Embroidery flowers

One of the best ways to show detail with modern floral hand embroidery is to split the thread into different widths, from one strand up to six strands. 1. Cut a piece of six-strand embroidery floss (stranded cotton) around 2–3ft (60–90cm) long, and slowly spread out the end of the strand between the thumb and index finger of one hand, to separate the thread into six, single individual strands (1). 2. Depending on the pattern requirements, take the desired amount of strands (1 str, 2 str, 3 str, etc.) with your other hand and begin to separate them from the main strand. 3. Slowly pull the separated strands away from the main strand, going slowly so that the thread length doesn’t knot. 4. In the image (2), a straight stitch has been worked using different widths of thread, from one strand on the left to the full six strands on the right.

1. Thread your needle (use a needle threader if necessary) with strand(s) of thread around 2–3ft (60–90cm) long. 2. Bring the needle up through the fabric, from back to front (1), and pull the thread through until there is about 2–3in (5–7.5cm) of thread left on the back of the fabric (this is called the ‘tail’). 3. Take your free hand and press down on the thread ‘tail’ to make sure the thread doesn’t pull all the way through the fabric (2). 4. Begin stitching the pattern, letting go of the tail once a few stitches have been completed.

1. After completing an area of stitching, turn the embroidered fabric over to expose the backside and two tails of thread. Split each individual tail evenly and tie 2–3 knots to secure the thread tails at the back of the fabric (1, 2). 2. Take a pair of embroidery scissors or snips and cut the tails all the way to the knots (3).