The Most Popular Hand Embroidery Motif

Hi everyone!

When I have to make an embroidery pattern for you all or even for myself, the first kind of pattern that comes to my mind is: floral motifs. Do you agree?

Flowers have been stitched across cultures and centuries, from delicate roses and daisies in Victorian embroidery to bold lotus and peonies in Asian designs. Whether it’s a simple lazy daisy stitch or an intricate needle-painted rose, floral embroidery remains a favorite because it’s versatile, timeless, and perfect for all skill levels. Plus, flowers can be customized in endless ways—different stitches, colors, and styles—making them a go-to pattern for beginners and experts alike!

Now, have flowers always been the most popular theme in hand embroidery? Maybe not. One of the oldest hand embroidery motifs is the tree of life, which has been found in ancient textiles across multiple civilizations, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. This motif symbolizes growth, connection, and immortality, and variations of it have appeared in different cultures’ embroidery traditions for thousands of years. Other ancient motifs include geometric patterns and Animals and birds. But Floral designs were also as popular. For instance, the Lotus flowers in Egyptian and Indian embroidery often represented purity and renewal. These motifs have evolved but still inspire modern embroidery today!

So why are floral motifs popular even today?

They are timeless, versatile, and meaningful!

1. Endless variety – Flowers come in countless shapes and sizes, allowing for endless creativity. From simple daisies to intricate roses, there’s a floral design for every skill level!

2. Symbolism & tradition – Different flowers carry deep meanings—roses for love,  lotus for purity, sunflowers for warmth—making them a beautiful way to express emotions through stitches.

Kamal Kadai using Woven Trellis: Tutorial.

3. Works on any fabric – Floral embroidery looks stunning on clothing, linens, accessories, and home décor, making it a go-to choice for both personal and commercial embroidery. The above image is that of Kamal Kadai- an Indian floral embroidery that is used to decorate clothing.

4. Easy to adapt – Whether using satin stitches, French knots, or lazy daisies, floral patterns can be stitched in many different embroidery styles, from delicate and realistic to bold and abstract.
Learn how to make a variety of flowers using various stitches, such as the one below, from our collection of Hand Embroidery Flower Tutorials.

5. Cultural connection – Many traditional embroidery styles—like Chikankari (India), Crewel (England), and Suzani (Central Asia)—feature floral designs, making them a global embroidery staple. Below is an example of the Kantha Embroidery, which uses just the Running Stitch to create patterns to fill an entire shawl or sheet, mainly floral ones.

 
 Kantha Embroidery: Learn more.

With their natural beauty and endless design possibilities, it’s no wonder floral motifs remain the heart of hand embroidery!

Love to stitch roses? Your taste is lovely!

The rose has been a beloved motif in hand embroidery for centuries, symbolizing love, beauty, and elegance across different cultures and historical periods.

During the medieval period, roses were heavily featured in European ecclesiastical embroidery, especially in England, where they adorned church vestments and altar cloths. During the 18th Century, Crewel embroidery (using wool threads) became popular, and roses were a common motif in Jacobean designs. The 19th century was the Golden Age of Floral embroidery and the Victorian obsession with flowers and symbolism made roses a key feature in hand-embroidered accessories, home décor, and clothing. By the 20th century, roses remained a favorite in handkerchiefs, table linens, and delicate lingerie embroidery. Today, roses remain popular, being used in contemporary patterns, visible mending and other varieties of hand embroidery usages.

Enjoy learning how to make 12 different roses from our eBook: 12 Roses