Varnish & Thread: Hiroshige Four Seasons Cross Stitch Pattern Set, 4 Woodblock Prints, Mini + Medium (PDF)

Hiroshige Four Seasons is a set of 4 counted cross-stitch patterns from the Varnish & Thread collection, for stitchers who want a matching seasonal series to stitch through the year, in a small and a medium size each. A set of four counted cross-stitch charts after Utagawa Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856–58), one for each season: Plum Garden at Kamata (spring), Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake (summer), Maples at Mama (autumn) and Kinryūsan Temple at Asakusa in snow (winter). Charted from The Met's public-domain images.

This is a digital download of PDF patterns. Nothing is shipped: no fabric, floss, hoop or printed paper.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• 8 charts across 4 designs, each as two PDFs: a black-symbol chart designed for Pattern Keeper, and a printable colour + symbol chart
• In every PDF: a cover page with the finished size, a how-to page, a floss key (symbol, DMC number, colour name, stitch count, skein estimate) and chart pages with a bold line every 10 stitches
• Varnish-and-Thread_hiroshige-four-seasons_Start-Here.pdf: a short Start Here guide (opening the files, printing, Pattern Keeper import, art credit)
• Full cross stitch only: no backstitch, no fractional stitches

SIZES, STITCH COUNTS AND FLOSS (DMC numbers)

Spring: Plum Garden:

• Mini: 50 × 72 stitches (3,600 stitches), 12 colours, 2 chart pages (5 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 4.5 × 6.5 in; 14-count 3.6 × 5.1 in; 16-count 3.1 × 4.5 in; 18-count 2.8 × 4.0 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 20, 21, 645, 368, 451, 3814, 3859, 3022, 739, 3046, 841, 3768

• Medium: 120 × 172 stitches (20,640 stitches), 30 colours, 6 chart pages (9 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 10.9 × 15.6 in; 14-count 8.6 × 12.3 in; 16-count 7.5 × 10.8 in; 18-count 6.7 × 9.6 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 20, 645, 21, 368, 3859, 739, 451, 3814, 3768, 3022, 3864, 3848, 3817, 3032, 503, 3771, 356, 317, 945, 523, 991, 3860, 422, 640, 3863, 3740, 3861, 834, 926, 3041

Summer: Sudden Shower:

• Mini: 50 × 73 stitches (3,650 stitches), 12 colours, 2 chart pages (5 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 4.5 × 6.6 in; 14-count 3.6 × 5.2 in; 16-count 3.1 × 4.6 in; 18-count 2.8 × 4.1 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 3768, 368, 738, 422, 523, 3021, 3787, 3828, 3022, 3799, 413, 22

• Medium: 120 × 174 stitches (20,880 stitches), 30 colours, 6 chart pages (9 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 10.9 × 15.8 in; 14-count 8.6 × 12.4 in; 16-count 7.5 × 10.9 in; 18-count 6.7 × 9.7 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 523, 3768, 413, 169, 926, 422, 844, 739, 738, 437, 645, 317, 3046, 524, 522, 3022, 407, 841, 07, 503, 3750, 3064, 356, 535, 350, 646, 642, 3721, 3828, 3023

Autumn: Maples at Mama:

• Mini: 50 × 75 stitches (3,750 stitches), 12 colours, 2 chart pages (5 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 4.5 × 6.8 in; 14-count 3.6 × 5.4 in; 16-count 3.1 × 4.7 in; 18-count 2.8 × 4.2 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 524, 739, 3860, 3750, 535, 317, 924, 3022, 451, 3046, 824, 3032

• Medium: 120 × 181 stitches (21,720 stitches), 30 colours, 6 chart pages (9 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 10.9 × 16.5 in; 14-count 8.6 × 12.9 in; 16-count 7.5 × 11.3 in; 18-count 6.7 × 10.1 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 524, 739, 317, 3860, 644, 3750, 535, 413, 613, 924, 3768, 645, 930, 169, 3032, 738, 646, 451, 3760, 3023, 779, 3722, 517, 926, 523, 824, 21, 3022, 807, 3721

Winter: Asakusa Snow:

• Mini: 50 × 71 stitches (3,550 stitches), 12 colours, 2 chart pages (5 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 4.5 × 6.5 in; 14-count 3.6 × 5.1 in; 16-count 3.1 × 4.4 in; 18-count 2.8 × 3.9 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 738, 372, 350, 745, 642, 321, 3021, 422, 3064, 3815, 3858, 839

• Medium: 120 × 170 stitches (20,400 stitches), 30 colours, 6 chart pages (9 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 10.9 × 15.5 in; 14-count 8.6 × 12.1 in; 16-count 7.5 × 10.6 in; 18-count 6.7 × 9.4 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 738, 3023, 739, 372, 3021, 321, 3046, 350, 3721, 991, 841, 645, 422, 3722, 3859, 676, 326, 524, 642, 367, 21, 3064, 22, 3022, 535, 646, 07, 3052, 3860, 3790

PATTERN KEEPER

The symbol PDF is designed for Pattern Keeper: real font symbols, a key with Number and Name columns, Letter-size pages of up to 60 × 70 stitches and no overlapping rows, following Pattern Keeper's published import guidance. It has not yet been tested in the app itself, so I don't call it compatible. It also prints normally.

THE ARTWORKS (ALL PUBLIC DOMAIN)

Spring: Plum Garden:

Title: Plum Garden at Kamata (Kamata no umezono), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige

Date: 1857 (Ansei 4), 2nd month

Museum: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/53681

Summer: Sudden Shower:

Title: Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake (Ōhashi Atake no yūdachi), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige

Date: 1857

Museum: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/37094

Autumn: Maples at Mama:

Title: Maples at Mama, from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige

Date: ca. 1857

Museum: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/37096

Winter: Asakusa Snow:

Title: Kinryūsan Temple at Asakusa, from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo"

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige

Date: 1856

Museum: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/56689

These artworks are in the public domain, and each museum released its image under CC0 (Open Access).

Credit: chart designs by Varnish & Thread after the public-domain works listed above (credit lines are in each PDF).

Chart design by Varnish & Thread. Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the museum or DMC.

HOW THIS PATTERN WAS MADE

The charts are generated by software from the public-domain museum image: the program crops and resizes the artwork, groups its colours, matches each one to the nearest DMC floss number and lays out the symbols and pages, and the results are checked. No AI image generator was used. The cover and preview images are digital previews rendered from the chart, not photos of stitched pieces, so real stitching will look slightly different. This description was drafted with an AI writing assistant and checked against the chart files.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD

1. Right after checkout your download page opens, and the download link is also emailed to you.
2. Download all the files to a computer or tablet. Each .zip unzips into one folder per chart, with its two PDFs.
3. Unzip: double-click on a Mac, right-click > Extract All on Windows, or tap the zip in the Files app on iPad/iPhone.
4. Print the colour PDF at 100% (actual size), or import the symbol PDF into Pattern Keeper. Start with the Start Here guide.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is this pattern good for a beginner?

A: The mini is a good first project (about 50 stitches wide, up to 12 colours). The medium and large sizes have more colours and stitches, so they suit stitchers with a few finished projects behind them. All sizes use full cross stitch only.

Q: What fabric and floss do I need?

A: Any Aida or evenweave works. The finished sizes above are given for 11, 14, 16 and 18 count. Colours are DMC stranded cotton numbers, and the key in each PDF estimates how many skeins you need. No materials are included.

Q: Does it work with Pattern Keeper?

A: The symbol PDF is designed for Pattern Keeper's published import guidance (font symbols, Number and Name key columns, pages of up to 60 × 70 stitches). It hasn't been tested in the app yet. If an import doesn't work, email me and I'll help or adjust the file.

Q: Are the pictures photos of the finished stitching?

A: No. The cover and preview images are digital previews made by computer from the chart, not photos of a stitched piece. Real stitching will look slightly different.

Q: How do I download it?

A: Your download page opens right after checkout and the link is emailed to you. Download the files, unzip them, then print the colour PDF or open the symbol PDF in your chart app.

Q: Can I get a refund?

A: Refunds are available within 14 days for a file problem I can't fix, or for a duplicate order. Email todorgan@gmail.com with your order details.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Digital PDF download. Nothing will be shipped.
• For personal use. Please don't share or resell the PDF files. You're welcome to sell or gift items you stitch from them.
• Thread colours use DMC floss numbers. Varnish & Thread is not affiliated with DMC.
• Questions or a problem with a file? Email todorgan@gmail.com.