Golf ball in laurel hand embroidery pattern

Intermediate · 4 colors · 3 kinds of stitch

Golf ball in laurel: preview of the stitched design

A golf ball sits on its tee in a laurel wreath. The ball is outlined in stem stitch, with 37 French knots for its dimples (one in the middle and three rings round it), and the tee is satin stitch. The wreath is two branches of satin stitch leaves, ten pairs and a single leaf at the tip of each, that rise from the tee, which runs on down through the foot of the wreath.

Size and details

Intermediate. Dozens of French knots.

4 colors of floss and 3 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size and the widest satin stitch, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters	Satin stitch up to
3 in (8 cm)	1.5 × 1.6 in	3.8 × 4.1 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
4 in (10 cm)	2.3 × 2.4 in	5.8 × 6.1 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
5 in (13 cm)	3 × 3.2 in	7.6 × 8.1 cm	1/4 in (6 mm)
6 in (15 cm)	3.8 × 4 in	9.7 × 10.2 cm	5/16 in (8 mm)
8 in (20 cm)	5.3 × 5.5 in	13.5 × 14 cm	1/2 in (13 mm)

In an 8 inch hoop the widest satin stitch shape is 1/2 in (13 mm) across. Satin stitches longer than about 12 mm (just under 1/2 in) tend to work loose: divide the shape into sections, or work it in long and short stitch.
In a 3 or 4 inch hoop the French knots are drawn smaller than about 2 mm (a little over 1/16 in). Use one strand of floss for them there, or choose a larger hoop.

The pattern is drawn inside a circle about half an inch (1.3 cm) smaller all around than the hoop.

What you need

DMC 986 Very Dark Forest GreenLaurel branches and darker half of each laurel leaf
DMC 320 Medium Pistachio GreenLighter half of each laurel leaf
DMC 304 Medium RedTee
DMC 414 Dark Steel GrayBall outline and dimples

The floss is six-strand cotton; the stitch guide says how many strands to use. You also need a hoop, an embroidery needle (a size 7 to 9 suits two or three strands) and plain cotton or linen fabric. To frame the piece in its hoop, cut a square 3 inches (8 cm) wider than the hoop: a 9 inch (23 cm) square for a 6 inch hoop.

Stitch guide

Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsLaurel branches, ball outline
Satin stitch 2 strandsLaurel leaves (each half slanted to the center vein, in its own color), tee
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsDimples

Getting it onto your fabric

The PDF holds the pattern twice at actual size: once as drawn, and once mirrored for an iron-on transfer pen. Print it at 100% with scaling off and check the one-inch square (25.4 mm) with a ruler before you trace. How to transfer a pattern explains tracing, carbon paper and the other ways. The files are under Downloads.