Varnish & Thread: Thomas Nast Santa Claus Cross Stitch Pattern, Victorian Christmas Engraving, 2 Sizes (PDF)

A Merry Christmas (Santa Claus) is a counted cross-stitch pattern from the Varnish & Thread collection, for Christmas stitchers who want the classic Victorian Santa Claus in a calm black-and-grey palette like the original engraving. Counted cross-stitch chart of Thomas Nast's wood engraving A Merry Christmas, published in Harper's Weekly on January 3, 1880: the plump, bearded Santa Claus Nast made famous, dancing a jig with Mother Goose while a cat plays the fiddle, with a toy cow overhead and sprigs of holly and mistletoe at his feet. Charted from The Met's public-domain image. The original is black ink on paper, so the chart keeps that look in a small palette of black, greys and cream. Two sizes of the whole scene.

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

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• 2 charts, 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_nast-merry-christmas-santa_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)

• Medium: 120 × 134 stitches (16,080 stitches), 9 colours, 4 chart pages (7 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 10.9 × 12.2 in; 14-count 8.6 × 9.6 in; 16-count 7.5 × 8.4 in; 18-count 6.7 × 7.4 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 3033, 414, 317, 647, 648, 413, 3799, 646, 310

• Large: 200 × 224 stitches (44,800 stitches), 9 colours, 16 chart pages (19 pages per PDF).

Finished size: 11-count 18.2 × 20.4 in; 14-count 14.3 × 16.0 in; 16-count 12.5 × 14.0 in; 18-count 11.1 × 12.4 in (Aida, 1 stitch per square; 28-count evenweave over two = 14-count).

DMC floss: 3033, 414, 317, 648, 647, 413, 3799, 646, 310

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 ARTWORK (PUBLIC DOMAIN)

Title: A Merry Christmas (published in "Harper's Weekly," January 3, 1880)

Artist: Thomas Nast

Date: originally published 1880

Museum: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/822568

The artwork is in the public domain, and the museum released this image under CC0 (Open Access).

Credit: A Merry Christmas (published in "Harper's Weekly," January 3, 1880), Thomas Nast, originally published 1880. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Public domain.

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 holds the two PDFs for one size.

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.