The other evening I really fancied creating something, for the first time in a couple of weeks, and I found myself reaching for a needle and thread. I ended up stitching a really simple violet flower outline. No complicated stitches or pressure to be neat and perfect. Just a basic backstitch and the calm joy of creating. It felt really good. And, if you’re wondering why I chose a violet… violets are February’s birth flower (or, at least, one of them… there are a couple of variations depending on which source you look at). I wanted to create something seasonal, and it seemed like the perfect choice. So, in a bid to share that joy with you, our Monthly Motivation project this month is a seasonal embroidery project of a violet, February’s birth flower.
Whether you are February baby yourself and want to create something personal for you, have a friend with a February birthday and want to gift them something unique and handmade, or you simply want to enjoy some seasonal creativity like me… this violet embroidery project could be just what you’re looking for.
Arguably the trickiest part of any embroidery project is drawing your design… but never fear, we’ve got you covered.
Step One: Click here to download your free copy of our violet embroidery template*.
Step Two: Print it out (it’s designed for A4 portrait paper) and place it behind your chosen embroidery fabric.
Step Three: Use a bright light (a light box/pad, tablet screen, or bright window work well) to see the design through the fabric. Then trace over the template using a suitable pen (heat erasable pens work well and the drawing can then be removed with a hairdryer or iron after stitching).
Step Four: Secure your fabric in an embroidery hoop.
Step Five: Use any stitch or combination of stitches to complete your violet flower. There are no instructions included, so the choice is entirely up to you.
You can really change the look of your finished embroidery piece with the stitch or stitches you choose. When I stitched my violet, I really enjoyed the simplicity of backstitch using four strands of embroidery floss in a single colour for the whole design. You might prefer outlining with something like a stem stitch, using different colours for the flowers and leaves or to create shading, or maybe ‘filling in’ the outlines with satin stitch.
The design is intended to be framed in a 6″ hoop however, because the outline goes off the edge, it can be easier to stitch the design using a larger hoop and then use a 6″ hoop to frame/display the finished piece. Alternatively, you can move the 6″ hoop around the design to more easily stitch it before centring when finished.
Want to create a seasonal embroidery project every month, or perhaps gift a loved one a handstitched piece for their birthday later in the year? You can purchase our ‘12 birth flower embroidery templates‘ with a further eleven birth flower designs (one for each month) from our online shop.
You can then create seasonal embroidered hoop designs whenever you fancy. Or, if you want to try something a bit different, you could use the templates to stitch birth-flower tote bags, draw personalised birthday cards, or paint meaningful wall art.
Whatever you choose to use the templates for, and whether you just give February’s birth flower a try or create pieces for the whole year, I’d love to see what you make. Share your photos and videos on Instagram and tag us @forcreativessake (make sure you also send us a DM if your account is private, so I don’t miss it!).
Kerri x
*For personal use, UK residents, and those over the age of 18 only. Click here for full terms & conditions.
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