Embroidered Wreaths on a quilted table runner

This quilted table runner is embellished with hand embroidery. The wreaths are stitched without a pattern.

Freestyle embroidery is a fun way to add detail to quilted projects.  Things that have large empty pieces like an Irish chain or snowball blocks are great to showcase embroidery.  These wreaths are a quick and easy way to try some new stitches.  I made mine Christmassy, but there is no rule that they have to be.

About the table runner

This is the Fill in the Blanks table runner. I made the large version which is 18″ x 72″. It is a very large table runner, but it could also be used as a seasonal bed runner.

When embellishing quilted projects, sometimes I do embroidery first, and sometimes I do the piecing first.  It depends on the size of the finished project and the weight of the embroidery.  If it is for a large quilt, it is easier to embroider the blocks and then piece them.  If the embroidery is quite heavy, it might pull and distort the fabric, so it’s better to do the embroidery on a larger piece, and then cut it to size after it’s done.  This also allows you to centre it properly.

For this project, I pieced the runner first and then added the embroidery before going on to quilt it.

How to stitch the wreaths

Trace a circle with a wash-away marker.  I tried a few bowls and plates until I found the right size.

I just eyeballed placement, but you could use rulers if you want it to be exact.

Put the fabric in the hoop.  Make sure the hoop is large enough that your embroidery is not right at the edge, but still small enough that fabric covers the whole circle.

For quilting cotton, I use only two strands of embroidery floss.  Follow the line you have drawn with an embroidery stitch.  If you need help learning to do the stitches, you can check out my embroidery stitch tutorials.

Stitch all the way around the circle.

Then you can add some embroidery accent if you want.  Here are some sample combinations.

Feather stitch with French knots

This wreath is made with dark green feather stitch and embellished with red French knots.

Herringbone with straight stitch flowers

Herringbone stitch is a great stitch for wreaths. These flowers are groups of straight stitch.

Interlaced running stitch

This wreath is made with two circles of running stitch that are interlaced. It is a simple technique that looks more complicated than it is.

Chain Stitch and French knots

This wreath is stitched with chain stitch and embellished with lazy daisy flowers.

Cretan stitch with straight stitch stars

Cretan stitch makes an easy wreath and the stars are made with straight stitch.

Wheat ear stitch with clusters of French knots

Wheat ear stitch makes a fun wreath and the clusters of French knots are a great embellishment.

These wreaths can easily be made larger or smaller, and you can add as much or little embellishment as you want.  You could use them on a quilt, or frame one by itself.  A small one could be made into a brooch, and you could use any kind of fabric and thread combination.  It’s like doodling but with needle and thread.

Sometimes it’s fun just to play with stitches on something where it doesn’t have to be perfect.  Freestyle embroidery is the answer.