Beginning Modern Hand Embroidery: Make a Floral Hoop

Hello and welcome to my embroidery class!

My name is Hilary Leslie and I’m an illustrator and hand embroidery artist for HLeslie Design. I first discovered the world of embroidery after picking up some embroidery supplies at a yard sale and playing around with the needle and thread. Once I started to learn some basic stitch types, I was absolutely hooked with this medium and started to create my own patterns based on my drawings.

What is Embroidery? Embroidery is an ancient artform that involves decorating fabric and other materials using thread, beads, sequins, and even pearls. It’s a craft that requires patience and dedication, but I truly believe that anyone can learn! I love that this type of art exercises hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. It is a craft that is travel-friendly, relaxing, and supported by a talented community of embroidery enthusiasts.

What Will I Learn in This Course? This course will outline the fundamentals of hand embroidery and you will learn how to create your own floral hoop alongside me. You can use the skills in this course to create your own decorative hoops which make great gifts, ornaments, and home décor.

What Can I Embroider in General?*hats*aprons*shirts*jean pockets*tote bags*tapestries*fabric for pillows*and much more!

Do I Need Supplies to Complete This Course?
Yes, but not too many! Embroidery is a craft that has relatively inexpensive tools. You can purchase a pack of needles for about $2.00, a hoop for $2.50-$5.00 and embroidery floss for $0.40-$0.60 per skein. Generally, the most expensive item you’ll buy as a regular embroiderer is the pattern itself (if you don’t create your own).

I normally purchase my embroidery supplies from one of the following places:
*Joann’s
*Michael’s
*Amazon

For patterns, kits, and other supplies from independent artists, you can use Etsy or a local craft store. DMC’s website has free downloadable patterns, and they also sell fabric and cotton embroidery floss.

To create the pattern I’ve created for this course, you’ll need:
*a 5” wooden embroidery hoop (or plastic, but I think wooden hoops hold the cloth better)
*a piece of cloth to fit your hoop (I use cotton in this course, but linen is also great)
*an embroidery needle (I use a DMC size 5 in this course)
*scissors
*an air-erasable pen (to transfer your design onto the fabric)
*embroidery floss (for the light floral palette, use DMC colors 3839, 3813, 932, 158, 3770, 3727. For the dark floral palette, use DMC colors 932, 154, 3866, 3052, 3770, 3042) You can also choose your own colors!

How Are Lessons Presented in This Course?
Each lesson is presented in video format, so you will be able to pause, rewind, and watch as many times as you need while you’re creating your hoop alongside me.

The class is split into three segments:
Preparing to Embroider
Stitching Your Hoop
Completing Your Hoop

The lectures are as follows:
Supplies
Prepping Your Hoop
Transferring Your Design
Threading Your Needle and Tying a Knot
French Knot Stitch
Fastening Your Floss
Woven Wheel Stitch
Fishbone Stitch
Straight Stitch
Satin Stitch
Loops
Lazy Daisy Stitch
Woven Wheel Stitch (without a center)
Finishing Your Hoop
Displaying Your Hoop
Resources Provided

You will be able to download the resource I’ve provided which is a PDF containing the pattern you will create and a photo with labels of each stitch type. The pattern comes in three different sizes depending on which hoop you’d like to create in this class (I recommend using the largest pattern which is for a 5” hoop). You will also have this pattern to use in the future if you’d like to recreate this hoop.

Do You Provide Patterns Elsewhere?
Yes! I have dozens of patterns on my Etsy shop (HLeslieDesign) and also provide kits. Each pattern comes in multiple sizes, just like the one for this class. Patterns also come with a full 28-page guide with photo examples, tips, and descriptions. The stitches you learn in this course pertain to almost all of my patterns on Etsy.

Pattern Testimonials
“This pattern is fantastic. It is quite easy which meant I got to kick back and just relax and have fun. The seller proactively reached out to let me know that if I had questions, she was there to answer them. The pdf comes with a great booklet of a ton of stitches and great picture tutorials. I didn’t need it, but the pictures were so clear and instructions well written so it’s a great resource for me for the future. All in all, this was a blast to stitch and I loved it.”

“Pattern was clear and easy to use. Easily customizable. Would definitely buy again.”

“Great pattern. I love how it comes on 1 page with 3 different size options which is an amazing idea, and I was able to lay it out and visualize it with all the different hoop sizes I have. It also comes with a really nice stitch guide. This is well worth the price and I plan to purchase several other of Hilary’s beautiful patterns. I plan to stitch up several versions of this flower and will post the finished project upon completion. Stitching has been my obsession during the pandemic and I have bought lots of patterns. This pattern, how it is presented, and what is included, is on par with patterns that cost 2x or 3x the price.”

“Amazing design and so easy to follow instructions!”

“Just started working on this pattern for a friend’s nursery. It’s turning out beautifully so far! The pattern comes with a thorough guide on stitches and pictures to explain each stitch. Highly recommend!”

“Easy instructions. It’s nice to have options with the multiple sizes given.”

Why Should I Choose This Course?
When the pandemic hit, my day-to-day life changed drastically and I dove headfirst into embroidery and HLeslie Design fulltime. I’ve learned so much over the past year creating hoops, designing patterns, and providing clear resources for others. I now want to share as much of my embroidery knowledge as possible through video classes. I think watching embroidery in real time will help a lot of students learn that much more effectively and quickly.

I hope this course is both fun and informative for you!