How to Embroider Denim Jacket DIY with Easy Floral

Learn how to easily embroider a denim jacket with cute floral designs.

This quick upcycle project is a great way to add interest to any denim fabric or sturdy fabric, no embroidery hoop needed.

Add a little hand embroidery to the front pocket of a jacket or the back pocket of a pair of jeans.

UPCYCLE A JEAN JACKET WITH EMBROIDERY

These little daisies are a straightforward design and a very simple first step for embroidery.

You can of course embellish with your own design after learning these very simple basics.

Adding a little denim decoration is the perfect way to give an old jean jacket new life, upcycling at its best.

If you don't have a jean jacket or another piece of clothing in need of embroidery design, you can pick something up at the thrift store.

Supplies Needed for Embroidering on Denim Jacket:

affiliate links as part of amazon services llc associates program

• Denim Jacket (or other denim items)
• Embroidery Floss (white and yellow)
• Embroidery Needle
• Scissors or Snippers

No sewing machine, water-soluble stabilizer, embroidery hoop, embroidery machine or thread conditioner needed.

STEP 1: THREAD NEEDLE

First step is to thread the needle with about 24 inches of embroidery floss in the coloured thread desired for your flower petals.

I am using white and I am using all the threads that come twisted together, not separating it at all.

After threading it in the needle, tie the longer end with a double knot.

STEP 2: WHITE DAISY EMBROIDERY

Top tip: I took a lot of pictures of the process and have them in a collage at the end of the post, you can practice on a scrap piece of denim or excess fabric first if desired.

It's a super simple embroider stitch, and then we repeat it 4 more times, making 5 petals on each flower.
Let's get started.

Push the needle from behind through the jacket where you would like the first flower stitched.

Next, insert the needle back through the jacket as close to the thread as you can, but not through the same hole, leave a small gap.

Push the needle up through the jacket about half an inch from the first hole, this will be the tip of the first petal.

You can make smaller and bigger flowers as you get the hang of the embroidery stitches.

Now wrap the embroidery floss around the tip of the needle, creating the shape of the first petal.

Then pull the embroidery floss all the way through and tighten gently.

Next stitch goes through the jacket as close to the most recent stitch at the top of the petal, but not through the same hole, on the opposite side of the embroidery floss petal loop we just created.

This will hold the loop in place and down flat on the denim items.

MAKE 5 OR 6 PETALS

You are more than able to pull the floss through to the backside of the jacket and tighten the floss gently before coming back up to the front, or do it in one motion.

Push the needle in to the jacket to lock the petal in place and send the needle back up through the denim jacket where the next petal should be placed.

Now we make the same looped and locked petal shape four more times.

Punch the needle through the jacket near the last pass through, line the needle in straight lines from the center of the flower, wrap the embroidery floss around it and pull it through.

Pass the needle over the loop, sink it into the jacket as close as possible to the last stitch and push it up through the jacket where the next petal should be placed.

I'm doing 5 petals, but you can do more or less, you can make them longer or shorter...make a variety, make a really dense design or keep it simple, just have fun!

Repeat the petal making process.

Stick the needle in the jacket next to the center where the floss is coming out.

Then push the needle up through the jacket to where the end of the petal should be.

Again, wrap the embroidery floss around the tip of the needle, making the rounded end of the flower petal.

Sink the thread near the last thread at the tip of the petal, sort of "stapling" the loop in place.

This will keep the flowers in place through many washings and wearings.

Make a 5 or 6 petaled flower, leaving a little gap in the center for the middle of the flower.

Repeat the flower making process everywhere you want a little daisy. 

Tie off the embroidery floss on the inside of the jacket using a French knot and clipping the floss.

STEP 3: YELLOW CENTERS EMBROIDERY

Now we will finish off the little daisy flowers with a yellow center made of French knots.

Begin by threading yellow floss through the embroidery needle and tying a double knot on the longer of the ends.

Then thread it through the back of the jacket to the front, right in the center of the white daisy petals we just made.

Then push the needle back through the jacket and push it up through the jacket as close in the center as you can.

Essentially the embroidery thread is coming up, going down and coming back up all in the center.

Extend the needle a little bit so there is room to tie the French knot on the needle.

This is my favorite embroidery stitch ever--if you don't know the French knot, learn it now and you'll use it all the time when hand stitching.

Then take the embroidery floss that is coming out of the center and wrap it once or twice around the needle.

If you are tying off on the back of your embroidery, one loop around is enough.

I wanted the knots to stand out a little more on the front so I double wrapped it.

Then pull the needle through, letting the loops just wrapped around slide down on the embroidery floss.

Use your fingers to slide the knot down as close to the denim jacket as possible.

Then sink the needle and thread through the jacket to the backside and tie it off with one final French knot.

Clip the thread and finish the center knots on all the little flowers you've embroidered.

The double French knot makes a little clustered yellow center, perfect for this simple embroidery project!

The best thing is that these four little flowers took me less than 20 minutes and they look so cute!

Denim embroidery is fun and sturdy enough to not need additional stabilizers while embroidering.

These cute little embroidered flowers give this simple jacket an elevated look in just a few minutes and a few stitches!

Years, nigh, decades ago when I was a new mom and not a craft blogger, I embroidered a bunch of flowers on my jeans.

I loved them and didn't take a single picture, can you believe that!?

The daisies danced up the legs with extra details around the pockets.

It was fun to recreate this upcycle technique for this jacket...and now embroidery on clothing is actually popular and trendy!

EMBROIDER FLOWERS ON A JEAN JACKET

This seemed like a hefty amount of instruction, but there are 2 simple stitches to create a delicate little flower.

Give it a try and you'll get the hang of it in no time, again, use a scrap piece of fabric if you need a little practice.

That's it!

It's so easy to add embroidery to a denim jacket and give it new life!

Transform a denim jacket, jeans or other sturdy material with dainty and simple little flowers.

Use your favorite colors and make a variety of size flowers for more interest!

Like, Pin and Save!

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FLOWER:

Don't forget to save this to your pinterest board!

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FRENCH KNOT FLOWER CENTER:

Here's some other crafts you might be interested in!

Upcycled Jean Jacket with Patches: Earth Day Craft!

Hi friends, it's me, Natalie--I love upcycled crafts. They are my favorite medium for sure. I love taking old things and giving them new life. April is the perfect month for upcycling and celebrating Earth Day! Make a fabulous statement piece by upcycling an old jean jacket with patches. 

This NO-SEW jean jacket upcycle is a perfect craft for all ages and genders! Upcycle a backpack, jeans, tote, pillowcase or anything else too. What will you save from the landfill?

Turn Child's Artwork into a Plush Toy!

It's so much fun for children to see their funny little artwork into a real toy!

Plus, this one has his own little voice recorded in it!