Mallard Duck

About This Design

This mallard duck design stitches out at 39.0 × 19.5 mm (1.5 × 0.8 in) and uses 8 thread colors across 7 color changes. Total count is 2,293 stitches at a density of about 301.5 stitches/cm².

At The Machine

• Estimated stitch-out time: ~4 minutes at 600 spm
• Color changes: 7, automatic trims: 5
• Follow the color sequence table above — thread numbers refer to the chart programmed in the file; match them to your brand by color.

Fabric & Hooping

At about 301.5 stitches/cm² this is a very heavy fill, near the limit of what a domestic machine handles comfortably. Use two layers of firm cut-away, drop to roughly 400 spm, and expect a stiff finished patch — keep it off garments that need to drape. At 39.0 × 19.5 mm it drops into the smallest hoop you own and suits multi-position frames for repeat placement.

Thread Colors in This Design

DST files store stitch data but no thread information, so the colors below are our suggested DMC match. Swap in whatever you have in a similar shade:

• 909 Very Dark Emerald
• 472 Ultra Light Avocado
• 741 Medium Tangerine
• 3716 Very Light Dusty Rose
• 3705 Dark Melon
• 310 Black
• 645 Very Dark Beaver Gray
• 780 Ultra Very Dark Topaz

Stitching Notes

8 colors across 7 changes makes this a real thread-management job: lay the spools out in sequence order first and keep the color chart to hand. DST stores stitch data only, which is why the color list is a suggestion rather than the digitizer's original choice.

What to Make With It

A picture-style design wants a flat, stable surface where it can be seen whole: a framed hoop piece, a quilt centre, a cushion front or the back of a jacket. Avoid stretchy garments, which distort the shape.