May 31, 2026
I love dried flowers in many forms...in vases, carefully formed into beautiful wreaths, and even in their "natural state"...hanging in colorful bunches above my head as I work in my workshop! As I have done my best to put together creative DIY kits using dried flowers, however, I have sought to think outside the dried flower proverbial "box" and blend them with other craft mediums like paper crafting, watercolor, and now, embroidery.
"Slow Stitchiing" is a new type of embroidery (or maybe old that has become new again) that focuses on relaxation, sustainability, and creative expression without rigid patterns or the pressure of perfection. I love that idea, and my "Stitched Meadow" wall hanging is based on these principles. I use REAL materials...linen, cotton thread, and dried organic flowers...and then allow the crafter to create a floral "meadow" of their own making. The result is a piece that embraces simple imperfection and natural beauty. Here is the process...
While I sell all the materials for this project as a ready-made kit, if you were inclined and had scraps of your own at home, you could put this together using your own supplies. I start with a rectangular piece of linen 10" x 14". For the template, you can center an 8"x10" sheet of cardstock in the middle of the linen and run masking tape around the paper.
Using cotton embroidery floss (I use Sashiko thread in my kits) in a neutral color, use a running stitch about 1/4" long inside the masking tape all the way around the linen rectangle to create a border.
Once this is done, you can use different colors of green thread across the bottom of the wall hanging to create the "hills" of your meadow. Make sure that your stitches are at least 1/4" to 1/3" in length to allow for the dried flower stems to slip into the stitches.
Remove the tape. Fray the edges of the linen by pulling threads evenly around your fabric.
Sandwich the top and bottom of your wall hanging between the bars of a poster-style hanging frame. I use frames made from teak--the real wood adds to the natural, earthy vibe of this project.
Hang your art on the wall to make it simpler to insert the flowers. Using any variety of single-stem dried florals, feed them down through your stitching. Remember to stagger their heights, allowing some to thread only through the bottom rows of stitching. Clip the stems off at the bottom to make them even. Isn't that pretty? Hang it somewhere where you can enjoy your work...and you can even gently change the flowers with the seasons!
