Flower Vase Stitch-Along

Celebrate a summer bouquet with this free-form embroidery on wool. It is made with a small swatch of black wool fabric, colorful perle cotton threads, and size 3 embroidery needles. Why embroider on wool? Wool has a warm, comfy look that is inviting and familiar. The needle and thread glide effortlessly through the fabric. It is easy to grip (no hoop needed), easy on your hands, and knots are hidden on the back.

Like the six free-form embroidery projects in my book, Joyful Stitching, our vase of flowers is the perfect portable project for your summer vacation or quiet time on the patio. Please join me as we explore fun stitch combinations using the basic hand-embroidery stitches illustrated in Joyful Stitching. Relax and enjoy creating this colorful vase full of unusual flowers.

Step #1

Click here for a Flower Vase Stitch Kit or assemble the following items:

• Black wool (or other fabric of your choice) measuring 6" x 7"
• Size 8 perle cotton threads in these variegated colors: blue, red, yellow, light/medium green, medium/dark green, and white thread for outlining the shape (the Artfabrik colorways I used are: Degas Blue, Really Red, Butter, Lettuce, Moss)
• Size 3 hand-embroidery needles
• PDF of the Flower Vase pattern (to download and print out)

Step #2

• Place the fabric vertically so it is 6" across by 7" high.
• Follow the directions on the Flower Vase pattern and position the vase tracing about 1" up from the bottom of the fabric.
• Pin the tracing into place and follow the directions on the Flower Vase pattern to transfer the vase shape to the background fabric.

• Stitch 3 rows of chain stitches across the base of the vase using the blue thread.
• Fill in each loop of the chain stitch with a French knot using the red thread.

Step #3

• Stitch 3 rows of blanket stitches across the vase to make a band of stitches above the previously stitched rows using the light/medium green thread.
• Stitch the rows closely together to make little boxes of thread.

• Fill in each box made by the blanket stitches with French knots using the yellow thread.

• Stitch 3 rows of stem stitches across the vase to make a band of stitches above the previously stitched rows. Use the red thread and space the rows about 1/8" apart.
• Fill in the rows made by the stem stitches with French knots using the blue thread.

Step #4

• Stitch a row of the lazy daisy stitches across the vase to make a band of stitches above the previously stitched rows using the light/medium green thread.
• Alternate the stitch so the loop or rounded end is facing up then facing down.
• Fill in each loop made by the lazy daisy stitches with French knots using the red thread.

• Stitch a second row of the lazy daisy stitches across the vase to make a band of stitches above the previously stitched rows using the red thread.
• Alternate the stitch so the loop or rounded end is facing up then facing down.
• Fill in each loop made by the lazy daisy stitches with French knots using the yellow thread.

Step #5

• Stitch 3 rows of back stitches across the vase to make a band of stitches above the previously stitched rows using the yellow thread. Space the rows about 1/8" apart.
• Fill in the rows made by the back stitches with bullion knots using the blue thread.

• Stitch rows of running stitches curving up from the last band of stitches to the top of the vase shape using the light/medium green thread. Space the rows about 1/8" apart.
• Fill in the spaces between the running stitches of the previous rows with more running stitches using the red thread.
• Stitch 2 rows of stem stitches across the top of the vase to make the rim using the red thread.
• Remove the running stitches used to outline the vase shape on the wool.

Step #6

• Stitch 4 lines of stem stitches curving out of the vase to make stems using the medium/dark green thread.
• Stitch lazy daisy stitches on either side of each stem to make leaves using the medium/dark green thread.

• Stitch ermine stitches on the ends of stem to make a flower using the blue thread.
• Stitch French knots in the center of each ermine stitch using the yellow thread.
• Stitch bullion knots between each spike of the ermine stitch using the red thread.

Step #7

• Stitch a lazy daisy stitch about 3" up from the center of the rim of the vase using a light/medium green thread.
• Using that same thread, stitch a line of fern stitches down into the previous stitches to make a center flower stem.

• Stitch fly stitches on either side of the fern stitch line to make flowers using the red thread.
• Stitch a straight stitch inside the loop of the top lazy daisy stitch using a yellow thread.
• Using that same thread, stitch French knots inside of each flower.
• Repeat the above steps to make 2 more flower stems on either side of the first stem.

Step #8

• Stitch 8 curves of cable stitches between the other flower stems using the light/medium green thread.
• Stitch a sheaf stitch on the tip of each cable stitch flower stem using the yellow thread.
• Stitch a French knot in the center of each sheaf stitch using the blue thread.

• Stitch rows of chain stitches across the fabric to within 1/4" of the side edges and down to the bottom of the fabric to make the table using the red thread. Begin the top row of chain stitches where the top of the blanket stitch and French knot rows appear on the vase.
• Stitch 2 rows of chain stitches around the fabric to within 1/4" of the side and top edges to make the borders using the red thread.
• Trim the outside edges of the fabric close to the chain-stitched borders.

Thank you for visiting with me while we made this colorful vase of flowers. Please check out Joyful Stitching for even more embroidery fun. On my website, artfabrik.com, I also have more stitch tutorials on wool and silk that you may enjoy. See the tutorials here.

Links:

Joyful Stitching book http://artfabrik.com/artfabrik-store/books/joyful-stitching/

Stitch Kits http://artfabrik.com/artfabrik-store/stitch-kits/

Artfabrik threads http://artfabrik.com/artfabrik-store/hand-dyed-pearl-cotton-threads/

Flower Vase pattern PDF http://artfabrik.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/vaseofflowerspattern.pdf

Additional Tutorials http://artfabrik.com/tutorials-2/

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