The embroidery stitches of the Lavande pattern

Lavender, a universal symbol of Provence, is embroidered in about 3 hours with 4 to 5 distinct stitches. This delicate pattern shows a bunch of flowering stems in a pot, and each area has its own stitch to better capture the plant's texture: the roughness of the terracotta pot, the lightness of the flowers, the softness of the leaves.

The stitches used in this pattern

Trellis stitch

This is the central stitch for the pot. Couched trellis stitch is built in two steps: first you cover the surface with laid stitches running in two crossing directions to form a regular grid, then you tack down each intersection with a small cross stitch (two small diagonal stitches forming a cross). The result looks like counted embroidery, very geometric, which perfectly evokes the texture of a ceramic or wicker pot.

How to do it:

1. Cover the whole surface with evenly spaced horizontal laid stitches.
2. Do the same in the other direction to form the grid.
3. With a second thread, tack down each intersection with two small diagonal stitches forming a cross.

Split stitch

Split stitch is used to embroider the leaves. It looks like stem stitch but with a slight difference: instead of coming up halfway along the previous stitch, you push the needle down through the middle of the previous stitch, literally splitting the thread. This gives a very smooth, continuous line, ideal for elongated shapes like lavender leaves.

The steps:

1. Make a first straight stitch.
2. Bring the needle back up halfway along the stitch.
3. Push it back down through the middle of the previous stitch, splitting the thread.
4. Continue this way to the end of the line.

Stem stitch

Stem stitch draws the lavender flower stems and the pattern's outlines. Slightly raised, it creates a continuous line with a slightly twisted look, very natural for depicting plants.

How to do it: come up, then go forward under the fabric (about 5-6 mm), and come back up at the end of the previous stitch. Repeat, always keeping the thread on the same side of the needle so the twist stays even.

French knot loop stitch (bullion loop)

The lavender flowers are embroidered with little loops, small loops sitting on the fabric that give a fluffy, three-dimensional texture. It's the perfect stitch to imitate lavender spikes with their tiny flowers clustered along the stem.

For each loop:

1. Bring the needle up, then back down in the same spot, leaving thread slack to form a loop.
2. Come back up 3 to 4 mm further along, pass the needle inside the loop, and pull gently.
3. Immediately stitch down just on the other side of the loop to pin it onto the fabric.
4. Repeat for the next loop.

The secret to lovely loops: make them all the same size and tighten them gently without pulling too hard, so each loop stays nicely open and soft.

Embroidery order

The logic for building the lavender pattern:

1. Three lines of stem stitch along the outlines to set the structure.
2. Couched trellis stitch to fill the pot.
3. Stem stitch for the flower stems.
4. Split stitch or backstitch for the leaves.
5. Loop stitches for the flowers.

Working from the bottom up, from the background to the foreground, keeps the elements from getting in each other's way and keeps the pattern airy.

Three hours of soothing embroidery, just like the scent of lavender itself. This pattern is accessible to beginners curious to discover new stitches, while offering enough technique to keep things interesting.