I just love mixed-media projects! It’s all about play and experimentation. Combining different techniques and materials can create really stunning works for your heart and home! Embroidered cherry blossoms over a printed image is definitely one of my favorite projects so far. You’ll be seeing this technique a lot in my future projects.
The inspiration for this pattern came from the amazing Ikigai book, which by the way if you didn’t read it yet, please do! Packed with beautiful Japanese stories and learnings about how to live a more mindful life and add more purpose to it, you will absolutely love it! Take your time, enjoy the process, and let your individual identity shine!
Learn exactly how to print your fabric at home and embroider the Cherry Blossom Pattern in the tutorial below. Enjoy, lovelies!
Disclaimer: This post might contain some affiliate links, you can find my full Disclosure Policy here.
OVERVIEW
PROJECT SIZE: 14.5cm x 14.5cm (6 x 6 in)
STITCHES USED: Straight Stitch, Satin Stitch, French Knot
This pattern was initially created as an experiment, I really wanted to learn how to print my fabric at home with no fancy tools, and what a better combination than cherry blossoms on a clear blue sky!
I do not own a heat press or a Cricut Maker, so the challenge for this project was to see if I can create a beautiful print at home, fast and using just a few items.
Let me show you how to print your fabric at home using things you already have in your home and just a few inexpensive items you might need to order.
TOOLS & MATERIALS
Download the Cherry Blossom Pattern from my Free Pattern Library. To get access to the Free Pattern Library fill out the form below and I will send you an email with your password. You can read more about my Free Pattern Library here.
PREPARING YOUR FABRIC
Before printing and tracing the pattern cut your fabric into a 10inch (25cm) square. For this project, I used Calico cotton fabric. The texture of the Calico fabric is rougher than Muslin fabric, but not as heavy as canvas or denim.
Note: Calico is one of the most versatile fabrics in the world, it’s cheap and durable, and easy to find. Widely used as artists’ canvases, fashion designers’ mock-ups, bags, furnishing, curtains, and craft materials, the Calico fabric makes the perfect base to print or dye on.
1. Cut your fabric into a 10inch (25cm) square
2. Iron your fabric to remove any creases
DOWNLOAD THE FREE EMBROIDERY PATTERN
Download the Cherry Blossom pattern from my Free Pattern Library. To get access to the Free Pattern Library fill out the form below and I will send you an email with your password. You can read more about my Free Pattern Library here.
For this project, there are two different ways to print and transfer the pattern onto the fabric. Your download includes all the files needed for both methods.
TRANSFERING THE PATTERN ONTO YOUR FABRIC
The pattern is split into two different layers, the background image – the sky, which will be printed onto the fabric, and the botanical pattern – that will need to be transferred onto the fabric as well. Let’s have a look into the two methods of transferring them both onto your fabric.
For both methods, I used an Inkjet printer and Inkjet iron-on fabric transfer paper.
METHOD 1: The first method would be to print both the sky background and the cherry blossom pattern onto the fabric using KOALA Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper and then stitch on top of the printed cherry blossom outlines.
METHOD 2: The other method would be to just print the sky background onto your fabric using KOALA Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper, then trace the cherry blossom using carbon paper and stitch on top of the traced pattern as you would normally do.
Method 1
Method 2
My preferred method would be the second, as I feel it gives me a bit more control over how I trace the pattern. I would normally first print the sky background onto the fabric, then hand trace the cherry blossom and stitch on top of both.
Feel free to use the method you prefer and what feels easier for you. The tutorial below displays both methods and the downloaded pattern includes all the files needed for both methods.
HOW TO PRINT YOUR FABRIC USING AN INJKET PRINTER
METHOD 1
Once you have downloaded the pattern files, locate the Cut and Print Background and Pattern.jpg file.
Instead of printing the pattern on normal A4 paper, you will have to print it first on a special transfer paper using an Inkjet printer, then iron it until transferred onto your fabric. I am using the Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper and the Inkjet Printer.
The pack comes with 20 sheets that you can use not only for mixed media embroidery projects but on t-shits as well. A few things to consider when using them:
The transfer sheets have one coated matt side (where your pattern will be printed), and the backside which shows the red logos print.
Load one sheet of the transfer paper into your printer – face down.
Note: When printing the Cherry Blossom pattern you DON’T have to set the printer to REVERSE or MIRROR IMAGE prior to printing, the pattern you downloaded is already mirrored.
You just need to make sure the Fill Entire Paper setting is selected.
You will also need to print at the best quality, so make sure the Media & Quality option is set to Best.
Print your pattern on the Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper and trim away the unprinted areas of the printed sheet.
1. Print the pattern on the KOALA Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper
2. Trim away the unprinted areas
With the pattern printed and trimmed it’s time to transfer it onto your fabric. Before doing so preheat the fabric using your iron, then allow the cropped pattern facing down on the fabric.
3. Preheat your fabric
4. Place the cropped pattern face down on the fabric
5. Iron with heavy pressure for about 5 minutes making sure you’re covering the entire area
6. Let it cool down completely
7. After cooling down completely, gently tear off the backing paper
8. This is my final result. Looks great and no areas are lifted off. If any part of your image starts to lift off, simply re-iron those spots with the overlay paper that comes with the pack. DO NOT iron directly on the transferred area.
All you have to do now is stitch on top of the dark outlines, making sure you are covering with thread all parts of the printed pattern.
While this is a great method and a bit faster, I prefer printing just the sky background and manually tracing the floral pattern. I feel it gives me a bit more control and I don’t have to worry too much about covering the outlines.
Let’s have a look at the second method. All files needed for both methods are provided in the download folder.
METHOD 2
The second method is to just print the sky background onto your fabric using the Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper, then trace on top of it the cherry blossom pattern using carbon paper and stitch on top of both.
Once you have downloaded the pattern files, locate the Cut and Print Background.jpg file.
Use exactly the same process explained at Method 1 to print the background first on special transfer paper using an Inkjet printer, then iron it until transferred onto your fabric.
I am using the same Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper and the Inkjet Printer.
Note: The Inkjet Iron-on Fabric Transfer Paper works ONLY with an inkjet printer!
1. Sky background printed onto Calico cotton fabric
Now with the background transferred onto the fabric, you will have to manually trace the floral pattern. In order to do this, you’ll have to print and crop the cherry blossom pattern, then transfer it using carbon paper onto your fabric.
Leave your fabric aside for a minute and print the Cut and Trace Pattern.jpg file.
The pattern you have downloaded is full size, so when printed on the A4 paper will have the exact size to fit into a 6inch hoop. You just need to have the Fill Entire Paper option selected.
To transfer the cherry blossom pattern manually using carbon paper, you can use this simple method:
1. Crop the tracing pattern as indicated in the downloaded pattern
2. The cropped pattern should fit perfectly within the sky image you just printed earlier
3. Crop the carbon tracing paper as indicated
4. Place the carbon paper (face down), then place the cropped pattern on top
5. Trace the Cherry Blossom pattern onto the printed fabric
This method is a bit more time-consuming as it basically adds one more step to the entire process, but I still prefer it over the printing everything at once method. Feel free to use which transfer method you prefer. You could even just use the sky background image and trace your own floral pattern on top.
Experiment and play around with the pattern as you please and I would love to hear what is your method of choice?
MOUNTING THE FABRIC IN THE HOOP
Place your fabric over the inner hoop, then place the outer hoop on top of both.
Push the outer hoop down until it slips under the inner hoop. Then tighten the screw and stretch the fabric. You might need to repeat this until the fabric is really tight.
TIP: When you stretch the fabric always do so on the straight grain, otherwise the fabric will overstretch and look distorted.
1. Place your fabric over the inner hoop
2. Push the outer hoop down and tighten the screw
COLOR PALETTE AND THREAD LIST
The color palette for this pattern had to match the iconic real-life cherry blossoms. Feel free to create your own color palette, but keep in mind when choosing your colors to create enough contrast between the botanical pattern and the printed background.
If you wish to create your own color palette you can check the other color palettes I created for your inspiration.
For the entire work, I used DMC stranded cotton. It’s your choice if you prefer one brand over another, both DMC and Anchor manufacturers offer good-quality stranded cotton in a wide variety of colors. If your brand of choice is DMC, please use the thread colors below. I also included a conversion chart DMC to Anchor and DMC to HEX RGB (in case you decide to use the pattern for digital display works).
NOTE: Please bear in mind that a perfect color match between brands is not really possible.
DMC STRANDED COTTON
 |  |  |  |
| Violet Very Light | Violet Light | Beige Brown Very Dark | White |
| 153 | 554 | 838 |
ANCHOR STRANDED COTTON
| | | |
| 342 | 96 | 1088 | 2 |
RGB HEX VALUES
If you plan to use this color palette for digital display works (TV, computer, tablet or smartphone) use the RGB HEX values from the chart below.
| | | |
| #E6CCD9 | #DBB3CB | #594937 | #FFFFFF |
The Cherry Blossom pattern was stitched with two strands. Use this simple method to separate the thread:
The stranded cotton embroidery thread is made up of 6 strands. For a finer delicate outcome, you need to split the thread and use just two strands for the entire work.
In order to separate your thread, pull out and cut about 30-40cm length of thread from the skein, more or less the distance between your fingers and your elbow. Separate one strand and thread your needle. Use an embroidery needle size 5-7.
1. Cut about 30-40cm of thread
2. Separate one strand
3. Pull the separated strand while holding firmly the rest
4. Thread your needle (size 5-7)
MORE COLOR PALETTES YOU’LL LOVE
STITCHING THE PATTERN
Before stitching, I always think about the order of work. In real life, the petals sit on top of the tree branch, so it makes sense to start by stitching the branch first and leaving the petals and buds the last.
TREE BRANCH: Fill the tree branch with irregular Straight Stitches using DMC 838
PETALS: Fill the cherry blossom petals with Satin Stitch using DMC 153 (foreground flowers) and DMC 554 (background flowers)
FLOWERS DETAILS: Add the center details with Straight Stitch and French Knot using DMC White
When stitching the pattern think about real-life trees and how the flowers sitting in the background sit in the shade and look darker. Stitch them using the darker Violet thread DMC 554 (Violet Light).
The flowers sitting in the foreground usually get more light, therefore they will be stitched with a lighter shade of Violet using DMC 153 (Violet Very Light).
1. Start by filling the tree branch with irregular Straight Stitches using DMC 838
2. Continue stitching the branch
3. Fill the cherry blossom petals in the foreground with Satin Stitch using DMC 153 (Violet Very Light)
4. Fill the cherry blossom petals in the background with Satin Stitch using DMC 554 (Violet Light)
5. Fill the buds suing both DMC 153 and DMC 554
6. Add the center details with Straight Stitch and French Knot using DMC White
Yayyyyy!! Stitching is done and we have just a small last step before the cherry blossom decoration is ready for display!
I’d love to see your progress! Tag @makenstitch on Instagram and hashtag it #makenstitch so I can see your magic!
FINISHING YOUR EMBROIDERY
For this project I decided to leave my final embroidery in the same hoop I stitched it in. You could take out your embroidery and frame it using any photo frame or a display hoop, but in both cases, you will have to finish the back of your embroidery.
The easiest method for finishing the back of your hoop is to use a Running Stitch and if needed cut out the excess fabric.
Congratulations! You have completed this tutorial!
Thank you for joining me during this process and I really hope this tutorial will inspire you to experiment and create your own amazing projects using this technique.
Please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or suggestions about stitching the cherry blossom pattern.
I would love to see your progress and end result too. Don’t forget to tag @makenstitch on Instagram and hashtag it #makenstitch so I can see your work!
You can download the Cherry Blossom pattern from my Free Pattern Library. To get access to the Free Pattern Library fill out the form below and I will send you an email with your password. You can read more about my Free Pattern Library here. The downloaded pattern can only be used for personal projects.
SIMILAR EMBROIDERY PROJECTS
Did you try this pattern? Let me know in the comments below, or come over to our Facebook Group and show everyone your beautiful creation!
SAVE THIS FOR LATER? ADD THE CHERRY BLOSSOM EMBROIDERY TUTORIAL TO YOUR FAVOURITE PINTEREST BOARD
Leave a Reply