Ocean: Wonders of the Seas Stitchalong
This listing is to purchase the Ocean: Wonders of the Seas Stitchalong! This is a large and beautiful piece showing a cut through of the ocean, teeming with wildlife, from above the surface to the deepest depths. All the animals are portrayed as accurately as possible. Once completed you will have a stunning heirloom cross stitch picture to treasure. The booklets include detailed explanations of everything you are stitching, so no prior knowledge of the oceans is needed.
This is a mystery stitchalong, so you won’t see the other pattern sections until they are revealed each month. The stitchalong runs for 11 sections, from January to November 2026. The photographs in this listing show part of the first section.
When you purchase the stitchalong, you will receive by instant download an introductory PDF booklet. The booklet gives all the information you need to prepare to stitch the pattern. This includes a thread list, pattern size, comments on choosing fabric and a written introduction to the science and wildlife of the oceans. You will also receive comprehensive stitching instructions.
Note that the initial download link will be sent to the email address given in your order, not to the email address you've typed in the request box, if the two are different. There will also be a link to download the file directly from the completed order page. The files are sent as PDFs in one zip file. Please unzip the file (right click > extract all) after downloading, and then you can open each PDF within the file.
You will then receive the pattern installments by email on the following dates:
Part 1: 15th January 2026
Part 2: 15th February 2026
Part 3: 15th March 2026
Part 4: 15th April 2026
Part 5: 15th May 2026
Part 6: 15th June 2026
Part 7: 15th July 2026
Part 8: 15th August 2026
Part 9: 15th September 2026
Part 10: 15th October 2026
Part 11: 15th November 2026
Each section is emailed out at 9am UK time. The emails will be sent to the email address you've typed in the request box.
***You will receive the patterns by digital download and email, and not by physical mail. No physical products are included in this purchase.***
If you’re not already in the busy and friendly Climbing Goat Designs stitchers Facebook group, please come and join us there if you’d like to chat and share your progress. And to share on Instagram the stitchalong hashtag is #OceanSAL
The stitched area of the finished piece is: 199 stitches wide x 259 stitches high
On 14 count fabric this is approximately 14.2 x 18.5 inches or 36.1 x 47.0 cm
On 16 count fabric this is approximately 12.4 x 16.2 inches or 31.6 x 41.1 cm
On 18 count fabric this is approximately 11.1 x 14.4 inches or 28.1 x 36.5 cm
Other count fabrics can be used - just adjust the sizing accordingly.
These dimensions do not include the border of fabric you will need to leave around the design. I recommend you leave a further 2-3 inches all the way round (which means that you need to add 4-6 inches to your size measurements).
The pattern was model stitched by Ellie Darman on ‘Oceanic’ hand dyed fabric. This beautiful fabric was created especially for this stitchalong by Kaarina Anttila of FinnStitcher’s Factory in Finland. The tones of blue in the fabric become darker as you move downwards, representing the increasing darkness of the deeper seas. You can buy the fabric at https://www.facebook.com/FinnStitchersFactory or by emailing Kaarina directly at finnstitcher@gmail.com
Unfortunately, due to tariffs, Kaarina is currently unable to ship to the United States.
The Oceanic fabric is available in 14, 16 and 18 count aida, in 28 count Lugana evenweave, and in 32 count Murano evenweave. Each of these fabric counts is available in plain or opal versions, and they are all sold in sizes suitable for this stitchalong. The model was stitched on the 16 count plain aida version.
If you want to use a different fabric, most mid-tone blue or sea-coloured fabrics would be great. This could be plain or with some dyeing variation, but I would avoid a very jazzy fabric because the pattern is very action packed! The fabric does not need to change colour with ocean depth. As there is both very pale and very dark stitching in the piece, the fabric should not be either too pale or too dark. Very dark or navy blue fabric would not be suitable - you need to go for a more medium blue or sea colour.
I have used three speciality threads in this pattern. Two are DMC Etoile threads: Blanc and C519. These give some sparkle to the piece. If you do not want to use these they can be swapped for plain DMC colours.
The other speciality thread is Sulky Glowy 40 Blue by Gütermann. This is a glow in the dark thread which is blue coloured in the light and glows a greenish yellow in the dark (so long as it has been exposed to light for a while first). This is used to portray bioluminescence in ocean animals.
If you cannot obtain Sulky Glowy 40 Blue, you can use DMC E940, which is also a glow in the dark thread. This is white in the light and glows a greenish yellow (the same as the Sulky thread) in the dark. This will mean this blue stitching of the model stitched piece will instead appear white, but it will still look good.
If you do not want to use glow in the dark thread, you can swap this colour for a plain DMC one. The alternatives are listed in the thread key you will receive when you purchase the stitchalong.
56 thread colours are used in the design if the speciality threads are used. If standard threads are used instead of the Etoile threads then 54 thread colours are used. In either case you will need 1 skein or less of all the colours.
The pattern features full cross stitches, backstitch, a few fractional cross stitches and backstitches, and a few French knots.
On each section release date you will receive two extensive pattern booklets, one with colour patterns and one with black & white patterns (with colour backstitch). The pattern booklets include split page and single page patterns of the whole charts; split page and single page booklets just of that month's section; and detailed information on every animal featured in the piece.
Skill level: Suitable for those with experience of cross stitch.
Pattern is model stitched by Ellie Darman.
Patterns are for personal use only.
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