Two koi fish curving around each other to make a near-perfect circle. One swimming clockwise, the other counter, each fish body filling the negative space the opposite fish leaves behind. It reads as a yin-yang composition done in fish form. Both fish share the same scale stitch structure but the red patch placement is slightly different on each one so theyre not direct copies of each other.
The scales are the real stitch work. Each scale plate is an individual overlapping shape edged with a dark outline so the fish reads as properly scaly, not a flat filled blob. Fin sections use a fine crosshatch fill fanning outward from the fin base, which makes them look semi-transparent the way a real koi fin is in water. Tail fans split into two or three sections with light dividing stitch lines between them. On the largest size at 7.51 by 7.07 inches you can count individual scale rows clearly from a few feet away. Small teal eye dots on each fish head are just two or three stitches but they anchor the face and stop the fish reading blank and expressionless.
Five thread colours total: off-white and black for the base scale blocks, mid-grey for the shaded fin areas, red for the bold patch sections and small teal for each eye dot. Thats pretty efficient for this level of scale fill complexity and individual scale plate count. Stitch count runs from 30,311 at the smallest size up to 65,209 at the largest. Use a medium-heavy cutaway stabiliser, a fresh sharp needle size 75 or 80, and drop machine speed to the mid range for the dense overlapping scale fill sections. Running tightly packed shapes at full machine speed causes the needle to heat up and drag on the thread. Its not worth the risk on a 65k stitch file.
Near-square format across all nine sizes. Centre it on a cushion, tote back panel or jacket back and its a self-contained circular design that doesnt need any border or extra framing. Pick white, cream or natural linen so the black and red contrast reads clean and bold. A customer who keeps a koi pond ordered the design on a cream linen cushion last summer and said it was the first embroidery piece he had ever actually hung on the wall instead of putting away in a drawer.
Nine sizes in the download. Skip warm brown or ochre backgrounds where the red patches lose contrast. Use the contact page if the scale rows come out bunched or the curve outline puckers at the bend.
What people are using this design for
A starting point. The design works for plenty more than just this list, this is what folks have stitched it onto most.
- Cushion cover centre placement for a Japanese-inspired living roomCentre the 7-inch version on a cream linen cushion cover and it reads as gallery-quality decor rather than hobby embroidery, the circular composition fills a square cushion face cleanly
- Tote bag back panel for a zen or wellness brandStitch on the back of a natural canvas tote for a yoga studio, wellness brand or Japanese-inspired gift shop, the balanced yin-yang shape works as a logo-weight design
- Denim jacket back centred between the shoulder bladesPlace centred on the back of a denim or canvas jacket between the shoulder blades, the circular format sits perfectly in that zone without running into seams
- Wall hoop art in a bamboo or round wooden frameMount the large size in a 10-inch round bamboo hoop on natural or white linen and hang as a bedroom or hallway piece, no frame needed if the hoop is kept as the display
- Linen table runner centre motif for a Japanese dining tableEmbroider the medium size as a centred repeat motif on a linen table runner for a Japanese-themed dining setting or a tea ceremony table
- Kimono or yukata sleeve accent for a cosplay or events pieceUse the 5-inch on a kimono sleeve or yukata panel as an accent for a cosplay build or cultural event costume, the scale and style match traditional japanese textile aesthetics
- Gym bag or sports bag front panel for a minimalist lookStitch on the front face of a dark grey or black gym bag as a single centred design, the black-and-white palette works without needing colour coordination
- Framed embroidery gift for a koi pond or aquarium hobbyistFrame the largest size as a gift for someone who keeps a koi pond or maintains a fish tank, the detail in the scale work is something that reads as proper art to a hobbyist
Dimensions
9 sizes included. Stitch counts shown for the largest colorway.
| Size (in) | Stitches |
|---|---|
| 3.51 × 3.31 in | 30,311 |
| 4.01 × 3.78 in | 34,375 |
| 4.51 × 4.25 in | 38,610 |
| 5.01 × 4.72 in | 42,736 |
| 5.51 × 5.19 in | 47,230 |
| 6.01 × 5.66 in | 51,583 |
| 6.51 × 6.13 in | 56,071 |
| 7.01 × 6.60 in | 60,601 |
| 7.51 × 7.07 in | 65,209 |
Files & Formats
Eight machine formats included in one zip. Whichever your machine reads, its in the pack.
Plus a color chart for thread matching. See full format guide.
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About the artist
Reyazul Masud Riham, hand-drawing every design on this site
Every design on Re Embroidery is hand-digitized by one person. Each file gets sketched, color-matched, and stitch-tested on real fabric before it earns a place in the shop. No team. No auto-conversion from images. Just slow, deliberate work, sometimes three or four days per design.
That's the joy I work for.
The hard part is finding my designs re-uploaded and resold elsewhere. So when you buy from Re Embroidery, you're paying one real person for the file you're about to download. That matters.
