The Star Flower and the Snail
The Origin of The Star Flower and the Snail
The Star Flower and the Snail holds a special place in my heart as my very first original embroidery design. Created as part of my Certificate course at the Royal School of Needlework, this piece represents the moment I fell in love with the textures and heritage of crewelwork.
What began as a technical requirement for my studies quickly turned into a personal obsession with the medium. Working with the organic feel of wool and the depth of its colors made me realize I wanted to do more than just stitchâI wanted to design, to innovate, and to share this craft with others.
The Art of the Stitch
This design was a playground for exploration. To bring the whimsical scene to life, I incorporated over 25 different embroidery stitches, ranging from foundational movements to complex textures.
Through this piece, I explored:
- The Snail’s Journey: Creating a sense of movement and “shell” weight through dense, rhythmic stitching.
- The Star Flower: Playing with height and geometry to create a bloom that feels architectural yet natural.
- A World of Texture: Combining techniques to discover how wool can mimic everything from vines to rigid stems.
Bring this design to your hoop
If you would like to follow in my footsteps and explore these 25+ stitches for yourself, I have developed a kit based on this original design. It includes everything you need to recreate the scene, along with guidance to help you master the techniques I learned during my time with the RSN.