Peonies in Bloom Embroidery Project -- Progress Update

 

A few weeks ago, I shared the beginning of my new embroidery project — Peonies in Bloom — and I’m so happy to show you how it’s shaping up! This piece has been a lovely mix of patience, colour play, and gentle stitching sessions that have made me appreciate how each layer slowly brings the flowers to life.

Building Up the Petals

The peonies are now beginning to show their full form. I started by filling the outer petals using soft shades of coral pink and light peach, gradually blending into deeper red tones toward the centre. The shading was done with long and short stitches, which allowed the colours to transition smoothly and mimic the natural variation in real peony petals.

 

Each petal took time and focus — I paid attention to the direction of stitches so that they followed the curve of the flower, creating a natural flow. It’s always fascinating to watch how embroidery thread can capture depth and softness when worked patiently.

Adding the Greens

Once the main petals were mostly complete, I moved on to the leaves. I chose two shades of green — a light lime tone for the highlights and a deeper green for contrast. The satin stitch worked beautifully for the leaves, giving them a subtle sheen that stands out against the darker fabric background.

The contrast between the bright petals and the crisp green leaves adds a fresh balance to the whole composition.

Fabric and Threads

The base fabric provided in the Peonies in Bloom DIY embroidery kit is a medium-weight cotton in a muted navy tone. It’s sturdy enough to hold the dense stitching while still being smooth to work on. The threads are provided in the Peonies in Bloom DIY embroidery kit, and I’ve used one strand so far as per the instructions.

I love how the background colour makes the pinks and reds pop — it almost gives a luminous effect when viewed in natural daylight.

Next Steps

The next phase will be to fill in the remaining petals and small unopened buds. I’ll also be adding some fine detailing in the flower centres with darker shades and possibly a few French knots for texture. The outlines at the bottom are already traced, so once the main bloom is done, I’ll continue with the surrounding leaves and smaller blooms to complete the composition.

My goal is to finish this piece within the next few weeks.

Reflections So Far

This project has reminded me how therapeutic embroidery can be — the slow rhythm of each stitch, the quiet concentration, and the joy of seeing a design evolve thread by thread. Peonies symbolise prosperity, love, and beauty, and this embroidery truly feels like it’s blooming with each hour I spend on it.

I’ll share another update soon once the flowers are complete.

If you’re working on something similar, I’d love to know what colours or stitches you enjoy using for floral embroidery.

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