Welcome to your free Flowers in the Rain Stitch Along. This free-form embroidery design is stitched on silk fabric with size 8 and 12 pearl cotton threads. You can also stitch the design on a single piece of cotton fabric.
Step #1: Gather These Materials and Tools
- Click here to purchase a kit of hand-dyed silk fabric and threads needed. Or use the following items you already have in your stash.
- Silk or other fabric measuring about 11” x 8’’ in any weave or color for the background. (If using silk, heavier silk such as a 12 or 14 momme sateen or jacquard is recommended.)
- Wool batting (recommended) measuring 9’’ x 6’’. Wool batting is easy to stitch. If using a different batting, select one that does not beard when stitched.
- Misty Fuse fusible web: 11” x 8’’
- Felt for the backing: 8’’ x 5’’
- Parchment paper: 12’’ x 10’’
- Fine sewing thread to outline the flower centers
- Size 12 pearl cotton thread for the raindrops (Artfabrik colorway Aquamarine )
- Size 8 pearl cotton threads in a variety of colors for the flowers, stems, leaves, and ground (Artfabrik colorways: Aquamarine, Lime Frappe, Sunrise, Sunflower , Violets)
- Size 3, 4, and 5 embroidery needles (Size 7 is optional)
- Thread Magic or other thread conditioner (highly recommended)
- Scissors
- Thimble
- Pincushion
Step #2: Fusing Silk or Cotton to Wool Batting
- Cut a lightweight fusible web like Misty Fuse the size of the silk or cotton background fabric. (Misty Fuse is recommended because it is very fine and doesn’t sink into the fabric changing the color of the silk.)
- Place the fusible web onto the wrong side of the fabric. Cover the web with a large piece of parchment paper. Glide a hot iron across the paper to fuse the web to the fabric.
- Let the fabric cool, then remove the parchment paper.
- The wool batting should measure 1’’ smaller than the fabric on each edge. (This fabric on the edge is wrapped to the back of the embroidery after you are finished stitching.)
- Center the batting onto the fused side of the fabric. Flip the fabric and batting over and place them on the parchment paper.
- Fuse the batting to the fabric by gliding the iron across the fabric for about 3 seconds in each spot.
Step #3: A Few Tips About Thread
- Pearl cotton thread is suggested for your embroidery. It has a sheen or gloss that enhances the glow of silk fabric. The thread has dimension (it doesn’t flatten out), and the high twist helps it hold up for stitching. Use it as a single with the appropriate sized embroidery needle.
- Fine fabrics, like silk, are best stitched with finer threads such as Sizes 8 or 12 pearl cotton. Size 8 makes bold, dense shapes on the fabric. Size 12 makes delicate, detailed shapes.
- A variety of thread colors enlivens your design. Colors contrasting with the background fabric in hue or value make shapes prominent. Colors analogous to the background fabric blend and create a soft texture.
- Variegated threads offer changes in color without changing threads. They add texture and spark to the work.
- And here’s the best news: if you don’t like a thread color or size, you can always remove it.
Step #4: Flower Placement
- Place the background fabric (with the batting attached) vertically or in the portrait orientation.
- Stitch 3 circles (measuring about 1 1/4″ across) or 3 ovals (measuring about 1 1/4″ across in length and 1″ across in width) to make the flower centers. Use a Running Stitch and the fine sewing thread. The top flower center in our example measures about 2 1/2″ down from the top and 2 1/2″ in from the side of the silk fabric.
Step #5: Flower Center
- Use a Size 8 Violets pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch French Knots around each flower center marked by the Running Stitches.
- Remove the Running Stitches from each flower center.
Step #6: Flower Petals
- Use a Size 8 Sunrise pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch Chain Stitches in loop shapes around each flower center to form 6 flower petals measuring about 3/4″ to 1″ long.
Step #7: Filling in the Flower Petals
- Use a Size 8 Sunrise pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch Lazy Daisy Stitches in rows across the flower petal shapes to fill in each petal on each flower.
Step #8: Filling in the Flower Centers
- Use Size 8 Violets, Aquamarine , and Sunflowers pearl cotton threads and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needles.
- Stitch another row of French Knots around the inside of each flower center using the Violets thread.
- Stitch 2 rows of French Knots around the inside of each flower center using the Aquamarine thread.
- Stitch French Knots inside of each flower center filling in the space using the Sunflowers thread.
Step #9: Flower Stems
- Use a Size 8 Lime Frappe pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch 3 rows of Stem Stitches next to each other and in an arc from the base of each flower down to within 2″ to 2 1/2″ of the bottom of the fabric. These stitches form the flower stems.
Step #10: Leaves
- Use a Size 8 Lime Frappe pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch Fern Stitches on to the flower stems to form the veins of the leaves.
- Stitch Stem Stitches around each Fern Stitch to enclose the leaf.
Step #11: Leaf Dots
- Use a Size 8 Sunflowers pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch French Knots inside the leaf veins.
Step #12: Ground
- Use a Size 8 Violets pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch Stem Stitches in wavy rows across the bottom edge of the fabric to form the ground.
- Use a Size 8 Lime Frappe pearl cotton thread and a size 3 or 4 embroidery needle.
- Stitch Straight Stitches inside the ground rows to form blades of grass.
Step #13: Filling in the Flower Petals
- Use a Size 12 Aquamarine pearl cotton thread and a size 5 or 7 embroidery needle.
- Stitch Running Stitches and Lazy Daisy Stitches in vertical rows down the fabric to the ground to form rain and raindrops.
Step # 14: Finishing
- At a corner, fold the background fabric onto the batting at at a 90 degree angle. Fuse the corner into place with a hot iron.
- Repeat this at each corner.
- Fold each side onto the batting making a sharp corner. Fuse the sides down with a hot iron.
- Place the felt on the back of the piece
- Stitch the felt to the back of the piece with a Running Stitch.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Tutorial of Flowers in the Rain.