I Made a Beautiful 3D Yarn Lily Embroidery on a Wooden Frame

There’s something incredibly satisfying about turning simple materials into a work of art. Recently, I came across a craft idea that involved creating 3D flowers using yarn, and I couldn’t resist giving it a try. The result? A gorgeous 3D lily embroidery on a wooden frame that I’m so proud of. Let me walk you through how I made it—step by step.

Materials I Used

• A wooden embroidery frame with small holes around the edges.
• A piece of grid canvas (I used a plastic one) that fit snugly into the frame.
• Yarn in white, green, and yellow.
• A large embroidery needle that worked well with yarn.
• Small scissors to cut the yarn neatly.
• (Optional) A hot glue gun for extra reinforcement.

Step 1: Setting Up the Frame

I started by attaching the grid canvas to the wooden frame. The grid needed to be stretched evenly, so I secured it tightly. This gave me the perfect base to work on.

Step 2: Making the Lily Petals

1. Designing the Petals: I threaded white yarn through my embroidery needle and began creating the petals. Using the grid as a guide, I stitched long, oval shapes by looping the yarn back and forth. I made sure to keep my stitches neat and uniform.
2. Building Texture: Once I had the basic petal shape, I kept layering the yarn within the same pattern to give the petal a raised, three-dimensional look. The more layers I added, the fuller the petals became.
3. Repeating for All Petals: I ended up making six petals for my lily. After finishing each one, I tied off the yarn securely on the back to keep everything in place.

Step 3: Creating the Stem and Leaves

Next, I moved on to the stem and leaves.

1. The Stem: Using green yarn, I stitched a straight line down the canvas to form the stem. To make it stand out, I twisted the yarn slightly before stitching.
2. The Leaves: For the leaves, I used the same method as the petals but in a smaller, elongated shape. I filled them in with a back-and-forth stitch, making sure the leaves looked full and textured.

Step 4: Adding the Flower Details

1. The Center of the Lily: Using yellow yarn, I created small loops and knots in the middle of the flower to mimic the lily’s stigma. This detail really brought the flower to life.
2. Attaching the Petals: Once the center was done, I carefully positioned the white petals around it. I stitched them securely to the grid, making sure they overlapped slightly for a natural look.

Step 5: Final Touches

After all the main pieces were in place, I flipped the canvas over and trimmed any loose ends of yarn. For added durability, I dabbed a bit of hot glue on the back where the stitches ended (this step is optional but gives peace of mind). Finally, I adjusted the petals and leaves to make everything look balanced.

Tips I Learned Along the Way

• Soft, thick yarn works best for this type of project—it’s easy to work with and gives a plush look.
• Taking my time with each petal really made a difference in the final appearance.
• Experimenting with colors could be fun for future projects—I might try pink lilies next time!

When I finished, I couldn’t stop admiring the result. The 3D lily looked so realistic and added a beautiful handmade touch to my home. What I loved most about this project was how relaxing it was—it’s the perfect craft to do while listening to music or a podcast.

If you decide to try this yourself, I’d love to hear how it turns out. It’s such a rewarding project, and the possibilities are endless. Happy crafting! 🌸