Hello Stitchers! 💁🏼‍♀️💕 A new embroidery tutorial is waiting for you on my YouTube channel today! 🪡💙

After exploring Turkey Loop Stitch, I started wondering how I could actually use this beautiful dimensional stitch in a real embroidery project.

And then I found my inspiration - chicory! 💙

I used photos of real chicory flowers as my reference and experimented with Turkey Loop Stitch to create my own embroidered version.

I simply looked at the real flower, studied its shape and colors, and improvised as I stitched, trying to make it look realistic, but still fun and interesting to embroider.

🪡 In this tutorial you’ll learn:

• how to work Turkey Loop Stitch

• how I choose thread colors using a real flower as inspiration

• how I build the flower layer by layer

• how I trim and shape the loops

• how small details can completely change the finished flower

And of course, you’ll see whether my little experiment actually worked! 😊

🎥 Watch the tutorial here:
👉🏼 🪡 How to Stitch a Fluffy Turkey Loop Flower 🌸

💜 I would really love your help with this video 💜

YouTube has been making it quite difficult for my tutorials to reach people lately, even my subscribers. If you enjoy this tutorial, there are a few very small things you can do that make a big difference for my channel:

✨ If you see the Hype button, please click it!
👍 Give the video a Like.
💬 Leave a meaningful comment.

Also please try to watch as much of the tutorial as you can before moving on to another video. All of these little signals tell YouTube that the tutorial is useful and worth recommending to other stitchers.

It really helps me keep my YouTube channel active and continue creating free embroidery tutorials for everyone 💜

Thank you so much for your support!

I have a question for you!

What flower would YOU try to embroider with Turkey Loop Stitch? 🌸

Leave a comment and tell me under this video 💬 I would love to hear your ideas!

🌸 Want to learn even more dimensional embroidery?

If you’d like to build a strong foundation in hand embroidery, my Sampler Guide Book Project is a wonderful place to start 📖 It is a whole collection of embroidery stitches, techniques and little projects that you can work through at your own pace. It includes structured step-by-step lessons, video tutorials, practice projects, and techniques to help you become more confident with every stitch.

🛍️ Get yours here:
👉🏼 https://embroideryartbynat.com/products/hand-embroidery-samplers-guide-book

💜 Join me on Patreon

Did you know that all of my tutorial articles appear on Patreon first?

As a free Patreon member, you’ll receive:
✨ Early access to many upcoming tutorials
✨ Detailed written step-by-step guides that go beyond the videos
✨ An archive of 150+ embroidery projects for all levels
✨ Behind-the-scenes updates and work-in-progress photos
✨ My future project plans before they’re shared anywhere else
✨ An archive of 80+ embroidery articles for beginners and beyond

I’d love to welcome you there!

💜 Join for free here:
👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/c/embroideryartbynat

Thank you so much for being part of this wonderful stitching community. Your support, kind words, and encouragement truly mean the world to me.

Happy stitching!

Natalia 💜
Embroidery Art by Nat

embroideryartbynat.com

Hi everyone! 💜 My newest YouTube tutorial is finally here!

This time we’re exploring one of my favourite textured stitches - Turkey Work Stitch. Instead of showing just one way to stitch it, I decided to compare 4 different methods side by side so you can see exactly how each one looks and decide which technique you like best.

🎥 Watch the tutorial here:
👉🏼 Turkey Work Tutorial - 4 Easy Methods 🪡 Try & Compare

I hope this comparison helps you discover a new favourite technique. It’s perfect for stitching fluffy flowers, realistic grass, moss, fur, or other textured embroidery elements.

💜 I’d love your help!

It's hard to get my videos visible on YouTube for some reason... even though I spend many hours creating them for everyone to enjoy for free.

If you enjoy this tutorial and would like to help me keep creating more free embroidery lessons, I’d be so grateful if you could spend just a minute supporting this video.

✨ If you see the Hype button, please click it.
👍 Give the video a Like.
💬 Leave a meaningful comment.

Also please try to watch it through to the end before moving on to another video. It really helps YouTube recognize that this tutorial is helpful and makes it more likely to recommend it to other stitchers. Thank you so much for your support!

Every bit of engagement really helps my channel continue to be alive.

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

After you’ve watched the tutorial, tell me in the comments:

🪡 Have you ever used Turkey Work before?

🪡 Which method is your favourite?
#1, #2, #3 or #4?

🪡 If this is your first time trying Turkey Work, how did it go?

🪡 What would you use this stitch for?

🪡 Which embroidery stitch or technique would you like me to explain next?

I’d love to read every reply!

📖 Looking for a complete embroidery learning guide?

If you’d like to build a strong foundation in hand embroidery, my Sampler Guide Book Project is a wonderful place to start. It includes structured step-by-step lessons, video tutorials, practice projects, and techniques to help you become more confident with every stitch.

🛍️ Get yours here:
👉🏼 https://embroideryartbynat.com/products/hand-embroidery-samplers-guide-book

💜 Join me on Patreon

Did you know that all of my tutorial articles appear on Patreon first?

As a free Patreon member, you’ll receive:
✨ Early access to many upcoming tutorials
✨ Detailed written step-by-step guides that go beyond the videos
✨ An archive of 150+ embroidery projects for all levels
✨ Behind-the-scenes updates and work-in-progress photos
✨ My future project plans before they’re shared anywhere else
✨ An archive of 80+ embroidery articles for beginners and beyond

I’d love to welcome you there!

💜 Join for free here:
👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/c/embroideryartbynat

Thank you so much for being part of this wonderful stitching community. Your support, kind words, and encouragement truly mean the world to me.

Happy stitching!

Natalia 💜
Embroidery Art by Nat

embroideryartbynat.com

Hello everyone! 👩‍🌾 Can you tell I'm spending a lot of time in my garden this summer? 😄🌿 I turned that inspiration into a brand new "Gardening" Stick & Stitch Designs! 🍅🪴 The set includes 14 gardening-inspired designs that are perfect for decorating jeans, jackets, tote bags, aprons, shirts, and so much more. Simply print them onto water-soluble Stick & Stitch stabilizer, stitch over the lines, and wash the stabilizer away when you’re finished.

You can purchase this collection separately here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/165190621 or join my Stitching Club and enjoy unlimited access to my entire archive of 150+ embroidery projects, tutorials, patterns, and workshops 💜

Simply print the designs onto water-soluble Stick & Stitch stabilizer, cut them out, stick them onto your fabric, stitch over the lines, and rinse the stabilizer away when you’re finished. It’s one of my favourite ways to embroider on clothing because there’s no need to transfer the design by hand.

You can also place your favourite design in an embroidery hoop and turn it into a cute little hoop art project! 💜

I’ve also created a brand new Stick & Stitch Library on Patreon 🌿 where you’ll now find all of my printable Stick & Stitch collections in one place:

👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/collection/2299063

As I create more designs, they’ll all be added there to keep everything organized and easy to browse.

Currently available in the Stick & Stitch Library:

🐝 Bee Happy Stick & Stitch set + Big Pattern 👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/posts/136873955
🌸 Sakyra Blossom Shirt - Big Patterns Set (5 pages) 👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/posts/158086089
🌻 Sunflowers (NEW!) 👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/posts/164563091
🪴 Gardening (NEW!) 👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/posts/165190621

I absolutely love creating these little embroidery designs because they’re such a fun and easy way to personalize clothing and accessories. I already have lots of ideas for future collections! 💜

If you use these designs, please share your progress or finished embroidery in our community FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/embroideryartbynat

Seeing your projects is always one of my favourite parts of being here with you 💜🪡

I’d love your opinion!

I’ve been thinking about offering printed Stick & Stitch packs on my website.

Instead of printing them yourself, you would receive the designs already printed on water-soluble Stick & Stitch stabilizer - already cut out, just stick onto your fabric, and start stitching.

Since these packs are lightweight and flat, I believe I can mail them as regular letter mail to Canada, the US, and many other countries without expensive shipping costs or tracked parcels. That would make them much easier to ship than full embroidery kits.

Would this be something you’d be interested in purchasing?

If yes, I’d love to hear from you! 💜

Please leave a comment below or reply to this email and let me know:

• 🌎 Which country you’re from?

• ✂️ Which Stick & Stitch collection you’d most like to see available?

• 💌 Would you be interested in monthly subscription with Stick & Stitch packs, postcards and some other flat up to 100 grams goodies?

Your feedback will help me decide whether to add these to my website. Here is what they look like:

Thank you so much for helping shape future projects! I always love hearing your ideas! 🪡💜

Happy stitching,

Natalie 🌷

This week I’d love to show you the Away Knot Method - one of the most traditional ways to start embroidery thread while keeping the back of your work beautifully neat and clean.

In this tutorial I’ll show you:

🪡 How to start your thread using the Away Knot Method
✨ How to finish both thread ends neatly without leaving permanent knots
🌸 When I like to use this method and when I prefer one of the other techniques I’ve shared
💜 The advantages and disadvantages of the Away Knot Method

🎥 Watch the full tutorial here: 👉🏼 Away Knot Tutorial 👈🏼

For years I actually thought that Away Knot and Waste Knot were exactly the same technique. It wasn’t until I started researching for this series that I discovered there’s an important difference! 😊 As my grandma used to say: “You live and learn.”

I hope this series helps you discover new techniques and gives you more confidence to choose the method that works best for each project. There isn’t just one “correct” way to start your thread because different techniques shine in different situations, and it’s wonderful to have several options in your embroidery toolkit.

Missed the previous tutorials?

If you’re just joining the series, here are the first two tutorials:

🪡 Loop Method: 👉🏼 Watch on YouTube 👈🏼

🪡 Traditional Stab Stitch Method: 👉🏼 Watch on YouTube 👈🏼

And don’t go too far... 😊

In my next tutorial I’ll be sharing the Waste Knot Method and explaining exactly how it differs from the Away Knot. Even though the two techniques are often confused, they each have their own advantages, and I’ll help you understand when to use each one.

💌 I’d love to hear from you!

Have you ever used the Away Knot Method before? Or did you also think it was the same as the Waste Knot? Just leave a comment under my video on YouTube - I always enjoy reading your feedback and hearing about your own stitching experience.

💜 Want to See My Tutorials Before They’re Published?

If you enjoy these embroidery tips, I’d love to invite you to join me on Patreon as a free member!

Patreon has become my favorite place to share everything that’s happening behind the scenes. It’s where I post my new tutorial articles first - sometimes days before the YouTube video goes live.

Each tutorial also includes much more than the video itself:
🪡 A detailed step-by-step written guide
✨ Advantages and disadvantages of each method
💜 Extra tips and notes that don’t always make it into the video

You’ll also find:

• 🌸 Announcements about upcoming tutorials and new embroidery patterns

• 🧵 Work-in-progress photos and behind-the-scenes updates

• 💡 Future project ideas that I share with my Patreon community before anywhere else

• 📚 An archive of 80+ embroidery articles packed with tips, techniques, and beginner-friendly resources

I’d love for you to explore everything I’ve been building over the years. Even as a free member, you’ll be the first to know when new tutorials are released and get a closer look at what’s coming next.

👉 Join me on Patreon for free: https://www.patreon.com/c/embroideryartbynat

🪡✂️ Explore my articles for beginners:

👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/collection/2935

They are free and here you will find answers to a lot of your questions:

❓Which fabric to use for hand embroidery?

❓How to transfer the pattern to the fabric?

❓Where to get the right materials? and more!

🪡✂️ Learn About Different Pattern Transferring Methods:

👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/collection/2961

I often get questions from beginners about how to transfer a pattern onto fabric. For many people, this is the step that feels confusing and stops them from trying hand embroidery in the first place. That’s why I wrote many articles explaining all the most popular pattern transfer methods. You can choose the one that works best for you and then nothing should stop you from starting your embroidery project 💜

Happy stitching! 💜

Natalie
Embroidery Art by Nat 🪡✨

embroideryartbynat.com

Recently I shared one of my favorite techniques for starting and finishing embroidery thread without knots using the loop method. Thank you so much for all your lovely messages! It was wonderful to hear that many of you are already trying it in your own projects 🪡✨

Today I have another technique to share with you!

This time we’re looking at the stab stitch method - a clever way to secure your thread using tiny stitches that disappear beneath your embroidery.

One of the things I love most about this technique is that you can start and finish your thread from the front of your work without constantly turning your hoop over. It’s especially useful for satin stitch, long & short shading, and larger projects on scroll or slate frames, where flipping your work over can become a bit of a workout.

In this tutorial I’ll show you:
🌸 How to start your thread using tiny stab stitches
🪡 How to finish your thread so the stitches become almost invisible
✨ When this method works best (and when I still prefer the loop method)
💜 The advantages and disadvantages compared to other ways of securing thread

🎥 Watch the full tutorial here:
👉🏼 Stab Stitches Tutorial 👈🏼

As always, I’d love to hear what you think! Have you ever tried the stab stitch method before? Or do you have another favorite way to start and finish your thread?

If you missed last week’s tutorial about the Loop Method, you can watch it here:
👉🏼 Loop Method Tutorial 👈🏼

During this week I’ll be sharing two more of my favorite knot-free techniques for starting embroidery thread. Each method has its own advantages, and my goal is to help you build a collection of techniques so you can confidently choose the best one for every project.

Happy stitching! 💜

Natalie
Embroidery Art by Nat 🪡✨

One of the questions I get asked the most is:

“How do you start and finish embroidery thread without using knots?”

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep the back of your embroidery neat and professional-looking, this new tutorial is for you! 🪡✨

In this video, I show you one of my favorite techniques for starting and ending embroidery thread using the loop method. It’s quick, secure, and once you learn it, you’ll probably never want to use knots again!

🎥 Watch the tutorial here:

I still use this method in almost every embroidery project I make, and I hope it becomes one of your favorite little stitching tricks too.

💬 I’d love to know...

Have you tried the loop method before, or are you still using knots? Let me know in the comments under the video - I always enjoy reading your feedback!

And if you know even more tips - feel free to share them with everyone in the comments 💬 let's learn from each other!

Follow for more tips and tricks about hand embroidery and in my next videos you will learn more methods on how to start and finish your threads without knots 😉

Thank you so much for your support, your kind comments, and for being part of this wonderful stitching community. Every like, comment, and share helps my tutorials reach more people who are learning embroidery 💜

Happy stitching! ✂️✨

Natalie
Embroidery Art by Nat

P.S. If you know someone who’s just starting embroidery, feel free to share this tutorial with them. It’s one of those small techniques that can make a big difference from the very beginning. 🪡💕

In this embroidery vlog I share the story and emotions behind my very first embroidered shirt - a surprise birthday gift 🌸 Inspired by the beauty of spring blossoms, I spent several weeks stitching delicate cherry blossom embroidery onto a linen shirt. Along the way, I’ll share my thoughts on handmade gifts and the joy of creating something meaningful with your own hands.

If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up 👍 leave a comment 💬 and subscribe to my channel if you haven’t done it yet. Your support helps me continue creating free embroidery tutorials, vlogs, and stitch-alongs for the embroidery community.

In case you missed my previous newsletter - I’ve been secretly working on something beautiful behind the scenes. This was a birthday gift for my dear friend - she turned 40, and I really wanted to create something special for her. She wanted it to be a surprise, so I had to keep everything a secret and couldn’t show it to anyone.

Today is finally the day I can share it with you, and I’m so happy ☺️

This design became our May Pattern of the Month on Patreon ✨

I created a custom embroidered blouse, and turned it into a detailed pattern so you can stitch something similar yourself - on a blouse or any clothing you love.

To celebrate this project, I’m running a 50% discount for your first month or year of membership on Patreon ✨

🌟 If you’d love to stitch this project with me - you can join my Stitching Club for just $5 to get full access to the pattern, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes process 😉

Get 50% off today 👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/join/embroideryartbynat

Here is the full story:

This was a birthday gift for my dear friend - she turned 40, and I really wanted to create something special for her. She wanted it to be a surprise, so I had to keep everything a secret and couldn’t show it to anyone.

Today is finally the day I can share it with you, and I’m so happy! This design became our May Pattern of the Month ✨ I prepared a detailed pattern for you so you can stitch a blouse like this yourself or use the design on any clothing you like. I’ll also share all the nuances of embroidery on garments and my personal experience.

I worked on this piece from the end of March until mid-April. It was quite challenging because I had very little time because I was participating in three retreats that were happening almost at the same time, so there was a lot of work and preparation. And of course, just my luck - I ran out of threads and had to order it online because it’s not available in any local stores. But I made it! I finished the embroidery on the very day I gave it to her for her birthday.

I didn’t even have time to fully wash away the stabilizer but I carefully trimmed it around the embroidery so there would be less to rinse later and it would look neater. Now I’ve taken the blouse back for a few days to wash and iron it properly, and to create photos and videos for you.

While working on this shirt, I filmed a vlog so there will also be a video where I show the process and share my thoughts and experience. This is my very first embroidered blouse, and I really want to keep this memory as a kind of video diary… and of course, I can’t wait to share it with you.

I loved this design so much that now I want to make one for myself too 💜 I’m stitching another version on a purple blouse and place the design a little differently. This blouse has a small pocket, so I embroidered a delicate branch above the pocket so it looks like it’s growing out of it, and adding smaller branches on the sleeves and collar for symmetry. I’m documenting this second blouse as well taking photos and videos to keep you updated throughout the process.

So if you’re not in the club yet - this is the perfect time to join 💫 There’s so much exciting content waiting for you!

All the patterns and stitching guides are can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/2160664

You can purchase the access to just this project for $14 or join my Stitching Club for just $5 first month/ $60 a year and get access to the entire archive with 150+ projects I created over the 7 years of running my little online school on Patreon.

I’m also sharing my experience of embroidering on clothing, all the little tips and things I learned along the way. Read my educational articles about stitching on clothing here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1635345

👉 Join my Stitching Club here: https://www.patreon.com/join/embroideryartbynat

I would be so happy to have you there and stitch this project together!

Warmly,

Natalie 💜

Hi my lovely stitchy friend! 💜 I’ve bee a little quiet recently because I’ve been secretly working on something beautiful behind the scenes…

This was a birthday gift for my dear friend - she turned 40, and I really wanted to create something special for her. She wanted it to be a surprise, so I had to keep everything a secret and couldn’t show it to anyone.

Today is finally the day I can share it with you, and I’m so happy ☺️
This design became our May Pattern of the Month on Patreon ✨

I created a custom embroidered blouse, and turned it into a detailed pattern so you can stitch something similar yourself - on a blouse or any clothing you love.

To celebrate this project, I’m running a 50% discount for your first month or year of membership on Patreon ✨

🌟 If you’d love to stitch this project with me - you can join my Stitching Club for just $5 to get full access to the pattern, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes process 😉

Get 50% off today 👉🏼 https://www.patreon.com/join/embroideryartbynat

Here is the full story:

This was a birthday gift for my dear friend - she turned 40, and I really wanted to create something special for her. She wanted it to be a surprise, so I had to keep everything a secret and couldn’t show it to anyone.

Today is finally the day I can share it with you, and I’m so happy! This design became our May Pattern of the Month ✨ I prepared a detailed pattern for you so you can stitch a blouse like this yourself or use the design on any clothing you like. I’ll also share all the nuances of embroidery on garments and my personal experience.

I worked on this piece from the end of March until mid-April. It was quite challenging because I had very little time because I was participating in three retreats that were happening almost at the same time, so there was a lot of work and preparation. And of course, just my luck - I ran out of threads and had to order it online because it’s not available in any local stores. But I made it! I finished the embroidery on the very day I gave it to her for her birthday.

I didn’t even have time to fully wash away the stabilizer but I carefully trimmed it around the embroidery so there would be less to rinse later and it would look neater. Now I’ve taken the blouse back for a few days to wash and iron it properly, and to create photos and videos for you.

While working on this shirt, I filmed a vlog so there will also be a video where I show the process and share my thoughts and experience. This is my very first embroidered blouse, and I really want to keep this memory as a kind of video diary… and of course, I can’t wait to share it with you.

I loved this design so much that now I want to make one for myself too 💜 I’m stitching another version on a purple blouse and place the design a little differently. This blouse has a small pocket, so I embroidered a delicate branch above the pocket so it looks like it’s growing out of it, and adding smaller branches on the sleeves and collar for symmetry. I’m documenting this second blouse as well taking photos and videos to keep you updated throughout the process.

So if you’re not in the club yet - this is the perfect time to join 💫 There’s so much exciting content waiting for you!

All the patterns and stitching guides are can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/2160664

You can purchase the access to just this project for $14 or join my Stitching Club for just $5 first month/ $60 a year and get access to the entire achive with 150+ projects I created over the 7 years of running my little online school on Patreon.

I’m also sharing my experience of embroidering on clothing, all the little tips and things I learned along the way. Read my educational articles about stitching on clothing here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1635345

👉 Join my Stitching Club here: https://www.patreon.com/join/embroideryartbynat

I would be so happy to have you there and stitch this project together!

Warmly,
Natalie 💜

Embroidery Patterns

YouTube Tutorials

Stitching Club Membership

Facebook Group

Leave a comment

I’m making good progress on my embroidered shirt and I’m so happy with how it’s turning out 💜✨ So far I’ve already stitched the pocket, the collar, and I’m just finishing the second cuff. It’s coming together so beautifully, and I’m really enjoying seeing all these little blossoms on the shirt 🌸

Today I’d love to share the stitching guide illustrations…

Read more

Let’s prepare our project together before we start stitching ✂️ In this article, I’ll walk you through how to print your pattern, choose the placement, and secure your design so you can stitch with confidence and avoid any surprises along the way 💜 Good preparation is the key to a beautiful final result ✨

🌸 Step 1: Print the design onto Stick & Stitch …

Read more

Hi my lovely stitchy friend! 💜 I’ve been secretly working on something beautiful behind the scenes…

This was a birthday gift for my dear friend, she turned 40, and I really wanted to create something special for her. She wanted it to be a surprise, so I had to keep everything a secret and couldn’t show it to anyone.

Today is finally the day I can share …

Read more

My Motanka Doll workshop is now live as part of the Making Zen retreat and it will be available to watch for the next 24 hours only. I’m also sharing this beautiful Motanka made by one of the participants - she looks like Mavka, the spirit of the forest from Ukrainian folklore 🌿✨ Isn’t she gorgeus?

Here is the public page where my workshop is available for everyone today:

https://www.makingzen.com/natalia-olefirenko

Don’t forget to download my free worksheet, where you’ll find all the step-by-step details and the full list of materials for creating this textile doll 📄

In this workshop, I’ll guide you step by step through creating a traditional Ukrainian Motanka doll using simple materials, while also sharing the meaning and symbolism behind this beautiful craft 💙💛

This project was very special for me, it was my first time creating a Motanka, and the process turned out to be much deeper and more meaningful than I expected.

If you’ve been curious about it, today is the perfect moment to try ✨

Today, your support means so much to me 💜 I would truly love to see your kind comments under my workshop video - it will make this day even more special.

✨ Want more time?

If you’d like to watch the workshop at your own pace (or come back to it later), you can upgrade to the VIP Pass and get lifetime access, along with the full PDF guide and bonus patterns.

👉 Upgrade for VIP Pass

I’ll be watching along with you today and would love to hear what you think 💜

Will you be stitching with me?

Natalia ✨

Here are my previous newsletters about this online retreat in case you missed it:

Hi my lovely stitchy friends! I have one more spring flower for you - I had so much fun stitching these delicate pink daisies today 🌸 In Ukraine, we call them “Margarytka”, and they’ve always felt so special to me. I remember seeing these tiny, soft flowers when we lived in the west of Ukraine… little pink and white blooms with sunny yellow centers, gr…

Read more

It’s very simple beginner-friendly project, I only used satin stitch and stem stitch for the entire composition. Just 2-3 hours of stitching and it’s ready - love it!

📹 Detailed video tutorial with real-time stitching is here:
✨ Blue bells 💙 Recorded Live Stitching Session 🪡✨

Read more

If you’re thinking about joining Making Zen (or already signed up), I wanted to give you a better idea of what you’ll experience inside…

This is not just one workshop - it’s 40+ creative sessions from artists all around the world.

You’ll find:
✨ embroidery projects
✨ textile art techniques
✨ slow, mindful creative practices
✨ ideas you can return to again and again

And of course, my workshop where I’ll guide you through creating a Motanka doll, while sharing the meaning behind this beautiful Ukrainian tradition 💙💛

👉🏼 Get your free ticket here! 👈🏼

If you enjoy learning new techniques and feeling inspired… this event is honestly such a beautiful experience.

Making Zen May 2026 Presentations:

Many of you may already be familiar with the Making Zen retreats - they’ve become such a beloved creative event. But if this is your first time hearing about it, here’s what to expect:

Making Zen is a free 5-day online retreat, where each day you get access to a new selection of pre-recorded workshops, available to watch for 24 hours.

This year is especially exciting, as the event is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a bigger and more special edition than ever ✨ featuring over 40 workshops from talented artists around the world!

And just to give you an idea of how incredible this community is… the last October retreat welcomed more than 35,000 participants ✨ Incredible, right?

The retreat itself is completely free to attend. Each workshop will be available for 24 hours, so you can watch them during that time and choose the ones that inspire you most.

If you’d like more flexibility, there is also an option to upgrade to a VIP Pass with early bird price 😉 This gives you lifetime access to all workshops, so you can watch everything at your own pace and come back to your favorite lessons anytime. It also includes a beautiful collection of bonus projects from all the creators and it’s honestly a wonderful way to stay inspired for months.

If you already feel like you’d love to have that access, you can upgrade anytime through my special link. This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase and I truly appreciate your support 💜

There is also a very active and welcoming community around Making Zen on Facebook. I especially love seeing how people share their creations and mix techniques from different workshops to create something completely their own.

I’m personally very excited about the other workshops as well. Some of the artists are familiar to me, and I know they always share beautiful ideas and clear guidance. Others are new, which makes it even more exciting 🤩 As a creator I already got my VIP Pass and I’m definitely planning to explore and learn along the way too 🪡✨

It’s always such an inspiring experience, and I would love for you to be part of it.

Will I see you there?

Hi my lovely stitchers 💜

I’ve been a little quiet here over the past few weeks (months), and I wanted to share what’s been going on behind the scenes… I’ve been fully immersed in creating a very special project for the Making Zen online retreat - a traditional Ukrainian Motanka Doll 💙💛✨

This was actually my very first time working in this technique, and I have to say… it was not easy 😅 At the same time, it felt incredibly meaningful - something new I had a chance to learn about Ukrainian traditions. This project became a beautiful way for me to reconnect with that part of my culture and explore 🪡✨ I’m really happy with how she turned out 🥹 💕

Because this project is part of Making Zen, I can’t share the full tutorial or PDF just yet, but I can already share my special invite link for free tickets: https://www.makingzen.com/a/2148242104/kg6ezzkX (make sure you are registered through my link and not anywhere else) - it’s important, especially if you decide to get VIP Pass 😉

Many of you may already be familiar with the Making Zen retreats - they’ve become such a beloved creative event. But if this is your first time hearing about it, here’s what to expect:

Making Zen is a free 5-day online retreat, where each day you get access to a new selection of pre-recorded workshops, available to watch for 24 hours.

This year is especially exciting, as the event is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a bigger and more special edition than ever ✨ featuring over 40 workshops from talented artists around the world!

And just to give you an idea of how incredible this community is… the last October retreat welcomed more than 35,000 participants ✨ Incredible, right?

This time, I’ll be teaching my own workshop on how to create a traditional Motanka Doll - a project that became very special to me while I was working on it 💙💛 You will learn how to create a traditional Ukrainian Motanka Doll using simple wrapping techniques and accessible materials, while discovering the cultural meaning and symbolism behind this unique folk art.

But I’m just one of over 40 talented and passionate artists who will be sharing their techniques and ideas. Each workshop is unique, and together they create a truly inspiring experience focused on creativity, learning, and slowing down. Click here to see the list of all the workshops we prepared for you!

The retreat itself is completely free to attend. Each workshop will be available for 24 hours, so you can watch them during that time and choose the ones that inspire you most.

If you’d like more flexibility, there is also an option to upgrade to a VIP Pass with early bird price 😉 This gives you lifetime access to all workshops, so you can watch everything at your own pace and come back to your favorite lessons anytime. It also includes a beautiful collection of bonus projects from all the creators and it’s honestly a wonderful way to stay inspired for months.

If you already feel like you’d love to have that access, you can upgrade anytime through my special link. This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase and I truly appreciate your support 💜

There is also a very active and welcoming community around Making Zen on Facebook. I especially love seeing how people share their creations and mix techniques from different workshops to create something completely their own.

I’m personally very excited about the other workshops as well. Some of the artists are familiar to me, and I know they always share beautiful ideas and clear guidance. Others are new, which makes it even more exciting 🤩 As a creator I already got my VIP Pass and I’m definitely planning to explore and learn along the way too 🪡✨

It’s always such an inspiring experience, and I would love for you to be part of it.

Will I see you there?

This is an advanced design, and it’s perfect if you want to practice long and short stitch shading and really improve your thread painting skills 🎨🪡 At the same time, the small size makes it much less intimidating so you can focus on learning the technique without feeling overwhelmed.

6 New Floral Design For Easter Eggs Embroidery Pattern By Embroideryartbynat

1.2MB ∙ PDF file

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Download

Here is the illustration showing exactly which stitches and floss co…

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I know this update is coming a bit later than planned so thank you so much for your patience and support. It truly mea…

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I’m so happy to finally share this with you 💕 This video was originally created for a previous Making Zen retreat, and after a full year, I can now release it here for you ✨ This project is very close to my heart - it combines embroidery with Ukrainian traditions 🇺🇦🌿 Today is Good Friday and it’s a perfect day to listen the story and meaning behind Ukrainian Easter egg designs 🌸 I attached below a FREE embroidery pattern for you so you can stitch along🪡✨ Have a wonderful Easter!

Pysanka Easter Egg Embroidery Pattern By Embroideryartbynat Google Docs

19.5MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Have you ever wondered why we decorate eggs in the spring?

🥚 A bit of history:
In Ukrainian culture, the egg is a symbol of life, renewal, and hope. Decorating eggs - pysanky - goes back thousands of years, even before Christianity. The tradition is very ancient - more than 2,000 years old, and likely dates back to pre-Christian times, possibly around the 4th century Before Common Era or earlier.

Archaeological evidence suggests that decorated eggs existed even in Trypillian culture (around 5,000–3,000 Before Common Era) - they found ceramic eggs in graves and homes, symbolizing fertility, life, and protection.

The word “pysanka” comes from the Ukrainian verb “pysaty”, which means “to write.” Before Christianity came to Ukraine in 988, pysanky were made as symbols of sun worship and rebirth, tied to spring rituals. After the Christianization of Kyiv Rus’, the tradition was incorporated into Easter celebrations, blending ancient symbols with new religious meaning - the egg became a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.

So while decorating eggs for Easter exists in many cultures today, Ukraine is widely considered the birthplace of this tradition. It’s deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture and passed down through generations, often from mother to daughter.

Each pattern, color, and line in a pysanka holds meaning:

🌿 Green for spring and growth

❤️ Red for love and joy

🌞 The sun, stars, and flowers for energy and life

Today, many of us in the Ukrainian diaspora continue this tradition not just for beauty, but as a spiritual act of hope and resistance - especially during hard times. The egg, though fragile, reminds us that light always returns, even after the darkest winters.

Each symbol and color carried a specific blessing and held protective and magical meanings:

• Triangles represented the Trinity of life: birth, death, and rebirth.

• Waves and spirals symbolized the eternal flow of time.

• Deer, rams, and horses were symbols of strength and prosperity.

In ancient times Ukrainians were deeply connected to nature through their pagan traditions 🌿✨People believed that the world was held together by the pysanka. They saw the egg as a vessel of cosmic energy, representing the sun, spring, and the forces of nature awakening after winter.

They believed that every tree, flower, river, and mountain carried a spirit and special energy. Nature was seen as sacred, and life revolved around the cycles of the seasons - planting, harvesting, honoring the sun, and welcoming the rain 🌾🌻

Many traditional Ukrainian celebrations were tied to nature’s rhythms. People created rituals to honor the earth, asked for good harvests, protection, and health. They wove flowers into wreaths, embroidered symbols of the sun, water, and fertility onto their clothing.

One of the charming traditions in Ukraine is bringing blossoming tree branches - especially cherry (вишня) or apple (яблуня) into the home during early spring 🌸🌿 to celebrate its awakening after the long, harsh winters.

People would observe how the branches behaved once brought indoors. If the buds opened quickly and the blossoms were full and healthy, it was believed to be a sign of an early and fruitful spring. If the buds dried up or didn’t bloom well, it could signal a late spring or a poor harvest year.

Pysanky in Dark Times

Throughout history, Ukrainians turned to pysanky as a spiritual act of resistance and hope, especially in times of war, oppression, and hardship. During the Soviet era, pysanka-making was banned because of its deep connection to Ukrainian identity and faith but people continued the tradition in secret, passing down the patterns and meanings as a form of silent defiance.

Even today, during the ongoing struggles in Ukraine, pysanky have become a symbol of resilience. Many artists and crafters create them as an expression of hope, unity, and the unbreakable spirit of Ukraine. The egg, fragile yet enduring, reminds us that even in the darkest times, light and life always return.

Traditionally, Ukrainians believed that as long as pysanky were made each year, the world would keep turning. Families would gift pysanky to loved ones as a blessing for health, protection, and prosperity. Some were placed in homes to guard against evil, while others were given to the deceased as a sacred farewell.

In modern times, pysanky continue to be a cherished art form, connecting Ukrainians to their ancestors and traditions. Every pysanka carries a story and filled with prayers, memories, and hopes for the future.

So whether you are embroidering pysanka designs, painting eggs, or simply admiring their beauty, you are participating in a centuries-old tradition of resilience, faith, and love 🌿🇺🇦✨

For me, as a Ukrainian artist, working on this embroidered Easter egg project is more than just a creative idea - it’s a deeply emotional and meaningful act of preserving my heritage, honoring my people, and keeping our traditions alive during these difficult times.

As war continues to impact my homeland, I feel an even stronger connection to this tradition. Creating these embroidered eggs first of all - it’s about carrying forward the spirit of resilience, culture, and strength that defines Ukraine.

By working on this project, I feel like I’m contributing to something bigger - a way to remind the world of Ukraine’s beauty, its people’s perseverance, and the importance of never letting our culture fade away.

Sharing this project with my you and hosting fundraising workshops means so much to me because it allows others to connect with this tradition, too. Whether you’re stitching along with me, attending a workshop, or simply appreciating the craft, you are helping to preserve Ukrainian culture and stand in solidarity with my people.

This is why I’m pouring my heart into every detail of these embroidered eggs. They are not just decorations - they are symbols of hope, love, and the unbreakable Ukrainian spirit 🇺🇦✨

Hello my lovely stitchers 💕 I’m super happy to finally share the finished PDF pattern for my Forget-Me-Nots Floral Heart with you. This one took me quite a while to complete. I wasn’t feeling very well for some time, which slowed the process down a bit but don’t worry, I’m feeling much better now. I’m incredibly grateful that you’re still here and supp…

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