Flowers express love, friendship, affection, pleasant, harmony, and overwhelming emotions. Flowers pop up different things like crockery, apparel, bed covers, curtains, napkins, table sheets, and in print or embroidery. In embroidery, flowers are the most adaptive motif that embroiderers love weaving as they are easy, quick, and look mesmerizing. In this blog, I’ll give you instructions, useful tips, and inspiration on how to embroider flowers, so let’s begin.
Learning how to embroider flowers is a bit tedious for newcomers because of plenty of techniques and types, but starting with the most basic one always makes sense. Believe me, interest and fascination make everything easier and more fun going; likewise, if you’re creative and love doing embroidery, stitching flowers is not a big deal. I’ll shortly share a step-by-step guide and ten prompting flower stitches that will make your work blossom.
Table of Contents
How To Embroider Flowers
The straight stitch is the easiest way to embroider flowers on different fabrics. All you need to do is to needle from the center and sew the protruding spokes to make petals. The chain stitch is also a beginner-friendly way to embroider flowers.
It consists of loop-like structures called petals that you can make using standard thread easily. There is no need to trace the entire flowers; just point the dots symmetrically on the fabric if you’re a beginner and start making it.
Materials Needed
The first thing you need to embroider flowers is, of course, a fabric. You can choose any fabric of your choice like linen, batiste, cotton, calico, or more, but make sure to pick the one that does not compromise on quality. This is because the quality of fabric overall affects the end result of all your hard work and time you invest in embroidering flowers. You’ll find plenty of fabrics in different colors, designs, and types online as well as in the physical market, whereas I prefer solid ones in pastel shades.
Next, you’ll need the thread to embroider flowers on the fabric and my top priority is DMC pure cotton thread. This is the standard thread used by most embroiderers, so you’re all set to choose some other option if available easily. Please, don’t change the thread type frequently if you’re a learner, try sticking to a good quality one and practice with it on fabrics. Your primary focus should be on getting pro in your work and learning a variety of stitches.
Once you get the top-grade fabric and thread, there are some accessories you need to woven flowers including scissors, needles, wooden hoops, and water erasable markers. Where the scissor is needed to cut the thread or fabric when required, the needle is used to woven or embroider the thread in fabric, the loop helps in stitches, and the marker is to trace the designs. Please make sure to gather everything at your workstation before you begin to do embroidery in continuity.
Steps To Embroider Flowers
The first step to embroidering flowers is to choose the right stitch like satin stitch, chain stitch, web stitch, and so forth. Once you know the stitch type, gather the materials accordingly because different fabrics and threads are suitable for different stitches. Like I said earlier, please get everything you need ready at the workstation before you begin continual work.
Then, choose the design you want to make on the fabric like petals, stems, roses, bouquets, etc. If you want to embroider simple petals, straight or satin stitch is suitable, while to create roses or web-like structures, go for French knot, spider wheel, or woven wheel. A lazy daisy stitch is for curvy long and short petals including pansies. While the chain stitch is usually opted to create stems of the flowers.
After choosing the design, sketch it onto the fabric using the lead pencil or erasable marker. Please don’t draw too dark or too light, make sure the structure is visible and will get removed easily from the fabric. You can choose any design of your choice; try searching on websites like Pinterest to find something interesting, unique, and trendy.
Now that you have a sketch, it would be easier for you to embroider on the fabric. Even if you’re a pro embroiderer, I recommend not skipping sketching because it makes your work fast and also inhibits the chances of mistakes. You can now trace the design using stitches. When needling up the design, make sure to not rush and trust the process.
Flower Stitches
From Visually.
1. Satin Stitch
Satin stitch is a simple yet beautiful stitch that consists of band-like long and straight stitches. The satin stitches are parallel to each other, but to embroider flowers, these stitches are molded into the shape of petals, stems, leaves, or other structures. You can do satin stitch on pillows, bedcovers, curtains, napkins, table mats, and more on different fabrics. For a satin stitch, the cotton fabric is preferred because it is not slippery and retains the straight stitch for a long time.
There is no doubt that satin stitches look beautiful, but these are not resistant to wear and tear. In other words, you have to handle the fabric with satin stitches gently; otherwise, the bands will get loose or worn out. In a few words, washing or any kind of rough use is not suggested for satin stitches. In my opinion, make satin stitches in the center of the fabric instead of corners to increase their shelf life. Don’t go for too long satin stitches, one-inch length is more than enough.
2. Chain Stitch
We all want to make perfect flowers to embrace the fabric, but how to embroider flowers perfectly? The chain stitch is the answer. Believe me or not, but once you learn the chain stitch, you’ll make petals, daisies, and other flowers within minutes without any mistakes. The chain stitch is the simplest, most effortless, and most versatile stitch type to embroider flowers. You can stitch multiple petals on different fabrics, where cotton and linen are usually preferred for chain stitches.
It consists of loop-like structures called petals that you can make using standard thread easily. There is no need to trace the entire flowers; just point the dots symmetrically on the fabric if you’re a beginner and start making it. The loops or chain-like structure will be the petals of the flower, so you can make it around a circle to create a flower. You can embroider small to large petals; just how you like and use multiple color threads, add beads, or anything creative to make the overall embroidery more alluring.
3. Woven Wheel
The woven wheel, also known as the wagon wheel or spider wheel stitch is another easy way to embroider flowers on the fabric. The final look of the woven wheel resembles a spider web, which is why it is also called a spider wheel. It is an embellishment stitch, which is super easy to create and looks fascinating. You can make it on different fabrics; however, slippery ones like silk are not suggested for the woven wheel.
The wagon wheel consists of plenty of straight stitches; you can also keep the stitches uneven or odd as per your choice. I like the straight ones as these look quite decent and symmetrical. I usually work on five or six stitches to create a wagon wheel, though you can use more stitches, please don’t go for less than five. When creating the wheel, make sure to not skip any space, even in the center of the web, to get the desired look. The spider wheels also resemble roses and look beautiful on different items.
4. Lazy Daisy
The lazy daisy stitch, as the name implies, is best suited for lazy embroiderers because it does not require ample effort or time. Just a few simple and straightforward stitches and you’re done. You can make lazy daisy flowers on a couple of items like bed covers, mats, curtains, dresses, socks, gloves, and so forth. If you’re a learner, please begin with basic cotton fabric and DMC pure cotton thread. While you can change both once you know how to handle the thread to create beautiful daisies.
The lazy daisy stitch is also known as a single-chain stitch or detached-chain stitch. It consists of loop-like structures that can be used to make petals as well as leaves. You can adjust the size of the loop as per your choice. I usually follow a continuous pattern to make lazy daisy flowers. Once you learn how to embroider petals and leaves using lazy daisy stitch, you can move to more complicated structures too depending on your expertise.
5. Split Stitch
The split stitch is another beginner-friendly stitch that is used to make fine stems-like structures. You can create tendrils, lines, wispy stalks, shoots, branches, and more using the split stitch. The split stitch consists of strand-like stitches that sum up to make a long tendril; like from six split stitches, you can create a single fine tendril. You are all free to choose the number of stitches to create strands, and your skills will decide the delicacy of the final product.
In my opinion, the split stitch is a soft stitch that should be handled gently. It looks minimal and decent on a variety of things like you can embroider curtain borders, linings of bed covers, and more using this split stitch. To get the best result, use split stitches in a softly molded way to create a flower-like structure. The best thing about the split stitch is that it can be used in combination with other stitches as well as to create the stem behind a spider web stitch.
6. Couching
Couching is not just a stitch, it is a process that can be used to create multiple stuff including flowers, stems, leaves, and other structures. It can be made on different fabrics easily using a standard thread, but to be honest, if you’re a fresher, don’t begin with the couching as it is a bit more complicated than the simple stitches I shared above i.e., satin stitch, split stitch, or more. The couching is also called an applique stitch and is widely used to make apparel fancier.
The couching consists of back-and-forth lines, which makes it more complex than a simple stem stitch. It would be right to say that couching includes both stem stitch and back stitch. You can outline different structures using the couching after drawing them with a pencil or erasable marker. In other words, the couching is best suited for tracing difficult or high-level designs. This stitch is widely used by professionals to create customs for buyers.
7. Ribbon Stitch
The ribbon is pretty common in embroidery to make flowers. It’s the game of your creative mind and fingers that sum up into something beautiful and unique. The ribbon flowers can be stitched to any fabric like cotton, linen, velvet, and more. Nevertheless, if you are a beginner or a pro embroiderer, the ribbon stitch is feasible for all and it is everyone’s favorite because it is easy and looks beautiful. The ribbon stitch can only be created using ribbon, usually silk ribbon, which is a drawback.
8. French Knot
Are you a newbie and don’t know a single word of embroidery? No big deal! The French knot stitches are simple, straightforward, effortless, and quick stitches that you will learn in no time. Alongside being super easy, the French knots also look vibrant and beautiful on different fabrics and items. The French knot stitches are mostly used to create flowers and bouquets, but that’s up to your creativity. You can make a lot of things using French knots.
The French knots represent blooms and clusters, and this stitch is inspired by a cilantro or coriander plant. Also, parsley, celery, carrots, and other plants have similar structures. You can use multiple color threads to make the clusters look vibrant and aesthetic on fabrics. It works perfectly with yellow and purple for me as yellow is my favorite color, you can choose any combination of your choice. Also, you are free to choose the base fabric too, while cotton is recommended from my side.
9. Bullion Knot
Bullion knot is another French-knot-like interesting stitch that can be used to create tiny structures like motifs. There are many names for bullion knots like coil stitch, worm stitch, caterpillar stitch, knot stitch, Puerto Rico rose, or grub knot. It consists of an extended knot that can be clustered together to make a dense structure that resembles a flower. While that’s not a limitation as the bullion knot can be used to make a variety of forms and shapes, usually three-dimensional structures.
To be honest, the bullion knot is not very simple, so if you’re an amateur try learning simple stitches first and then move to the grub knot. This coil-like stitch consists of motifs that can be made along the traced thing, in groups, around boundaries, or more. A special kind of needle is used to weave the bullion knot, which is called the Milliners needle. The Milliners needle, unlike standard needles, has the same diameter throughout.
10. Cast On Stitch
The cast-on stitch is another best way to create flowers. This stitch is somehow similar to the grub knot based on the working, but the end result is different. Like the bullion knot, the needle is different for the cast-on stitch as it also worked with the Milliners needle. Let me clarify again, the Milliners is not a standard needle and has the same diameter throughout its length. It is also thinner than the standard needle and helps you create tiny knot-like structures easily.
The cast-on stitch consists of small loops-like structures, but keep in mind that these loops are tightened but not wrapped around each other or the shaft. The process of cast-on stitch is also simple and quick, but again not for the freshers. In my opinion, the satin or chain stitch is perfect to start your embroidery career.
11. Turkey Work
The turkey work, also called the turkey stitch, is another beautiful way to embroider flowers on different fabrics. The turkey stitch consists of a fluffy or three-dimensional stitch that can be used to make the tail, head, and other parts of a flower. Overall, it is an interesting stitch to make your fabric more beautiful and creative.
Things To Remember
The beginners who’re reading this blog on how to embroider flowers should start with the straight stitch and practice making petals or similar structures. If you want to make roses, learn French knot, spider wheel, woven wheel, or similar stitches. A lazy daisy stitch is for curvy long and short petals including pansies. While the chain stitch is usually opted to create stems of the flowers.
FAQs on How to Embroider Flowers
How do you embroider a rose flower?
French knots and woven wheel stitches are perfect to embroider rose flowers, where the French knots represent blooms and clusters. French knot stitch is inspired by cilantro. You can use multiple color threads to make the clusters look vibrant and aesthetic on fabrics. While the woven wheel, also called the spider wheel is used to create roses too. The wagon wheel consists of plenty of straight stitches; you can also keep the stitches uneven or odd as per your choice.
What material can you not embroider?
The fabric or substrate on which you will be embroidering should be chosen wisely because there are a few materials that are not recommended for embroidery. The fabrics that are not suitable for embroidery include silk, flimsy tees, rayon, and other thin fabrics. This is because these delicate materials are prone to wear and tear and get perforated by the needling. In short, pure cotton and linen are suggested for embroidering.
What materials do you need to start embroidering?
You’ll need the following things to start embroidery: scissors, floss, fabric, a needle, a removable marker, and an embroidery hoop. Among all, the fabric and needle predominate and should be chosen as per suitability. In other words, not all needles and fabrics go with all stitches; there are a few exceptions, for example, the bullion knot and the cast-on stitch can be created with the Milliners needle only.
Is it easy to learn to embroider?
Learning embroidery is not challenging; you can start using simple, straightforward, and quick stitches like satin stitch, chain stitch, and more. However, it could be hassling if you have the wrong materials like a flimsy fabric or a low-quality thread. For that reason, I always encourage getting the quality-wise perfect items to get the best results.
Is it cheaper to embroider or print?
To be honest, embroidery is expensive, which is why companies usually go for screen printing. But, embroidery has its own charm and aesthetics which cannot be beaten by printing. It would be right to say that embroidery is more valuable than printing.
Which stitch is best for making flowers?
The best stitch for making flowers is the chain stitch, also known as the chain stitch. This stitch creates a delicate, chain-like appearance that resembles petals. And you can use it to make beautiful and intricate floral designs.
The chain stitch is versatile and can work in a variety of thicknesses, making it ideal for a wide range of applications. Making it from delicate embroidery to more robust needlepoint projects. With its delicate and intricate appearance, the chain stitch is an excellent choice for you to create beautiful and intricate floral designs.
The Bottom Line
Embroidered flowers are always trendy and can be made on different fabrics. The best thing is that you can embroider flowers using different stitches like satin stitch, chain stitch, web stitch, lazy daisy, couching, and more. In a nutshell, flowers are perfect for new embroiderers as well as entrepreneurs who’re making money out of them. In this blog, I’ve shared a couple of stitches that can be used to embroider flowers, please check them out!
