So I’m aware that I’ve already made a tutorial on how I embroider leaves, but I’ve learned so much since then and I thought I would show you more than just a single way to do it!
I know there are ‘official’ names for certain stitches in relation to stitching leaves such as maybe the “Raised Fishbone Stitch” or the regular or even the “Fly Stitch” but I’m not really about that.
I think I might have googled some tutorials a few years ago and built off of them to find what worked for me. If these have any ‘official’ names, let me know! (I think one of these is the Fishbone stitch?)
Supplies
So here’s what I use on the daily. Let’s start by going clockwise and end up in the middle.
- Scissors: They’re super sharp and really scary and I love them.
- Embroidery Hoop and Fabric: Just the basics. I use Darice embroidery hoops and micro cotton twill fabric.
- Embroidery floss/thread: DMC is the way to go!
- Fabric Pen: There are many different kinds of these. Water soluble, permanente, erasable… I use FriXion pens* and they are amazing. They deserve a whole blog post on their own and that will come at a future time.
- A Needle: I like using gold plated needles. They last longer than regular silver ones and they don’t tarnish as quickly and give you that ‘nails on a chalkboard’ feeling when you’re stitching. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who can feel that!)
Of course, use whatever you feel comfortable with! The items I’ve listed are just my suggestions based on my own experiences.
Okay let’s go!
Preparing Your Design
This is what we’re starting with. I know you’re thinking, “Hey! That’s more than just leaves!” And ya I know – that’s because this is going to be a✨ FOUR PART TUTORIAL ✨ so get excited! But right now we’re just going to focus on the leaves. You can totally draw whatever you want! This is just what I came up with – feel free to copy the design! Let’s be embroidery twins!
Okay Pay Attention Here’s Where the Tutorial Really Starts
Start by splitting your leaf shape right down the middle with a long stitch. Then make slightly slanted stitches down the side to the bottom of the leaf. Incredibly simple! Let’s see it again on the other side!
Here’s our first leaf! The straighter you line up your center stitches, the straighter the middle line will be in the end. Not bad! This one is so easy that I like to call it the “Easy Leaf Stitch”.
Method Two
Woah what happened there? It’s zigzagging all over the place! I like to call this one the “Party Leaf Stitch”. Just draw down your center line, and keep crossing your thread over it. Sometimes this leaf and I party too hard and it doesn’t end up too well, as seen above. It’s really hard to hide your mistakes with this guy. He’s not as chill as the “Easy Leaf Stitch”. It’s okay, real leaves aren’t always perfect either!
Method Three
This is the stitch I featured in my old tutorial. I call it the “Easy Party Leaf Stitch” because basically you combine what you just saw in the first two methods into one stitch. You start by stitching down your center line, and then cross your stitches over it. The Easy Party Leaf Stitch is a little easier to hide mistakes in.
The Final Product
Wow look at those leaves! Can you tell which ones I stitched with which method? I can’t. I already forgot. I just know some look okay and some look kinda bad.
Here are some embroideries I have made with some cool leaves and flowers.
If you found this tutorial helpful and practiced any of these stitches, I’d love to see them! Share your work on Instagram and tag me in your photos @StitchingSabbatical, and use the hashtag #tutorialsabbatical !
Happy Stitching!
*FriXion pens are not designed to be used on fabric so do so at your own risk! 😉