Stumpwork Embroidery: Create 3D Ornaments
A course by shan, Embroidery Artist
Learn how to embroider beautiful double-sided flowers and transform them into accessories
Stumpwork embroidery allows your designs to come to life. With the added influence of traditional Chinese techniques, embroidery artist Shan Xu teaches you how to create beautiful three-dimensional flowers.
Explore the world of stumpwork embroidery by exploring stitching techniques, learning how to wire your designs, and bringing it all together. Continue exploring your creativity by turning your artwork into an accessory.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 33 downloads
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know Shan. She tells her story about how she began working with embroidery and how she implements traditional Chinese styles and techniques in her work. She also shares her sources of inspiration and her influences.
Shan goes through all the materials needed and gives recommendations on which to get. Next, prepare the pattern for your embroidery by choosing your flower, tracing the pattern, and defining the color palette. Explore different methods to prepare your hoop. Discover the French knot and the different kinds of stitches in double-sided embroidery.
Start stitching your project by outlining the pattern with wire. Beginning with the petals, fill in the outlined shapes with thread. Stitch your way onto the leaves before reaching the rest of the details of your flower. Next, carefully cut out your work from the hoop and assemble the parts together to bring your three-dimensional flower to life.
Transform your artwork into an accessory. Shan shows you how to make a brooch from your flower. She also shares her tips on how to make earrings or an appliqué, which is ornamental needlework added to garments.
- 99% positive reviews (467)
- 14,676 students
- 18 lessons (3h 47m)
- 33 additional resources (16 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create a 3D embroidered flower and make it into an accessory.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to learn double-sided and 3D embroidery, known as stumpwork.
Requirements and materials
This course is suitable for beginners as well as experienced embroiderers.
For this course, you will need needles, scissors, cotton threads, non-stretch fabric, wooden hoops, wires, a pen, 3M tapes, and some wax. Optional materials include a printer, a light box, transfer paper, pliers, and tweezers.
Reviews
shan
A course by shan
Inspired by her seamstress grandmother and aunt, Shan Xu began exploring textiles by sewing vintage style purses. She then discovered her love for crafts and it eventually became part of her career as an artist.
Her work incorporates traditional Chinese silk techniques in stumpwork embroidery. She has taken on various commissioned work and has her own online shop on Esty. All her work can be seen on her instagram page, @shanxuhandmade.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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What Will We Do in This Course?
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U2
Getting the Materials and the Patterns Ready
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Materials
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How to Prepare the Pattern for Embroidery
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Prepare the Hoop 1
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Prepare the Hoop 2
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Stitches Used for This Project 1
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Stitches Used for This Project 2
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U3
Stitch the Project
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Wiring Up
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Stitch a Petal 1
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Stitch a Petal 2
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Stitch a Leaf
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Pistil and Stamens
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Cutting
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Assembling 1
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Assembling 2
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U4
Transform Your Piece of Art into Jewelry
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Ideas of Playing with the Flowers
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FP
Final project
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Stumpwork Embroidery: Create 3D Ornaments
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
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Certificates
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Get front-row seats
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
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Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
Stumpwork embroidery is a three-dimensional technique that raises elements off the fabric using wires, padding, and special stitches, unlike traditional flat embroidery. It creates textured, lifelike designs such as flowers, leaves, and insects.
This course is best for those with some basic embroidery experience, as it covers intermediate techniques like wiring and assembling 3D elements. Beginners may find it challenging but motivated learners can still participate.
You'll need embroidery hoops, non-stretch fabric, silk or cotton threads, embroidery needles, fine wire, pliers, scissors, transfer paper, and marking tools. Some projects also require organza, masking tape, and jewelry findings.
You'll learn stumpwork basics, wire outlining, double-sided embroidery, petal and leaf stitching, assembling 3D flowers, creating embroidered butterflies, and techniques for neat cutting and professional finishing.
This course covers multiple transfer methods, including tracing with a light box, using transfer paper, printer methods, and securing patterns with tape. You'll learn how to align and prepare different fabrics for precise results.
Yes, the course covers assembling 3D embroidered components into jewelry and decorative objects, including how to securely attach findings and adapt designs for wearable or display purposes.
While regular embroidery floss can be used, the course recommends silk threads for certain projects due to their sheen and smoothness, especially for double-sided and high-detail embroidery.
Curso excelente! Professora muito clara e com uma boa didática. Valeu muito a pena!
Simplesmente Perfeito S2
Me encantó el curso, es una técnica de bordado muy hermosa y la profesora es muy clara para explicar.
great course! the instructor was easy to follow, the camera angles were excellent. enjoyed this course very much!
**I'm using my Malay Language for this review**
Stumpwork embroidery course ni sangat murah berbanding local (Malaysia), bagus untuk belajar basic dan sesuai untuk beginner. Boleh ulang video jika tak faham. 10 of 10 rate untuk teacher!