Hey there, fellow embroidery lovers! It's great to see you back for another lesson of my Hand Embroidery Stitches series. The stitch that we will learn today is the Leaf stitch. There are many stitches suitable for making leaves but this is one the simplest ones.
(1) To begin, you should draw the centerline of the leaf and then decide the angle of the stitches, which should follow the shape of the leaf (you can use a heat eraser pen to mark some guidelines.)
(2) Creating a straight stitch from the top down. This initial stitch will not only help determine the angle of the satin stitch but also give the leaf a more pointed tip.
(3) This half of the leaf can be divided into two sections and I made a stitch to help you see the division.
(4) For the top part section, the stitches can not be parallel but should be fanned out gradually until they reach the lower section.
(5) The bottom section has a shape perfect for Satin stitch, so we can make parallel side by side stitches here.
(6) I always complete one side of the leaf first and then move on to the other side. Try not to overlap the stitches at the centerline, as this will give your leaf a more distinct midrib.
Since we've previously explored the Satin stitch, this should be quite straightforward. In fact, you could consider it a variation of the Satin stitch designed specifically for leaf shapes. It's my go-to stitch for crafting lovely leaves.
While you can certainly leave the centerline as it is, I often use the Stem stitch to create a raised midrib for the leaf. This step is entirely optional but can add a nice touch to your design.
Practice Pattern
Download this free practice pattern here
This leaf may appear a bit more complex than the one we just practiced, but don't worry – the process remains the same once we break it down into smaller sections.
For my version, I'm using different shades of oranges for this leaf, but if you have only one color on hand, that's perfectly fine as well.
Don't forget to watch the YouTube video for step-by-step guide to stitch this pattern.
I hope you enjoy the process making this autumn leaf and see you in the next lesson. Happy stitching!
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