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Embroidering with Loomed Flowers

Embroidery with loomed flowers

Embroidering with loomed daisies opens up a whole range of new possibilities. Here are a couple of techniques that I have used.

Five loomed flowers Firstly you will need some flowers, a sewing needle and thread and something to stitch your flowers to. An embroidery frame or hoop will also come in handy if you are stitching to a very drapey fabric.
Prepared background embroidery Step 1: Prepare your background. I dyed some white cotton homespun and embroidered some stems on it with tapestry wool.
Loomed puffy zinnia flower The first kind of flower is sewn on. I have chosen a puffy flower because they’re very three dimensional and add interest to an embroidery.
Anchoring your thread Take your sewing thread and needle and secure the thread to the background by making a few stitches in the same spot. These will be covered by your flower.
Stitching the flower Take a stitch through the back of the flower
Sewing to the background Then a stitch through your background fabric.
Repeat And a stitch through your flower
Finished embroidered flower Keep going all the way around the back of the centre of your flower until it is firmly attached.
Double layer flower on a loom Tacked Petals

For the second style of flower you will need to make a flower with long petals and a centre of a different colour. The centre petals can be as long as the outer petals if you wish.

Flower stitched to the background Stitch your flower to the background fabric. You might find the next step easier if you put your fabric in an embroidery hoop or stretch it on a frame.

Taking the same yarn as you used for your outer ring of petals, stitch down all the loops of one of the petals with a single stitch, right at the ends. Don’t pull the petals out tightly as this will pucker your fabric.

Tacking down the petals If you want to you can stitch through a bead, button or sequin or use a different colour and stitch the petal down with a fancy embroidery stitch!
Large petals stitched to the background Continue all the way around your flower.
Small petals stitched between the large ones Then stitch the second layer of petals down between the first layer. You could also stitch them down over the top of the first layer for a different look.
Orange yarn flower on a loom Grouped Petals

For a flower with grouped petals you will need to make a flower with quite a few rounds if you want your petals to be nice and puffy. I made mine with dk weight yarn and 6 rounds.

Orange flower stitched to the background Sew your flower to background fabric, then put it in an embroidery hoop.

Thread a sharp wool needle with the same colour yarn that you used to make your flower and bring it through to the front of your embroidery from the back.

Gathering a group of petals Thread the loops from two petals onto the yarn, then poke the needle back through the same hole in the fabric.
The first group of petals stitched to the background Repeat for the same petal to make sure it’s firmly stitched down and make a couple of stitches at the back of your work to stop it from coming loose.
Yarn petals grouped into six embroidered petals Stitch down the rest of the petals in the same way.
Small flower on a prym loom Spiral Flowers, a Tacked Petal Variation

To make the final type of flower you’ll need a flower made with two colours of yarn. I made a 2 inch diameter flower with two rounds of blue

Finished yarn flower in two colors, on the loom followed by two rounds of green.
Tying the top layer out of the way Sew your flower onto your backing fabric and put it in an embroidery hoop.

Before you start stitching your petals down you might want to keep the top layer of petals out of your way by threading them onto a piece of scrap yarn

Tying the top layer out of the way and tying it into a bow.
Stitching the first round of petals Thread your yarn onto a sharp wool needle and bring the thread to the front, slightly underneath one of the petals.

Thread the yarn through the next petal to the left.

Poke your needle back through the same hole and come out again level with the base of the petal that you just stitched down. This will make your petals swirl anti-clockwise.
The first round of petals stitched to the background Stitch all of the petals down this way.
The second layer stitched Then untie the top petals and stitch them between each of the first layer of petals. Don’t forget to make them swirl around as well.

Copyright Sarah Bradberry April 2007. All rights reserved.