Easy Floral Hand Embroidery: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

Watch the video: “Easy Floral Hand Embroidery Tutorial” by the creator (channel not specified).

A bouquet blooms one stitch at a time. This tutorial walks you through a complete floral design using just a handful of essential stitches—perfect for beginners and a relaxing refresh for seasoned stitchers. We’ll follow the exact sequence from the video so you can duplicate the look with confidence.

What you’ll learn

• How to fill leaves with fishbone stitch for smooth texture and coverage.

• How to line stems and branches with an even back stitch.

• How to add small accent flowers with lazy daisy loops.

• How to fill main petals using short and long stitch for a seamless, blended look.

• How to finish with French knots for lively centers and buds.

Getting Started with Your Floral Embroidery

Materials You’ll Need

• Fabric (type not specified in the video; a medium-weight linen or cotton works well in general).

• Embroidery hoop.

• Needle and scissors.

• Embroidery floss in the colors shown: DMC #734 (for leaves), DMC #831 (for stems and lazy daisy), DMC #B5200 white (for the main petals), and DMC #3852 yellow (for French knots).

- PDF pattern (the video mentions a PDF pattern; commenters note the link is in the video description).

Preparing Your Fabric and Hoop

• Secure your fabric in an embroidery hoop. The video shows a taut surface; avoid overstretching to keep the weave comfortable for stitching.

• Transfer or trace the provided pattern onto your fabric (the video references a pre-drawn pattern; the exact tracing tool is not specified). If you’re printing the pattern, one commenter confirms A4 worked for them; other sizes are not specified in the video.

• Thread the needle with the indicated strand count: the tutorial uses 6 strands throughout, so you’ll get bold, filled textures right away.

Pro tip If you want a lighter look, you could use fewer strands, but you’ll need more stitches for coverage. The tutorial itself demonstrates 6 strands at each stage.

Watch out Fabric puckering can happen if your hoop tension or thread tension is uneven. Keep the fabric snug in the hoop and pull your thread with steady, gentle consistency.

Mastering the Fishbone Stitch for Lush Leaves

Step-by-Step Guide to Fishbone The video begins with leaves in DMC #734 using 6 strands. Start at the base of the leaf with a central straight stitch. Then work alternating diagonal stitches from left and right, crossing the center line and slightly overlapping for coverage. Repeat this rhythm all the way up the leaf so the stitches nest neatly and fill the shape.

As you proceed, ensure your diagonals meet that center line without leaving gaps. The slight overlap creates a woven effect, and the leaf’s edges stay crisp if you align the angle of your diagonals with the leaf outline.

Quick check

• Does your stitching cover the drawn leaf outline fully?

• Are transitions between each diagonal smooth and consistent?

Tips for Smooth Leaf Fills

• Maintain an even, moderate thread tension so the leaf surface looks uniform.

• Keep stitch angles consistent as you move towards the tip.

• If a small gap appears, add a short overlap stitch to close it.

From the comments Several viewers thanked the creator for the free pattern and clear presentation. One viewer asked how many “layers of yarn” were used—the tutorial specifies 6 strands for each stage, including leaves, stems, petals, and French knots.

Creating Elegant Stems with Back Stitch

Perfecting Your Back Stitch Technique Switch to DMC #831 with 6 strands. Back stitch creates a continuous line: bring the needle up a short distance ahead of your previous stitch, then go down into the exact end of that previous stitch to close any gap. This produces a clean, uninterrupted stem.

Keep your stitch length consistent. If you notice tiny spaces between segments, shorten the distance before you bring the needle back down and be sure you re-enter right at the previous end point.

Adding Delicate Branches Continue this same motion along every stem and branch in the pattern. Back stitch is ideal here because it’s sturdy, simple, and reads clearly against the filled leaves and petals.

Watch out If stitch lengths vary too much, the line can look choppy. Slow down, mark shorter intervals if needed, and keep the rhythm even.

Crafting Charming Small Flowers with Lazy Daisy

How to Form Lazy Daisy Petals Using the same DMC #831 (6 strands), form each small petal as a loop. Bring the needle up, lay a loop on the fabric, then tack the tip with a tiny straight stitch over the loop to secure it. This forms a dainty, petal-like shape perfect for little accent flowers or buds.

Quick check

• Are your loops roughly the same size?

- Is the securing stitch snug enough to hold the loop without flattening it?

Placing Your Budding Blooms Disperse a few lazy daisies along minor stems or open spaces in the composition. The tutorial adds just enough to balance the design without crowding it.

Pro tip If loops relax as you stitch, support them lightly with a fingertip before securing the tip—this helps you standardize the petal size.

Bringing Main Flowers to Life with Short and Long Stitch

Filling Petals with Gradients Thread 6 strands of DMC #B5200 (white). Begin at the outer edge of each petal and work inward with alternating short and long straight stitches. This alternation helps avoid hard lines and gives a softly blended look across the petal.

As you build the fill, vary the lengths gently, allowing the ends to interlock. If you see noticeable bands, add an in-between stitch to blend them.

Achieving a Natural Flow Keep your stitch direction consistent with the petal’s growth—from edge toward center—so the texture feels organic. If small gaps remain, tuck in short filler stitches to even the surface. When the petal is fully covered, it should appear smooth and cohesive.

Quick check

• Are your stitch lengths alternating enough to blend the surface?

• Is the coverage complete from edge to center without gaps?

- Does the tension match adjacent petals so the finish looks uniform?

Watch out Tension that’s too tight can compress the fabric; too loose and the surface looks uneven. Aim for the same steady pull you used on leaves and stems.

Adding Finishing Touches with French Knots

The Secret to Perfect French Knots Switch to DMC #3852 (yellow), still using 6 strands. Bring the needle up at your center point, wrap the thread around the needle 2–3 times (the video notes that more wraps create a larger knot), then reinsert the needle very close to where you came up—but not in the same hole—and pull through gently.

Keep wraps and tension consistent for uniform knots. If a knot slips through, place the entry point a thread’s width away from the exit and tighten your wraps slightly.

Central Accents and Buds Place French knots at the heart of each main flower to add depth and color. Add a few more as tiny buds along the smaller stems to echo the accent flowers and tie the palette together.

Quick check

• Are knot sizes consistent across all centers?

- Are knots secure and sitting on the surface without pulling through?

From the comments

• Multiple viewers expressed thanks for the free pattern and tutorial clarity.

• One viewer couldn’t find the pattern; another replied that the free link is in the video description.

• A viewer asked about print size; someone replied that A4 worked for them.

• A question about the tracing pencil was unanswered in the thread and is not specified in the video.

Your Completed Floral Masterpiece Step back and admire your work: fishbone leaves with full coverage, back-stitched stems that flow cleanly through the composition, delicate lazy daisies, smooth short-and-long petals, and bright French knot centers. Everything in this piece is built from approachable techniques—yet together, they create a polished, dimensional bouquet.

Troubleshooting and Fine-Tuning

• Gaps in leaves or petals: Add a short overlap stitch to close small spaces.

• Uneven lines on stems: Reduce the stitch length slightly and re-enter at the previous endpoint to eliminate gaps.

• French knots pulling through: Reinsert very close to, but not into, the original hole; adjust wrap tension.

Care and Display The video doesn’t specify finishing steps. In general, you can leave your work framed in the hoop as shown, or finish the backing using your preferred method.

Notes on Tools and Materials

• Threads and colors used in the tutorial: DMC #734 (leaves), DMC #831 (stems and lazy daisy), DMC #B5200 (main petals), DMC #3852 (French knots). All at 6 strands.

• Fabric type and hoop brand are not specified.

• Pattern access: The video references a PDF pattern; commenters indicate the link is in the description.

Pro tip If you’re experimenting with design placement before committing, lightly baste guidelines around your motif area. Remove them as you complete each section.

Watch out Switching between high-twist and low-twist flosses (not specified in the video) can change coverage. If you substitute, test on a scrap to match the look of 6-strand fills.

Quick check Before you call it done, scan for consistency:

• Leaf angles match across the cluster.

• Stem lines flow smoothly without gaps.

• Daisy loops are even.

• Petals read as a continuous field with no abrupt bands.

• French knots sit proud and uniform.

Notes for Machine Embroiderers (if you’re cross-shopping) This is a hand embroidery tutorial. If you also work with machines, remember that hardware like magnetic or snap hoops is a different category entirely and not used here. If you’re researching machine accessories, start broadly and match your hoop system to your specific machine model and hoop size guidelines from the manufacturer. magnetic embroidery hoop

If you own a Brother machine, confirm compatibility by model before purchasing any magnetic frames or specialty hoops; these are separate from traditional hand hoops. brother embroidery machine

Some stitchers keep both setups—a hand hoop for tactile projects like this and a dedicated machine hoop system for production work—each shines in its own workflow. embroidery sewing machine

Where magnetic frames are compatible, they can help with certain machine fabrics and placements, but they are not a substitute for the hand-stitched texture showcased in this floral piece. magnetic embroidery hoops

If you’re exploring larger machine layouts, research the supported field and the exact compatible frame names for your model before investing. magnetic embroidery frames

For multi-needle setups, look into brand-specific accessories and official compatibility charts from your vendor or trusted dealers. embroidery machine hoops

And if you prefer compact setups, there are entry-level machines and frames available—but always verify sizing, since field dimensions vary by model. embroidery machine for beginners

FAQ Q: What fabric is best? A: The video does not specify fabric type. Generally, medium-weight linen or cotton provides a supportive base for these stitches.

Q: Can I use fewer strands? A: Yes, for a finer look you can use fewer, but the tutorial demonstrates 6 strands throughout. Using fewer strands may require more stitches to achieve full coverage.

Q: How do I prevent puckering? A: Keep your fabric taut in the hoop without overstretching, and maintain consistent thread tension.

From the comments

• Thanks and gratitude: Many viewers appreciated the clear tutorial and free pattern.

• Pattern location: Viewers pointed to the video description for the free PDF.

• Print size: One reply specified A4 worked for them.

• Tracing pencil: Not specified in the video; unanswered in the thread.

Wrap-up You’ve completed a classic floral using approachable, foundational stitches. Keep practicing each technique on small motifs—your leaves will get silkier, your stems smoother, your daisies more consistent, your petals more seamless, and your knots perfectly poised. Then stitch this design again in a fresh palette for an instant gift or gallery wall addition.