Floral Sampler

Thank you for purchasing our Floral Sampler kit!

Our sampler kit is a little bit different from your usual sampler. Not only will you be get to learn 14 lovely new stitching techniques but the finished product is actually something you'll want to display in your home!

Your kit also gives you access to this Stitch Along Guide, to help you with creating your piece.

Floral Sampler - Full Video Guide

Prepping Your Hoop & Thread

Before beginning your kit, you'll be setting up your hoop and threading your needle.

Setting Up Your Hoop

To put your fabric into your hoop, separate the inner and outer hoop by loosening the metal screw at the top.
Place your inner hoop (the one without the metal piece) under your fabric, roughly centering your design in the middle. Then place your outer ring on top of the fabric.
Use the screw to tighten the hoop until the fabric is taut like a drum. This can take a bit of time. Start by screwing it a little tighter, then adjust the fabric, then screw again before finally pulling the fabric so it's nice and tight in the hoop.
Don't worry if the design isn't perfectly in the middle of the hoop, as you'll be able to adjust it after you've completed!

Threading Your Needle

Your thread comes as six individual strands combined to make one string. When stitching we will often split the string and used the desired number of strands for the stitch.
Cut approximately 60cm (or roughly an arms length) of thread then separate the number of strands you'll need for the following stitch.
For your very first step you'll need 3 strands of your #934 (dark green) thread, meaning that you'll be splitting your thread into two sections, each with 3x strands of thread.

Use one of your pink needle threaders to thread your needle, pulling the thread partially through the needle. Don't pull the thread all the way through to the middle, just enough so it feels secure and your needle won't slide away.
Then tie a knot at the end of your thread. You can do a double knot if you like, but just a single knot is usually enough for the type of linen included in your kit.

Beginning Your Floral Sampler

Your guide includes instructions for the following 14 stitches. Here's a full list of stitches used in case you'd like do extra research on these stitch types.

Back Stitch
Lazy Daisy Stitch
Whipped Back Stitch
Lazy Daisy Stitch
Coral Stitch
Satin Stitch
Basket Weave
Fern Stitch
French Knots
Split Stitch
Leaf Stitch
Woven Wheel Rose
Chain Stitch
Fishbone Stitch
Long & Short Stitch

For the video tutorial for each of these instructions, please watch the above video guide for this kit. You can also watch our individual guides for an in-depth tutorial of each stitch HERE.

Flower No. 1

Start by using 3 strands of #934 (dark green) thread to stitch the stems of the flower with BACK STITCH. Next you'll use 6 strands of your #223 (blush) thread to stitch the petals using LAZY DAISY stitch. Try to keep each petal more rounded in shape.

Finish off your flower by stitching the leaves using 3 strands of #934 (dark green) thread. You'll use LAZY DAISY stitch again but this time try pulling the 'petals' tighter to make the leaves look longer and thinner than your flowers.

Flower No. 2

For your second flower, start with 3 strands of #3052 (sage green) thread and stitch the stem using WHIP STITCH. This is a variation of back stitch so it should be easy to make after your first flower.

For your petals, you'll use LAZY DAISY stitch again, starting with 3 strands of #225 (blossom) thread and finishing with 3 strands of #223 (blush) thread. These petals will be longer and thinner, similar to the leaves on your previous flower.

Flower No. 3

Firstly, create your three stems using CORAL STITCH with 3 strands of #936 (olive green) thread. Then using 3 strands of #728 (yellow) thread, fill in the petals of your flowers with SATIN STITCH. Try to fan your stain stitches outwards, following the direction of the petals.

Use a BASKET WEAVE stitch to fill in the middle of your flower. You'll be using 3 strands for both colours, with #3024 (lavender) going vertically and #3021 (iris) going horizontally.

Flower No. 4

Using 3 strands of #934 (dark green) use FERN STITCH to create the stem of this flower. If you find this stitch difficult you can stitch the shapes using straight stitches instead.Use BACK STITCH for the stems in the middle.

For the blossoms, start with 3 stranded FRENCH KNOTS in #3041 (lavender), #3042 (iris), #225 (blossom) and #223 (blush). Finish the flowers with a single 6 stranded FRENCH KNOT in #728 (yellow).

Flower No. 5

Start this flower with 6 strands of #3052 (sage green) using a SPLIT STITCH for the long stem. Then use 3 strands of the same colour to create 8 matching leaves with a simple LEAF STITCH. This is similar to satin stitch but with the stitches going inwards.

For your flower you'll be cresting a WOVEN WHEEL ROSE using #225 (blossom) thread. You'll start by outlining the spokes with 6 strands, then filling in the rose with 12 strands by doubling up your thread.

Flower No. 6

You're on the home stretch! Your final flower will start with a CHAIN STITCH for the stem, using 3 strands of #936 (olive green) thread. You'll then stitch your flower using 3 strands of thread and LONG & SHORT STITCH. Start with the #3041 (iris) in the centre and then the #3042 (lavender) on the outside petals.

Finish up the leaves of your flower with FISHBONE STITCH. And then you're done! YAY.

You've Finished Your Masterpiece!

Washing Your Piece

If there are blue lines from the pattern still visible when you've finished your piece, it's time to give it a rinse. If you can't see any blue lines (or they're small enough not to be noticeable) skip this step and go straight to backing your hoop!

To wash your lines off, take your fabric out of the hoop and rinse under warm water. You can gently rub the ink with your fingers to remove it. If the ink is being stubborn you can even rinse your fabric with a mild soap.

Once it's clean, leave your piece to dry on a flat on a hand towel away from direct sunlight. You can also press another hand towel gently on top of it to soak up excess water.

Ironing Your Piece

If your piece is very wrinkled, you may want to iron it. Generally, you won't need to do this unless it's very creased because the action of tightening the fabric in your hoop will remove small wrinkles.

Place your embroidered piece upside down on a towel on top of your ironing board. You want the back of your embroidery facing upwards. Next place a tea towel on top of your embroidered piece, to protect it from the direct heat of the iron.

Iron your piece on a medium setting, checking your piece as you go. If the creases are stubborn you can increase the setting of your iron, as linen and cotton are okay with higher temperatures. I always suggest doing this gradually, rather than going in straight away with full heat, as the last thing you want to do is burn your piece!

Backing Your Hoop

When you've finished your design, it's time to back your hoop so it's ready to display! Before backing, make sure your design is centred in the hoop.
With your hoop facing down, cut off your excess fabric, leaving approx. 1.5cm around the edge of your hoop.
Using approx. 70cm of any thread colour, thread your needle and tie a knot at the end.
Starting at the top of the hoop, we are going to use a running stitch around the hoop, across the excess fabric. When you've reached the top again, you can pull the thread firmly to pull the fabric towards the middle. This will stop it from showing at the front.

Once it's tight, secure your thread at the top with a knot. You can even knot the two ends of the thread together - just make sure they're as tight as possible so that the fabric at the back lies flat.
If you find the fabric is bunching up a bit, simply sit your embroidery piece under something heavy like a book for a few hours. This will flatten the fabric at the back, and make your hoop sit flush when you want to display it.

And you're done! Congratulations on finishing your Floral Sampler embroidery piece. I hope you had a fantastic experience stitching it!

Nakisah x

Craft Club's Founder