This floral first birthday embroidery combines a large statement flower, smaller daisies and stitched lettering for a soft personalised finish. The Loom & Stitch embroidery kit for this tutorial is available at the bottom of the article, and the instructions below are written as a complete step-by-step guide for stitching the design on your garment.
Arrange the design before stitching
Stick the pattern where you want it to sit on the garment. A centred main motif with smaller flowers scattered around it creates a balanced look, but you can adjust the layout to suit your piece. Once the placement is set, begin with the large flower so it becomes the focal point of the embroidery.
Make the large petals with lazy daisy stitch
Bring the needle up at the base of a petal, take it back down through the same hole, then bring it up at the tip of the petal inside the loop of yarn. Pull the loop flat and anchor it with one tiny stitch over the tip. Continue around the flower in a clockwise direction until all the petals are complete. The final petals may feel tight in the centre, so slow down and keep the loops even rather than pulling them too hard.
Optional inner fill for extra depth
If you would like a fuller flower, add a single straight stitch inside each petal using a lighter shade. These short stitches fill the small open space in the middle of each lazy daisy loop and give the petals extra dimension. This optional step is a nice way to add contrast without making the design difficult for a beginner embroiderer.
Add French knots to the centre
Bring the needle up in the middle of the flower, wrap the yarn around the needle three times, then take the needle back down very close to the entry point. Pull slowly to form a tidy knot. Add several knots close together to make a clustered flower centre. French knots are small, but they add a lot of texture to a floral embroidery pattern.
Use chain stitch for the birthday lettering
For the wording, work chain stitch along the printed lines. Bring the needle up, take it down through the same hole, then come up one stitch length ahead with the yarn looped under the needle. Keep the stitches evenly spaced and rotate the garment as needed so you are always stitching comfortably. If you switch colours between letters, anchor the last loop, start the new yarn in the previous stitch, and continue so the join looks smooth.
Finish the smaller daisies
Use lazy daisy stitch again for the small flower petals, then add one French knot in the centre of each daisy. Secure the thread tails on the reverse by tying them to the starting tail or weaving them through existing stitches. Once the design is finished, remove the backing according to the product instructions. To explore the matching Loom & Stitch embroidery kit for this personalised floral project, browse the kit linked at the bottom of the article.
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