The embroidery school – stitches and flower embroidery on knits

Sometimes it is hard to know which stitch suits what. Here you will find illustrations and guidance for the different stitches, and for the flower embroideries that come up again and again in my designs. The page is updated regularly 🤎

Part 1 – Stitches and sewing illustrations · Part 2 – Different flower embroideries

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Part 1 – Stitches and sewing illustrations

Lazy daisy stitch

The lazy daisy is the perfect stitch for embroidering small leaves and fine details. Bring the needle up where you want the stitch to start, and lay the thread in a loop as big as you want it. Then take the needle back down at the point where it came up, and bring it up again on the other side. Work a small stitch over the loop to hold it in place.

The flower stitch

The lazy daisy is the perfect flower stitch. This illustration shows how the stitch is used to make a simple flower.

French knots – version 1

Wind the thread round the needle several times. Keep the thread taut, and take the tip of the needle back down close to where it came up. The more times you wind round the needle, the bigger the knot. French knots work well as stamens in flower embroidery.

French knots – version 2

To make a French knot you wind the thread round the needle while keeping the thread taut, and take the needle down close to where it came up. The more times the thread is wound round the needle, the bigger the knot. The stitches are worked singly or in groups.

Chain stitch

Chain stitch is made up of small loops that form a chain on the right side. Bring the needle up at the top point, and lay the thread in a loop to the left. Then take the needle down right beside the point it came up and up again a little further down, with the thread under the needle tip. This stitch is perfect for flower stems, for instance.

Stem stitch

Stem stitch is worked on the slant. The stitches can slant to the right or to the left, or both ways, as you like. Take the needle down into the knitting as far along as you want the stitch to be, and then up again right next to the previous stitch. This stitch is often used for outlines.

Blanket stitch

Blanket stitch is always worked to the right. The thread is laid under the needle tip. The stitches can be different lengths, and can be set close together or far apart, or in groups. Often used for edgings, buttonholes and for attaching appliqué.

Cross stitch

Cross stitch is worked in two steps: first a stitch slanting to the right, then one slanting to the left. The stitch forms a cross on the right side and a vertical stitch on the wrong side. The top stitches must all run the same way. Work one cross stitch at a time, or work a row of half cross stitches first and then the crossing stitch.

Satin stitch

Satin stitch can be worked single-sided or double-sided. A double-sided satin stitch looks the same on both the right and the wrong side. A single-sided one is worked only along the outline, so that only the small stitches show on the wrong side.

Back stitch

Back stitch is an even diagonal stitch. It is often used for outlines and small details, and is usually worked as a straight line over or beside stitches you have already embroidered. Take the needle down behind the point where it came up last time, and then up the same distance in front of the previous stitch. Back stitch is best worked last of all the stitches.

Double back stitch

Double back stitch is worked towards you, two steps forward and one back. Take the needle in close to the previous stitch, and then make a stitch twice as long forwards.

Long and short stitch

Long and short stitch is made up of stitches of different lengths, set more or less close together. It is often used to fill larger areas, and is perfect for flower embroidery.

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Part 2 – Different flower embroideries

Globeflower

This yellow globeflower is embroidered in simple lazy daisy stitches. Here the centre of the flower has been left open to give a lighter look.

Red clover

This red clover is embroidered in chain stitch in different shades of pink to give the flower some movement. The flower is worked from the top down, so the stitches lie over each other.

Harebell

This harebell is made with lazy daisy stitches of different lengths. The harebell has also been given a leaf at the bottom.

Oxeye daisy

To make this oxeye daisy I used white silk embroidery thread together with mohair. The stamens are made with French knots and lazy daisy stitches.

Red campion

This one is made with lazy daisy stitches in pink mohair, with several white stamens in the middle worked in French knots. It has small leaves at the bottom, in chain stitch in a green flecked mohair from Bella by Permin.

Wood anemone

This wood anemone is embroidered in lazy daisy stitches, in a combination of white mohair and gold thread. The stamens are worked in French knots in gold.

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Patterns with embroidery

Nineteen of my patterns have embroidered details. Among them Krokus, Midsummer Love, MAY – The Cardigan and When I Need a Friend.

See the Paradise collection →

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