Embroidery Crochet Rose Wall Hanging Tutorial – Winding Road Crochet

There is something undeniably romantic about a wall hanging that combines two of the most beloved fiber arts into one cohesive piece. If you have been looking for a project that feels both challenging and deeply satisfying, this embroidery crochet rose wall hanging is exactly what your creative space has been waiting for. This tutorial will walk you through every step of the process, from gathering your materials to hanging the finished piece on your wall, so that even if you are relatively new to combining embroidery with crochet, you will have all the guidance you need to create something truly beautiful.

At Winding Road Crochet, we believe that the best projects are the ones that stretch your skills just enough to keep things interesting without leaving you frustrated. This rose wall hanging does exactly that. It blends the structure of crochet with the expressive freedom of embroidery, and the result is a piece that looks far more complex than it actually is to make. Let’s get started.

What You Will Need Before You Begin

Before you sit down to crochet, it helps to have everything laid out and ready. Nothing breaks creative momentum quite like hunting through your stash for a hook you cannot find or realizing midway through a project that you are short on yarn. Here is a full materials list to get you prepared.

For the crochet base, you will need approximately 200 to 250 yards of a natural cotton yarn in an off-white or cream color. A worsted weight cotton works beautifully for this project because it holds its shape well and creates an even, consistent fabric that is easy to embroider on afterward. You will also need a 5.0mm crochet hook, though you can adjust up or down by half a millimeter depending on your personal tension.

For the embroidery roses and botanical details, gather embroidery floss in at least three shades of pink or rose, ranging from a deep dusty rose to a pale blush. You will also want two or three shades of green for leaves and stems, and an optional cream or ivory floss if you want to add texture to the background. A set of embroidery needles with eyes large enough for floss but sharp enough to pierce your crocheted fabric easily is essential. Look for needles labeled as chenille needles or embroidery needles in sizes 18 to 22.

Additional supplies include a wooden dowel or a piece of driftwood approximately 14 to 16 inches wide, a pair of sharp scissors, stitch markers (the locking kind work best), a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a length of jute twine or macrame cord for hanging. You may also want a small embroidery hoop to help stabilize the fabric while you stitch, though it is not strictly necessary since your crocheted base will have a bit more body than embroidery fabric.

Understanding the Design Before You Stitch

One of the most helpful things you can do before beginning any combined textile project is to spend a few minutes with the design in your head or sketched loosely on paper. This wall hanging is approximately 12 inches wide by 16 inches long, not counting the fringe or the hanging cord. The crochet base is worked in a simple mesh or open-weave stitch pattern, which serves two purposes: it creates a lightweight piece that drapes nicely, and the open structure makes it much easier to pull your embroidery needle through without splitting the yarn.

The embroidery portion features a cluster of three large roses at the center of the piece, surrounded by smaller rosebuds, leaves, and trailing stems that wind outward toward the edges. This botanical arrangement is intentionally asymmetrical, which gives the finished piece that hand-crafted, organic quality that machine-made decor simply cannot replicate.

You do not need to be an advanced embroiderer to complete this design. The roses are worked using a satin stitch variation and a technique called the bullion stitch, both of which we will explain in detail. The leaves use a simple fishbone stitch, and the stems are just a split stitch worked in a flowing line. If you are brand new to embroidery, take an hour to practice these stitches on a scrap of fabric before beginning on your actual wall hanging. The difference in your finished piece will be significant.

Crocheting the Base Panel

Begin with a slip knot and chain 41. This gives you a foundation chain that will yield a panel approximately 12 inches wide when worked in the pattern below.

Row 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. (40 stitches)

Row 2: Chain 4, skip 1 stitch, double crochet in the next stitch. Continue working chain 1, skip 1, double crochet across the row, ending with a double crochet in the final stitch. Turn.

Row 3: Chain 4, double crochet in the first chain-1 space. Continue working double crochet, chain 1 across each chain-1 space, ending with a double crochet in the third chain of the turning chain. Turn.

Repeat Row 3 until your panel measures approximately 15 inches from the foundation chain. The mesh pattern created by this simple double crochet and chain-1 combination is airy and elegant, and it will look stunning once the embroidered roses are added on top.

When you reach your desired length, finish with one final row of single crochet across the top edge to create a firm, even edge for attaching the panel to your dowel. Fasten off and weave in your ends using your tapestry needle.

Along the bottom edge, you will work the fringe. Cut lengths of your cream cotton yarn approximately 14 inches long. Using your crochet hook, fold each length in half, insert the hook through the bottom stitch of the foundation chain, pull the folded loop through, and then pull the loose ends through the loop to create a simple fringe knot. Work fringe into every other stitch across the bottom, then trim all the fringe ends to an even length of about 5 to 6 inches once your embroidery is complete.

Blocking Your Crochet Panel

Before you begin embroidering, it is worth taking the time to block your crochet panel. Blocking is the process of wetting or steaming your finished crochet piece and then shaping it while it dries so that the stitches settle evenly and the piece lays flat. For a wall hanging, this step is especially important because it ensures your final piece hangs straight and smooth rather than curling at the edges.

To wet block, submerge your panel in cool water for about ten minutes, then gently squeeze out the excess without wringing or twisting the fabric. Lay the piece flat on a blocking board or a clean towel, pin the edges to your desired dimensions, and allow it to dry completely. This may take 12 to 24 hours depending on your environment. Once it is dry, your panel will have a beautiful, even texture that is ideal for embroidery.

Transferring Your Rose Design

You have a couple of options for getting the rose design onto your crochet base. Because crochet fabric is not transparent, you cannot use a lightbox transfer method the way you might with regular fabric. Instead, the easiest approach is to use a water-soluble fabric marker to sketch your design directly onto the dry, blocked panel.

If you are comfortable working freehand, simply use the marker to draw the outlines of your three main roses, their surrounding leaves, and the trailing stems. Think of the center rose as the focal point and place it slightly above and to the right of center for a dynamic, asymmetrical composition. The two flanking roses should sit lower and slightly overlap the center rose’s leaves to create a sense of depth.

If you prefer more structure, you can print a rose outline onto regular paper, cut it out, pin it to the panel, and use it as a template while you draw around the shapes with your fabric marker. The marks will disappear with water once your embroidery is finished, so there is no need to worry about precision.

Embroidering the Roses

Now comes the most rewarding part of the entire project. Thread your embroidery needle with two strands of your darkest rose-colored floss to begin.

For each large rose, start at the center and work outward. The center of the rose uses a tight cluster of satin stitches worked in a small oval shape. Keep your stitches close together and parallel, filling in the oval completely so no background fabric shows through. This center section will become the heart of your bloom.

Next, switch to your medium rose shade and begin adding the first ring of petals around the center. Each petal is worked using the bullion stitch, which is a coiled stitch that creates a dimensional, raised effect. To make a bullion stitch, bring your needle up at the base of the petal, insert it back down at the tip of the petal, and bring the point of the needle back up at the base without pulling the needle all the way through. Wrap the floss around the needle shaft several times, enough wraps to equal the distance between base and tip, then hold the wraps gently with your thumb and pull the needle through. Guide the coil down flat against the fabric and anchor it with a small stitch at the tip. Repeat this around the center, creating five to seven petals in the first ring.

Add a second ring of petals using your lightest pink shade, working slightly larger bullion stitches that overlap the first ring just a little. The overlap creates that beautiful layered effect that makes embroidered roses look so lifelike. For the outer petals, you can also incorporate a lazy daisy stitch if you prefer a slightly flatter look for the outermost ring.

Work all three large roses in this manner, then go back and add a few rosebuds using just two or three small bullion stitches clustered together, surrounded by two small leaf stitches in green. Rosebuds scattered throughout the design add a sense of movement and life to the composition.

Adding Leaves and Stems

The stems are worked first using a split stitch in your darkest green floss. A split stitch creates a braided-looking line that curves beautifully, making it perfect for winding stems. Bring your needle up at the base of the stem, make a straight stitch, then bring the needle up through the center of that stitch to split it. Continue splitting each stitch as you work, curving the line as you go.

Once the stems are in place, work the leaves using the fishbone stitch. Bring your needle up at the tip of the leaf, make a short diagonal stitch to the left side of the center vein, then bring it back up at the tip and make a mirroring stitch to the right side. Continue alternating sides, working your way down from tip to base so the stitches create a herringbone-like pattern that fills the leaf with beautiful texture. Use your lighter green for the main leaves and a darker shade for any leaves that fall behind the roses, creating an additional sense of depth.

Once all the major elements are stitched, step back and assess the overall balance of the design. This is the moment to add any small filler details, such as tiny French knots scattered among the leaves to suggest small buds or seeds, or a few additional stem lines to connect elements that feel isolated from the rest of the design.

Finishing and Assembling the Wall Hanging

With your embroidery complete, rinse the panel gently under cool water to remove any fabric marker lines, then reshape and allow it to dry flat one more time.

To attach the panel to your dowel, fold the top single-crochet edge over the dowel and whipstitch it to the back of the panel using your tapestry needle and a length of matching yarn. Make sure the panel is centered on the dowel and that the stitches are secure but not so tight that they pucker the fabric.

Cut a length of jute twine or macrame cord approximately 24 to 30 inches long. Tie one end securely to each end of the dowel, creating a hanging loop. If you are using a piece of driftwood or a rustic branch, you can simply tie the cord around natural notches in the wood for an organic, bohemian look.

Trim your fringe to a final even length if needed and give it a light steam with an iron if you want perfectly straight fringe ends. Some makers prefer the slightly uneven look of natural fringe, which is equally lovely and a bit more relaxed in feel.

Display Ideas and Styling Tips

This embroidery crochet rose wall hanging looks beautiful in a wide range of settings. In a bedroom, hang it above the headboard for a romantic, botanical feel that pairs wonderfully with linen bedding and dried flower arrangements. In a nursery, the soft pinks and greens create a gentle, whimsical atmosphere that feels both timeless and sweet. In a living room or entryway, group it with other fiber art pieces of varying sizes and textures for a layered gallery wall that feels curated and personal.

Because the piece is relatively lightweight, it can be hung with a simple adhesive hook if you prefer not to put nails in your walls. A single small nail works just as well and will hold the piece securely for years.

Tips for Customizing This Pattern

One of the best things about this tutorial is how easy it is to adapt to your own aesthetic. If roses are not your thing, the same combination of bullion stitches and satin stitch centers works beautifully for peonies, dahlias, or even abstract florals. The fishbone stitch leaves translate seamlessly into eucalyptus or fern fronds for a more modern, botanical style.

You can also change the color palette entirely. A panel worked in a dark navy cotton with embroidery in ivory, gold, and burnt orange creates a dramatically different piece that leans more toward bohemian home decor. A white panel with embroidery in a single color, perhaps a deep terracotta or a faded denim blue, makes a striking minimalist statement.

For makers who want a larger piece, simply increase your foundation chain by multiples of two and add additional rows to the crochet base until you reach your desired dimensions. The embroidery design can be scaled up proportionally, or you can repeat the rose cluster across a wider panel for a more lush, garden-like effect.

A Few Final Thoughts

Projects like this embroidery crochet rose wall hanging are the reason so many of us fell in love with fiber arts in the first place. They are meditative to work on, genuinely enjoyable to watch develop, and the finished piece carries a sense of handmade care that simply cannot be replicated by anything mass-produced.

Take your time with this one. Let yourself enjoy the process of each bullion stitch, the slow winding of stems across your panel, the moment when the roses begin to look like roses. There is no deadline here, and the piece will be ready when it is ready.

If you make this wall hanging, we would absolutely love to see it over at Winding Road Crochet. Share your finished piece and tag us so we can celebrate what you have made. Every version of this project is unique because every maker brings their own hand to it, and that individuality is exactly what makes handmade art so worth creating.

Happy hooking, and happy stitching.