How to do lazy daisy embroidery stitch
If you’re just getting started with embroidery, the lazy daisy stitch is one of the easiest and most useful stitches you can learn. It’s perfect for creating small petal or leaf shapes and gives a lovely textured look to flowers, wreaths and decorative borders. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to do lazy daisy embroidery stitch step by step, with tips to get a neat and even result.
What you’ll need
- Embroidery hoop
- Embroidery needle
- Embroidery floss (I used 6-strand cotton)
- Fabric (cotton or linen works well)
- Scissors
What is lazy daisy stitch?
Lazy daisy stitch, also called detached chain stitch, is made by looping thread out from a central point and securing it with a tiny tack stitch. It’s called lazy daisy because it’s often used to make flower petals arranged in a daisy shape, but you can use it for lots of other motifs too.
Step-by-step: how to do lazy daisy stitch
Step 1 prepare your fabric
Place your fabric in the embroidery hoop and pull it taut. If you’re new to embroidery, you might want to lightly sketch a petal shape as a guide.
Step 2 bring the needle up
Thread your needle with embroidery floss. I usually separate out 2 or 3 strands. Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric at the base of where you want the petal or loop to start.
Step 3 insert the needle back in the same spot
Push the needle back into the fabric at the same point (or very close), but don’t pull the thread tight. Leave a loop sitting on the surface of the fabric.
Step 4 bring the needle up at the tip
Come up again at the tip of the petal shape, making sure your needle comes up inside the loop you’ve made.
Step 5 pull the thread gently
Pull the thread through until the loop lies flat on the fabric. Don’t tug too tightly or it will distort the shape.
Step 6 anchor the loop
Make a tiny stitch just beyond the top of the loop to hold it in place. This keeps your loop open and gives the stitch its petal or leaf shape.
Step 7 repeat as needed
You can now repeat the stitch to create flower petals, leaves or curved designs. Lazy daisy works well arranged in circles or rows depending on your pattern.
Tips for neat lazy daisy stitches
- Keep your tension even for consistent loop sizes
- Use smaller loops for neat, compact petals and longer loops for a looser, flowing style
- Anchor each loop with a short, firm stitch just outside the loop
- Try stitching in a circle for floral effects or in lines for decorative edging
What to use lazy daisy stitch for
- Flower petals
- Leaves and vines
- Decorative borders
- Embellishing letters or monograms
- Filling in shapes on floral and botanical designs
