Get ready to add a literary twist to your hoop art with this charming free embroidery pattern featuring a stack of four books topped with two delicate flowers. Perfect for beginners and book lovers alike, this project brings together the warmth of stitched pages and a gentle floral accent—ideal for gifts, bookmarks, or wall art near your reading nook.
Last week we learned how to do French knots, this week we are going to learn how to back stitch. Grab your supplies (list to follow) and let’s start stitching this book!
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Items needed for this pattern:
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- Fabric: A piece of light-colored cotton or linen works best.
- Embroidery Hoop: A 6-inch hoop is a good size for this project.
- Embroidery Needle: A size 7 or 8 needle is ideal.
- DMC Floss Colors (suggestions below)
- Scissors: Small, sharp embroidery scissors for cutting thread.
- Water-Soluble Fabric Marker: To transfer the pattern onto fabric.
DMC Floss Color Recommendations:
For the book spines:
- Book 1: DMC 918 (Dark Red Copper) – for a classic leather-bound feel
- Book 2: DMC 501 (Blue Green) – adds a touch of vintage teal
- Book 3: DMC 680 (Old Gold) – warm and timeless
- Book 4: DMC 844 (Dark Gray Brown) – a grounding neutral for balance
For the flower accents on top:
- Petals: DMC 3689 (Light Mauve Pink) – soft and whimsical
- Center: DMC 3822 (Straw Light) – a sunny yellow that pops
Optional extras: Add outlines in DMC 310 (Black) for definition, or E3852 (Light Gold Metallic) if you’d like a little shimmer.
Beginner’s Guide: How to Back Stitch
Back stitch is perfect for outlining your books or adding a quote to the design. Here’s how to do it:
- Bring your needle up through the fabric at point 1.
- Insert it down at point 2 (about 1/8 to 1/4 inch away, depending on your preference).
- Now bring the needle back up at point 3, a stitch length forward from 2.
- Insert it back into point 2—this “backs up” your stitch to connect with the previous one.
- Continue this pattern, always stitching back into the previous hole for a clean, continuous line.
Tip: Use 2 strands for finer lines or 3 for extra emphasis.
Download your pattern here:
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Tips for Beginners:
- Practice your stitches on a scrap piece of fabric before starting your project.
- Don’t pull your thread too tightly to avoid puckering the fabric.
- Have fun experimenting with colors and stitches—make your sailboat as vibrant and unique as you like!
If you are looking for some other free patterns to practice backstitching, why not try:
Or you can try my Etsy Store, where I have over 250 patterns available.
