DMC Palette & Stitch Guide
Panda With Kite
A cheerful hoop design with a fluffy black-and-white panda, a fresh green diamond kite, tiny bow tails, grass tufts, and a calm pale-blue background. The palette is simple, high-contrast, and very beginner friendly: soft whites for plush fur, strong black for the panda markings and kite string, clear spring greens for the kite and grass, plus cool blues for airy shadows.
soft panda furspring kite greensclean black outlinesbeginner friendly fills
Suggested DMC Floss Palette
Color matches and where to use them
B5200 · Snow White
Bright panda highlights
Use on the forehead, belly center, cheek shine, and bright fur strokes.
3865 · Winter White
Soft white fur base
Main panda face and tummy fill; softer than pure white.
762 · Pearl Gray
Cool fur shadow
Light shadow under chin, side of belly, and tiny inner-ear transitions.
415 · Pearl Gray
Deeper white-fur shadow
Blend sparingly at the lower belly and between fur clusters.
310 · Black
Panda markings & string
Ears, arms, legs, eye patches, mouth, kite frame, and cord.
3799 · Pewter Gray Very Dark
Black-fur dimension
Add strokes inside black areas so paws and arms do not look flat.
747 · Sky Blue Very Light
Background echo
Optional tiny accents if stitching a fabric-colored border or breeze marks.
3841 · Pale Baby Blue
Cool outline softness
Optional shadow stitches beside white fur on blue fabric.
704 · Chartreuse Bright
Kite highlight
Top-facing kite panels and the brightest grass tips.
906 · Parrot Green Medium
Main kite green
Primary fill for kite panels and bow tails.
905 · Parrot Green Dark
Grass depth
Lower grass blades, kite edge shading, and bow creases.
907 · Parrot Green Dark
Deep leaf accent
Very small stitches at grass bases and kite panel corners.
Stitch Plan
Area-by-area embroidery suggestions
Panda white furUse long-and-short stitch with 1 strand for the face and 2 strands for the belly. Radiate strokes outward from the muzzle and downward from the chest so the texture follows the round body. Mix 3865 with occasional B5200 highlights and a few 762 shadow strokes.
Black ears, limbs, and eye patchesFill with satin stitch or short long-and-short stitches using 2 strands of 310. Add 1-strand 3799 strokes along the outer edges and paw curves to suggest fur direction instead of a solid black blob.
Eyes, nose, and smileUse 1 strand of 310 for tiny back stitches. Add a very small B5200 catchlight in each eye with a single straight stitch or French knot. Keep facial details delicate; oversized stitches can change the expression quickly.
Kite panelsFill each triangular panel with satin stitch or split stitch rows using 906 as the main green. Change stitch direction panel by panel to make the diamond shape sparkle. Add 704 to the upper center and 905/907 near the frame corners.
Kite frame and stringWork the black frame in whipped back stitch or stem stitch with 1–2 strands. For the curved string, use 1 strand and keep the stitches short so the line bends smoothly.
Bow tails and grassUse lazy daisy, detached chain, and small straight stitches in 704/906/905. For grass, vary blade height and angle; mix single-strand and two-strand stitches for a natural tufted base.
Thread Count Guide
How many strands?
1 strandFacial features, kite string, tiny fur strokes, eye highlights, and fine outline corrections.
2 strandsMain fills for panda limbs, kite panels, grass, and most visible outlines.
3 strandsOptional for plush belly texture or bold grass if the hoop is larger than 6 inches.
For a small hoop, resist heavy strand counts on the face. Fine stitching keeps the panda sweet and expressive.
Blending Ideas
Simple combinations for depth
| Blend | Use |
|---|---|
| 3865 + B5200 | Bright fluffy strokes on the top of the head and belly center. |
| 3865 + 762 | Soft underside shadows below the muzzle, arms, and lower belly. |
| 310 + 3799 | Subtle fur texture inside ears, paws, and eye patches. |
| 704 + 906 | Fresh kite panels and lively bow tails. |
| 905 + 907 | Grounded grass bases and darker kite corners. |
Texture & Shading
Making the panda look plush
- Follow the form: curve stitches around the cheeks and belly rather than filling everything vertically.
- Keep edges soft: let a few white stitches overlap into the black areas and a few black strokes feather outward at ears and paws.
- Use tiny shadows: place gray stitches only where forms tuck under: below the chin, near the raised arm, and at the bottom of the belly.
- Vary stitch length: short stitches around the face, medium stitches on the belly, and slightly longer stitches on the arms create scale.
Outlining Details
Clean lines without stiffness
Use split stitch for the panda body outline if you want a soft edge. Use whipped back stitch for the kite frame and string where a crisp black line is desirable. Around the belly, outline with 3865 or 762 instead of black for a gentler, toy-like finish.
For the raised paw holding the string, stitch the black arm first, then lay the string over it with a single strand. Add a tiny white or gray highlight on the paw edge to separate the shapes.
Beginner-Friendly Practical Tips
Order of work and finishing notes
Transfer lightlyUse a fine erasable pen or light pencil. Avoid heavy transfer lines on the panda face because the white stitches may not fully hide them.
Stitch from background details forwardKite, string, grass, panda black areas, then panda white fur is a reliable order. Save the eyes and smile for last.
Shorten black satin stitchesOn ears and paws, split large shapes into small stitch sections. This prevents loose snagging and keeps the curved edges smooth.
Use a laying rhythmFor the kite panels, lay satin stitches parallel and smooth. For panda fur, deliberately vary angles so it looks fuzzy rather than striped.
Check expression before knotting offPlace the eye highlights and smile with temporary loose stitches first. Tiny shifts make a big difference in the panda’s face.
