Why I love floral embroidery (and why it never gets old)

A close up of hand embroidered pink tulips on white cotton socks

I get asked a lot why I’m so drawn to flowers in my embroidery — and honestly, I don’t think there’s one neat answer. I just love them. The fact that every flower is different, the colours, the detail, and even their short but beautiful lifespan all feel incredibly special to me.

Flowers make me feel calm, grounded, and lighter — like a little reminder that brighter, sunnier days are always ahead. I think a lot of that love comes from my nan, who was a very keen gardener. From a young age, I was out there with her pruning flowers, learning their names, and watching how much care went into growing something beautiful. That connection has stuck with me, and stitching florals now feels like a natural extension of that.

How I choose which flowers to stitch

When I start a new piece, I usually look at the item first — whether that’s a jumper, socks, a beanie, or a decor hoop — and almost instantly, certain flowers pop into my head. It’s quite intuitive. If nothing comes to me straight away, I’ll look closely at the colours of the fabric and think about what would suit it best. From there, I’ll choose specific flowers that work naturally with that palette.

It’s a very organic process, and I like keeping it that way. I don’t over-plan my designs — I let the piece guide me.

A brunette girl wearing black shorts hand embroidered with sunflowers and a blouse hand embroidered with a bouquet of sunflowers

Featuring the Tuscany top and Dreaming of sunflower shorts.

Florals through the seasons

Although I stitch flowers all year round, the seasons definitely influence my designs. In spring and summer, I’m drawn to brighter, fresher florals — lighter colours and more playful combinations. As the year moves into autumn and winter, my designs naturally shift into darker, cooler tones that feel more in keeping with the season.

That seasonal flow keeps floral embroidery feeling fresh rather than repetitive, and it gives me the chance to explore the same flowers in different moods.

A brunette girl stood by a window wearing black jeans and a white top hand embroidered with a single poppy flower

Keeping florals minimal and wearable

Florals sometimes get a reputation for being overly traditional or fussy, but that’s never been my style. Because my work is hand embroidered, each design is intentionally minimalist and thoughtfully placed. Nothing is overworked or crowded.

I truly believe florals can be everyday pieces — not just something you save for special occasions. In fact, floral embroidery is something I personally wear daily. When done simply, it becomes a subtle detail that fits effortlessly into your wardrobe.

A close up of blue floral embroidery on a white knitted beanie hat. The floral embroidery features roses, cosmos, and a hydrangea

Why hand embroidery makes florals special

One of the biggest differences between hand embroidery and printed designs is texture. Embroidery is tactile and slightly 3D — you can see and feel the stitches. Each flower is made slowly, stitch by stitch, which makes it more intricate, more detailed, and far longer lasting. Your embroidery isn’t going to wash away or fade like a print might.

I love that no two flowers are ever exactly the same. That uniqueness is what makes hand embroidered florals so interesting — they’re never copied and pasted, and each piece feels genuinely individual.

A 6 inch embroidery hoop hand embroidered with wedding flowers in a heart shape and the name 'Mr and Mrs Lee' embroidered in the middle

A floral piece that means a lot to me

One of my favourite floral pieces I’ve ever made was a custom embroidered decor hoop of a bride’s wedding bouquet, stitched alongside their name and wedding date. Knowing that something I created would hold so much meaning and preserve such a special memory made it incredibly rewarding. Those kinds of pieces are a reminder of why I love what I do.

Why florals will always be a part of my work

Floral embroidery never feels tired to me. There’s always a new colour combination to try, a different flower to explore, or a fresh way to interpret something familiar. Flowers are timeless, emotional, and endlessly inspiring — and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

They’ll always have a place in my work, stitched slowly and thoughtfully, one flower at a time (because how else would I do it?!).

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A pink knitted beanie hand embroidered with purple roses and cosmos flowers

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