Browsing through a copy of Élizabeth-Félicie Bayle-Mouillard’s Nouveau Manuel Complet de la Broderie (1840) – thanks to the direction of a kind reader who pointed out the book! – I came across a page of motifs intended for embroidery on a net ground.

I liked this one, so I made a few very minor adjustments to make it embroidery-friendly, with goldwork in mind. I think it’d make a great little design for a beginner goldwork project! But it would also work well for all sorts of embroidery – whitework, regular surface work, you name it.

And, since it’s been a long time since I’ve posted a free hand embroidery pattern on Needle ‘n Thread, I figured it was about time to do so.

Considering the project from a goldwork point of view, I see a little bit of couching with smooth passing thread, some chip work with bright check purl, a bit of pearl purl, and… yes… beetle wings for accents.

I’ve had beetle wings on my mind lately for some reason. They’re calling me! The strange thing is, I started pulling together project supplies this weekend for a new project (I’ll share my initial meanderings and gatherings with you tomorrow), and there’s nary a beetle wing in sight for it!

But back to this pattern… I could also see it used for whitework, playing around with different layers and textures. And, I could see it as colorful surface embroidery. Little designs like this always get me going with possibilities – and you might see it and think of completely different possibilities.

Free Embroidery Pattern – PDF

Here’s the PDF for the pattern, so you can print it directly from your computer. I think it prints around 4″ – 4.5″ wide, but you can always resize it if you want it smaller.

Stylized Flower Inspired by Lace (PDF)

You can find heaps more free hand embroidery patterns here on Needle ‘n Thread if you’re looking for something to stitch. Feel free to visit the patterns page to see if anything strikes your fancy!

Tomorrow, we gather supplies and muse about a new project! See you then!