Table of Contents
- Primer: What this project achieves (and when to use it)
- Prep: Materials, tools, and design transfer
- Setup: Color order, stitch choices, and why they work
- Operation: The complete stitching sequence
- Quality Checks: Milestones and what “good” looks like
- Results & Handoff: Finishing and project ideas
- Troubleshooting & Recovery
- From the comments: Answers to common questions
Primer: What this project achieves (and when to use it)
This peacock is created entirely with free-motion zigzag on a manual embroidery machine. You’ll outline the form, fill feathers and body with dense light blue, add dark blue for contrast lines, and finish with gold accents that elevate the whole composition. The result is a richly textured motif suitable for garments, home décor panels, or framed textile art.
Free-motion here means you steer the fabric by hand to draw with thread. The demonstrated approach relies on a drawn outline on white fabric, then methodical filling and outlining. It’s ideal for intermediate stitchers comfortable guiding fabric under a zigzag needle path.
From the comments: The machine used by the creator is an industrial zigzag SINGER model 20u, confirmed in multiple replies.
Pro tip: If you prefer a non-hoop workflow, keep your movements continuous and relaxed; consistent hand speed helps your zigzag look satin-smooth without bunching. Many crafters also explore accessories like embroidery magnetic hoops for different machines—if you use one, ensure it matches your model and project.
Prep: Materials, tools, and design transfer
Gather these before you begin:
- Fabric: white fabric with your peacock outline drawn on it
- Thread: light blue, dark blue, and gold
- Machine: manual embroidery-capable setup with zigzag capability (the creator uses SINGER 20u, per comments)
- Needle appropriate for your chosen threads
- Flat work surface with your embroidery machine in reach
Design transfer
- The project starts with the peacock outline already on fabric. In the comments, the creator notes they drew the design themselves. No specific transfer method is shown; any accurate drawn outline works.
Color plan overview
- Light blue: initial outlines and dense fills of feathers, body, neck/head, flowers/leaves, scrolls
- Dark blue: contrast outlines over filled shapes
- Gold: interior feather accents, outer edges, crown, and final highlights
Quick check
- Confirm you have all three thread colors accessible and wound.
- Make sure the outline is complete and visible along the entire design path.
Checklist—Prep
- Fabric with clear drawn outline
- Light blue, dark blue, gold threads ready
- Needle installed and sharp
- Comfortable hand position for guiding fabric
Note: Readers often explore optional tools for other machines; if that’s you, research model-specific solutions like magnetic hoop for brother embroidery machine or magnetic frame for embroidery machine to streamline handling.
Setup: Color order, stitch choices, and why they work
Why outline first? Outlines establish boundaries that prevent fill stitches from straying. In this project, light blue outlines come before light blue fills, creating tidy edges. Then dark blue outlines add crisp contrast, and gold accents bring depth and shine.
Why zigzag for fills? Dense zigzag builds an opaque, satin-like field quickly and follows curves beautifully. It also gives tactile body to the peacock’s feathers and neck.
Decision point: Fill density vs. time
- If you want maximum opacity and bold texture → use a closely guided zigzag fill with overlapping paths.
- If you want a lighter look → guide the fabric more quickly and reduce overlap between passes.
From the comments: A viewer asked about zigzag width (8 mm vs 12 mm). The creator confirmed the machine model (SINGER 20u) but did not specify a width setting.
Watch out: Color order matters. Switching to dark blue or gold too soon will reduce contrast and can make later fills look crowded.
Checklist—Setup
- Thread order planned: light blue → dark blue → gold
- Outline path mentally rehearsed before filling
- Comfortable stance so your guiding hand stays steady
If you’re working on different machine ecosystems, many stitchers plan their handling around accessories like hooping station for embroidery or a compact mighty hoop 5.5 when compatible; pick options that suit your setup and fabric.
Operation: The complete stitching sequence
Follow this sequenced run for clean layering and reliable intermediate checks.
1) Outline tail feathers (light blue) - Position the fabric under the needle and trace the drawn outlines of the tail feathers to establish crisp edges.
Outcome expectation: Thin, continuous light blue lines define each feather segment.
2) Fill first feather segments with dense zigzag (light blue) - Work within each outlined segment, guiding the fabric to lay down even zigzag passes until the area looks fully opaque.
Quick check: Coverage should be uniform with no fabric peeking through.
3) Continue filling additional tail feathers (light blue) - Move from one segment to the next, maintaining the same density and direction so the tail reads as one coherent color field.
Pro tip: Pivot smoothly at ends of each pass to keep edges neat; avoid abrupt stops that can leave dimples.
4) Outline main body and remaining feathers (light blue) - Trace the bird’s torso, wing-like divisions, and any un-outlined tail segments to complete the structural map.
Outcome expectation: The entire bird now has a clear skeleton of lines.
5) Fill small body details (light blue) - Tackle leaf-like motifs on the back with careful, short zigzag passes; aim for polished, opaque shapes.
Quick check: Tiny details should appear smooth and intentional—not lumpy or overworked.
6) Fill more body feather segments (light blue)
- Continue across adjacent sections, matching density and curve flow so seams between fills look natural.
Outcome expectation: The back/body area reads as a continuous, even fill.
7) Outline head and neck (light blue)
- Trace the neck’s curve and head/beak contours to lock in the silhouette.
Watch out: Breaks in the neck outline will be highly visible later; keep the line continuous.
8) Fill head and neck (light blue) - Use zigzag to cover the entire neck and head, guiding smoothly around curves.
Quick check: No gaps along the jawline or crown base.
9) Add surrounding floral and leaf elements (light blue) - Fill petals and leaves at the base, keeping each element distinct with tight zigzag passes.
Outcome expectation: Small motifs are readable and balanced in scale.
10) Fill decorative scrolls (light blue)
- Move to the scroll elements above the tail; emphasize flow with smooth curves.
Pro tip: Think in arcs—stitch in the direction the scroll flows to avoid jagged corners.
11) Contrast outlines on scrolls (dark blue) - Change to dark blue and outline the scrolls to introduce depth.
Quick check: Line weight is consistent around each curve.
12) Dark blue edges on tail feathers - Trace the borders of previously filled feathers; the darker line will separate layers and sharpen the silhouette.
Outcome expectation: Feathers look more dimensional with shadow-like edging.
13) Dark blue body accents
- Outline inner divisions on the body to articulate sections without overfilling.
Pro tip: Keep a light hand—too many lines can clutter the central mass.
14) Dark blue neck and head outline - Reinforce the neck’s vertical sweep and the head’s curve, including around the beak area.
Quick check: The head/neck now read crisply at a glance.
15) Dark blue outlines on flowers and leaves - Add crisp edges to the base motifs, enhancing petal and leaf separation.
Outcome expectation: Each small element stands out clearly from its neighbors.
16) Gold feather details (interior) - Switch to gold. Begin with internal feather lines and accents to emphasize pattern within the tail.
Watch out: Gold lines should follow the feather’s flow; avoid crossing angles that fight the curve.
17) Continue gold detailing across feathers
- Extend gold work to adjacent segments for an even, cohesive sheen.
Quick check: Spacing between gold lines feels balanced across the tail.
18) Gold on outer feather edges
- Run gold along the outer contours of larger feathers to frame the tail with a refined glint.
Outcome expectation: Outer edges sparkle without overpowering the blues.
19) Complete gold on tail and begin body accents
- Finish any remaining tail edges, then add select gold details to lower body segments to tie the palette together.
Pro tip: Pause to assess overall symmetry before adding more gold—small changes read big at this stage.
20) Gold crown on the head - Stitch the crown elements above the head with delicate peaks and small filled touches to define royal points.
Quick check: Crown appears centered and proportional to the head.
21) Gold lines along neck and head; inner body contours
- Trace flowing gold lines along the neck and into inner body contours so the eye travels naturally through the design.
Outcome expectation: A graceful, continuous path of highlights from head to torso.
22) Final gold interior details (body and tail)
- Add remaining interior curves or small circles in gold to complete the ornate look.
Watch out: Resist overfilling—leave the blues room to shine.
23) Gold on flowers and scrolls
- Conclude with gold accents on the small base motifs and scrolls for a unified finish.
Outcome expectation: The entire composition sparkles with controlled highlights; nothing feels crowded.
Checklist—Operation
- Light blue: all outlines → fills (feathers, body, head/neck, flowers, scrolls)
- Dark blue: contrast outlines (feathers, body, head/neck, flowers)
- Gold: interior feather details → outer feather edges → body/neck/crown → flowers/scrolls
If you work across multiple machines in your studio, many embroiderers note smoother handling when their setup supports magnetic accessories; explore options like magnetic hoops for embroidery or a model-specific dime snap hoop if compatible with your machine brand.
Quality Checks: Milestones and what “good” looks like
- After first fills: Light blue areas look opaque and even, with smooth turning points along curves.
- After body/neck fill: Head and neck are fully covered; jawline and crown base remain crisp.
- After dark blue pass: Edges pop; feathers and scrolls show clean, consistent line weight.
- After gold pass: Highlights follow natural feather flow; crown is symmetrical; accents unify the piece without overwhelming the base colors.
Quick check: View from arm’s length. The peacock’s silhouette and feather rhythm should read instantly, with gold catching the light rather than dominating.
Results & Handoff: Finishing and project ideas
The completed design presents a vibrant peacock with layered light/dark contrast and gold ornamentation suitable for showcasing on garments or framed textiles.
Handoff options
- Use as a feature panel in a larger mixed-fabric piece or keep as a stand-alone artwork.
- Photograph under soft light to capture the gold accents clearly.
From the comments: The creator confirmed they drew the design themselves; consider sketching your own variations or adapting layout scale to your project.
Many readers also inquire about handling aids. If your machine supports them, model-specific solutions like magnetic hoops for embroidery or magnetic embroidery hoops can help keep fabric behavior consistent—ensure compatibility before purchasing.
Troubleshooting & Recovery
Symptom: Uneven zigzag coverage, thin spots
- Likely cause: Inconsistent guiding speed within a segment.
- Fix: Slow your hands and add one more pass to low-coverage spots, following the same curve direction.
Symptom: Jagged curves along feather edges
- Likely cause: Abrupt pivots at end-of-pass turns.
- Fix: Round your turns; approach corners with smaller arcs and steady motion.
Symptom: Contrast outlines look wobbly
- Likely cause: Rushing on long curves.
- Fix: Break long outlines into shorter, continuous arcs; pause between arcs to re-orient your hands.
Symptom: Gold accents overpower the blues
- Likely cause: Too many highlight lines or lines placed against the grain of the feather flow.
- Fix: Remove or skip additional accents; keep remaining gold aligned with the natural curve direction.
About fabric stretch and tearing (from the comments question)
- Keep your guiding pressure light and even; avoid pulling the fabric toward or away from the needle path.
- Maintain consistent pass density; sudden density changes can create local stress.
Quick check: After every few passes, lift your hands, relax your shoulders, and visually scan the last segment for coverage and curve integrity before proceeding.
If your workflow allows, accessories designed for stability may help on supported machines—research your model before considering options like magnetic hoops or magnetic hoops for embroidery.
From the comments: Answers to common questions
- What machine is used? The creator confirms an industrial zigzag SINGER model 20u.
- How much does it cost? The creator mentions about $750 USD roughly 10 years ago (historical reference only).
- Where’s the design from? The creator drew the peacock themselves.
- Which zigzag width (8 mm vs 12 mm)? The model was shared (SINGER 20u), but specific width settings were not provided.
Exploring gear ecosystems
- When comparing add-ons across brands, stitchers often look at compatibility first. For reference while researching your own setup, you’ll encounter terms like magnetic embroidery hoops and brand-specific options such as magnetic hoops for embroidery or even ecosystem fixtures like a dime snap hoop—choose only what your machine officially supports.