Koi fish mid-leap, body arched hard, tail swiping left. The scales are the real work here, each section individually stitched with a slight directional shift to catch the light differently, so on actual fabric the fish shimmers when you tilt it. Below the fish, stylised water in cobalt blue and teal curls up in woodblock-style waves. Around the body, droplets fan outward in a loose arc, some catching gold thread at the tips where the water catches the light at the peak of the splash.
89,106 stitches at the largest 7.51-inch size, 1,771 density, this is alot of thread in a small footprint. Wilcom digitised each scale with underlay runs first before the top fill goes in, that underlay is what keeps the scales from mushrooming out on the fabric. Cutaway stabiliser only, medium-to-heavy weight. Dont attempt this on lightweight muslin or thin quilting cotton at the big sizes. Slow the machine to under 800rpm through those satin columns and the result is worth it. Text me if the scale detail is pulling and Ill check the file settings.
Its a popular one with the custom jacket crowd. A customer told me she ordered the 6.7-inch version for a black silk bomber jacket back panel, took her 3 hours to hoop and stitch but the result looked straight out of a Harajuku market stall. Shes had people stop her on the street. The orange-red and cobalt palette on black fabric is one of those combinations that just hits hard. 5 sizes from 3.51 to 7.51 inches wide, so theres a size for a shirt cuff stretching across to a full back panel.
Black, deep navy, charcoal and forest green are the base fabrics this design was built for. That deep orange body and gold accents sing on dark backgrounds, light fabrics make the whole thing look washed out. Run 3.51 inch hoop dropped onto a shirt cuff or sleeve hem. Mount the largest version on jacket back panels, large canvas tote fronts or heavyweight cushion covers only. Skip any stretch fabric for the big version, 89k stitches need a stable base to register properly.
8 file formats sit in the download for any machine. Text me your machine model if a format causes issues and Ill recommend the right file from the set.
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.
- bomber jacket or denim jacket back panelMount the 7.51-inch version on a black bomber jacket back and the orange koi on dark fabric stops people in their tracks
- mens or womens hoodie chest large graphicRun the 6-inch version on a charcoal hoodie chest for a bold Japanese-art-inspired graphic that isnt a print-on-demand shirt
- Japanese street fashion inspired tote bagStitch the 5-inch version on a canvas tote bag front in navy, the cobalt water tones blend into the background beautifully
- sleeve hem or cuff accent embroideryEmbroider the 3.51-inch version on a shirt sleeve hem or cuff for a subtle detail that rewards a closer look
- heavyweight cushion cover centrepieceHoop the large size on a dark linen cushion cover fabric and it becomes a centrepiece for a Japanese-inspired room
- framed hoop wall art for Japanese decorFrame the 4-inch version in a 6-inch bamboo hoop and hang it on a gallery wall with Japanese prints or calligraphy
- custom festival or event jacket commissionUse the 6.7-inch size on a custom festival jacket, this scale on black reads like hand-applied studio embroidery
Dimensions
5 sizes included. Stitch counts shown for the largest colorway.
| Size (in) | Stitches |
|---|---|
| 3.51 × 3.13 in | 41,241 |
| 4.51 × 4.51 in | 52,538 |
| 5.51 × 4.91 in | 64,221 |
| 6.51 × 5.80 in | 76,438 |
| 7.51 × 6.70 in | 89,106 |
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.
