How to Embroider Flowers on Jeans

DIYS /
January 2025

How can I embroider flowers by hand?

Whether it's your own clothes or those of your children, embroidery on denim is an excellent option for making denim clothing that’s as unique as you want it to be. From jeans and shorts to skirts and jackets, there's a wide selection of clothes to personalise!

If you love floral designs, Levi's has produced its latest embroidery guide which shows you how to personalise your denim garments by embroidering little flowers. In this DIY tutorial, our stylist Jen Sharkey explains in detail how to hand embroider a basic floral design.

WHAT IS EMBROIDERY?

Hand embroidery involves decorating clothes or fabrics using a needle and thread. You can create designs using different coloured threads or by adding pearls or even stones for a touch of sparkle.

WHAT TYPE OF NEEDLE AND THREAD SHOULD I USE ON DENIM?

An important aspect of embroidery on denim is your choice of material. The type of thread will have an impact on the finish of your embroidery. We've selected 4 different types of thread that you can use on denim:

• Cotton thread: ideal for starting out, it is made up of strands that don't separate and add relief to the embroidery while also being very soft

• Floss embroidery thread: easy to use thanks to its silky, shiny appearance. A must-have in the world of embroidery.

• Special denim embroidery thread: the name says it all. A more resistant and practical thread for thick denim.

• Polyester thread: perfect for all uses. If you aren't sure which thread you want to use, polyester thread is ideal as it's very versatile and adapts to all fabrics.

You will also need a special needle for denim fabric. We recommend using a slightly thicker needle with a fine, pointed tip to penetrate the fabric easily. Depending on the thickness of your embroidery thread, use a needle with a suitable eye.

ON WHICH GARMENTS CAN FLOWERS BE EMBROIDERED?

Flowers can be embroidered on any type of garment. However, in this guide, we focus on denim garments. Thanks to the variety of our collections, you can embroider small flowers on a wide range of denim garments. In our women's collections, you'll find jeans, denim jackets, skirts and shorts. For men, make the most of our light denim and summer collections. For children, you can choose from jeans, denim shorts for children and denim skirts for girls.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED

Now that you are a connoisseur in hand embroidery, let's get started! First, lay out your equipment on the table. You'll need:

• A denim garment (jeans, dress, shorts or jacket)

• A needle

• Embroidery thread in different colours (two colours per flower)

• A pair of scissors

• Bottle tops

• Chalk

METHOD

Before you start, we recommend that you read each step to familiarise yourself with this DIY tutorial. For this tutorial, we've decided to use a pair of jeans as an example.

STEP 1.

Decide where you want to place your design and trace the outline of the bottle top with your chalk. Remember to make a small dot to mark the centre of the circle. Repeat this process depending on how many flowers you want to embroider.

STEP 2.

Start embroidering the first stitch on the back of the fabric from the centre of the circle.

STEP 3.

Make a small stitch on the outside of the circle and work the thread back towards the centre to create a petal shape.

STEP 4.

Repeat this process to create four cross-shaped petals.

STEP 5.

Add as many petals as possible between the four petals to form a floral pattern.

STEP 6.

Using a different coloured thread, embroider the heart of the flower. Make small stitches in the middle to form a circle.

STEP 7.

Once your flower is finished, tie a knot on the back of the fabric. Repeat this process if you want to add more flowers.

THE RESULT

And that's it! Admire your floral design! You've just completed an embroidery tutorial on your own and added some gorgeous little flowers to your garment. There really is nothing more satisfying than personalising your own clothes!

If you liked this DIY, don't hesitate to explore all our tutorials. Why not learn how to glue crystals onto your denim garments as your next challenge?

Looking for more ways to personalise your clothes? Why not head over to one of our tailor shops for endless customisation!

Levi's® TAILOR SHOP