Woven picots make wonderful
embroidered leaves

Have you tried woven picots yet? They make wonderful, dimensional leaves. You can vary their size and shape to suit the project you are embroidering.

In this step-by-step embroidery tutorial, I've used Pearl cotton number 8 to demonstrate the stitch. For a more delicate effect, I typically use a thinner thread.

Feel free to practice with the Pearl cotton to get a feel for the process before experimenting with finer threads.

This sample is part of a crazy quilt block, but you can use any embroidery fabric. I've used firm linen cloth in the example above. The woven picot leaves add dimension to the lazy daisy stitch strawberry.

Woven Picots - Step 1

Thread two needles. Your first needle should hold your working thread. You can use any leftover thread in the second needle, as it is for temporary use only. 

Begin with the second needle and create a short vertical stitch, as illustrated. This sets the foundation for your woven picot. Secure the stitch by knotting the ends together at the back of the work; it will be removed once the leaf is complete.

Now take your needle that holds the working thread. Bring it up through the fabric at the base of your leaf. The distance between the first stitch and this point will set the length of your picot. 

Slip the needle through the temporary stitch, without going through the fabric. Then take it to the back at the base, to the side of where the needle came up. Bring it back to the front in between those two base points.

Slip the needle once more through the temporary stitch to form a triangle shape with a centre line, as shown in the photo below. The needle is shown in position to start weaving.

Woven picots - Step 2

Weave the needle under two threads in one direction and under one thread in the other, taking care not to pierce the fabric.

To create a solid foundation for your leaf, keep your initial stitches tight. After a few stitches, use your needle to gently push the weaving towards the tip, eliminating any gaps.

Woven Picots - Step 3

Continue to weave back and forwards, working down to the base of the leaf.

As you approach the middle, ease the tension to allow the leaf to widen. Continue to place stitches close together, creating a firm picot.

Although the weaving is simple, achieving the right tension requires some practice. It's a good idea to practice on a scrap of fabric first to master the tension before adding woven picots to your project.

Woven Picots - Step 4

As you approach the base of your picot, increase the tension to maintain a well-shaped leaf.

Continue working until you can no longer add rows of weaving to the picot. Then, take the needle to the back and secure it.

If other stitching is present, pass the needle under it to fasten off. If not, "park" the needle by bringing it to the surface at the edge of your work, where you can secure it later.

Woven Picot completed

As you approach the base of your picot, increase the tension to maintain a well-shaped leaf. 

In the photo, I'm working on a third woven picot, which partly conceals the couched snail. To avoid catching the snail's threads, I weave the needle through the leaf shape further down, then slide it up into position before tensioning.

To prevent twisting, longer picots can be secured with a small stitch in the same colour, holding them in place after the holding stitch is removed.

The photo below shows the longer leaf completed. This one I left loose so you can move it to one side to see the snail, adding that 3D element. 

You could create a whole garden full of leaves in this manner.

You can see another example  of a design that uses this stitch in my stumpwork section. The tutorial will teach you how to stitch an adorable Easter bunny in a basket.

For other options check out my how to embroider a leaf page.