Lesson 6.1
Aari Leaf Embroidery: Beaded Veins and Sequin Filling
In this lesson, you will combine beads and sequins to embroider a leaf using the Indian Aari technique. You will outline the leaf with tambour stitches, define its pointed tip and fill one side with beads between stitched veins. On the other side, you will follow the drawn guidelines with sequins, exploring how changes in colour, size and transparency affect the finish.
Materials to Prepare
Embroidery frame with your composition in progress
Printed leaf pattern
Sharp pencil
Embroidery hook and thread
Loose beads
Loose sequins, including transparent sequins if desired
Soft pads for holding your materials
Scissors
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Position and transfer a leaf pattern into your composition.
Embroider a beaded stem and a tambour-stitched outline.
Define a pointed tip with a short securing stitch.
Fill the spaces between stitched veins with closely placed beads.
Use plain return stitches between directional sequin rows.
Stitch close to existing embroidery without reusing the same holes.
Your Practice
Print the leaf pattern and copy it into a suitable space on your frame. With the front side facing you, make a starting lock and embroider the stem with beads. Continue around the leaf with plain tambour stitches, adding a short securing stitch at the tip to emphasise its sharpness.
Follow the drawn veins on one side with thread stitches. Fill the spaces between them with beads, attaching each bead individually and keeping the rows close together.
Fill the other side with sequins, following the drawn direction lines. Use plain stitches to return to the next starting point, then add another sequin row close to the previous one. Avoid inserting the hook into existing holes.
Experiment with another sequin colour or size, or add transparent sequins as demonstrated. Complete the leaf, cut the thread and draw the ends to the reverse side to secure them.