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Mary Corbet

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I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more

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A Slender Flower: Free Embroidery Pattern

 

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This was a fun embroidery pattern to draw up. I took the inspiration from this from a door plate, of all things. You know, sometimes I think it’s a curse when everything you see – even the most mundane things around your house – scream, “Wouldn’t I make a Great Embroidery Pattern?” That was certainly the case with this, and I’ve been thinking about it for a loooong time.

So this slender bunch of flowers could be embroidered a number of ways. Oh, yes – they would serve for needle painting – but… I was thinking that, worked on a very fine linen or batiste (probably linen, since it’s a bit sturdier), the design would make an excellent study in whitework. If I were going to use whitework techniques on it, I’d make use of the typical outline type stitches and seed stitches, but I’d also try some more textured stitches, or even some pulled techniques, for the various leaves, just for variety.

Well, in any case, here’s the design, and you can do with it whatever pleases you! Click on the pattern for a larger version, which you can save to your computer and scale up or down.

How would you see this pattern interpreted? What kind of technique do you think is suited to it? Any ideas??? I’d love to hear them!

Also, lately, I’ve mentioned to readers that I’d love to be able to share any photos of work they do with the patterns from Needle’NThread, and I’ve had two readers lately who have sent me photos! If you’ve used patterns from here and you want to share your work with other readers, don’t hesitate to send me a photo. You can e-mail me at mary [at] needlenthread.com.

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(11) Comments

  1. Nope, I haven’t. I have a friend who’s working on an embroidered skirt right now. In fact, I’ll probably post pictures of it later on – she’s doing a fantastic job!

    Anyway, what she did was take a simple motif and repeat it down the side and (I think) around the base. She picked a kind of paisley shape, outlined it in stem stitch, and then she’s working small sequins and beads around the outside and on the inside.

    Thing is, she just picked out a little motif and went from there, deciding on where to place the repeats and what colors to use.

    If you can’t invent a design, check out my pattern library! Perhaps there’s something in there that could be helpful!

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  2. OH THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I have been searching everywhere for a good base to design a celtic knot design for my Fairy style wedding gown. I turned this three stem design on it's side and tilted it up five degrees to give it a flat base, then made a mirror image. When the two were put together, the curl at the end made the sweetest little heart! It's just perfect! My dress is floor length with ivory silk chiffon over silk duponi. The embroidery is in a russet shade at the neck, end of the elbowlength sleeves and the end of the floor brushing chiffon sleeve tendrils. The edges of the chiffon are held together with a plaited insertion stitch. Again, thank you! You've saved my wedding and my sanity! God Bless and wish me luck!

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  3. I see a set of pillowcases (Oh, could it be more mundane?!) with this on them.

    They will make just lovely wedding gifts!

    Saludos from Mexico!

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  4. I love your tutorials and enjoy reading your post.
    Can you please tell me how you convert hand drawn images intoprintable patterns?

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