Lesson 9.2
Mixed-Material Leaf Embroidery: Sequins and Crystal Stones
In this lesson, you will combine the bead placement technique from Lesson 9.1 with fish scale sequin filling. You will embroider the central vein and one side of the leaf with matte and glossy sequins, then complete the other side with crystal stones. The exercise encourages you to explore how different material sizes, colours, and finishes change the appearance of a motif.
Materials to Prepare
Embroidery frame with mounted fabric
Printed leaf pattern from Lesson 9.1
Pencil suitable for marking your fabric
Lunéville hook
Embroidery thread
Loose matte and glossy sequins
5 mm crystal stones with holes suitable for stitching
Soft pads for holding your materials
Scissors
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Embroider the central vein with sequins.
Combine matte and glossy finishes within one motif.
Fill one side of a leaf using the fish scale technique.
Use plain return stitches to begin each sequin row in the same direction.
Follow the drawn veins as guides for material placement.
Adapt the technique from Lesson 9.1 to larger crystal stones.
Explore alternative combinations of beads, bugle beads, stones, and sequins.
Your Practice
Trace the same leaf pattern onto your fabric and work from the front using the Aari method. Make a starting lock at the top of the leaf, then embroider the central vein with sequins, alternating matte and glossy finishes as desired.
Continue onto the left side using fish scale filling. At the end of each row, make a short securing stitch and return to the starting point with plain stitches. Follow the drawn vein lines, placing the next sequin row close to the return stitches.
Once the left side is complete, return to the top with plain stitches. Fill the other side with 5 mm crystal stones, following the placement and securing sequence practised in Lesson 9.1.
Repeat the leaf with different sizes or combinations of materials to explore further design possibilities.