Heart Shaped Floral Wreath
A soft woodland heart built from layered olive leaves, twining brown branches, golden sunflower petals, lavender-purple flower spikes, yellow buds, and airy blue hydrangea-style clusters.
Suggested DMC floss palette
These colors match the visible families in the sample: warm sunflower yellows, dark cocoa centers, dry twig browns, greyed greens, deep purples, pale blue hydrangea petals, and small mint-green accents. Use the notes as placement guidance rather than strict rules.
Main sunflower petals, daisy petals, and the light side of yellow buds.
Petal shadow strokes and warm bud centers; blend with 743 for golden depth.
Sunflower center ring and the darkest knots along crossing stems.
Deep center dots and tiny anchor stitches where branch lines tuck under leaves.
Primary twig outline through the heart shape; works well in stem stitch.
Underside branch shadows and overlaps near the bottom crossing stems.
Long shadow leaves, lower wreath greenery, and the central vein of larger leaves.
Soft olive leaf fill, especially around the upper curve and lower left spray.
Leaf highlights; place on the outer edge of leaves to keep the wreath fresh.
Dark oval leaves at the right and left edges; use sparingly for contrast.
Deep bases of lavender berries and the darkest purple flower knots.
Main purple blossoms; alternate with 554 for dimensional flower clusters.
Raised highlights on the lower-right hydrangea and small lavender tips.
Lightest blue flower knots and highlight caps on hydrangea-style clusters.
Mid-tone blue cluster petals, especially on the left flower puff.
Cool shadows under blue knots and inner cluster depth.
Stitching plan by design area
Work the wreath as a layered botanical illustration. Start with the heart framework and stitched stems, then build leaves and flowers over the top so the design keeps its natural overlap.
| Area | Recommended stitches | Thread count & practical notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heart twig frame | Stem stitch, whipped back stitch, couching for thicker crossings. | Use 2 strands of 840 for the main line, then add 1 strand of 839 along lower edges. Keep the top indentation slightly angular to preserve the heart shape. |
| Long leaves | Fishbone stitch, closed fly stitch, straight stitch veins. | Use 2 strands. Blend one strand 3052 with one strand 3053 for soft mid leaves; use 3011 at the base and along the center vein. |
| Sunflower | Detached lazy daisy, long-and-short stitch, satin stitch, French knots. | Use 2 strands for petals, switching 743 at the tips and 742 near the center. The center can be dense French knots in 898 with a few 3371 knots for depth. |
| Blue hydrangea clusters | French knots, colonial knots, small detached chain petals. | Use 2 strands for knots. Scatter 3756 on the lit edges, 800 through the middle, and 809 tucked at the lower inside edge to create a rounded puff. |
| Purple flowers and lavender spikes | Lazy daisy, bullion knots, French knots, short straight stitches. | Use 2 strands for prominent purple petals and 1 strand for thin stems. Place 550 at the base, 552 as the body, and 554 on the outside-facing tips. |
| Yellow buds and daisies | French knots, colonial knots, tiny lazy daisies. | Use 2 strands of 743 for bright dots and add 742 on one side of larger buds. Keep the buds irregular so they look organic rather than beaded. |
| Mint filler sprigs | Fern stitch, fly stitch, small straight stitches. | Use 1 strand of pale blue-green if available, or substitute DMC 964 / 3813 for the cool eucalyptus-like accents around the flower clusters. |
Shading & blending ideas
- Leaves: Combine one strand 3052 + one strand 3053 for the base fill, then add single-strand 3011 veins after the leaf is complete.
- Branches: Stitch the whole heart in 840 first. Add short broken shadow strokes in 839 only where stems cross or curve inward.
- Hydrangeas: Avoid a checkerboard. Cluster the darkest blue or violet in the lower inside curve, then scatter light knots toward the outer edge.
- Sunflower: Let some petals overlap. Use longer 743 stitches on the outer tips and shorter 742 stitches close to the center to mimic natural petal ribs.
Texture suggestions
- Use French knots in mixed sizes for the blue and purple flower heads; wrap once for small dots and twice for fuller raised blossoms.
- Keep stems flatter than flowers. This contrast makes the raised knot clusters feel intentional and dimensional.
- Add a few single-strand seed stitches in muted green around the top dip of the heart for delicate filler texture.
- For a plush floral finish, stitch flower clusters after all leaves are complete so the petals sit on top of the greenery.
Thread-count guidance & finishing tips
Recommended strands
- 1 strand: fine veins, tiny filler stems, delicate outline corrections, and small detached sprigs.
- 2 strands: most leaves, petals, branch lines, and flower knots on medium-weight linen or cotton.
- 3 strands: only for very large sunflower petals or extra-bold wreath branches on a larger hoop.
Practical embroidery notes
- Use a neutral beige or oatmeal fabric so pale blues and yellows remain soft but visible.
- Keep branch stitches slightly irregular; perfect symmetry can make the wreath look stiff.
- Do not crowd the center opening. The clean negative space is what makes the wreath read as a heart.
- When using knots, bring the needle up close to the previous knot but not through it to avoid pulling raised texture loose.
