Beginner Embroidery Patterns Free: Wildflower Sampler

Size: design 4.5 x 4.5 in (11.5 x 11.5 cm), for a 6 in (15 cm) hoop

Fabric: a 10 x 10 in (25 x 25 cm) square of light cotton or linen-cotton, washed and pressed

Threads: DMC 6-strand embroidery floss, one skein of each colour; use 2 strands throughout. Lengths are the 2-strand thread you stitch with, with spare, cut in 18 in (45 cm) pieces:

- DMC 3863 Medium Mocha Beige Brown: about 24 in (61 cm)

- DMC 433 Medium Brown: about 16 in (41 cm)

- DMC 3347 Medium Yellow Green: about 33 in (84 cm)

- DMC 988 Medium Forest Green: about 24 in (61 cm)

- DMC 989 Forest Green: about 10 in (25 cm)

- DMC 3716 Very Light Dusty Rose: about 14 in (36 cm)

- DMC 3839 Medium Lavender Blue: about 10 in (25 cm)

- DMC 209 Dark Lavender: about 40 in (102 cm)

- DMC 726 Light Topaz: about 15 in (38 cm)

Notions: 6 in embroidery hoop, size 7 embroidery needle, water-soluble fabric pen or a light pencil, scissors

Stitches: running stitch, backstitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, detached chain (lazy daisy), straight stitch, French knot

Transfer

Print the template page at 100% (actual size) and measure the 1 in scale square; if it is not exactly 1 in, check the print setting. Tape the template to a window, centre the fabric over it and trace every line and dot with the pen.

Put the fabric in the hoop so it is drum tight, with the screw at the top.

Stitch guide

Running stitch: Bring the needle up on the line, go down 1/8 in further along, come up again 1/16 in on, and repeat, so you get even dashes with gaps between them.

Backstitch: Bring the needle up one stitch length along the line, go down at the start of the line, then come up one stitch length ahead of your last stitch and go back down into the end of it, so the stitches touch.

Stem stitch: Work left to right along the line. Come up at the start, go down 1/8 in along, and come up halfway back along that stitch, keeping the thread below the needle; repeat so each stitch overlaps half of the one before like a twisted rope.

Satin stitch: Fill the leaf with straight stitches laid side by side across its width, from one edge of the outline to the other, close enough that no fabric shows; start in the middle of the leaf and work out to each tip so the angle stays even.

Detached chain: Also called lazy daisy. Come up at the base of the petal, go back down in the same hole leaving a loop, come up at the tip of the petal inside the loop, and go down just outside the loop to tack it in place.

Straight stitch: One single stitch: come up at the inner end of the line and go down at the outer end, keeping the thread smooth and not too tight so it lies flat.

French knot: Come up where the knot goes, wrap the thread twice around the needle, hold the wraps snug with your other hand, and go down right next to where you came up, pulling the thread through slowly.

Order of work

1. Stitch the dotted ring around the design in running stitch. DMC 3863, 2 strands.
2. Backstitch the ground line along the bottom. DMC 433, 2 strands.
3. Stem stitch the three stems, each from the ground line up to its flower. DMC 3347, 2 strands.
4. Fill the two leaves on the middle stem with satin stitch. DMC 988, 2 strands.
5. Work the four small leaves on the left and right stems in detached chain (lazy daisy). DMC 989, 2 strands.
6. Work the six daisy petals on the left stem in detached chain. DMC 3716, 2 strands.
7. Work the eight petals of the star flower on the middle stem as single straight stitches. DMC 3839, 2 strands.
8. Cover the top of the right stem with French knots in pairs for the lavender, plus one at the tip. DMC 209, 2 strands.
9. Add three French knots in the middle of the daisy and one in the middle of the star flower. DMC 726, 2 strands.

Finishing

1. Rinse the fabric in cool water to remove the pen lines, roll it in a towel and press it face down on a soft towel.
2. Put it back in the hoop centred, tighten the screw, and trim the fabric to 1 in outside the hoop.
3. Run a running stitch around that edge, pull it up at the back like a drawstring, and tie off.

Counts: 43 running stitch dashes, 23 French knots, 10 detached chains, 8 straight stitches, 2 satin-stitch leaves, 3 stem-stitched stems, 1 backstitched ground line.