My niece has a calico exactly like the one I used as reference, so I drew this design with her in mind. Seated upright, body angled slightly, head turned so ya get a proper three-quarter look at the face. Those green eyes are the focal point, really vivid emerald against the pale cream chest fur. Orange ginger patches run across the cheeks and shoulders, black markings sit above the eyes and across the top of the head, and the coat fades to white from mid-chest down to the paws. Ten colours total and honestly the colour mix is spot on for a classic calico.
Its the fur stitching thats different here compared to a standard cartoon pet design. my main software laid down directional satin columns that actually follow the way fur grows, longer strokes on the body, shorter tighter stitches around the muzzle and ears. The whiskers are 3 fine lines each side done in white thread on a pale background, which is kinda tricky to digitise well but these read clean. Nine sizes, from 1.68 inches wide up to 3.6 wide. Smallest fits on a tote pocket, largest works on a cushion or bag front. Stitch count runs from about 14k up to 37k at the top end.
I get alot of orders from cat lady gift shops and personalised pet boutiques. One customer told me last spring she uses the 3-inch version exclusively for cat-themed keepsake pouches and has sold a bunch of em at craft fairs. She said her customers stop at the table specifically for the realistic style because most cat designs on the market look too cartoony. Thats exactly the gap this fills. Best results on linen or firm woven cotton. The fine fur stitching needs a stable base or it migrates on loose weave, so use a medium-weight tearaway for woven fabrics and switch to cutaway if youre working on stretch fleece. Keep hoop tension consistent because the long satin columns can pull if things shift mid-stitch.
Drop me a line if anything looks off when you stitch it out, especially around the eye area where the thread tension matters most.
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.
- Cat lady gift tote bagsStitch the 3.5-inch on a cream linen tote and it reads almost like a printed pet portrait at arm's length.
- Personalised pet portrait cushionsEmbroider the 7-inch version centred on a natural linen cushion for a cat lover's reading chair.
- Cat-themed keepsake pouchesUse the 2-inch size on a small zippered pouch as a gift bag for a cat-themed keepsake or jewellery.
- Craft fair cat accessory patchesPop a medium size on a fabric patch and sell at craft fairs alongside personalised pet name pieces.
- Pet boutique canvas shoppersSew the 3-inch on a cotton canvas shopper for a pet boutique gift product or loyalty reward bag.
- Cat rescue fundraiser merchRun the design on tote bags and caps for a cat rescue fundraiser, the realistic style reads as premium.
- Framed hoop wall art for cat loversHoop the 7.5-inch in an 8-inch frame as wall art for a cat-themed home office or living room nook.
- Denim jacket chest patchEmbroider on the chest of a denim jacket for a personalised gift for a calico cat owner.
Dimensions
9 sizes included. Stitch counts shown for the largest colorway.
| Size (in) | Stitches |
|---|---|
| 1.68 × 3.51 in | 14,755 |
| 1.92 × 4.01 in | 17,212 |
| 2.16 × 4.51 in | 19,633 |
| 2.40 × 5.01 in | 22,210 |
| 2.64 × 5.51 in | 24,942 |
| 2.88 × 6.01 in | 27,955 |
| 3.12 × 6.51 in | 30,932 |
| 3.36 × 7.01 in | 33,816 |
| 3.60 × 7.51 in | 37,100 |
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.
