top of page

Lesson 4

Sequin Spirals and Curls: Aari and French Lunéville Techniques

In this lesson, you will add sequin curls to your floral composition using both embroidery techniques. You will begin from the front with the Aari method, following a drawn spiral from its centre towards the connecting stem. You will then repeat the exercise from the reverse side using French Lunéville embroidery and practise securing the thread ends neatly.

Materials to Prepare

  • Embroidery frame with your floral composition in progress

  • Lunéville hook

  • Embroidery thread

  • Loose 4 mm sequins for Aari embroidery

  • Pre-threaded 4 mm sequins for French Lunéville embroidery

  • Bobbin for your threaded sequins

  • Soft pad for holding loose sequins

  • Pencil suitable for marking your fabric

  • Scissors

Learning Outcomes


By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Draw a decorative curl within your composition.

  • Follow a spiral with loose sequins using the Aari technique.

  • Embroider from the curl’s centre towards its connecting stem.

  • Repeat the curl using French Lunéville sequin embroidery.

  • Finish with a securing lock.

  • Draw thread tails to the reverse side and secure them around the embroidered chain.

Your Practice


Keep the front of the fabric facing you and draw a curl with a pencil. Make a starting lock at its centre, then embroider along the curve with loose 4 mm sequins until it meets the stem.


Finish with a securing lock and draw the thread tails to the reverse side. Wrap them around the embroidered chain to secure them.


Turn the frame so the reverse side faces you and prepare your threaded sequins. Repeat the curl exercise using the French Lunéville technique, following the line to its end.


Review both completed curls. In the next lesson, you will combine sequins and beads to create a gradient effect.

bottom of page