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Wonderful Tips for Embroidery & Home Decor

     Anne      Leave a Comment

Hello friend! I have some exciting news today!

The Diary of a Northern Belle was featured in a recent blog post article by Redfin. It’s all about how you can easily incorporate embroidery in your home in many different ways to enhance your space and give it that something special. 23 experts each provided their best tip on how best you can achieve this. This was a very exciting opportunity for me and I was very honoured to be able to contribute to the article! My tip is the very last one, so make sure you read the full article to see it 😉

Check out the recent Redfin article I was featured in:


Showcase Embroidery in Your Home: 23 Unique
Embroidery Ideas to Elevate Your Space


“The appearance of needlework in home decor is a definite sign that embroidery is making a
comeback. While it’s often thought of as a pastime reserved for your grandparents, we’re here to
tell you that needlepoint is enjoying its resurgence as a newfound hobby and collector’s item.
With a needle, thread, and a little creativity, embroidery can quickly transform your space and
allow your personality and imagination to shine through.


If you’re ready to get crafty and want some ideas to add a homey touch to your loft in New York,
NY, or decor inspiration for your cozy home in Toronto, ON, we’ve got you covered. Redfin
reached out to us and other embroidery experts to get our unique embroidery idea to reinvigorate
your space. So bust out your embroidery hoops and colorful threads to add some flair to your
home.”


Showcase Embroidery in Your Home: 23 Unique Embroidery Ideas to Elevate Your Space

basket of roses embroidery to elevate home decor

 

I hope you enjoy reading the article on the Redfin blog page and that you will discover a new useful tip or two on how to decorate your home with embroidery! There are so many ways to go about it, but the article really breaks it down into a bunch of useful tidbits.

A huge thank you to Hannah Tan from Redfin for reaching out and featuring my blog in the article! 🙂 I really appreciate the opportunity, and to be up there with the other experts! Woo 😀

Happy home decorating, and stay tuned for more embroidery ideas and inspiration here on my blog!

Fondly,

Simple Project: Embroidered Pillow

     Anne      Leave a Comment

Hello friend! I wasn’t sure if I was going to post about this embroidered pillow project, but it turned out so cute and so much better than I thought, so here we are! I tried something different with my embroidery and really liked it.

 

simple sewing project embroidered pillow

 

I’ve had this super adorable Winnie the Pooh fabric in my stash for a few years, but I don’t often make things that are baby-themed (although if I’m honest, I sorta bought that fabric for myself because I’m obsessed with Winnie the Pooh). But I went to a dear friend’s baby-shower last weekend, and thought it was the perfect opportunity to use some of the fabric.

 

winnie-the-pooh fabric and embroidered patch

 

I also had a little pillow with no cover at the back of my closet and knew the fabric would be perfect for it! Never one to pass up an opportunity to add embroidery everywhere, I decided to have one side of the pillowcase embroidered, and the other side showing off the cute fabric.

 

embroidered side of the pillow
non-embroidered side of the pillow showing winnie-the-pooh fabric

 

Appliqué & Embroidery

 

I cut out one of the scenes I liked from the Pooh fabric and appliquéd it onto some pale yellow cotton. The Pooh fabric print is rather pale, especially the outline of each scene, so to make it pop out a bit more I decided to embroider just the outline. I used two strands of DMC #3021 for most of it, and only one strand for the smaller details, like Piglet’s stripes.

 

close-up of winnie-the-pooh fabric
embroidered winnie-the-pooh fabric close-up, sewn onto yellow fabric
close up of embroidered winnie the pooh and piglet

 

I really, really love the outcome! It looks so textured and alive. The paleness of the fabric print gives it a sort of watercolour look that suits it so well! And it was so relaxing to stitch, because I didn’t have to think about colours and I just followed the outline that was already there. I used a backstitch for the whole thing.

 

embroidered appliqué patch for pillow front
Also I love my Piglet needle-minder so much!! So perfect for this project!

 

Sewing the Pillowcase

 

To make the pillowcase I bagged both the front and back with some white cotton. This made the case sturdier, better for washing, and hid the back of the embroidery work (yellow fabric was really see-through!). I decided to leave an opening along the right side to make it easier to remove for washing.

 

pillow case opening on the side fastened with ribbons

 

And of course, I added a ribbon closure, because I love a good ribbon closure 😉. I find it’s a very pretty finishing touch and makes the pillow look more decorative. That way my friend can use it for her baby as an actual pillow, or just display it in the nursery.

 

close up of embroidered pillow case opening with ribbons

 

Overall I am really pleased with how this embroidered pillow turned out, and the appliquéd/embroidery on fabric print idea was definitely a win! I wouldn’t necessarily do that on any fabric, but the Pooh one was very well suited for that.

Now I’m half-tempted to make one for myself…not for my non-existing nursery, but myself 😉.

‘We’ll be friends forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet. ‘Even longer,’ Pooh answered.

A.A. MILNE, WINNIE-THE-POOH

 

Embroidered Winnie-the-Pooh patch surrounded by sewing tools and pooh fabric

 

Are you also a Winnie-the-Pooh fan? If so, who’s your favourite character? I simply can’t resist Piglet, he’s just too cute!!  

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of Pooh inspiration and embroidery on printed fabric! Has anyone else tried that before, and how did it work for you? Would love to hear from you!

Follow along on Instagram or check out my embroidery patterns on Etsy!

Fondly,

winnie-the-pooh embroidered pillow easy sewing project
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Introduction to Floriography

     Anne      4 Comments

Introduction to floriography

Floriography is the study of the wonderful Language of Flowers. A quick look at my blog will tell you right away that I love flowers. They are probably my number one source of inspiration and I never tire of them. And if you follow me on Instagram (@northernbelle.atelier), you might have noticed that I like to share flower inspiration and meanings in my stories.

 

Although I’ve always loved flowers, I haven’t always been interested in them. I’m pretty useless when it comes to biology, and I don’t have the greatest memory when it comes to plant identification. But the one thing I find really fascinating about flowers is their significance within the Language of Flowers.

 

What is the Language of Flowers?

 

flat lay view of Language of Flowers dictionary, embroidery floss, dried flowers

 

The Language of Flowers – or “floriography” – is a symbolic language where meanings are attributed to flowers and plants. These meanings were gathered from folklore, literature, mythology, art, and horticulture. Each flower has a unique significance. The term “floriography” was coined during the Victorian era, at a time where everything floral became extremely popular. The Language of Flowers has earlier origins, however. During the 1760s, the wife of an English diplomat named Lady Mary Wortley Montagu spent some time in Turkey. Her letters home to England contained references to a mysterious and secret language using flowers to communicate. This idea became very popular during the Victorian period, and evolved into a secret language used mainly to communicate forbidden emotions in love and romance.*

 

close up of flower dictionary featuring lady in period dress

The Language of Flowers really caught on at that time, since courtship rules were strict and so many things were socially unacceptable to say out loud when it came to love and romance. This was the perfect solution! What better way to arrange a secret meeting with your admirer without your chaperone knowing? Or refusing a suitor who has been especially encroaching? By arranging bouquets and carefully selecting colours, flowers combined to send messages; some subtle, some symbolic, some very direct.

 

european vintage garden and dried cow vetch bouquet

 

Floriography was “the thing” among men and women alike of the middle and upper classes. Very soon, language of flower dictionaries were published and people actively studied flower meaning. These books became the new favoured “coffee table ” book. It was trendy to study and know and “talk” flower. Flowers were everywhere; in ladies’ hair and gentlemen’s buttonholes, displayed on tables and in paintings, music and art – and most definitely hand embroidery.

 

close up of embroidery floss and antique thimble

 

Floriography & Embroidery

 

I wrote an entire Honours thesis on this very subject: the importance and influence of floriography in hand embroidery during that time. It was endlessly fascinating, and I got to research embroidery patterns and flower meanings at length. I discovered that the Language of Flowers added a whole new layer of significance in women’s embroidery work. More than a pastime or a hobby, hand embroidery was a purpose.

 

Young girls learned to embroider from a young age. Hand embroidery was a virtuous activity, conducive to patience and discipline. The subject of the embroideries also reflected virtue by representing something religious or connected to nature. The Victorians’ deep appreciation for nature’s beauty was most definitely reflected in embroidery. It was no surprise then, that flowers were so often depicted in embroidery.

 

victorian needlework patterns from 1874 and spools of pink silk thread
Young Ladies Journal, 1874. Various needlework and craft patterns.
embroidered azaleas
Embroidered azaleas in needlepainting ~ this was the project that accompanied my Honours thesis. Based on the azalea flower pattern shown in picture above.

 I could expand at length on the role and importance of needlework in women’s lives, but that will be another a whole other post’s topic 😉. In this post, I just want to give you a brief (or not so brief) introduction to floriography.

 

You can find many of the A-Z type of Language of Flowers dictionaries for free online. The Internet Archive is truly a wonderful resource for that. Below is a short compilation of some I’ve come across that I really liked.

 

floriography dictionary and vintage garden diary surrounded by dried flowers

 

Floriography Book List

  • The Language of Flowers: Adapted From the Language and Sentiment of Flowers, published in 1868 by Frederick Warne & Co.
  • The Illustrated Language of Flowers. George Routledge & Sons, 1865. This one has beautiful black and white flower illustrations before each letter of the alphabet.
  • The Language of Flowers, with Illustrative Poetry. Saunders & Otley, Conduit St. London. 1841. This one isn’t so much a dictionary, but actually goes in depth about specific flowers and plants! I haven’t read all but it’s really interesting.
  • Le langage des fleurs. by Mme Charlotte de Latour. Published in Paris in 1800. It was the first Language of Flowers dictionary! It’s in French, but has gorgeous colour illustrations and poetry. The book is divided into seasons, and then goes into detail about specific flowers.
  • The Language of Flowers. Illustrated by Kate Greenaway, and published in 1884 by Routledge & sons in London. This edition is a 1992 reproductions by Dover publications in New York. As you can see if you click the link, you can buy this one in small paperback format on Amazon.

 

close-up Language of flowers dictionary and dried cow vetch bouquet
language of flowers dictionary and dried lavender

 

I love this little book and bring it with me everywhere 😊. It’s formatted like many of the A-Z dictionaries aimed at providing a concise list of flowers and their associated meanings, without going into details. This one features a list of over 200 flowers and plants and their meaning in alphabetical order.

 

opened floriography dictionary showing list of flowers and their meaning

 

There is also a section where you can “reverse search” and look up a meaning instead to find which flower it corresponds to.

 

list showing various meanings in floriography

 

The last few pages are dedicated to beautiful poetry celebrating flowers.

 

The sensitive plant poem with dried leaf on the page

 

And of course, the book is full of Kate Greenaway’s charming illustrations.

 

kate greenaway illustration in floriography dictionary
kate greenaway illustration in floriography dictionary

 

I highly recommend it if you want something small and sweet. It’s perfect for looking a flower’s symbolic meaning on a whim!

 

Discovering Flower Meanings

 

Most of us know that a rose is a universal symbol of love and romance, but with so many different types and colours of roses, they surely can’t all mean the same thing?

A cabbage rose is an ambassador of love, but a Carolina rose warns you that love is dangerous. A white rose boldly declares I am worthy of you, but a deep red rose may mean bashful shame.

 

rose bush

 

Some of these flowers meanings can be obvious (forget-me-not = forget me not). Others are beautiful (honey flower = love sweet and secret). Sometimes they send a direct message (iris = message, or jonquil = I desire a return of affection). Some are downright sassy (Japan rose = beauty is your only attraction). Some are a bit shocking (basil = hatred). And some have very…interesting multiple meanings (lupine = voraciousness and imagination). LOL.

 

blooming blue irises
Iris = message

 

Some modern books written on the topic go more in depth, discussing how the meaning was assigned and how they appear in music and literature, for instance. I really liked A Victorian Flower Dictionary: The Language of Flowers Companion by Mandy Kirkby, which I briefly mentioned in my Loving Lilacs post about Jane Eyre.

 

Floriography & Literature

 

Ever since completing my Honours thesis (and graduating from Costume Studies), I’ve been paying a lot more attention to flower appearances in classic literature. Did the author purposefully include this or that flower in a specific scene? Were they aware of the flower’s meaning? Or are some just happy coincidences? It’s been tons of fun to analyse and speculate. And of course, to reproduce into embroidery…

 

So far on the blog, I’ve discussed the significance of the blooming lilac tree in Jane Eyre. I turned the lilac embroidery into a journal cover as a gift for my dear Mom.

 

lilacs of love inspiration from jane eyre

 

Then I also read and loved The Enchanted April, which was FULL of flowers. I chose the wisteria as my embroidery subject and detailed my project and its appearances in the novel in my post Wisteria Embroidery: Inspired by The Enchanted April.

 

wisteria embroidery inspired by The Enchanted April

 

I’ve been having roses on my mind a lot lately, so I think I might work on something with a rose next! Or maybe daisies, since they’re also very lovely and grow everywhere around here… I’ve also been reading a lot of Beatrix Potter lately – Queen of Cuteness and Nature – and feeling inspired by orderly garden rows and naughty little rabbits! So we’ll see. I promise to keep you updated. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss any flower embroidery and literature inspiration 😊!! I am so thankful for your support and I can’t wait to share more of the many joys flowers + embroidery bring me. I hope you enjoyed this snippet on floriography, and do let me know – what’s your favourite flower? Do you know its meaning?

 

Fondly,

the language of flowers: an introduction
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* A Victorian Flower Dictionary by Mandy Kirkby. Intro written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. (2011)

Awesome Bullion Knot Hack

     Anne      4 Comments

Who here hates bullion knots? There’s absolutely no shame. They are a beast.

bullion knots made easy

I used to not even like the finished look of them, but I do know. They’re amazingly textured and three-dimensional and really bring the embroidery game to the next level. BUT.

THEY ARE SO ANNOYING TO STITCH.

Admittedly, I haven’t tried very hard. I have a skin condition called hyperhidrosis that makes me sweat from the hands uncontrollably. It’s like having a faucet that never turns off. It doesn’t matter if it’s cold and I’m at my most relaxed, I will still sweat. This makes embroidery very difficult sometimes, but it makes certain stitches pretty much impossible. The bullion knot is one of them. It can be hard enough for dry-handed stitchers, but with sweaty hands, boy oh boy! I don’t recommend AT ALL.

So needless to say, I gave up pretty fast when I tried it. I was also in a huge rush, because the project I was working was a Christmas gift and Christmas was coming SOON. I picked a project that had about 300 bullion knots and I had never worked with them.

Why did I do this to myself, you ask? Great question.

To be fair, I didn’t count them beforehand. I honestly didn’t think it could be that bad, and I really wanted to stitch the beautiful lilac branch from Carol Andrews’s Embroideries From an English Garden. I also like a good embroidery challenge. (You can find the full blog post on this project and its inspiration from Jane Eyre here.)

flat lay view of embroidered lilac branch journal cover
close up of embroidered lilac flowers and beads

But after spending 15 minutes on one bullion knot with my sweaty hands that made the thread impossible to glide through the coil, I was ready to give up. I seriously considered stitching the lilac flowers in a completely different way. But after playing around for a bit, my sweating intensifying with every passing second as Christmas drew closer, I found an incredibly easy way to achieve the bullion knot look without actually stitching a bullion knot.

 

Amazingly Easy Bullion Knot Hack

Alright, so the traditional way to make a bullion knot is to wrap your thread several times around the needle shaft, tightening it with one hand to create a coil, and then pulling the needle through the coil with your other hand. It’s a stitch that takes a lot of practice, but it’s definitely possible and the results are worth it. But sometimes, sometimes you just can’t. And that’s okay, because there is ANOTHER WAY. A MUCH, MUCH EASIER WAY.

 

Begin by threading your needle and see this post on how to best anchor the thread to begin your stitches. Once you’re ready, bring your needle up from the back and make a straight stitch the size you want your bullion knot to be.

straight stitch

 

Come back up in the same hole (or very near) where you first came up to make the straight stitch (point A).

needle coming back up at point A

 

And this is where the magic happens. Slide your needle under the straight stitch and wrap your thread around it repeatedly, until it is all covered. Wrap it tightly, and guide it with the tip of your needle if need be (sometimes the wraps tend to pile on top of each other).

needle gliding behind straight stitch
needle wrapping around straight stitch for bullion knot hack
bullion knot hack in progress

 

When you get to the end, go back at point B, either in the same hole or just besides (it’s a bit more secure to go just besides).

going back down at point b to close the stitch

 

Sometimes the bullion knot will be a little loose from all the wrapping, but that’s ok. Place it however you want it to lay, and make a small anchoring stitch in the middle to hold it in place. It’ll blend in with the wraps.

finished bullion knot laying flat
bullion knot hack complete

 

AND THERE!!!! Isn’t this so much easier than the traditional method? And it LOOKS THE SAME, but it’s so much less aggravating!! No one needs to know it’s not an actual knot. 😉 This is the method I used for my lilac branch project and it worked so well and I was so pleased with the result!!

lilac branch project bullion knot lilac flowers close-up

 

What do you think? Are you a fan of bullion knots in general? Leave me a comment if this tutorial was helpful to you!

Fondly,

super easy bullion knot hack
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FREE Embroidery Pattern & Tutorial: Wisteria Branch

     Anne      4 Comments

Who’s ready for a hand embroidery pattern freebie? 🙂

 

embroidery freebie wisteria

Read on to download this sweet wisteria embroidery pattern & see the tutorial. 🙂 Last week, I introduced you to one of my new favourite novels, The Enchanted April, by Elizabeth von Arnim. We talked about how dreamy and escapist it was, and how much flower inspiration there was to be found in it. The wisteria in particular, proved to be a wonderful subject for embroidery!

 

If you haven’t seen that post, check it out here.

 

I showed you a bit of how I embroidered my wisteria-inspired project, and if you liked it then the good news is that I have more wisteria for you this week!

 

embroidered wisteria branch finished side view
embroidered wisteria branch finished view from top

 

I created this pattern so I could share my newfound love of wisteria with you all. Now you can stitch your own! May it bring you sunshine and happiness as promised in The Enchanted April.

 

The pattern is super simple and accessible to beginners. I only used three basic stitches: the split stitch, the lazy-daisy stitch, and a form of leaf stitch. Simply click on any of these for a full tutorial on how to work them.

 

See also: The Only Embroidery Tools You Really Need to know which basic materials you will need for this project.

 

DOWNLOAD YOUR PDF HERE: Wisteria Free Embroidery PatternDownload

 

Tutorial:

 

I used DMC floss, but you can use another brand if you like. You can find a good conversion chart here. I used 2 strands throughout the whole project.

 

#153 (Vy Lt. Violet)

#210 (Md. Lavender)

#470 (Lt. Avocado Green)

#553 (Violet)

#3011 (Dk. Khaki Green)

#3042 (Lt. Antique Violet)

 

See also this post on How to Start & End Your Stitches.

 

1. Branches

 

Begin by stitching the branches (or stems?) with #470 . Since the leaves and the flowers will go over it, it’s easier to start with it first. I used the split stitch, but feel free to use any other outline stitch that you like, such as the backstitch or the stem stitch. Stitch all the way down the middle of the flower cluster. Some of it will show through once the flowers are stitched. You can also stop the branch before the cluster if you don’t want it showing through or you want to make your flowers very tight together.

 

wisteria stem in split stitch

 

2. Leaves

 

There are many ways to embroider leaves, but I kept it super simple here and just stitched mine with a simple leaf stitch. The method I use is kind of a cross between satin stitch and fishbone stitch. Using 2 strands of #470, make a small straight stitch from the top of the leaf to the top of the guideline running down the middle vein.

 

leaf worked in straight stitches

 

Work your way down the leaf by starting your stitches on the outline of the leaf and ending on the middle guideline for the central vein. Make your stitches at a diagonal angle to keep the shape of the leaf. I like to work one side at a time (usually I start with the right).

 

leaf worked in straight stitches one side at a time

 

If you’re satisfied with the look of the leaves as they are after this step, you can skip the next step! I just wanted to add a bit more colour and texture to mine.

 

Using #3011, make a straight stitch down the middle of the leaf for the main vein. I also added two very small stitches on either side, also on a slight angle.

 

view of finished leaves

 

3. The Flowers

 

The flowers are all worked in lazy-daisy stitches, sort of scattered in a downward motion and fairly close together to create the droopy cluster effect. On your pattern, the dotted line indicates the shape the finished cluster will take. You don’t have to transfer that line on your fabric as it may leave marks if it’s not entirely covered in stitches. It’s more just to give you an idea of the finished size and shape. You can transfer the straight lines going down from the stem, as those should be all covered and will help you to guide the placement of your stitches.

 

You want to work your lazy-daisies downward, some going straight down, and others going at slight angles from the branch. There is no specific placement for each of them though, and this is a very forgiving flower for embroidery. One stitch or two out of place will only add shape to it! Have fun with it and experiment with where you place your stitches if you want to change the shape a bit, or the way it hangs.

 

lazy-daisy stitches embroidered along wisteria branch to create flowers
wisteria branch being filled with lazy-daisy stitches to create the flowers

 

I used #153, #3042 and #210 for the smaller branch, and #153, #3042 and #553 for the bigger one.

 

finished embroidery work

 

And there you go! I decided to add a little bow at the last minute to give it a more finished look. I used a piece of narrow white satin ribbon, tied it into a bow and sewed it to the base of the branch.

 

view of little white ribbon bow at base of wisteria branch

 

It looks pretty cute I think! I really hope you have fun stitching this wisteria pattern. This is the first “real” pattern I’ve ever made so I’m pretty excited. Any feedback will be super appreciated and I would love it if you show me your results! Tag me on Instagram @northernbelle.atelier if you try this wisteria pattern! 🙂 Also don’t hesitate to reach out for any questions or comments and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for more embroidery content!

 

Fondly,

wisteria embroidery free pattern
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Easy Chain Stitch Tutorial

     Anne      Leave a Comment

Who’s ready to learn more stitches with me? Today, I’ve put together a tutorial on how to do the chain stitch and the detached chain stitch (commonly known as the lazy-daisy stitch). I absolutely love the lazy-daisy and use it all the time. So I’m excited to share it with you! Back in March, I wrote a post on the first 5 stitches you should learn as a beginner, and I definitely encourage you to have a look at it to learn the basics. Today’s tutorial also features an easy stitch, perfect for beginners and widely used in surface embroidery. So grab your needle and thread & let’s go! For a list of all the materials you need to get started with embroidery, check out this post.

 

chain stitch easy embroidery tutorial

 

First things first, you’ll need to cut some embroidery floss, about the length of your forearm. I will be using 3 strands of DMC #3818 throughout this tutorial, but feel free to use more (or less). Then, thread your needle and either knot the end of your thread or anchor it to the fabric using any of the methods detailed in this post (or any other way you know of starting embroidery)

 

The Chain Stitch

 

I’ll be honest, I really don’t use this stitch very often. I usually kinda forget about it. I really like it though, and it’s super easy. It just never seems to work with anything I’m stitching for some reason haha!

 

To begin, bring your threaded needle up from the back at point A. Pull the thread all the way through.

 

thread pulled all the way through at point A to begin chain stitch

 

Go back down in the same hole (A), and bring the needle up at point B in the same swoop. Don’t pull all the way.

 

needle going back down at point A
needle going back down in A and up in B

 

Pull the needle through gently, pulling until the thread forms a loop. Bring your needle through that loop, and pull through.

 

needle being pulled through point B
Pull the needle through until you get a loop big enough to go through it.
thread going through the loop to form chain stitch
Bring your needle through the loop.
loop being pulled down
Since point B is below point A, the loop will eventually be pulled down to lay where it’s meant to.

 

Sometimes you might need your other hand or the tip of your needle to help guide the loop, as it can have a tendency to twist and won’t lay properly.

 

first chain of the chain stitch complete
Pull the thread trough the loop until it rests nicely on the fabric.

Go back down into the same hole again, where your thread currently is (point B), and bring your needle up at point C. This is the same motion as before, when you started your first stitch.

 

needle going back through point B and up at point C
Go down B and up C before pulling the needle through.

Pull the needle and thread through until you get a loop of thread, just like in the previous steps. Make the sure the needle goes through and then pull all the way so the loop will lay flat.

 

second chain stitch being pulled through
two connected chain stitches laying flat

 

Keep repeating these steps until you have the chain length you want! Basically, you always go back down in the same hole you came up.

 

chain stitch in progress

 

To end the chain, simply take a small stitch on the outside of the loop to close it.

 

closing the last stitch

 

view of the last closed chain stitch

And there you go, that’s the chain stitch!

 

The Detached Chain or Lazy-Daisy Stitch

 

If I never use the chain stitch, I most certainly always use its detached version 😉. As you might have guessed, this is essentially a single link of the chain stitch. It’s commonly referred to as the lazy-daisy stitch, and will seem super simple after working the chain stitch!

 

Begin the same way as above. Bring your needle up from the back at point A. Go back down through A and up in B, pulling until you form a loop. Thread your needle through that loop and pull.

 

needle going down in A and back up in B
needle going through loop
thread being pulled through loop for chain stitch

 

Pull the loop down until it lays nice and flat.

 

loop being pulled down to lay flat
chain loop laying flat on the fabric

 

So far, that’s exactly the same as the chain stitch. If you wanted to continue the chain, then you’d go back down in the same hole again and keep going until you got the length you wanted.

 

But for the lazy-daisy, all you need to do is end the stitch there, as though you were finishing the chain length.

 

Take a small stitch on the outside of the loop to secure it.

 

small stitch on the outside of the loop to hold chain stitch down

 

And that’s it!

 

finished detached chain stitch

 

I can’t tell you how much I love that stitch. It’s so incredibly useful for leaves and flower petals. Plus it’s pretty quick to work!

 

I hope this tutorial was helpful to you and that you’ll enjoy working the chain stitch and its detached version. I tell you, the lazy-daisy can be such a lifesaver! I used it a lot in my Redwork Embroidery Box Project, and generally love it for small flowers and leaves.

 

the lazy-daisy stitch embroidery tutorial

 

Let me know if you have any more questions about it in the comments, or feel free to share the love for this stitch too 🙂

 

Fondly,