Today I will show you how to make the lazy daisy stitch, also known as the detached chain stitch. This stitch is a really great stitch for making simple flower petals or when there is a line of them attached together you can make a chain stitch. Let's start by making this simple stitch:
Gather a few simple supplies:
SCISSORS
COTTON/LINEN FABRIC IN A WOOD HOOP - Use a scrap size fabric and insert it into an embroidery hoop. I use a 4 or 5 inch hoop when I am practicing so a 5.5 inch or 6.5 square of fabric respectively. You want enough to overlap in order to keep the fabric tight in the hoop.
MARKING UTENSIL - This is great for drawing a stitch guide on to your fabric. I like to use this marker with vanishing ink but a sharpened lead pencil is great too.
NEEDLE - An embroidery/crewel needle size 8 or up will be perfect for this.
THREAD - I use DMC six strand embroidery thread. Typically, I divide the thread and use three of the six strands. Only use about 18 inches at a time or the thread is more likely to knot and tangle.
Use your marker or pencil to make a small leaf shape on your fabric. Mine was about 1/4 inch in length.
Thread your needle. I use three strands and a length of about 18 inches. Thread one side into the eye of the needle and knot the other end. Bring the needle up from the back of the hoop to the front at the corner of the leaf shape where I marked "1" in the picture above.
Bring your needle back down into the same hole (where I marked "1"). The key is to NOT bring the needle all the way down but to leave just a small loop of fabric sticking up.
Leave your loop in place by NOT pulling the needle tight and bring the needle back up where I have marked "2" and simultaneously making sure the needle is inside the loop you made.
Pull the thread all the way through but not too tight. If you keep the stitch slightly loose it will maintain more of a petal shape.
That is all there is to it!!! It is an easy stitch to make. If you make these in a row, it is called a chain stitch. Not unlike the STEM STITCH it is a great stitch to use as a decorative border or filler stitch.
This is such an easy way to make a sweet flower. Kind of "daisy-like" don't you think?
To complete your charming little flower, add some FRENCH KNOTS to the center. Cute, right?
Use your SPLIT STITCH skills to make a stem and add some lazy daisy petals at the bottom to complete your charming little flower.
Such a cute design you can easily do free hand. It is so much fun to practice this one on clothing and jeans.
Here I added a little wreath of these petals on the side and some little wispy threads. This is a really terrific stitch for wreath making. Think of the holiday possibilities!
Hope you have had fun learning this fun and versatile stitch.
Thanks for stopping by.
Warmly,
Pam