Embroidered samplers were traditionally a means for stitchers to learn and perfect embroidery skills. This modern day hand embroidery sampler uses a selection of different stitches, so if you are new to embroidery you can try your hand a few different styles. Worked in a rainbow of colours this is the ideal design for more experienced stitchers to use their stash of threads!
Materials
Essex Linen, natural – 30cm square
Felt, neutral colour, 24cm square
Bondaweb, 24cm square
Embroidery threads in the shades:
ANC 1709, ANC 295, ANC 303, ANC 298, DMC 3809, ANC 316, ANC 242, ANC 188, ANC 338, ANC 850, AMC 109, ANC 111, ANC 9, ANC 13, ANC 11, ANC 244
Embroidery needle
Water erasable pen or embroidery pencil
Embroidery hoop
Scissors – fabric sheers and embroidery scissors
Iron, ironing board & pressing cloth
Art print display frame (or wooden batons, magnets and string to make your own!)
Finished measurements
21cm x 23cm
Hand embroidery Sampler Pattern – Click to open as an image, then right click – save as – to download to your computer. Print it full size, fit to page.
To Stitch
Trace the design
Using the template for the hand embroidery sampler, transfer the design onto the fabric. If the fabric is too dark to see the template through, try layering and placing over a window to create a lightbox effect to trace the motif. Alternatively, place a sheet of pattern transfer paper between the fabric and the template and trace over the design to transfer onto the cloth.
TIP: If you are using a water erasable fabric pen to mark out the design, be sure to check that it can be removed easily from the fabric by testing on a scrap first.
Secure in a hoop
Open the embroidery hoop and position one half on either side of the fabric – keeping the screw fastening the top of the upper hoop for easy access. Draw the fabric taut and secure the hoop with the screw fastening. You may find, like here, that you hoop doesn’t cover the entire design, simply work one section and reposition to work on the next. Always ensure that the surface is taut in the hoop as this helps to create neat, even stitches.
This design was worked clockwise from the top left-hand corner – but more experienced stitchers may like to work in a different order.
TIP: Working with shorter lengths of embroidery threads – no longer than the length from fingertips your elbow, – will help prevent tangles and knots as you work.
Running Stitch
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B.
Continue in this manner to create a neat line of running stitches, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Fly Stitch
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B, bringing the tip out again at point C.
Draw the threads through to create a neat V shape, work a small stitch over the threads at point C and return the needle to the start position to work the next stitch.
Continue in this manner to create a neat line of fly stitches, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Lazy Daisy Detached
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B, allowing the thread to make a small loop on the surface.
Bring the needle up at point C, return the need back through at point D, to make a small stitch to hold the loop of thread on the surface of the fabric.
Continue in this manner to create a neat cluster of detached lazy daisy stitches, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Woven Rose
Working in long straight stitching making a five stitch star at the marked point.
Bring the needle back to the surface at the centre and working on the surface bring the needle over stitch A and under Stitch B, over stitch C and under stitch D finishing by passing over stitch E.
Draw the thread to tighten around the inner stitches of the star and continue weaving around the stitches to make the flower. As there are five stitches, each round will alternate whether the thread goes over of under each individual stitch, creating a woven effect.
Continue around until the inner stitches are covered, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Lazy Daisy Flower
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B, to make a small stitch on the surface.
Bring the needle up at point C, return the needle back through at point D, to make a small stitch to hold the loop of thread on the surface of the fabric.
Continue in this manner from the centre outwards to create a neat circle of six stitches to make a flower, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Chain Stitch
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B, allowing the thread to make a small loop on the surface.
Bring the needle up at point C, thread through the small stitch made at point A and return the needle back through at point D. A neat loop is held to the fabric.
Bring the needle up at point E, thread through the chain stitch made at point C and return the needle back through at point F to make a second chain stitch.
Continue in this manner to create a neat line of chain stitches, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Split Stitch
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B. Inset the needle at point C – half way along the stitch and bring to the surface ensuring that the needle passes through the thread of the stitch.
Bring the needle back down at point D ready to work the next stitch in the same way.
Continue in this manner to create a neat line of split stitches, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
French Knot
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, wrap the thread three times around the shaft of the needle on towards the needle tip.
Insert the needle at point B (next to point A) and slide the loops off thread to the surface of the fabric and hold lightly in place.
Draw the thread through, the loops will be neatly secured onto the surface.
Continue in this manner to create a cluster of French knots, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Stem Stitch
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, and back down at point B
Bring the needle back up at point C – half way along the stitch and bring to the surface ensuring that the needle passes under the threads of the stitch.
Continue in this manner to create a neat line of stem stitch, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Leaf Stitch
Make a small straight stitch to mark the top of the leaf motif.
Bring the needle up at point A, insert at point B to bring back down and insert at point C to bring up again.
With the thread on the surface at point C, insert at point D to bring back down and insert at point E to bring up again.
Continue working in this manner at each side in turn.
Work a few running stitches down the centre of the leaf to finish, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Cross Stitch
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B. To make a diagonal straight stitch.
Repeat to make a row of identical diagonal stitches.
Bring the needle up at point C, return the needle back through at point D. To make a diagonal straight stitch in the opposite direction.
Continue working to complete the row of crosses, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Satin Stitch
Prepare by working around the area with neat back stitch.
Starting at the lower point, bring the needle up at one side of the stitches and pass it back down at the opposite side, drawing the thread across the area.
Continue working across the shape with long, even stitches.
Complete the final stitches to fill the area with colour, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Blanket Stitch
Prepare by making a small straight stitch point A. Bring the needle up at point B, insert at point C to bring back down and insert at point D to bring up again. Ensure that the tip of the needle is over the loop of thread.
Work along the line making straight stitches catching the lower part of thread against the fabric.
Continue to create a neat line of blanket stitches, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Straight Stitch
Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B.
Continue to create a cluster of straight stitches, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Couching
With two stands of the main colour thread, secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, return the needle back through at point B, don’t draw the thread too tightly.
Using a contrast colour, work a small stitch over the main coloured thread at point C and again at point D.
Continue to work small stitches over the length of the background thread to complete the line of couching fasten off both threads neatly at the back of the work.
Bullion Stitch
- Secure the thread on the back of the work and bring the needle up at point A, insert at point B to bring back down and insert at point C to bring up again.
- Wrap the thread nine times around the shaft of the needle on towards the needle tip.
- Holding the wraps, draw the thread through until the wraps sit on the surface of the fabric, insert the needle at point D to bring it back down through the fabric,
- Continue to work three bullion stitches on total, fasten off the thread neatly at the back of the work.
Finishing & Making Up
Remove the finished hand embroidery sampler from the hoop. Remove any visible markings made with the water erasable pen and cover with a pressing cloth and press neatly.
Trim the sampler to 23cm x 25cm, fold 2cm along each side in towards the WS side and press.
Trim a piece of felt and piece of Bondaweb to 21cm x 23cm and fuse the felt to the WS of the embroidery with the Bondaweb.
Secure into an art print display frame to finish.
Biography
Laura Strutt is a designer maker and the author of a number of craft books featuring knitting, sewing, crochet, weaving and much more – Plus her new book Modern Embroidery will be on sale in September 2019. For more details on books visit Amazon Author Central.
Website: www.madepeachy.com
Twitter: @madepeachy
Instagram: @madepeachy
Facebook: madepeachy
Pinterest: @madepeachy
For other embroidery tutorials please visit our techniques page and click the embroidery tag.
