Table of Contents
Video reference: “Flowers Machine Embroidery” by Membroidery515
A vibrant floral motif, stitched petal by petal. This guide shows you exactly how to recreate it with free-motion machine embroidery—dense zigzag fills, clean color changes, shimmering gold outlines, and a crisp finish after you remove the stabilizer.
What you’ll learn
- How to build a floral composition in layers: leaves, light petals, deeper petals, then metallic outlines
- How to manage thread changes (Rayon colors, then gold metallic) for clean transitions
- How to control zigzag coverage in free-motion embroidery for even fills
- How to remove stabilizer cleanly without disturbing stitches
Mastering Free-Motion Machine Embroidery for Floral Designs
Understanding free-motion basics Free-motion machine embroidery gives you expressive control over direction and density by moving the hooped fabric under a steady zigzag stitch. In this floral build, shapes are filled with dense zigzags before a contrasting metallic outline adds definition. The creator executes the piece on an industrial zigzag SINGER model 20u and confirms long-term use of that machine.
Pro tip: The creator uses Rayon thread for the colored fills and gold metallic for outlines. Rayon delivers a soft sheen and smooth running, while metallic outlines create a crisp, light-catching edge around leaves and petals. embroidery magnetic hoops
Choosing your threads and colors
- Leaf fill: green thread with dense zigzag.
- First petals: lighter yellow/gold tone.
- Additional petals: orange.
- Central flower: darker orange-red.
- Outlines: gold metallic to encircle all leaves and petals.
Quick check: After each color group, you should see clean edges and full coverage within the drawn shapes—no fabric peeking through.
Step-by-Step Floral Embroidery Process
Starting with Leaves: The Foundation 1) Hoop and position the fabric. Keep it taut so the zigzag fill doesn’t tunnel or ripple. Follow your pre-drawn floral sketch and seat the first leaf under the needle. 2) Stitch the first leaf with green thread. Move the fabric smoothly to fill the shape with a dense zigzag. Maintain consistent spacing so coverage looks uniform.
3) Stitch a second leaf in green. Match density with the first leaf so they read as a pair.
Outcome expectation: Two green leaves filled evenly, with edges that roughly match your drawn contours.
Quick check: The fill should be solid—no gaps—yet not so dense that the area looks stiff.
Building Layers: Petal by Petal 4) Switch to a yellow/gold thread for light petals. Begin outlining and filling the first petals with zigzag, following your drawn shapes. Keep the motion smooth to avoid abrupt changes in stitch angle.
Watch out: When changing to lighter thread, any stray dark lint or thread tails can show through. Clip tails before you fill. magnetic hoops for embroidery
5) Continue filling yellow petals. Aim for a consistent zigzag rhythm—slower movement yields denser coverage; quicker movement yields lighter coverage.
Outcome expectation: A ring of light petals with even density and clean contours. You should now see the floral circle forming.
6) Change to orange thread for the next set of petals. Outline and fill the heart-like shapes. Shape the petals by subtly curving your movements; even a small directional tweak can shift a petal from flat to lively.
Pro tip: Work petal-by-petal around the circle to balance pull on the fabric and keep alignment symmetrical. magnetic embroidery hoop
7) Add more orange petals to build richness. Keep stitch angles complementary between adjacent petals for a cohesive look rather than stripes.
Outcome expectation: Roughly half of your ring will be complete in yellow and orange, with pleasing tonal contrast.
8) Switch to a darker orange-red for the central flower. Fill each petal carefully and maintain consistent density with the rest of the piece.
Quick check: The deeper central petals should read as the focal point, anchoring the composition with saturated color.
The Grand Finale: Adding Golden Outlines 9) Thread the machine with gold metallic. Slowly trace around each green leaf to establish a bright, crisp perimeter.
10) Outline the yellow petals next. Metallic lines should hug the contours—avoid wobble by relaxing your shoulders and guiding the fabric steadily.
11) Continue to outline all remaining petals, including the darker orange-red center. Re-stitch any skipped stitches right away so the outline looks continuous.
Outcome expectation: A fully outlined circle of petals and leaves with a consistent, reflective gold edge.
Achieving Clean Finishes: Stabilizer Removal Best practices for stabilizer removal 12) Peel away the main stabilizer from the back gently, supporting the stitches with your free hand to prevent distortion.
13) Use small scissors and fine tweezers to remove tiny bits around tight corners. Take your time in intricate areas so you don’t lift stitches.
From the comments: The creator notes they use tracing paper or even normal white paper under the fabric. In the video, this layer is peeled away at the end just like a paper-style stabilizer.
Quick check: After cleanup, you should see no stabilizer fragments at the edges, no clipped threads, and a smooth, flat embroidery surface.
Tips for Perfect Machine Embroidery Results Color order that builds depth
- Leaves (green) first establish direction and give you a scale reference for the rest.
- Light petals (yellow) expand the composition and create highlight areas.
- Mid/deep petals (orange, then orange-red center) add contrast and a focal point.
- Metallic outlines unify everything and make edges read cleanly from any angle.
Thread choices confirmed by the creator
- Fills: Rayon thread.
- Outlines: Gold metallic thread.
- Availability: Search online for “gold thread metallic.” The creator mentions using many Rayon brands, including SAKURA VENUS.
Pro tip: If metallic thread occasionally skips, retrace the missed segment immediately to maintain a continuous line—this is exactly how the creator resolves occasional outline gaps. hooping station for embroidery
Fabric movement: the fuel of free-motion
- Even density comes from smooth, consistent motion. Let your hands guide the hoop smoothly and avoid jerky shifts.
- Slower movement = denser zigzag; faster movement = lighter coverage. Practice on a scrap to calibrate your pace before stitching the motif.
Watch out: Overworking an area can create stiffness and sheen differences. Instead of piling stitches in a single spot, take a second pass with a similar angle to keep texture balanced. dime snap hoop
Clean starts and stops
- Clip tails as you go, especially before filling lighter petals.
- Keep color changes tidy by confirming the new thread is properly seated before you start stitching again.
Sourcing supplies
- For gold metallic thread: the creator purchased locally and suggests searching online for “gold thread metallic.”
- Rayon threads: the creator uses multiple brands, including SAKURA VENUS.
Transform Your Garments with Beautiful Embroidery This floral motif finishes with high impact: crisp metallic outlines, full zigzag fills, and a dark, saturated center. It’s versatile for garments and home textiles—patch pockets, cuffs, hems, pillows, or table linens. Sew it as a medallion or repeat in a grid for a striking panel. mighty hoop 5.5
Ready to Start Your Next Embroidery Project? Use this sequence to plan any free-motion floral: build structure with leaves, render light petals, deepen the center, then outline last. The clarity of steps and the tight finishing work (clean stabilizer removal) are what make the piece look professional.
Operation checklist
- Leaves filled evenly in green
- Light petals filled in yellow
- Additional petals filled in orange
- Central petals filled in darker orange-red
- All shapes outlined in gold metallic
- Stabilizer fully removed; no loose threads
Primer (What & When) What this achieves
- A multi-colored floral composition with dense zigzag fills and high-contrast metallic outlines that pop in any light.
When to use it
- When you want painterly control over shapes and stitch angles and don’t need a pre-programmed stitch-out.
Prerequisites
- Basic free-motion control and comfort with multiple thread changes.
Constraints
- Metallic outlines demand steady hand guidance to avoid wobble and skipped stitches. Keep your movements relaxed and intentional. magnetic hoops
Prep Tools
- Embroidery machine (the creator uses an industrial zigzag SINGER model 20u; any free-motion-capable setup works)
- Embroidery hoop
- Scissors and fine tweezers
Materials
- Fabric
- Threads: green, yellow, orange, red-orange Rayon threads; gold metallic thread
- Paper-style support: tracing paper or normal white paper (as used by the creator)
Environment
- Good lighting and a stable table so you can guide the hoop smoothly
Prep checklist
- Fabric hooped taut
- Threads laid out in stitch order
- Scissors/tweezers within reach
- Paper support under your fabric
Setup Color sequence plan
- Green leaves → Yellow petals → Orange petals → Red-orange central petals → Gold metallic outlines.
Why this order matters
- Filling first ensures a smooth surface for the metallic outline to ride on, preventing snagging.
- Light-to-dark builds dimensionality; gold outlines unify and sharpen edges.
Setup checklist
- Confirm tension and stitch formation on a scrap
- Lay threads left-to-right in the order you’ll stitch them
- Keep a small bin nearby for trimmed tails brother magnetic embroidery hoop
Operation / Steps 1) Leaves (green): Fill two leaves with dense zigzag, staying within drawn contours.
2) First petals (yellow): Outline and fill the initial petals, forming the circular arrangement.
3) Validate coverage: Check for even fill and consistent angles.
4) Orange petals: Stitch heart-like shapes, keeping your movement smooth and deliberate.
5) Continue orange fills: Keep angles harmonious between adjacent petals.
6) Midpoint check: Half the circle should be complete with yellow and orange harmony.
7) Central flower (red-orange): Fill all center petals with deeper color.
8) Center complete: Confirm density matches neighboring petals.
9) Gold outlines: Trace leaves first for a crisp frame.
10) Outline yellow petals: Keep lines continuous.
11) Outline orange and red-orange petals: Re-stitch any skips.
12) Full outline review: The circle is now luminous and defined.
Quality Checks
- Coverage: No base fabric should peek through leaves/petals.
- Consistency: Stitch density feels uniform across the motif.
- Outlines: Metallic lines are continuous with minimal wobble.
Results & Handoff
- The embroidery should photograph beautifully from multiple angles thanks to the metallic edges catching light. Remove stabilizer gently, then use scissors and tweezers for residue. The result: a clean, finished piece ready to stitch onto garments or display. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines
Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom: Skipped stitches on outlines
- Likely cause: Slight speed or path inconsistency.
- Fix: Re-stitch over the gap immediately to maintain continuity.
Symptom: Uneven coverage in a filled area
- Likely cause: Irregular fabric movement.
- Fix: Add a second pass at a matching angle to even out the texture.
Symptom: Distorted edges after stabilizer removal
- Likely cause: Pulling too aggressively.
- Fix: Support stitches with one hand while peeling; use tweezers for tight corners.
From the comments
- Machine used: Industrial zigzag SINGER model 20u, in use for over two decades by the creator.
- Threads used: Rayon for fills; gold metallic for outlines; various Rayon brands including SAKURA VENUS.
- Where to buy gold metallic: The creator bought locally and suggests searching “gold thread metallic” online.
- What’s under the fabric: Tracing paper or normal white paper used as the removable backing.
Final quick check before you move on
- Are all petals and leaves fully filled and evenly dense?
- Do the gold outlines look continuous?
- Is all stabilizer removed with no clipped stitches?
Optional gear note If your workspace includes alternative hooping helpers, simply position and tension your fabric according to the manufacturer’s guidance; the free-motion steps above remain the same. magnetic embroidery hoops for brother