Deep fur creases, ear shadow, mouth curve, boot soles.
Primary raincoat and boot fill; strongest orange body color.
Bright highlights on hood rim, sleeves, coat hem, boot toes.
Raincoat folds, pocket depth, side seams, boot shadows.
Umbrella panels, curved canopy shading, small hook handle.
Umbrella highlights and the upper right panel sheen.
Umbrella ribs, outer rim, spoke shadows, panel divisions.
Rain streaks, darker puddle lines, splash outlines.
Puddle ripples, pale splash fill, wet ground highlights.
Cloud tops, raised cloud knots, eye and nose shine.
Cloud undersides, damp fabric shadow, soft white transitions.
Umbrella shaft, coat toggles, drawstring ends, metal tips.
Eyes, nose, tiny mouth accents, crisp final details.
Blend with white for cloud softness and muzzle sparkle.
Stitching Suggestions
Work from the larger filled areas to the tiny wet-weather accents. Keep the teddy soft and directional, the raincoat smooth and shiny, and the cloud and puddle areas more textured.
| Element | Stitch Type | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Teddy face & fur | Long and short stitch, split stitch | Radiate stitches outward from the nose and cheeks. Blend DMC 435 with 436; tuck 938 only into the deepest creases so the bear stays soft. |
| Muzzle, ears, paws | Short satin stitch, tiny straight stitches | Use lighter brown near the muzzle center and darker brown along the hood edge. Add a few uneven fur strokes for a plush toy look. |
| Raincoat body | Satin stitch with long-and-short shading | Use 741 as the base, 740 on raised folds, and 922 along seams, pockets, underarms, and the lower coat edge. |
| Boots | Satin stitch, backstitch, couching | Stitch orange vertically on the shafts and curved across the toes. Finish with dark brown or black soles and small white button highlights. |
| Umbrella canopy | Long and short stitch, split backstitch ribs | Stitch each triangular panel in its own direction from rib to rim. Use 211 for bright panels, 209 for body color, and 327 for ribs and deep folds. |
| Clouds | French knots, turkey work, seed stitch | For the fluffy sample look, cluster loose white knots and trim turkey work lightly. Shade cloud bottoms with 762 or a single strand of 3865. |
| Rain lines | Straight stitch or whipped running stitch | Keep every dash slanted the same direction. Use two strands of 798 for strong drops and one strand for lighter distant rain. |
| Puddle & splashes | Stem stitch, chain stitch, detached chain, French knots | Outline oval ripples in 3761, add darker 798 under the boots, then dot splashes with knots and detached chains for droplets. |
| Fine outlines | One-strand backstitch or split stitch | Outline only after fills are complete. Use 938 for teddy detail, 922 for orange seams, 327 for umbrella ribs, and 414 for metal pieces. |
Thread Count, Blending & Shading
Recommended strands
Use 2 strands for most satin and long-and-short filling. Switch to 1 strand for eyes, mouth, hood crease, umbrella rib lines, rain dashes, and final contour stitches.
Fur blending
Thread one strand of 435 with one strand of 436 for the teddy's middle shadows. Add single 938 stitches sparingly under the chin, inside ears, and between the legs.
Raincoat shine
Lay 740 highlights along the hood lip, sleeve tops, pocket flaps, and boot toes. Feather 922 into lower folds so the coat looks rounded rather than flat.
Umbrella dimension
Change stitch direction panel by panel. Place 211 on the lit outer panels, 209 through the middle, and a narrow 327 line where ribs meet.
Cloud texture
Use many small knots instead of long satin stitches. A mix of B5200 and 3865 keeps the clouds bright while 762 gives a soft rainy underside.
Puddle movement
Keep puddle stitches loose and elliptical. Layer pale 3761 first, then add darker blue strokes directly under the boots and around splashes.
Beginner-Friendly Work Order
This design has many charming details, but it becomes manageable when stitched in layers.
- Start with the teddy face so the expression stays clean and centered.
- Fill the raincoat and boots next, keeping orange stitches smooth and parallel.
- Stitch the umbrella before adding the shaft and dark rib outlines.
- Add clouds with knots after the flat areas so they sit raised on top.
- Work rain dashes last enough that they do not get caught under other stitches.
- Finish with puddle ripples, splash knots, eye shine, nose shine, and tiny buttons.
Encouraging Finish
The charm of this pattern comes from contrast: fluffy clouds, sleek raincoat folds, soft teddy fur, and watery blue movement. Do not worry about making every rain dash identical; a little variation makes the shower feel lively and handmade.
