Woven wheel stitch, also known as woven rose stitch, is a decorative embroidery stitch used to create raised, spiral flowers. It is made by weaving thread around a set of straight stitches, rather than repeatedly taking the needle through the fabric.

The finished flower has a soft, rounded texture and works beautifully for embroidered roses, flower centres and bold floral details.

How to do woven wheel stitch step-by-step

1. Make the spokes. Begin by making five straight stitches around the marked circle. Bring each stitch into the same central point so they form five evenly spaced spokes, like a wheel (1).
2. Begin weaving. Once all five spokes are complete, bring your needle up through the fabric close to the centre, between two of the spokes (2).
3. Weave around the wheel. Slide the needle under one spoke and over the next, without taking the needle through the fabric. Continue weaving over and under the spokes as you work around the circle (3).
4. Finish the flower. Keep weaving in the same direction until the spokes and marked circle are completely covered. Keep the thread fairly loose and gently push the woven rounds together as you work. Take the needle down through the fabric at the outer edge and secure the thread at the back (4).

Woven wheel stitch works best with an odd number of spokes. Five spokes are usually enough for a small flower, while seven spokes can be used for a larger design.

More about woven wheel stitch

As you weave, the thread gradually covers the straight stitches underneath and builds into a raised spiral. Keep the thread fairly loose so the woven rounds sit softly on the surface instead of pulling the fabric out of shape.

You can change the size of the flower by making the starting circle larger or smaller. You can also experiment with different numbers of thread strands. More strands will create a fuller flower more quickly, while fewer strands create a finer and more detailed finish.

Woven wheel flowers work particularly well alongside lazy daisy petals, French knots and satin stitch in modern floral embroidery designs.

Love stitching flowers? Browse my floral embroidery kits and patterns for more beginner-friendly projects.

How to make a two-colour woven rose

You can change thread colour part way through the flower to create a two-tone effect. Begin weaving with your first colour, then take the thread down through the fabric when you are ready to change shades.

Secure the first thread at the back, then bring the new colour up close to where you finished. Continue weaving around the same spokes until the flower is complete.

You can also add a few French knots to the centre after stitching to give the flower extra colour and texture.

Try woven wheel stitch in a floral embroidery project

The Fabulous Flowers kit includes raised woven wheel flowers, making it a lovely project for practising this stitch as part of a finished design. The other kits below are simple, colourful projects for building confidence with more useful floral embroidery stitches.

Best for learning the basics

Beginner Stitch Sampler Embroidery Kit

Learn 13 essential embroidery stitches with a calm pastel sampler design, perfect for building confidence at your own pace.

Shop the sampler kit

Best for practising woven wheels

Fabulous Flowers Embroidery Kit

Practise woven wheel stitch as part of a bright floral design filled with colourful flowers and simple beginner-friendly details.

Shop Fabulous Flowers

Best for a bright, cheerful project

Kitchen Table Flowers Embroidery Kit

A colourful tulip embroidery kit with simple stitches and a cheerful design to enjoy over one or two relaxing evenings.

Shop Kitchen Table Flowers

Tips for woven wheel stitch

• Use an odd number of straight stitches so the over-and-under pattern alternates correctly.
• Five spokes are a good starting point for a small woven rose.
• Try to make the spokes the same length and space them evenly around the circle.
• Keep the thread tension loose so the flower stays soft and raised.
• Continue weaving in the same direction until the flower is complete.
• Slide the eye of the needle under the spokes first to reduce the chance of catching or splitting the thread.
• Gently push the woven rounds together as you work so the spokes underneath do not show.