This woodland wreath design combines lettering, leaves, bees and a mushroom in one beginner-friendly hand embroidery project. The Loom & Stitch embroidery kit for this tutorial is available at the bottom of the article, and this written guide walks you through each stitched element in the order that is easiest to follow.
Place the pattern and begin with the name
Stick the pattern in the centre of your garment and thread the yarn for the name. Use chain stitch to work along the lettering: bring the needle up, take it down through the same hole, then bring it up one stitch length ahead with the working yarn looped under the needle. Pull each loop gently so the chain sits evenly. Continue along the full name, anchoring the final loop with a tiny straight stitch. If a letter is separate, such as an i or another disconnected shape, stitch it as its own section and secure the thread before moving on.
Fill the leaves with fishbone stitch
Start each leaf at the tip with a central straight stitch. Then alternate from one side of the leaf to the other, bringing the needle up near the edge and taking it back down through the centre line. Keep the stitches close together and follow the guide marks so the leaf fills smoothly. This stitch gives a lovely textured finish that works especially well in nature-inspired embroidery kits.
Make the bee body and wings
Use satin stitch for the body of the bee by laying close, straight stitches across the shape until the fabric is covered. Then switch to lazy daisy stitch for the wings. Each wing is a small loop anchored with one short stitch at the tip, so keep the loops neat and light. If your kit includes a thinner dark yarn, add the bee stripes with a few short straight stitches over the top once the body is complete.
Outline the mushroom with stem stitch
For the mushroom cap, use stem stitch to create a soft rope-like outline. Bring the needle up, make a forward stitch, leave a small loop, then bring the needle back up through the centre of the previous stitch. Keep the working yarn held consistently to the same side each time. This is the key to an even stem stitch line, especially around curves.
Fill the mushroom cap, spots and stalk
Inside the mushroom cap, work long and short stitches in the same general direction so the fill looks smooth and slightly textured. Vary the stitch lengths and place them closely together, leaving small gaps where the spots will go. Once the cap is filled, use satin stitch to cover the spots and the stalk with neat, parallel stitches. Check regularly that the fabric is not puckering as you go.
Secure the back and remove the pattern
Whenever you finish a section, weave the tail through existing stitches on the reverse or tie it to the starting tail if both ends meet. After all the embroidery is complete, rinse away the pattern backing and leave the garment to dry. For the matching Loom & Stitch embroidery kit and supplies for this woodland design, take a look at the associated kit linked at the bottom of the article.
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