The koi is mid-leap in this one, body curved upward in that classic japanese woodblock pose with curling water splashing below it. What takes time to stitch is the scale pattern, every single scale on the body is individually outlined and filled in a tight overlapping arrangement. At the 6.94-inch size that adds up to 26,998 stitches total, most of that in the body coverage.
Only two colours, black and red, the black carries everything, body structure, scale outlines, the twin fan tail lobes with their parallel stripe fill, the curling water tendrils below. Red is a small accent, comes in as a secondary colour change, adds just enough warmth to break the all-black scheme. On lighter fabrics add a light wash-away topping over the body area to keep those fine outlines crisp. Use cutaway on denim or twill for the best result.
I had a customer last spring who runs a custom jacket business, she stitched the 5-inch version on black denim and said every tiny scale line held clean without topping because the satin density was high enough to cover on its own. Five sizes from 3.24 up to 6.94 inches wide, stitch range 11,177 to 26,998. Skip lightweight wovens for this one, they wont hold the tension properly. Avoid sheer fabrics entirely. Email me if your download has any issues and Ill get it to you right away.
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.
- Custom denim jackets and jeansDenim jacket back is where this is most requested, a custom jacket maker told me last spring every scale line held clean at the 5-inch version without any topping.
- Asian-inspired home decor hoops and pillowsBlack linen round hoop on a wall, the red accent thread pops against the dark fabric in a way that feels genuinely Japanese art-inspired.
- Gym bags and canvas totesGym duffel bag side panel at 4 inches in black thread on olive canvas, the kind of bag that looks like a deliberate aesthetic choice.
- Mens and womens polo shirtsLeather diary cover at the 3.24-inch size using iron-on backing after stitching, the scale grid reads beautifully on smooth leather-look material.
- Zen garden themed wall art and framed piecesZen-themed cushion cover for a living room in natural cotton at 5 inches, pairs well with bamboo and neutral decor without looking like a novelty.
Dimensions
5 sizes included. Stitch counts shown for the largest colorway.
| Size (in) | Stitches |
|---|---|
| 3.24 × 3.51 in | 11,177 |
| 4.17 × 4.51 in | 14,656 |
| 5.09 × 5.51 in | 18,440 |
| 6.01 × 6.51 in | 22,558 |
| 6.94 × 7.51 in | 26,998 |
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.
