Make Cute Stitches with Volume Using the Petal Stitch
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There are so many fun embroidery stitches to choose from to create your work and the one I want to focus on right now is the petal stitch which is pretty easy to make, even for beginners. It’s not among the list of basic embroidery stitches for beginners but if you’re just starting out don’t worry. You’ll learn it in no time!
The petal stitch is commonly used for flowers like daisies and pairs perfectly with the french knot which can be used for the center. The petal stitch in some ways resembles a lazy daisy stitch, but they’re not really the same thing. They both utilize loops to form their shape and are perfect for creating flower petals, but the petal stitch uses more loops and adds a bit more volume. Vary the size, colors, and layout to create a variety of designs. And if you stack them you can create an effect that looks similar to hair braids!
Let’s get to the tutorial so you can start using the petal stitch to create your embroidery masterpiece!
Steps
To begin the petal stitch, create a small straight stitch, then come up next to it near the top, like this:
You’ll also see this being created with a loop, similar to the lazy daisy stitch. Both are equally fine.
For the next step you may want to use a straight pin, preferably with a large head. Place it around 1/2” or so above the straight stitch, like this:
If you don’t have a straight pin you can also just add a small straight stitch where you want the top of your stitch to end. Make it loose enough so you can push your needle and thread through multiple times, but not too loose. The pin will make it easier so I recommend that route.
Now wrap your thread around the straight pin (or through the straight stitch at the top). Push your needle and thread through the straight stitch.
This will form your first loop. From here, repeat the steps until you’re happy with the volume. As you go, adjust the loops so they sit nicely with each other. They should fatten up along the sides. Wrap the end of the thread behind the pin…
It’s time to secure the loops together at the top. If you used a small straight stitch, you can technically leave it that way and it would still look like a petal stitch. But the petal stitch involves a small knot at the top of the loops so here’s how to do that.
Carefully push your needle halfway through the loops and lift gently off the fabric, and with your other hand pinch the loops with your fingers. Then wrap the thread over and around the needle and carefully pull it through to form a knot.
Before pulling the knot tight, take a look at the loops to make sure the knot will be centered and adjust if needed.
Then set the loops against the fabric so you can figure out where the top of it will land. Push the needle through the fabric to secure the loops in place.
Tips
The petal stitch is a fairly easy stitch but it does take a bit of practice and here are some helpful tips to make it as perfect as possible.
- Take your time.
- Use at least 6 strands of thread to create the volume.
- Make the straight stitch that holds the loops in place large enough to accommodate all the loops but not too large… this will take a little trial & error, but not much.
- Be mindful of the tension you place on the loops. They shouldn’t be so tight that it pulls the fabric and it shouldn’t be so loose that the loops become sloppy.
- When you are creating the knot, adjust the placement so it’s in the center of the loops before you tighten it.
Video
When all is said and done, learning new things is usually easier when you can see someone else actually doing it, so take a minute to watch the video!