Lazy Daisy Stitch Embroidery: How to Make Full, Even Petals

The lazy daisy stitch is a single loop held down at its tip by a small stitch. It is also called detached chain stitch, or daisy stitch, because it is one link of chain stitch worked on its own. Five or six loops around a centre make the classic daisy, and single loops make leaves, petals and small buds. It is one of the quickest stitches to learn. The tricky parts are getting a full, rounded petal instead of a skinny one and placing the petals evenly around the centre.

How to do a lazy daisy stitch, in short: bring the needle up at the base of the petal, go down in the same hole and come up at the petal tip with the thread under the needle. Pull gently to form a loop, then make a tiny stitch over the tip to hold it. Repeat around a centre for a flower.

Difficulty	Beginner
Used for	Petals, small flowers, leaves, buds, scattered motifs
Thread	2–3 strands of stranded cotton; 4–6 strands or perle cotton for plump petals
Needle	Embroidery (crewel) needle
Petal length	4–8 mm for most flowers; longer loops get floppy

What You Need

• Fabric in a hoop. On loose fabric the loop pulls the petal narrow and puckers the centre.
• Marked petals. For a flower, mark the centre and a dot for each petal tip. Even spacing matters more here than perfect stitching.
• Enough strands. Lazy daisy shows the thread clearly, so a fuller thread gives a fuller petal. Separate the strands and put them back together before threading.

How to Work the Lazy Daisy Stitch

1. Bring the needle up at the base of the petal (A), near the flower centre. Pull the thread through.
2. Take the needle back down at A, in the same hole or one fabric thread beside it, and bring the tip up at the petal tip (B). Do not pull it through yet.
3. Loop the thread under the needle tip.
4. Pull the needle through gently until the loop lies flat on the fabric with the shape you want. Stop before it narrows into a line.
5. Tie the loop down: take the needle down just outside the loop at B, making a small straight stitch over the thread.
6. Move to the next petal on the back and repeat, always starting from the centre.

If going back into exactly the same hole at A pulls the loop through to the back, go down one fabric thread to the side instead.

How to Space the Petals

Work opposite petals first. For a five-petal flower, stitch the top petal, then the two lower ones, then fill the gaps. For six or eight petals, stitch top and bottom, then left and right, then the diagonals. Mistakes in spacing are much easier to see and correct this way than if you go round in order.

Look	Strands	Loop
Fine petals, tiny flowers	1–2	Narrow, short anchor
Standard daisy, leaves	2–3	Rounded, short anchor
Plump, solid petals	4–6	Rounded; add a straight stitch inside the loop

A longer tie-down stitch at the tip turns the petal into a long-tailed daisy, which works well for leaves on a stem or for pointed petals.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Problem	Why it happens	Fix
Petals are skinny, almost a straight line	The loop was pulled too tight	Stop pulling while the loop is still open; pull towards the petal tip, not up and away.
The loop slips through to the back	The needle went down into the exact hole it came out of	Go down one fabric thread beside the starting point.
Petals twist or lean to one side	The tie-down stitch is off centre, or the thread is twisted	Place the tie-down straight over the middle of the loop; let the needle hang to untwist.
Uneven flower: big gaps between some petals	Petals stitched round in order without marks	Mark petal tips and stitch opposite petals first.
A gap or messy holes in the flower centre	All petals start in the same spot and the fabric opens up	Start each petal a little away from the exact centre, then cover the centre with French knots.
Long loops sag and catch	Petal too long for a single loop	Keep loops under about 8 mm, or add a straight stitch inside to fill and hold them.

Lazy Daisy Variations

• Double lazy daisy. A second, smaller loop worked inside the first, often in a lighter or darker shade, gives a petal with an inner colour.
• Long-tailed lazy daisy. The tying stitch at the tip is made long, turning each petal into a leaf on a stem or a flower bud.
• Lazy daisy with a French knot centre. Five or six petals around a cluster of French knots, the classic quick flower.
• Filled lazy daisy. A straight stitch worked inside each loop fills the petal so it reads as solid colour.

Where to Use Lazy Daisy

• Simple flowers. Five to eight petals around a centre of French knots.
• Leaves on a stem. Single loops in pairs or alternating along a stem stitch line.
• Buds. One loop with a straight stitch inside it in a second colour.
• Small fillers. Scattered loops between larger motifs, like falling petals or tiny sprigs.
• Borders. A row of lazy daisies at an angle reads as a simple leafy garland.

Lazy Daisy vs Chain Stitch vs Fly Stitch

• Chain stitch: the same loop, but each one is held by the next, forming a line. Lazy daisy is one loop tied down on its own.
• Fly stitch: an open V instead of a closed loop, also held with a small stitch. Used for branches and leaf veins rather than petals.
• Satin stitch petals: solid and smooth, but slower. Lazy daisy gives an outlined petal in one movement.

For an overview of all the basic stitches and how they work together, see our complete guide to hand embroidery stitches.

Patterns to Practise Your Stitches On

Once the basic stitches feel comfortable, try them on a complete design. These patterns are a good place to start.

More beginner-friendly patterns to practise on: Little Hedgehog in the Grass, Baby Elephant with Red Tulip, Realistic Black Ant and Panda on Bamboo.

New to Embroidery? Start with a Free Pattern

All of our free embroidery patterns in one place:

Lazy Daisy Stitch FAQ

Why is it called the lazy daisy stitch?

Because a whole petal is made with one loop and one small stitch, a daisy takes only a few minutes. The more formal name is detached chain stitch.

How do I make lazy daisy petals fuller?

Use more strands, pull the loop less tight, and add a straight stitch inside each loop in the same or a lighter colour.

Do I start lazy daisy petals from the centre or the tip?

From the centre. The loop’s base sits at the centre and the tie-down stitch at the outer tip, so the petals point outwards.

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