Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials

12 ROSES
for Hand Embroidery
A step-by-step pictorial guide to stitch 12 different roses
with printable patterns and useful tips
12 Roses for Hand Embroidery
by Juby Aleyas Koll [Sarah]

Content and Photos: Juby Aleyas Koll

Editing, Layout and Typesetting: Roxy Mathew Koll

Published by Roxy Mathew Koll and Juby Aleyas Koll

www.embroidery.rocksea.org

Copyright © 2020 Juby Aleyas Koll and Roxy Mathew Koll

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book

or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

First eBook edition February 2020

From The Author

R oses — poets have written about them, musicians have

sang about them and artists have matched them to
something that brings them pain and joy. Cultures from
around the world have used them as a symbol of happiness,
solidarity and grief. A rose bush grows the most beautiful
and fragrant flowers along with thorns — a beautiful bal-
ance!

So, while trying out different stitches on flowers, it felt im-

perative to do a book on roses! There are so many stitches
that can be used to make this flower, and this book brings to
you 12 different ways to make them. A few are commonly
used, while some others are probably attempted for the first
time. There are miniature roses and big ones too. There are
dimensional roses and flat roses too. There are delicate roses
and stable ones too. I hope you attempt every one of them
and enjoy working with the stitches.

We have tried to make the book as simple as possible, keep-

ing a beginner in mind. There are basic instructions on how
to start your embroidery, the materials required, and a sec-
tion with step-by-step instructions on the stitches them-
selves. The patterns are printable, and there is a color guide
to the threads I have used for each rose.

A word on how you enjoyed making the roses would be

wonderful. Do care to let us know through a review!

Affectionately,
Sarah

Follow us at www.embroidery.rocksea.org
Contents

Sections in the Book

Getting Ready
page 5
A short and quick introduction to
the basic materials you require to
start embroidering the roses. It also
has tips on how to make and transfer
rose patterns.

12 Roses
page 8
Step-by-step tutorial to 12 different
types of roses. Also find printable
patterns and color guide to the
stitches used in each rose.

Stitch Tutorials
page 75
Step-by-step tutorial to each stitch
used to make all the 12 different roses.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 4

Getting Ready
Materials Getting Ready

H ere is a list of what you will need to start embroidering your roses.

1. Fabric
2. Embroidery threads: stranded cotton or perle cotton
3. Needles
4. Embroidery hoop
5. Scissors and other materials to draw or transfer the pattern

1 For beginners a simple cotton

fabric will be easy to stitch
on. You can later try stitching over
denim, satin, silk or any other
fabric.
2 Stranded cotton is great to
stitch the roses. Go for all the
colors that you love to see your roses
3 Perle Cotton can also be used
to stitch certain kinds of roses,
especially the flat ones.
in.

4 Use a medium sized embroidery

needle (needle with a long
eye) to work your stitches. Keep a
tapestry needle (needle with a blunt
tip) to work any weaving.
5 I have stitched all these roses
in a 4" hoop. You can always
work on a hoop that is comfortable
6 Keep a pair of scissors and
anything else that you might
require to transfer the pattern with.
for you.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 6

Making Patterns Getting Ready

U nderstanding the form of a rose flower helps in making your own patterns.
A rose flower has a cluster of yellow pistils in the center. Some roses expose them more
than the others. So, remember to mark a small space in the center to stitch the pistils.

The petals of a rose flower are placed in the form of a labyrinth. Placing the petals roughly
in a brick-like formation, is the first trick. Next, petals closer to the center are smaller and
they grow in size as they move outwards. Another easy way is to make a spiraling circle or
circle-like pattern. These tips should help you to make your own rose patterns!

Draw directly on the fabric

All the patterns given in this book are easy enough to be
drawn over the fabric directly. The suggested dimensions
of the circles to be drawn are mentioned below each
pattern.

Make sure you are using a fabric-friendly pen or pencil

to draw. You can use a water-soluble or an air-soluble
pen.

Print or draw on paper and transfer

You may also print out these patterns or draw them on
a piece of paper. Then, transfer it onto your fabric using
a graphite/carbon paper.

To transfer the pattern:

1. Make sure your fabric is ironed and free of creases.
2. Use a blunt pencil to draw and transfer the pattern.
3. Pin down the fabric, the graphite paper (face down)
and the pattern sheet (all in order) with a pin on all
four sides. This prevents the pattern from moving
around.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 7

Cross Stitch Family

12 Roses
Contents 12 Roses

Pick a Rose to Stitch

Woven Spider Wheel Oyster Stitch Coral Stitch Looped Running Stitch
page 10 page 16 page 21 page 27

Buttonhole Bar Stitch Outline Stitch Bullion Knot Shaped Blanket Stitch
page 32 page 38 page 43 Scallops
page 49

Double Blanket Stitch Scroll Stitch Chain Stitch Buttonhole Wheel Cup
page 53 page 59 page 64 page 70

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 9

"The gardener who loves roses is slave to a thousand thorns"
Turkish proverb

Roses
with

Woven Spider Wheel

Roses Woven Spider Wheel

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 11

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Woven Spider Wheel

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles
at a 2 cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Woven Wheel  p76 Woven Wheel  p76 French Knot  p91 Fern Stitch  p94

Threads used

Anchor #102 Anchor #109 Anchor #305 Anchor #238

DMC #550 DMC #209 DMC #728 DMC #703

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 12

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark the
center and 5 spokes inside each
circle for the flowers.
3 Now, stitch the 5 spokes using
single Straight Stitches starting
from just the outside of the knots.
5 Make the flower thick by
adding more layers. Just nudge
the laid threads using your needle to
locate the spokes.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 13
2 Fill the center of each circle
with French Knots. The
number of knots for each flower will
depend on the size of the flower.
4 Come out from the center
and start weaving the Woven
Spider's Wheel Stitch.
6 End the stitch by passing the
needle slightly towards the
inside of the circle, under the bunch
of worked threads.
Woven Spider Wheel
R oses using Woven Spider Wheel
Stitch are a feast to the eyes.
This stitch has become popular with
hoop art embroidery artists because
of its simplicity, elegance and ease
of making. You can make bigger or
smaller flowers using this stitch.
These roses are made by weaving
threads between odd number of
spokes laid as the base. It is great to
use it over fabric that is not meant
for washing. The woven threads
can loose shape and freshness after
washing.
Purple roses are rare, but not a
myth! Combining a dark and a light
shades of the same color to make
three roses was ideal.
Pay attention to the small tips to
make your flowers beautiful.
Method Woven Spider Wheel

Make your roses beautiful—Tips

7 You can puff up your flower

by plucking the threads gently
with the back of your needle.
8 The flowers are now ready!
1. Stitching with 6 strands of the
embroidery floss will give you a
sturdier and denser flower, espe-
cially for bigger flowers.
2. You can use 3 strands of thread
to make really small roses. A big
flower in 3 strands can leave it
delicate.
3. As your flower grows, keep your
thumb over it, if required, while
pulling the thread under the
spokes.
4. To be able to see the spokes un-
der your stitches, just nudge the
worked threads gently inwards.
5. To puff up your flowers, just use

9 Spruce up the frame by adding

some green leaves. I have used
the Fern Stitch here.
10 Add the French Knots for
finishing touches.
the blunt end of your needle and
delicately pluck the threads up-
wards.
6. You may add French Knots af-
ter stitching the 5 spokes for
the base. You can even add them
11 Your Woven Spider Wheel
roses are ready!
after finishing the Woven Spi-
der's Wheel first, but doing the
Knots first makes it sink into the
flower, which I personally feel is
more beautiful.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 14

Sample Woven Spider Wheel

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 15

"A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses"
Chinese proverb

Roses
with

Oyster Stitch
Roses Oyster Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 17

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Oyster Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles
small at a 0.5 cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Oyster Stitch  p77 Outline Stitch  p81 Lazy Daisy  p97 Back Stitch  p92

Threads used

Anchor #1206 Anchor #246 Anchor #246 Anchor #403

DMC #075 DMC #986 DMC #986 DMC #310

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 18

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark circles
for each flower.
3 Finish the Oyster Stitch, but
do not take the needle into
the fabric to anchor the stitch yet.
Instead, let's do a variation and add
more layers to our roses!
5 Repeat the process from the
other end. Make sure the
thread lays flat on the fabric. Hold
down the stitch with your thumb
while pulling out the needle.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 19
2 Start working the Oyster
Stitch in a circle. Note that I
am making my first stitch inside the
circle to allow space for the layers of
threads to fall and cover the circle.
4 Take the needle in through the
fabric and come out through
the other end of the stitch, as shown.
Loop the thread under the needle.
This will add an extra layer.
6 Now, you can finish off the
Oyster Stitch by anchoring
down the final stitch. You may add
as many layers as you want this way.
Oyster Stitch
T he charm of climbing roses is
magical. It is as much fun to
stitch these roses, as it is to watch
them twine up the walls covering,
the windows ever so slightly.
This climber is inspired from the
rose variety called 'Danse de Feu',
which translates to 'the dance of
fire'. So, keeping with the name and
color, I have used a variegated red
thread for this sample. The Oyster
Stitch was just perfect to make the
small roses.
I have made a small variation to the
original stitch in order to add layers
of ‘petals’ to each flower. To show
density, I have used all the 6 strands
of the embroidery floss. And, to
give a perspective, I have included a
small window.
Method
7 Keep the very first stitch small
and to the center of the circle.
This will help in making round roses
instead of elongated ones.
9 10
The stems are done in Outline
Stitch and leaves are made
using Lazy Daisy.
11 Finish the windows with
the Back Stitch.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 20
8 Use Oyster Stitches with just
3 strands of thread to make
the small buds. Make the stitches
tight to keep them small.
The climbing rose bush is
done! Working the stem
and leaves first could avoid damage
to the little roses.
12 Gently pluck and nudge
the layers of thread on each
rose to give it a dimension and shape.
Oyster Stitch
Make your roses beautiful—Tips
1. Keep the flowers small. Oyster
Stitch makes small roses.
2. Use 6 strands of thread to make
the rose look fuller and denser.
3. Start the stitch from inside the
circle and allow space for the
layers.
4. To keep the rose flowers round,
make the very first stitch small,
and not long. The layers will
then snug around this center
stitch forming a beautiful round
rose.
5. Hold the stitch down with your
thumb when pulling out the
needle while making the layers.
6. You may make as many layers
of petals as you want, but my
suggestion would be to keep it
at two.
7. To avoid any damage to the
flowers, try to make the stems
and leaves first.
8. Pluck, tug and nudge the layers
of each rose gently with the back
of the needle to give it a dimen-
sion and shape.
Coral Stitch

"The world is a rose, smell it, and pass it to your friends"

Persian proverb

Roses
with

Coral Stitch
Roses Coral Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 22

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Coral Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. You can draw your own pattern by making spiraling circles.
You can make them as big as you want as this is a flat stitch and can comfortably take any size.

Stitches used

Coral Stitch  p78 Fly Stitch  p96

Threads used

Anchor #1203 Anchor #1215

DMC #057 DMC #092

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 23

Method Coral Stitch

I s there any rose that can get as

round as the Checkmate Rose? Its
perfectly round blooms inspired me
1 Draw the flowers with a
single continuous line making
concentric spiral ‘circles’ that
2 Start stitching the Coral Stitch
around the circle. Begin from
the center.
to do this pattern. Of course, I did
not keep it perfectly round though,
but you can!
occasionally overlap (optional) each
other.
This pattern is an abstract version
of the beautiful flower. The pattern
itself is very easy to draw. It is made
of a continuous line going round in
imperfect circles, sometimes over-
lapping each other (not necessarily)
and growing slowly to mark the pet-
als. I would ask you to try making a
perfect round and working the line
inwards towards the center.

The Coral Stitch is a straight stitch

and usually used for making out-

3 Pluck only a small amount of

fabric each time. Do not worry
about intersecting another stitch.
4 Try to make a stitch on turns
and ‘elbows’ in the pattern to
help with the turns. End the stitch
lines, and sometimes for making
fillings. I figured that it will be great
to apply on this pattern. The Cor-
by taking the needle in through the al Stitch will follow the path that
fabric and knotting at the back. made the rose.

You can make big roses using this

stitch and it will lay flat on the fab-
ric. So, it is a perfect stitch to do
over furnishings, clothing, and just
about anything you would wash
regularly!

5 A finished rose will look like

this. I have used 6 strands of
thread for a thicker appearance. You
6 All the three flowers are
finished. A dash of green will
blow life into the frame.
can try using wool too.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 24

Method Coral Stitch

7 I have used a bright green

variegated thread for the
leaves. They are done with (Closed)
8 The pattern is now finished!

Fly Stitch.

Make your roses beautiful—Tips

1. Use variegated threads- it will

make the roses look prettier.
2. Pluck as little fabric as you prac-
tically can during the stitch.
3. Don’t worry about overlapping
stitches - just follow the drawn
line as it is.
4. Use 6 strands of thread for thick-
er and prominent lines.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 25

Sample Coral Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 26

"Don't complain that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn
bush has roses"
German proverb

Roses
with

Looped Running Stitch

Roses Looped Running Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 28

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Looped Running Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the biggest
circle at a 2 cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Looped Running French Knot  p91 Fly Stitch  p96 Back Stitch  p92
Stitch p79
Threads used

Anchor #1208 Anchor #88 Anchor #1213 Anchor #1213

DMC #052 DMC #917 DMC #101 DMC #101

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 29

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto the fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark the
circles for each flower.
3 Now, start working the
Running Stitch around the
circles.
5 Now, come out with the
pink thread and start looping
between each stitch, starting from
the center. Be careful not to pluck
any fabric.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 30
2 Draw concentric circles inside
each circle to mark the path
for your stitch. Start with a set of
three French Knots in the center of
the flower.
4 You can also do a swirly circle.
I did a combination of both,
which might be hard to detect here.
6 Using a darker thread helped
me in finding the stitch,
especially since they are small! Do
not make the loops too tight and
keep them relaxed.
Looped Running Stitch
W hen I was thinking of anoth-
er rose to stitch, the Damask
Rose came to my mind. This was the
first rose that I remember seeing
during my childhood. It was always
blooming pink flowers with a sweet
scent. These roses are often cultivat-
ed for rose oil and rose water, and
the petals can be consumed as well.
For this pattern, I wanted to use a
stitch with slight dimension, but
also not something delicate, so that
it can be used over bases and fabric
that are washed occasionally.
The Looped Running Stitch was
perfect! The Roses can be stitched
over concentric circles or a swirling
circle pattern. You can make them
as big as you like, but I prefer to
keep it as big as a quarter coin.
Method
7 One single rose looks like this!
9 10
When you end the stitch, take
it through the fabric from
inside the base Running Stitch, as
shown. This keeps it seamless.
11 The leaves can be finished
using the Fly Stitch.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 31
Looped Running Stitch
8 Once you are happy with the
first flower, work on the rest of
the flowers.
Make your roses beautiful—Tips
1. Using variegated thread will add
beauty to the flower by throwing
different shades. This is more es-
sential as the stitches are made
in a continuous stretch.
2. Always add French Knots or
some filling in the center of the
rose.
3. Mark the path that your stitch
needs to follow - either concen-
tric circles or swirly circles.
4. Use a darker thread for the base
of the Running Stitch. This will
help in identifying it easily when
All three flowers are now you have to start 'looping' be-
ready. tween them.
5. Do not pull the thread too tight
while making the 'loops'. Leave
it relaxed. In fact, try making it
more 'loopy' and see how it feels
like.
6. 6 strands will make your rose
look denser.
12 The stems can be finished
in Back Stitch. It's done!
"If your heart is a rose, then your mouth will speak fragrant words"
Russian proverb

Roses
with

Buttonhole Bar Stitch

Roses Buttonhole Bar Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 33

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Buttonhole Bar Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles
at a 2 cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Buttonhole Bar French Knot  p91 Fishbone

Stitch p87 Stitch p95

Threads used

Anchor #276 Anchor #74 Anchor #246

DMC #543 DMC #605 DMC #986

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 34

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark the
circles and the curved lines for the
petals.
3 Now, make a stitch on one of
the petal lines from end to end.
5 When finished, a single petal
will look like this. You can
press it down to the fabric or lift it
up to give the desired dimension.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 35
2 Start with a set of three French
Knots at the center of the
flower.
4 Next, bring out the needle
with three strands of thread
and make Blanket Stitches over the
bar.
6 Make two such stitches to sit
snug around the French Knots.
Buttonhole Bar Stitch
T his rose pattern is inspired by
the Amber Flower Carpet rose.
This rose shrub blooms generously
with flowers that are orangish-yel-
low. I took the liberty of making
them more cream-ish color. The
flower adds a hint of pink as it ages.
The blooms open up to expose the
center.
The Buttonhole Bar Stitch seemed
perfect to make this rose. The final
result looks like roses made from
the Cast On Stitch, but this one is
so much easier to make! It adds a
dimension and looks so much more
real to an actual rose.
This stitch can be done over clothing
and furnishing since the Buttonhole
Bars are pretty sturdy. When done
as a single rose or a small cluster, it
looks very elegant.
Method
7 8
Continue making Buttonhole
Bars where you have marked
the petals. To finish each stitch, take
the needle in through the fabric a
bit towards the inside.
9 To make the process easier, you
can do all the straight stitches
first and then stitch the bars over
10
required. All three flowers are done!
them.
11 Use the Fishbone Stitch to
fill the leaves. Do the dots
with the French Knots.
12
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 36
A finished flower looks like
this.
Later, fill in the gaps with
more Buttonhole Bars, if
Our roses are done!
Buttonhole Bar Stitch
Make your roses beautiful—Tips
1. Mark the lines for the petals.
Stitch the bars over these lines.
2. Use 6 strands of thread to make
the straight stitches and 3 strands
for doing the Blanket Stitch over
them.
3. Stitch only one Straight Stitch
for the bars on the inside of the
flowers, at least the ones closest
to the French Knots. This keeps
the petals thinner and smaller.
As you move outwards, you can
do two or three Straight Stitches
for a single petal.
4. Make all the Straight Stitch-
es in a flower at a go. This way
you won't have to bother about
leaving the thread open behind
the fabric or knotting it off each
time.
5. When making the Blanket Stitch
over the Straight Stitches, make
them tight and try not to show
gaps.
6. Use a different colored thread for
the Straight Stitch and the Blan-
ket Stitch, if it helps in stitching.
7. After finishing the flowers, if
you feel the need, fill in the gaps
between the petals with more
Buttonhole Bar Stitch.
Sample Buttonhole Bar Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 37

Outline Stitch

"No rose without thorns"

French proverb

Roses
with

Outline Stitch
Roses Outline Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 39

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Outline Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles at
a 2 cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Outline Stitch  p81 French Knot  p91 Fishbone Stem Stitch  p93
Stitch p95

Threads used

Anchor #1315 Anchor #305 Anchor #246 Anchor #246

DMC #51 DMC #725 DMC #986 DMC #986

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 40

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark the
center in each circle.
3 Start stitching the Outline
Stitch around the set of French
Knots.
5 When you are done stitching
around in circle once, continue
into the next circle, following a
concentric path.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 41
Outline Stitch
2 Start with a set of three French
Knots at the center of the
flower.
I f we think a linear straight line
stitch cannot be used to fill and
make round patterns, we could not
be more wrong! The Outline Stitch
is traditionally used to make neat
outlines of the embroidery patterns.
And, here are we — using it to make
a beautiful rose!
The roses made with this stitch re-
minds of the Tiffany Rose, so per-
fectly a rose! They come in soft col-
ors and are a bride's delight. I used
4 I make smaller stitches at the
beginning, and take longer
strides as the flower grows.
deeper and more vibrant colors.
I figured that smaller flowers are
much stabler than the bigger flow-
ers. These roses fit perfectly for
Hoop Art Embroidery.
6 To give the rose a bit of a 'lift',
try stitching slightly under the
previous stitches, rather than laying
all the stitches flat next to each other.
Method
7 To finish, take the needle
under the worked stitches, as
shown.
9 10
Finish all the flowers in the
pattern.
11 Use the Fishbone Stitch to
fill the leaves.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 42
Outline Stitch
8 Give the petals an upward
nudge with the back of your
needle.
Make your roses beautiful—Tips
1. Use 6 strands of thread to make
the rose look fuller and denser.
2. Keep the first stitches small and
grow them as the flower grows.
3. Hold the flower down with your
thumb when pulling out the
needle while making the layers.
4. To avoid any damage to the
flowers, try to make the stems
and leaves first.
5. Pluck, tug and nudge the layers
Work the stems with the of each rose gently with the back
stem stitch. of the needle to give it a dimen-
sion and shape.
6. You can also add a dimension
to the rose by make the stitch-
es slightly under the previous
stitches causing it to 'lift' it a bit.
12 Our roses are done!
Bullion Knot

"For the beauty of the rose, we also water the thorns"

African proverb

Roses
with

Bullion Knot
Roses Bullion Knot

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 44

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Bullion Knot

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles
at a 1 cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Bullion Knot  p82 Back Stitch  p92 Lazy Daisy  p97

Threads used

Anchor #1210 Anchor #239 Anchor #239

DMC #121 DMC #702 DMC #702

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 45

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark circles
for each flower with a dot for the
center.
3 I am using six strands of
thread which gives the knots
an 'oomph'. Working with three
strands will also be great.
5 Do the same on the other
side. Note that the length of
wrapping is more than the fabric
between the needle. The more the
wraps, the more curvy the stitch.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 46
2 Start with a Bullion Knot in
the center of the flower. You
can also make two Bullion Knots
close to each other.
4 Next, make a Bullion Knot to
curve around the first knot.
For this, try to wrap more thread
than the amount of fabric you have
plucked with the needle.
6 You have now made the center
of the flower. All the other
stitches will be placed around this
center.
Bullion Knot
B
lue roses do not occur natural-
ly, but I was compelled to try
one. They say blue roses represent
unattainable love!
Let's give it the shape of the Sedona
rose — a rose that is a perfect rep-
resentation, in shape, of the flower
itself. And what better stitch to use
than the Bullion Knots? This stitch
is not new to rose making and is an
attention grabber when placed gen-
tly over clothing and furnishings.
Pay attention to how the petals
are placed here, though there is no
hard-and-fast rule on how to place
them. Once you learn how to han-
dle this stitch, you can place the
petals whichever way seems sensible
for you!
Method Bullion Knot

7 Now, place a stitch each on

either side of the center as
shown.
8 I now add overlapping petals
using the Bullion Knots.

Make your roses beautiful—Tips

1. Start with one or two Bullion

Knots in the center.
2. Three strands of thread is great
for making Bullion Knot roses.
Six strands will make the roses
bulge and look very prominent.
3. Try to place the petals in a 'brick'
formation.
4. There is no rule to how to place
the petals, as long as it seems
sensible to you.

9 I do the same all around the

flower. 10 The flower is done! 5. Wrap more thread around the
needle than the fabric it is sup-
posed to cover. This creates the
'curve' we need to make the pet-
als.

11 Finish up the stems and

leaves with the Back Stitch
and the Lazy Daisy.
12 Our wreath of roses is done!

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 47

Sample Bullion Knot

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 48

 "Time brings Roses"
Portuguese proverb

Roses
with

Shaped Scallops
Roses Shaped Scallops

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 50

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Shaped Scallops

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, you can make the rose
as big as you want. This is a flat rose and can comfortably take a big size.

Stitches used

Shaped Blanket Stitch Fly Stitch  p96

Scallops p86
Threads used

Anchor #1215 Anchor #239

DMC #114 DMC #702

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 51

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop.
3 Now, start working the Blanket
Stitch over each petal. Try to
pay attention to the edges.
5 Work the leaves with the Fly
Stitch
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 52
Shaped Scallops
2 Fill each petal with the
Running Stitch, as shown.
T here are many ways artists and
craft enthusiasts try to recreate
the rose flower. One great way to
print a rose pattern is using the cut
stalk of a celery! Chop off the stem
and you will see that the stubs look
great to make a rose pattern. Dip it
in color and try printing it on paper.
This pattern is inspired from the
print made by a celery stalk. Why
not use it to embroider? You will see
the petals are far placed, just to give
an abstract feel of the flower. You
can place them closer too.
I wanted to give a little cushioning to
the petals and nothing suited better
4 The petals are all done and
look neat!
than the Shaped Scallop Stitch. You
will notice that I was tempted to try
the Padded Satin Stitch as well and
ended up doing a few petals in that
stitch too! I kept it for you to com-
pare and feel the difference. I liked
the Shaped Scallops more!
This pattern is very simple and
comes with no tips.
6 Our rose looks terrific!
Double Blanket Stitch

"The world is a rose, smell it, and pass it to your friends"

Persian proverb

Roses
with

Double Blanket Stitch

Roses Double Blanket Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 54

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Double Blanket Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, you can make the
flowers as big as you want as this is a flat stitch and can take big flowers easily.

Stitches used

Blanket Stitch  p83 Whipped Buttonhole Double Blanket Fishbone

Stitch p85 Stitch p84 Stitch p95

Threads used

Anchor #74 Anchor #38 Anchor #39 Anchor #246

DMC #605 DMC #956 DMC #309 DMC #986

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 55

Method Double Blanket Stitch

1 Draw, trace or transfer your

pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Each petal is
2 Start with a set of French
Knots at the center of the
flower.
clearly marked.

T his stitch encourages the mak-

ing of big and no-fuss roses. It
can be used over any fabric or base
and is easy to stitch.

What is special about this pattern is

that you could get to see three dif-
ferent variations from the Blanket
Stitch Family — the Blanket Stitch,
the Whipped Blanket Stitch, and
the Double Blanket Stitch. Choose
whichever stitch based on your re-

3 Start stitching the Blanket

Stitch to fill each petal. Work
from the inside to outside to create
4 Finish each petal separately. quirement.

The roses in this pattern are inspired

the 'outline'. by the Cherry Parfait rose which has
petals with dark colored edges.

5 I have worked each flower in a

solid color. 6 The flowers are all done.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 56

Method Double Blanket Stitch

7 Work the leaf using the

Fishbone Stitch. Add French
Knots too.
8 Out flowers are done with the
Blanket Stitch!

Make your roses beautiful—Tips

1. Use 3 strands of thread to make

the roses.
2. Make sure that the outline cre-
ated when stitching the Blanket
Stitch defines the petals of the
flower.
3. Use a shade darker to do the

9 Use a darker shade to whip

around the Blanket Stitch. This
makes the petal outline prominent
10
this!
With the Whipped Blanket
Stitch the flowers look like
whipping. It just makes it more
prominent.

than the inside.

11 Fill in the gaps between the

Blanket Stitch by making
an inverse Blanket Stitch. This is
12 Our bunch of roses are
done and looks solid!

called the Double Blanket Stitch.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 57

Sample Double Blanket Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 58

Scroll Stitch

"A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom"
Chinese proverb

Roses
with

Scroll Stitch
Roses Scroll Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 60

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Scroll Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles at
a 2 cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Scroll Stitch  p80 French Knot  p91 Fly Stitch  p96 Back Stitch  p92

Threads used

Anchor #1320 Anchor #305 Anchor #239 Anchor #239

DMC #4260 DMC #728 DMC #702 DMC #702

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 61

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark circles
for each flower.
3 Start stitching the Scroll Stitch
around the set of French Knots.
5 Give the loops a lift with the
back of your needle.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 62
2 You can draw concentric
circles inside each circle to
mark the path for your stitch. Start
with a set of three French Knots in
the center of the flower.
4 Make sure you pluck as little
fabric as possible during the
stitching. Keep the distance between
the each stitch moderate.
6 Your rose is done!
Scroll Stitch
I came across this rose called the
Cabbage Rose. It is a hybrid rose
developed by the Dutch three or
more centuries ago. It has a lot of
petals — almost hundreds — in it
gathered together, which should ex-
plain its name. This rose is used for
extracting oil and fragrance.
The Scroll Stitch is probably the
best stitch to imitate this flower.
This flower will require some pa-
tience as it requires you to pluck a
little bit of fabric on the stitch line
for this stitch to make the rose.
Stitch this rose on corners and edg-
es to spruce up fabric and clothing.
Try to avoid thick fabric like denim
for comfort of stitching.
Method Scroll Stitch

7 Follow the same process to

finish all the three roses in the
pattern.
8 Make the stems using the
Back Stitch.

Make your roses beautiful—Tips

1. Draw concentric circles to mark

your stitch path.
2. Always begin with French Knots
or some fillings in the center of
the flower.
3. Use a color similar to the one
you will use on the flower for the
center. If your flower is made of
a single color, use a shade darker
or lighter in the same color.
4. Pluck as little fabric as possible

9 Now, fill the leaves using the

Fly Stitch. 10 Our small bunch of
Cabbage Roses are done.
while stitching.
5. Give the loops in the stitch a
'lift' using the back of your nee-
dle. Nudge it to give a shape.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 63

Chain Stitch

"Thorns and roses grow on the same tree"

Turkish proverb

Roses
with

Chain Stitch
Roses Chain Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 65

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Chain Stitch

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles at
a 1cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Chain Stitch  p90 French Knot  p91 Lazy Daisy  p97 Stem Stitch  p93

Threads used

Anchor #1325 Anchor #305 Anchor #1215 Anchor #1215

DMC #69 DMC #728 DMC #114 DMC #114

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 66

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark circles
for each flower.
3 4
Start stitching the Chain
Stitch around the set of French
Knots. Work to fill the circle in a
spiral pattern. Do not leave gaps
between each row of Chain Stitch.
5 Your rose is done and now you
can move to stitching the other
roses. But there is also an optional
variation to add more dimension to
the rose.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 67
2 Start with a set of three French
Knots in the center of the
flower.
Finish up the stitch by taking
the needle closer to the base of
the rose, as shown.
6 To give a slight dimension,
bring out the needle with
the same thread and start looping
around each chain stitch as you
would in Looped Running Stitch.
Chain Stitch
T his beautiful and simple rose
is inspired by the 'About Face'
rose. It is a hybrid and was a prize
grabber. The two toned colors of the
petals are soft looking and pretty.
Who knew that a simple line stitch
like the Chain Stitch can do the job
of stitching this rose! When worked
in just three strands and in a spiral
pattern, the Chain Stitch can fill
in the rose beautifully giving it the
right texture. I have added a varia-
tion where the just the outer ring of
the rose is woven to form loops for
a slight dimension, but this is just
an option.
This rose can be worked on corners
and edges to spruce up fabric and
clothing.
Method Chain Stitch

7 Work the 'looping' only on

the last row. To finish, take the
needle under the worked stitches, as
8 Give the petals an upward
nudge with the back of your
needle. Make your roses beautiful—Tips
shown.
1. Keep the flowers small. The tex-
ture looks great on small roses.
2. Use 3 strands of thread to make
the rose.
3. Do not leave gaps between the
layers of Chain Stitches as you
stitch.
4. You can make the roses using
just the Chain Stitch. It will be
flatter.
5. For a slight dimension, loop
around the last row of the Chain
Stitch as you would in the

9 Finish all the flowers in the

pattern. 10 Work the stems with the
stem stitch.
Looped Running stitch. But, do
not leave the loops loose. It is
OK to make the loops tight.
6. Pluck, tug and nudge the layers
of each rose gently with the back
of the needle to give it a shape.
7. You can try these flowers using
the Reverse Chain Stitch too!

11 Use the Lazy Daisy to fill

the leaves.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 68

Sample Chain Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 69

Buttonhole Wheel Cup

"If you are among the roses, your friends will look for you among the thorns"
Swedish proverb

Roses
with

Buttonhole Wheel Cup

Roses Buttonhole Wheel Cup

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 71

Patterns, Stitches & Threads Buttonhole Wheel Cup

Pattern

This is a printable pattern. It can fit within a 4" hoop. If you are drawing your own pattern, try to keep the circles at
a 1cm diameter width to match the pattern here.

Stitches used

Buttonhole Wheel French Knot  p91 Lazy Daisy  p97 Back Stitch  p92
Cup p89
Threads used

Anchor #88 Anchor #305 Anchor #256 Anchor #256

DMC #917 DMC #728 DMC #906 DMC #906

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 72

Method
1 Draw, trace or transfer your
pattern onto your fabric and
mount it on a hoop. Mark the circles
with a center and a smaller circle.
3 Start stitching the Blanket
Stitch around the smaller circle.
5 Now, come out from inside
one of the Blanket Stitches,
and work a layer of Blanket Stitch
using the previous stitch as the base
to make the 'cup'.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 73
2 Start with a set of French
Knots in the center of the
flower.
4 Finish the circle by taking the
last stitch in through the first
Blanket Stitch. This makes the circle
look seamless.
6 Finish the stitch by taking in
the needle slightly inwards, as
shown.
Buttonhole Wheel Cup
T his rose reminds me of a cro-
cheted rose on one of my
dresses, which I had as a young girl.
There was no doubt I wanted to add
this to the list!
This rose is small, and is inspired by
the Button Roses. These are minia-
ture roses and bloom in many num-
bers.
The Buttonhole Wheel Cup Stitch
adds a crochet feeling to the stitch.
Being small and having a dimen-
sion, it can make a great stitch to
use over corners and edges of any
fabric and clothing. It can also be
worked in the center and parts that
you might want to highlight or add
an accent to.
Method
7 Now, work the outer circle in
the same way you worked the
previous circle. You will see that the
inner circle curls inwards.
9 Our finished rose looks like
this.
11 Work the stem in Back
Stitch and the leaves in
Lazy Daisy.
Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 74
8 This time, weave two layers
of Blanket Stitch over this
Blanket Stitch Wheel to build the
'cup'.
10 Work all the roses in a
similar way. The two little
roses in slightly different colors are
worked on spiral pattern.
12 Our bunch of roses are
done!
Buttonhole Wheel Cup
Make your roses beautiful—Tips
1. Keep the flowers small.
2. Use 3 strands of thread.
3. There is no need to leave the
loops of threads loose in the
stitch. The stitches can be made
tight.
4. Try to make the stems and leaves
first.
5. Pluck up the 'cups' in both the
layers of each rose gently with
the back of the needle to give it
a 'lift' and shape.
6. If the center of your flower is not
visible, just use the blunt side of
your needle to open the curled
circle to expose the center just a
bit. If it curls up too much, just
tack down one side of the rose
with a small stitch!
Stitch Tutorials

Stitch Tutorials
Woven Wheel Stitch Tutorials

Also Known as : Woven Spider Wheel, Woven Spider Web

Difficulty level : Easy
Stitch category : Stand alone stitch, Woven stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

T he final result of this stitch resembles a spider web. I will work between five Straight Stitches,
though more numbers of Straight Stitches can be used. Just remember to keep odd or uneven
numbers of Straight Stitches. Usually, five or seven Straight Stitches are preferred.

1 First, use five Straight Stitches

to make a star shape, as shown.
2 Bring the needle out from the
center. Now, start weaving the
circle around the Straight Stitches
by taking the needle under every
alternate Straight Stitch.
3 Keep going around the frame
without plucking the fabric
underneath. You will notice that
you will be going above the stitches
you went under, the last time.

4 A finished woven spider wheel would look like this.

The number of times you want to go around the Straight Stitches

depends on how you want it. Each time, it will give a different effect.
Here, I have almost finished going around the Straight Stitches.
If you keep adding more weaving, the threads would gather up and give
a floral look. This stitch is an easy way to make roses by gathering more
threads by weaving.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 76

Oyster Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Intermediate

Stitched as : Stand alone stitch, Looped stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

O yster Stitch is complex looking but, in fact, easy. It is a combination of a single Rosette Stitch
loop and the Lazy Daisy. You get a slight embossed feel from this stitch and can be used for
small petal or leaf. Use your imagination to use this stitch!

1 We begin by doing a Rosette

Stitch loop. Bring the needle
out through A, in through B and
out through C. We loop the thread
around the needle to form a Twisted
Chain loop.
2 Once we get a twisted loop,
we take the needle beneath the
right leg of the loop as we would in
Rosette Stitch.
3 Now, we will encircle the
Rosette Stitch with the Lazy
Daisy. For that, continue by putting
in the needle from the top and bring
it out from the bottom of the made
Stitch. Loop the thread around like
we would for a Lazy Daisy.

4 Pull the needle out and anchor

the Lazy Daisy loop. The Lazy
Daisy should border the Rosette
5 A finished Oyster Stitch would
look like this.

Stitch.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 77

Coral Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Also known as : German knot, Snail trail

Difficulty level : Easy
Stitch category : Line stitch, Knotted stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

T he knots in this stitch fall in between the trail of a Straight Stitch. This stitch can be used for var-
ious different types of embroideries, especially in making stem patterns. The Coral Stitch takes
curves neatly. This stitch resembles Surface Couching where a thread is laid down and anchored by
tiny stitches.

1 Bring out the needle out from

the right end of the row, at
point A. Put in the needle through
2 Loop the thread around the
needle as shown. 3 Pull out the needle and
you will see a knot formed.
Continue with the procedure of
B and bring it out from C, both making knots.
which lie on either side of the stitch
line.

4 A completed line of Coral Stitch would look like this. It gives a feeling
of a thread docked down with tiny stitches.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 78

Looped Running Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch, Woven stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals
You need to know : Running Stitch

T his stitch is just an example of how Running Stitch can be used as a base to weave
threads and create a variety of effects. Looped Running Stitch incorporates the tech-
nique of Pekinese Stitch. This is very decorative and can be experimented with threads of var-
ious colors. Close and parallel layers of this stitch can create wonderful effects on a pattern.

1 Lay the foundation by doing a Running Stitch.

Take a contrasting colored thread and bring it out from near the first
Running Stitch.

Start following the Pekinese Stitch technique. Take the needle in through the
second stitch and come out through the first, making a loop.

2 Continue this action of ‘looping’ using the Running Stitch foundation,

as illustrated. Do not go through the fabric when looping through the
Running Stitch base.

3 A finished line of Looped Running Stitch looks like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 79

Scroll Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Knotted stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

T his stitch reminds me more of waves. Certainly a gorgeous stitch to fill in patterns. It can also
make beautiful looking borders or can be used as a decorative stitch in various embroideries.

1 Bring out the needle from

A. Take it in through B and
out from C, on either sides of the
2 Next, turn the thread around
from under the needle again,
to form a circle as shown above.
3Pull the needle out completely
to get a stitch as seen above.

stitch line, as shown. Keep the

thread below the needle while you
do this. Don’t pull out the needle
completely.

4 Continue this pattern of action

of making circles around the
needle as you progress towards the
5 A finished line of Scroll Stitch
will look like this.

right.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 80

Outline Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

A s the name suggests, this stitch is used to mark outlines of a pattern. It is a flexible stitch that
can follow easy curves. Many times, it replaces the Stem Stitch, which looks similar to the Out-
line Stitch.

1 Bring out the thread through A and in through B. Take the needle
backward and bring the thread out through C. Make sure the point C
lies about halfway through A-B.

2 Also, note that C lies below the stitch A-B. This crucial point makes it
different from the Stem Stitch. Go in through D. Try to mark D in such
a way that the point B will lie half way through C-D. Come out through B.
The stitch point B will be at the bottom of the previous stitch.

3 A finished row of Outline Stitch lies like this.

Good to know...
The Outline Stitch resembles the Stem Stitch with a subtle differ-
ence. In the Stem Stitch, the gap between each stitch is slightly ev-
ident, unlike in the Outline Stitch. Also, the Stem Stitch follows
a pattern where the needle comes out from the right side or the
top of the previous stitch, while in an Outline Stitch, it comes out
from the left or bottom of the previous stitch.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 81

Bullion Knot Stitch Tutorials

Also known as : Bullion Stitch, Caterpillar Stitch, Coil Stitch, Knot Stitch, Post Stitch, Worm Stitch,
Porto Rico Rose, Grub Knot
Difficulty level : Intermediate
Stitch category : Stand alone stitch, Knotted stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

I would say that this is an elongated knot which can be used liberally to group together and make
dense textures. This stitch gives an embossed look, contributing to the Brazilian Embroidery that
uses stitches of 3D nature.

1 Bring the needle out through A

and put the needle through B at
a desired length.
2 Now, bring the needle out
through A again. Then, wind
the thread around the needle as
3 Then, hold the wrapped thread
with your fingers and pull the
needle out with the other hand.
shown. The distance of wound Keep pulling the needle completely
thread should measure roughly the in an upward direction till the wraps
same as the distance between A and lay on the fabric as shown above.
B. Too many or too less wraps will Go in through B to lock the stitch.
spoil The stitch.

4 Adjust and straighten the wraps if required before anchoring the stitch.
The finished Bullion Stitch would look like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 82

Blanket Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

T his stitch is called the Blanket Stitch as traditionally it is used to stitch the edges of blankets. It
not only gives the blanket edges a nice look, but also secures it. This stitch is now used in many
other crafting projects as well and is one of the most popular stitches.

1 Bring the needle out through

A. Take the needle in through
B. Take it out through C, a point in
2 Pull out the needle. Continue
with this process till the end
of the line.
3 A portion of the finished
Blanket Stitch would reveal
like this.
the same stitch line as A. Loop the
thread under the needle as shown.

4 The Blanket Stitch can be given an interesting look by just altering the
length of the vertical stitch as shown.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 83

Double Blanket Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals
You need to know : Blanket Stitch

T his is a decorative variation of the Blanket Stitch. Here, an inverse row of Blanket Stitches is
made with the legs falling between the gaps of the previous Blanket Stitches. Use this stitch along
with other embellishing stitches like the French Knots to make nice decorative borders.

1 First, make a row of Blanket Stitch. The illustration shows the row in
green thread.

Next, turn the fabric around and do another row of Blanket Stitch, placing
each stitch between the previous stitches, as shown.

2 A finished portion would look like this. This stitch can be done in a
single color too.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 84

Whipped Buttonhole Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch, Woven stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals
You need to know : Blanket Stitch

T his stitch is decorative and can be done over a base of Blanket Stitch or Buttonhole Stitch. This
is just one of the ways you can use these two stitches as a base for different variations.

1 Make a foundation of Blanket Stitch or Buttonhole Stitch. The

illustration shows a row of Buttonhole Stitch.

Now, bring the needle out with a contrasting thread from the left end of the
row, as shown.

2 Whip around between each vertical stitch, as shown. Make sure not to
pluck the fabric underneath.

A finished portion would look like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 85

Shaped Blanket Stitch Scallops Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch, Embossed stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals
You need to know : Blanket Stitch

T his stitch uses Blanket Stitch for an embossed filling of a scallop shape. A series of such Shaped
Blanket Stitch Scallops can be used to cover a larger area of the pattern.

1 Begin by making a scallop shape. Fill it in using Straight Stitches. You

can also use other stitches like Chain Stitch.

2 Now, bring out the needle from the ‘B’ end of the scallop shape and
start covering it with closed Blanket Stitches, as shown.

3 A finished scallop looks like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 86

Buttonhole Bar Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch, Woven stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals
You need to know : Blanket Stitch

T his is a multipurpose stitch made over a foundation of a long Straight Stitch. This method of
stitch can be seen in some traditional needle lace embroidery forms like Aemilia Ars, from Bo-
logna, Italy. This technique is also used to make hook loops in clothings. It can be easily used and
experimented with in dimensional embroideries as well.

1 Begin by making the

foundation of Straight
Stitches. The illustration shows two
2 Now, bring the needle out
from the point A. Pass the
needle from under the Straight
3 Pull the needle out. We get our
first Blanket Stitch over the
bars of the Straight Stitches. Now,
Straight Stitches made between Stitches without plucking the continue with the process for the
points A and B. fabric underneath. Loop the thread entire length of the Straight Stitch.
around the needle as we would for
the Blanket Stitch.

4 Half way through the stitch

would look like this. Keep
nudging the finished stitches to keep
them close to each other.
5 A finished Buttonhole Bar
Stitch looks like this. You can
make the Straight Stitches loose to
give it a more outstanding effect.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 87

Buttonhole Wheel Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Stand alone stitch, Looped stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals
You need to know : Blanket Stitch

T his is a motif Stitch. A wheel pattern is made using the Blanket Stitch, despite being called the
Buttonhole Wheel commonly. Let’s work the stitch around a circle with a common point in the
center. This stitch can be tried using the Buttonhole Stitch as well.

1 Using the circle as the stitch line, bring the needle out through A. Take
the needle in through the center point B and out through C. Keep the
thread behind the needle and pull it out.

2 Continue with this process all around the circle. You can widen the
center point instead of keeping it as a single common point.

3
rim.
A finished Buttonhole Wheel would look like this. You can further
enhance the look by using a contrasting color to whip around the wheel

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 88

Buttonhole Wheel Cup Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Stand alone stitch, Looped stitch, Woven stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals
You need to know : Buttonhole Wheel

D one over a foundation of Buttonhole Wheel, this stitch is decorative, and dimensional. This tu-
torial has spaced out the Blanket Stitches and used thin thread to make the features of the stitch
clearer. The use of a thicker thread, or a Buttonhole Wheel foundation with Blanket Stitches made
with closely made spokes will help in bringing out the real beauty of this stitch. The stitch would then
stand out like a little cup, as the name suggests.

1 Start by doing a foundation

of Buttonhole Wheel Stitch.
Now, bring out the needle from one
2 Start making Blanket Stitches
with the outer rim of the
wheel, as shown.
3 When you complete one trip
around the rim, continue the
same process, but this time with
corner of a spoke of the wheel, as the previous stitch as the base. It is
shown. For the sake of tutorial, I this process that builds up the cup
have used a contrasting color, but around the wheel.
the same colored thread can be used.

4 A completed Buttonhole Wheel Cup will look like this after two trips
around the rim. A thicker thread and closely made Buttonhole Wheel
will accentuate the ‘cup’ effect.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 89

Chain Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Also known as : Tambour Stitch, Point de Chainette

Difficulty level : Easy
Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch
Used in this book for : Making the petals

T his is the basic and simplest of the Chain Stitch family. It gives a chain-like appearance or can
feel like petals lined up one after the other. It can follow curves easily, and is used in numerous
embroideries worldwide.

1 Bring the thread out through

A. Put the needle back in A
and bring it out through the point
2 Now, take the thread around the
needle from left to right to form
a loop.
3 Pull out the needle now to
tighten the loop and you will
get the first part of the chain.
B, but don’t pull the needle out
completely.

4 Now, put the needle in through

B, from inside the loop, and
bring it out as shown. Continue by
5 Keep on with this procedure to
finish the design.

looping the thread around the needle

to form the chain.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 90

French Knot Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Intermediate

Stitch category : Stand alone stitch, Knotted stitch
Used in this book for : Filling the center of the flowers

F rench Knot is one of the easiest of all knots. Interestingly, however, it is often known as one of
the trickiest and most agonizing stitches, so much so, that learners often get intimidated by this
stitch. I personally feel it is only a matter of the fingers getting used to handling it. You use both
hands to do this stitch, so I would advise you read the instructions also to understand the illustra-
tions.

1 Bring out the needle through

A. 2 Now, place the needle close
to the fabric. Wrap the thread
around it twice, as shown.
3 Keep the longer end of the
thread pulled with your
fingers while putting the needle
back in a point just close to A or
even through A.

4 Pull down the needle through the fabric. You will see your first French
Knot formed.

Good to know...
If you are holding the needle in your right hand, wrap the thread
and hold it pulled with your left hand, and vice versa. This makes
it easier to pull out the needle without the risk of pulling out of
the wrapped thread. If this seems difficult for you, try this- after
wrapping the thread, turn the needle around about 180° and then
try to put it in A or near A.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 91

Back Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Also known as : Point de Sable

Difficulty level : Easy
Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch
Used in this book for : Making the stems

B ack Stitch is made by taking the thread backward than the conventional forward motion, and so,
the name. It is a very flexible stitch and easily follows curves and bends in a design. There are no
spaces between each stitch giving it a continuous appearance. Cross Stitch patterns use them too. Like
the Running Stitch, Back Stitch also lays a foundation for many stitch variations over it.

1 Bring the needle out through

A and take it in through B.
This creates one Straight Stitch.
2 Bring the needle out through C
and take it in through B. This
way, we are creating a stitch by
3 Bring the needle out through
D and take it in through C.
Continue this pattern to finish the
going backward. design.

4 A finished line of Back Stitch will look like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 92

Stem Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Also known as : Crewel Stitch, Stalk Stitch, Point de Cable

Difficulty level : Easy
Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch
Used in this book for : Making the stems

T he Stem Stitch follows a backward motion like the Back Stitch to make the stitches. The in-
teresting thing to note is that the reverse of a Stem Stitch produces a Back Stitch. As the name
suggests, this stitch is popularly used for making stems outlines. It is also a popular stitch for Em-
broidery Lettering and stitching thin letters. Make sure to follow the procedures exactly as illustrat-
ed below, as it is only slightly different from the Outline Stitch.

1 Bring out the thread through A

and take it in through B. Take
the needle backwards and bring the
thread out through C. Note that the
point C lies about half way through
A-B.
2 Also, note that C lies above
the stitch A-B. So, all the
subsequent stitch points will lie
3 Go in through D. Try to mark
D in such a way that the point
B will lie half way through C-D.
above their previous stitches. Come out through B.

4 Continue the procedure to get a neat row of Stem Stitch like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 93

Fern Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch
Used in this book for : Making the leaves and stems

F ern Stitch is a good example of how Straight Stitches can be combined in different angles and
series to create attractive patterns. A series of three stitches are placed vertically to create a resem-
blance of a fern leaf making it great for plant patterns and designs. Use it to make wonderful borders
and combine it with embellishments. Let’s work over three parallel and curved stitch lines.

1 Start over the second stitch

line. Bring the needle out
from A and take it in through B.
2 Next, bring the needle out
through C, a point on the first
stitch line. C is a little higher than
3 Go in through B again. This
finishes a set of three Straight
Stitches.
the point B (about 45 degrees). Go
in through B and come out through
D.

4 Bring out through E and back

in to B. Follow the illustration
to continue.
5 A finished portion looks like
this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 94

Fishbone Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Difficulty level : Easy

Stitch category : Filling stitch, Straight stitch
Used in this book for : Making the leaves

T his filling stitch is ideal for making leaves. It requires us to divide the pattern into two and each
side is filled alternately giving it a plaited effect in the center. Let`s work on a leaf pattern. Make
a dividing line running through the middle. So, we have three stitch lines: 1,2,3.

1 To begin, make a Straight

Stitch a-b on the stitch line 2.
2 Now, bring the needle out
from a point very close to
point `a` on the line 1 and take it
in through a point very close to `b`
on line 2. Again pull out the needle
through a point very close to `a` on
line 3.
3 This procedure of putting in
the needle through stitch line
1 and 3 alternatively will follow.
A rib will be formed over the stitch
line 2, making this an ideal stitch
for filling leaves.

4 Make sure all the stitch points

lie close to each other to avoid
any visible spaces.
5 Once finished, the filled leaf
would look like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 95

Fly Stitch Stitch Tutorials

Also known as : Y Stitch, Open Loop Stitch

Difficulty level : Easy
Stitch category : Stand alone stitch, Line stitch, Looped stitch
Used in this book for : Making the leaves

A s the name suggests, the Fly Stitch looks like a ‘Y’. Horizontal or vertical rows of Fly Stitch can
be done to create various effects. It can be topped with more decorations with contrasting threads
too. Place them close to fill the gap and it can be great to stitch leaves.

1 Bring out the needle from a

point on the fabric. Then, take
it in , in a triangular form, as shown
above. Keep the needle above the
working thread as shown.
2 Pull out the needle to form a
‘V’. Now, anchor it down by
taking the needle in as shown. You
3 A finished Stand alone stitch
Fly Stitch looks like this. It
resembles a small fly with the open
can decide how long or short you wings.
want the tail of this ‘Y’ to be.

4 When a series of Fly Stitch is

done top to bottom, it looks
like this.
5 Place them close by making
the tail short and using it just
to anchor down each stitch. This
variation is called the Closed Fly
Stitch and is great for fillings.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 96

Lazy Daisy Stitch Tutorials

Also known as : Detached Chain Stitch

Difficulty level : Easy
Stitch category : Stand alone stitch, Looped stitch
Used in this book for : Making the leaves

O ften used to make petals and small floral patterns, it consists of a single loop of chain anchored
down with a tiny stitch. Lazy Daisy is one of the extremely easy stitches. Let’s make petals of a
flower using Lazy Daisy. Make a small circle on the fabric to work the stitch around.

1 Bring the thread out through

A, which lies on the ring.
Put in the needle near A and bring
2 Pull out the needle out to
tighten the loop just enough.
Take the needle in just outside the
3 A single Lazy Daisy loop looks
like this.

it out through the point B, and loop chain to anchor it down and finish
the thread around the needle, like the Lazy Daisy Stitch.
we would in the Chain Stitch.

4 If you work around the ring with more Lazy Daisy Stitches, you end up
making a daisy flower!

Note that I have used a multicolored thread for this illustration.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials — 12 Roses for Hand Embroidery 97

Other Books by Sarah

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials

—Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone

W ant to learn more stitches? This classic from

Sarah's Hand Embroidery will take you
through a treasure trove of stitches that you never knew
existed. Learn 200 hand embroidery stitches through
step-by-step photographic illustrations with tips, tech-
niques, projects, and patterns. If you are an absolute
beginner, you can find techniques to handle needles,
threads, fabric, hoops, and other tools, making it an
ideal reference guide. This book also gives interesting
information on traditional embroidery forms, and the
origin and history of certain stitches, which can inspire
learners of all levels to explore more.

Click on the book thumbnails or checkout our list of Embroidery Books.

Subscribe to Sarah's
Hand Embroidery
for new stitches and em-
broideries, as well as excit-
ing projects and beautiful
patterns — all free! Occa-
sionally, we might send you
exclusive coupons not avail-
able anywhere else!

Follow us at www.embroidery.rocksea.org