Lazy Daisy Stitch for Hand Embroidery

The lazy daisy stitch is a pretty little hand embroidery stitch that is often used to form flower petals, leaves, and intricate designs.   

What is the difference between the chain stitch and the lazy daisy stitch?

The lazy daisy stitch is similar to the chain stitch, with the difference being that with the lazy daisy, each stitch is separate from the others.  Sometimes the lazy daisy stitch is called the detached chain stitch. 

The chain stitch is simply a row of linked lazy daisy stitches.

What is the lazy daisy stitch used for?

This stitch is most often used to make petal shapes and small leaf patterns. This delicate stitch doesn't need to be limited to petals and leaves; it can be used for more complicated designs as well. 

Lazy daisy stitch embroidery is made with a single loop. Most stitchers find this to be an easy stitch once it is learned and practiced. 

Learn more about the lazy daisy stitch steps by watching our video or keep reading this post.

WHAT YOU NEED to make the lazy daisy embroidery stitch

• Aida or other embroidery cloth
• Embroidery hoop
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle

INSTRUCTIONS for lazy daisy stitch embroidery

STEP 1: begin the lazy daisy stitch

Be sure the embroidery needle is threaded with the floss. Check this link to learn a quick tip to thread a needle. 

Push the threaded needle up through the back of the fabric where the bottom point of the stitch is desired.

STEP 2: Form the loop of the lazy daisy stitch

Make a loop with the embroidery floss and push the needle back down to the back of the fabric in the same hole that the needle just came up from.

Depending on how large the lazy daisy stitch will be, push the needle up through the back of the fabric at the desired length,

catching the loop with the needle and floss. Pull the needle and floss up through the loop. Be careful not to pull the loop too hard or it won't retain the pedal shape. 

step 3: secure the loop of the lazy daisy stitch

To finish the lazy daisy stitch, a tiny stitch is created to hold down and secure the loop. Push the needle down into the fabric near the hole where the needle came up from the back of the fabric.

Be sure not to push the needle down towards the back of the fabric in the same hole that the needle was brought up through.

Gently pull the floss down through the fabric, making sure not to pull too tightly which will cause the loop shape to disappear into two straight lines. The lazy daisy stitch is complete.

Here is the Daisy stitch again with step-by-step photos

Pull the needle and thread up to the front of the fabric.

Make a loop with the working thread and push the needle down through the same hole.

Bring the needle up to the top of the desired stitch length,

catching the loop.

Gently pull the thread until you have the petal shape.

Go down to the back of the fabric nearby where the needle came up to secure the loop.  Do not go back down through the hole that was just made.

The second lazy daisy embroidery stitch is finished.

Now it's your turn to give it a try!  Grab some fabric, embroidery floss and a needle and practice the lazy daisy stitch along with other basic embroidery stitches.

The lazy daisy stitch is super quick to learn and can be used to creates a stunning embroidered garden of flowers.

I hope you enjoyed this step-by-step tutorial showing how to hand embroider the lazy daisy stitch.

Happy stitching!

more hand embroidery stitches

• Back stitch
• Algerian Eye Stitch
• Basket stitch
• Blanket stitch
• Long and short blanket stitch