Transform a brand new, or a well-worn denim jacket (as we have done), into a statement accessory for your spring wardrobe with Rachael Dobbins’ gorgeously tactile flowers embroidery design.
She’s chosen a deliciously bright colour palette for her embroidery flowers that you work the three-dimensional stitches in.
The flower embroidery design was originally featured in Love Embroidery magazine and it's now one of our favourite free embroidery projects. You'll find walkthrough guides showing how to work the embroidery flowers in the free flowers embroidery design right here on Gathered.
If you are starting out with this great hobby and are looking for some advice on embroidery on clothes - check out our guide.
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Items needed to make these denim jacket flower embroidery designs
- Denim jacket
- Stranded cotton
- Water-soluble stabiliser
- Basic embroidery kit
Stitches used in this flower embroidery pattern
- Bullion Knot
- Cast-on Stitch
- Couching Stitch
- Fishbone Stitch
- French Knot
- Satin Stitch
- Straight Stitch
- Woven Wheel
You will also need to download our Free flower embroidery templates
How to stitch flower embroidery on a denim jacket
Step 1
Trace the design from the template onto water-soluble stabiliser, then stick it in place on your jacket. There are three sections: one for the front, one for the top of the sleeve and a small one that reaches over the seam at the back. These are all designed to be stitched on the left side of your jacket, but you can flip them to mirror it for placing on the right side instead or take parts of the design to work over other areas of your jacket.
Step 2 - Add the White embroidery flowers
Work the embroidery flowers petals in Straight Stitch using six strands of white. Work them in a star shape, always coming back to the middle of the flower with every stitch. This creates a small hole in the centre to give definition and shape to the flower. Work the individual leaves around the embroidery flowers in Fishbone Stitch using six strands of light green.
Step 3 - Add the red and peach embroidery flowers
Work a French Knot in the centre of each embroidery flower in six strands of yellow. Couch the inner petal lines by working the laid thread and the Couching Stitches in the same colour using three strands for each. Use dark peach for the red embroidery flowers and dark orange for the peach embroidery flowers.
Step 4
For the red embroidery flowers, fill in the petals with Satin Stitch using three strands of red on the inside and raspberry on the outer edges.
For the two-tone peach embroidery flowers, fill in the petals with Satin Stitch using three strands of light peach on the inside and dark peach on the outer edges. For the solid peach embroidery flowers, fill in the petals with Satin Stitch using three strands of dark peach.
Step 5 - Add a branch of embroidery flowers
Work the individual petals and star flowers on the branch in Straight Stitch using six strands of variegated orange. Work the star embroidery flowers in the same way as the white embroidery flowers.
Step 6 - Add a range of embroidered roses
Work the darkest roses as Woven Wheels using six strands of plum.
Step 7
Work the medium-toned roses as Bullion Knots using six strands of dark pink. Start by working a French Knot in the centre of the rose, then work two Bullion Knots either side of the French Knot in semi-circles. Keep adding more Bullion Knots around the outside so they overlap to form rose shapes. Follow the design lines or feel free to create your own shape. Try to curve the Bullion Knots to create the petal shapes. This is done by making the wrapped thread longer than the actual stitch.
Step 8
Work the palest roses in Cast-on Stitch using six strands of light pink and a chenille needle. Start by working a French Knot in the centre, then work two Cast-on Stitches either side of the French Knot in semi-circles. Add more Cast-on Stitches round the outside to build up the rose.
Step 9
Work the rose leaves in Fishbone Stitch using six strands of dark green.
Step 10 - Add some subtle blue embroidery flower designs
Work these small embroidery flowers in Satin Stitch using three strands of blue. Each petal is formed of three stitches. Work a French Knot in the centre using three strands of yellow.
Step 11 - Some embroidered leaf branches will help to bring the design together
Work the leaves and stems in pistachio. Work each leaf in Fishbone Stitch using six strands. Work the stems in Couching Stitch using three strands.
Step 12 - Add some lovely stemmed roses
Work the rose buds at the ends of the stems in Satin Stitch using six strands of light orange. To make the buds three dimensional, work several stitches on top of each other.
Step 13
Work the stem, leaves and sepal in light green. Work the stem in Couching Stitch using two strands. Work the leaves in Fishbone Stitch using three strands. Work the sepal in Satin Stitch using six strands.
Step 14 - Next add some texture with fringed embroidery flowers
These are all worked in six strands of either rose, medium peach, variegated orange or light peach. Start by making a tassel by wrapping the stranded cotton 15-20 times around the thread wrapper, cut to 2cm in length. Thread a length of stranded cotton through the top loops and knot to hold them together, then pull off the wrapper. Stitch the tassel securely into place at the top of the stem with two horizontal stitches worked from each side and into the centre.
Step 15
Make the sepal in Satin Stitch using six strands of either light green or pistachio over the top of the tassel to cover the horizontal stitches and hold in place.
Step 16
Work the stem and leaves in the same colour as the sepal. Work a French Knot at the base of the sepal using six strands. Work the stem in Couching Stitch using six strands for the laid thread and two strands for the couching stitches. Work the leaves in Fishbone Stitch using six strands.
Step 17 - Finishing off with some final steps
Immerse the jacket in warm water to dissolve the stabiliser, then rinse and wait until dry to finish the tassels.
Cut the loops at the top of the tassel and run the needle through each strand to separate them. Trim the embroidery flower to a curved shape, keeping it as long or short as you like.
Step 18
Ensure all thread ends are securely tied off. Iron stabiliser on the back to protect the threads. To care for your embroidery flowers jacket, it’s best to always hand wash your jacket.
Update a denim jacket with embroidery flowers
Once you've made this denim jacket embroidery project you don't have to stop there!
Keep adding more and more and go full maximalist by covering the entire jacket, or keep any offcuts of the water-soluble stabiliser to add small simple flower designs to a range of garments.
Complete your outfit with embroidered sneakers
Once you've made your floral embroidered jacket, go full-on flower fashionista by trying Gathered's DIY embroidered Converse tutorial!
