Table of Contents
Video reference: “6 Type Flowers Machine Embroidery Design” by M embroidery515
Six flowers. Two thread palettes. One smooth freehand technique. This guide shows you exactly how to stitch each floral motif, keep fills even, add delicate texture, and finish with luminous gold accents—without guesswork.
What you’ll learn
- The freehand machine embroidery approach used to outline, fill, and texture six distinct flowers
- How to manage stitch direction and density so petals look smooth, not streaky
- When and how to switch thread colors (including metallic gold) for clean accents
- Comment-verified insights: machine model (SINGER 20U), needle #12, rayon thread, and knee-pressure zigzag control
Mastering 6 Stunning Machine Embroidered Flower Designs Freehand machine embroidery lets you move the fabric beneath the needle to “draw” with thread. In this project, you’ll stitch six flowers—two in orange, four in red—then elevate them with gold accents. The sequence below adds clarity the moment you hoop the fabric through the last metallic highlight.
Understanding Freehand Machine Embroidery
- Motion: You steer the fabric to outline and fill. Petals are filled with consistent passes, then refined with quick detail strokes.
- Line weight: On an industrial zigzag like the SINGER 20U, width is controlled by knee pressure. This enables graceful shifts from narrow lines to bolder fills without changing settings mid-stitch (see “Setup” for control notes).
- Color layering: Base color first (orange or red), then targeted metallic accents to deepen contrast.
From the comments: Users asked whether a normal machine can work. The creator confirms you can embroider on a normal machine; the demo here uses an industrial zigzag SINGER 20U.
Essential Tools and Materials
- Machine: Industrial zigzag (SINGER 20U, per creator). A normal machine can be used for free-motion embroidery.
- Needle: #12 (reported by the creator).
- Threads: Orange, red, and metallic gold; rayon thread was used for its sheen.
- Hooping: Fabric secured in an embroidery hoop; outlines are pre-marked on the fabric.
- Workspace: Clean, stable surface for your machine.
Pro tip: If your stitches look flat, switch to rayon; it’s the thread type used in these flowers and helps the designs “pop.” best embroidery machine for beginners
Primer (What & When) What this process achieves
- Six distinct flowers combining consistent fills, crisp outlines, and texture details (stamens, rice stitching, and fan-like lines) finished with strategic metallic gold.
When to use it
- Decorative motifs for garments, linens, accessories, or framed textiles where hand-drawn thread texture shines.
Prerequisites
- Basic machine operation and comfortable hooping
- Fabric hooped with outlines drawn for each flower
Constraints
- This approach favors steady speed and smooth fabric movement. Fast stitching risks breaks or uneven fills.
Quick check: Your fabric should be taut in the hoop, with outlines clearly visible and no slack.
Prep Gather the exact items used in the project:
- Fabric hooped with flower outlines
- Orange thread, red thread, gold metallic thread
- Machine (demo uses SINGER 20U), needle #12
- Clean, stable tabletop
Decision point: If your machine is an industrial zigzag, practice knee-pressure control to vary width; if using a domestic machine, practice fabric movement to control line weight with passes.
Watch out: Metallic thread can snag. Plan to slow down and maintain a smooth, steady feed.
Prep checklist
- Fabric hooped tight and flat
- Threads prepped and tested on a scrap
- Needle #12 installed and free of burrs
- Outlines marked and visible
Setup Thread management and stitch control
- Color order: Orange or red for base fills, then gold for accents.
- Zigzag width: On SINGER 20U, use gentle knee pressure for subtle width changes. Practice increasing and decreasing pressure smoothly so lines don’t “jump” between widths.
- Speed: Keep it moderate; slow down for details.
From the comments: “How do you regulate thickness from thin and wide?” The creator confirms knee pressure controls zigzag width on industrial zigzag machines.
Quick check: Stitch a test petal on scrap—can you smoothly transition from a narrow outline to a wider fill by knee pressure alone?
Setup checklist
- Tension produces smooth lines without looping
- Knee control (if available) feels predictable
- Metallic thread path tested at reduced speed
Step-by-Step Guide to Each Flower Design The Classic Daisy: Orange Elegance (Flower 1) Goal: Outline and fill a daisy-like flower with orange thread; complete the center.
1) Outline petals in orange
- Glide around each petal. Keep stitch direction consistent within each petal.
Expected result: A clean perimeter that defines the petal shape.
2) Fill petals
- Work petal by petal, aligning stitches to the petal’s long axis.
- Continue around the center until all petals are full (00:08–00:41).
Expected result: Even density with no gaps; edges remain crisp.
3) Finish the center
- Return to the center and fill to a solid finish (00:41–00:46).
Expected result: Balanced coverage with a gentle, rounded look.
Quick check: Petal fills should appear uniform without thin streaks.
Watch out: Thread breaks often come from high speed—particularly when pivoting in small arcs.
The Bold Star Flower: A Modern Twist (Flower 2) Goal: Fill a star-like flower with orange thread and define pointed tips.
1) Outline and fill
- Keep stitch direction aligned within each long, narrow petal (00:46–01:16).
Expected result: Sharp points with consistent interior density.
2) Complete the center
- Add a compact fill (01:28–01:31).
Expected result: A clean, star-like bloom with distinct geometry.
Watch out: As you approach narrow tips, ease off speed to avoid bunching.
Clover Petal Charm: Red with Delicate Stamens (Flower 3) Goal: Fill clover-shaped petals in red, then add stamen-like details at the petal tips.
1) Change to red thread and fill petals - The first petal sets the coverage; match its direction on subsequent petals (01:35–02:07).
2) Add stamen-like details - Short, fine stitches from the petal tip inward (02:14–02:38).
Expected result: A soft clover shape with refined tip details.
Quick check: Stamens should be consistent in length and centered on each petal tip.
Elevating Your Designs with Advanced Techniques Pointed Petals & Rice Stitching: Adding Texture (Flower 4) Goal: Fill pointed petals in red, then build texture with rice stitching—fine, parallel lines radiating from the petal base.
1) Fill pointed petals
- Keep the tips clean; prioritize crisp exits (02:38–03:07).
2) Add rice stitching - Short, evenly spaced lines at the petal center create dimension (03:15–03:39).
3) Fill the center
- Finish with a compact center fill (03:39–03:47).
Expected result: Spiky silhouette with a textured interior that adds depth.
From the comments: Several viewers asked how width varies mid-stitch. On SINGER 20U, knee pressure adjusts zigzag width; practicing gentle pressure changes helps you place texture lines accurately.
Rounded Petals & Fan Details: Layered Beauty (Flower 5) Goal: Fill rounded petals in red, then add fan-like lines from center outward.
1) Fill rounded petals
- Maintain smooth curves; watch for distortion at edges (03:52–04:05).
2) Add fan-like internal stitches - Evenly spaced short lines radiate from the center to each petal (04:12–04:34).
3) Fill the center
- Cap with a consistent center fill (04:41–04:47).
Expected result: Rounded petals with subtle, layered texture.
Elongated Petals: Graceful Flow (Flower 6) Goal: Fill elongated petals in red, then add fan-like internal lines.
1) Fill elongated petals
- Follow the long axis to emphasize length (04:54–05:22).
2) Add fan-like internal details
- Keep spacing and length consistent on each petal (05:22–05:39).
3) Fill the center
- Finish with a neatly packed center (05:46–05:51).
Expected result: Sleek, elongated petals with delicate interior patterning.
Operation checklist
- Petal outline clean before filling
- Stitch direction aligned with petal shape
- Detail stitches consistent in size and placement
The Golden Touch: Accenting Your Floral Creations Gold accents tie the collection together. Switch to gold thread and add highlights to centers and inner petal sections (05:59–08:26).
Applying Gold Highlights to Each Flower
- Clover-petal flower (Flower 3): Gold in the center; small accents align with the red details (05:59–06:29).
- Pointed-petal flower (Flower 4): Gold fills the inner section of each petal for a two-tone look (06:35–07:02).
- Daisy-like (Flower 1): Gold accents in the petals’ inner portion, mirroring the orange outline (07:09–07:34).
- Rounded-petal (Flower 5): Inner petal sections receive gold fills, adding contrast (07:34–07:42).
- Elongated-petal (Flower 6): Similar inner accents for a cohesive finish (07:42–08:02).
- Second orange flower (Flower 2): Gold completes the center (08:08–08:21).
Pro tip: Metallic thread is less forgiving—slow down and keep your thread path smooth to reduce breakage. magnetic embroidery hoop
Quality Checks At each milestone, verify:
- Outlines: Smooth curves, sharp points where intended
- Fills: No visible gaps; even density across petals
- Texture details: Rice stitching and fan lines are evenly spaced and centered
- Metallics: Accents align with base stitching; no burrs or snags
Quick check: Tilt the fabric under light—the sheen from rayon and the gold should look continuous, without dull patches.
Results & Handoff Your stitched panel should display six distinct flowers finished with gold highlights and clean centers (08:26–09:12).
- Orange blooms read bold and graphic; red blooms gain dimensionality from texture lines.
- The final arrangement shows variety in petal shape, fill strategy, and accents.
From the comments
- Machine: SINGER 20U industrial zigzag was used in the demo; the creator notes you can embroider on a normal machine as well.
- Needle: #12 reported by the creator.
- Thread type: Rayon thread for the colored fills.
- Price context: A comment cites ~USD $750 for the machine about 10 years ago.
- Control: On industrial zigzag, knee pressure adjusts zigzag width for thin-to-wide transitions.
Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom → likely cause → fix
- Gaps in petal fill → Inconsistent path or speed → Slow down; add passes along the petal’s long axis to even density.
- Thread breaks (especially gold) → Speed too high; thread drag → Reduce speed; ensure a smooth thread path and steady feed.
- Jagged edges on curves → Stopping too infrequently → Take shorter travel segments; pivot smoothly around curves.
- Asymmetrical fan lines → Losing the center reference → Place the first 1–2 lines carefully; echo their spacing on each petal.
- Loose rice stitching → Lines too sparse → Add a few more short, parallel strokes centered in each petal.
Watch out: If the knee-controlled width jumps abruptly, practice on scrap—make incremental pressure changes to avoid visible “steps” in line width.
Checklist: Before you call it done
- All petal interiors look even and aligned
- Texture details are consistent across petals of the same flower
- Gold accents sit neatly inside prior stitching and add contrast
- No loose tails or skipped stitches
Notes on Machines and Materials (Community-sourced)
- Model used: SINGER 20U industrial zigzag (creator).
- Normal machine use: The creator confirms you can embroider on a normal machine.
- Needle: #12; suitable for the demo’s fabrics and threads.
- Thread: Rayon for color; metallic gold for accents.
- Width control: Zigzag width by knee pressure on the industrial zigzag.
Pro tip: If you’re practicing on different machines, start with a small motif and scale up; muscle memory for fabric movement and width control builds quickly. brother sewing machine
Optional planning note Some readers like to refine hooping ergonomics as they practice freehand control and positioning. Researching tools and methods for stable hooping can help you achieve flatter, more consistent results session after session. embroidery hoops magnetic
Optional accessory note As you refine your setup, you may come across community discussions about add-on hooping tools that streamline fabric handling for repeated projects. Choose what complements your workflow and machine. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines
Cohesive series wrap-up You now have six flowers that share a visual language—confident base fills, carefully placed texture lines, and bright metallic accents. Repeat any motif in alternate colors, mirror them, or cluster them in bouquets for garments and home décor. mighty hoop 5.5
From the comments (mini-FAQ) Q: Which exact machine model is in use? A: SINGER 20U industrial zigzag.
Q: What needle did you use? A: #12 (per creator).
Q: What thread type? A: Rayon for the color work; metallic gold for accents.
Q: How do you make lines wider or narrower while stitching? A: On the 20U industrial zigzag, knee pressure adjusts zigzag width.
Q: Can I do this on a normal machine? A: Yes, the creator says you can embroider on a normal machine; the technique is freehand.
Final encouragement Start with one flower. Build speed slowly, especially on details and metallics. Add the gold last for a polished, gallery-ready finish. hoop master embroidery hooping station