Twisted chain stitch lyre rosette hand embroidery pattern

Intermediate · 3 colors · 2 kinds of stitch

Twisted chain stitch lyre rosette: preview of the stitched design

A rosette of eight lyres stands round a ring as a small practice piece for twisted chain stitch, a line of linked loops with a twist in each. The arms of the lyres are purple: the two arms of each lyre rise from the ring, bow out, draw close, then part into two open curls. Each curl ends on a gold French knot, the knots at the ends of the arms. The petals inside the lyres are pink and pointed, one between each pair of arms, and the ring at the center is gold. Twisted chain stitch works the arms, the petals and the ring. Gold French knots, the knots at the center, fill the ring.

Size and details

Intermediate. Dozens of French knots.

3 colors of floss and 2 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters
3 in (8 cm)	1.9 × 1.9 in	4.8 × 4.8 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2.9 × 2.9 in	7.4 × 7.4 cm
5 in (13 cm)	3.8 × 3.8 in	9.7 × 9.7 cm
6 in (15 cm)	4.8 × 4.8 in	12.2 × 12.2 cm
8 in (20 cm)	6.7 × 6.7 in	17 × 17 cm

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 208 Very Dark LavenderArms of the lyres
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawKnots at the ends of the arms, ring at the center and knots at the center
DMC 3350 Ultra Dark Dusty RosePetals inside the lyres

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

Twisted chain stitch 2 strandsArms of the lyres, petals inside the lyres, ring at the center
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsKnots at the ends of the arms, knots at the center

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.