Embellish Your Crochet: Surface Crochet and Lazy Daisy Stitch Tutorial

Watch the video: “Surface Crochet and Lazy Daisy Stitch Tutorial” by MOARA CROCHET DESIGN

A crisp line of surface crochet and a few elegant lazy daisy loops are all it takes to turn a simple crochet coaster into a keepsake. This tutorial walks you through every move—from attaching new yarn to securing each embroidered loop—so your embellishment looks intentional, even if you’re brand new to surface techniques.

What you’ll learn

• How to attach a new yarn and create a neat line of surface slip stitches on a finished crochet piece

• How to form and secure lazy daisy loops with a tapestry needle for a branching motif

• How to manage tension, avoid tangles, and finish with tidy, woven-in ends

• How to plan a symmetrical design that suits your coaster

Introduction to Crochet Embellishment Surface crochet and lazy daisy embroidery are a beginner-friendly duo that adds texture and detail to any crocheted fabric. In the video, the crafter works on a coaster and demonstrates how slip-stitched surface lines can act as guides for simple embroidered motifs.

What is Surface Crochet? Surface crochet is worked on top of existing fabric. You insert your hook into the crocheted piece, pull up a loop of the working yarn from the back, then slip it through to form a clean chain on the surface. The video uses a 3mm crochet hook and fingering weight yarn, but the technique is adaptable to your materials.

What is the Lazy Daisy Stitch? The lazy daisy stitch is an embroidery loop that’s secured at the tip with a small stitch, creating a petal-like shape. On crochet fabric, these loops sit slightly proud, so keeping them a touch larger helps them read clearly as intentional petals or leaves.

Why Embellish Your Crochet Projects? Embellishment adds personality. A vertical surface chain can become a stem; lazy daisy loops turn into leaves or blossoms. On coasters, this little extra detail is both charming and quick. You can keep it minimal with a single branch or build up to three branches for a more decorative finish.

Getting Started with Surface Crochet The tutorial begins with the maker’s free coaster pattern (linked below the video), but you can use any crocheted base you already have. You’ll need a 3mm crochet hook, fingering weight yarn, and a tapestry needle for the embroidery portion.

Choosing Your Starting Point Identify the front and back of your work. For the sample design, the starting point is the middle of the bottom edge on the front side. This sets you up for a straight, vertical path. If your vision differs, pick a different point and direction—surface crochet is flexible.

Attaching Yarn to Your Crochet Hook Leave a long tail of your new yarn so you can weave it in later. Thread your hook into the chosen stitch, wrap the yarn around the hook, and tie a small knot. The long tail helps anchor the first moves and steadies the fabric as you pull loops through.

As you prepare to stitch, remember that some makers also explore tools like embroidery frame when they switch between crochet and needlework, though the tutorial here uses only a tapestry needle and hook.

Creating Your First Surface Crochet Stitches Pull the knotted yarn through to the front of the fabric; keep the working yarn at the back. Turn the work as needed so you can comfortably yarn over from the back and pull up a loop. Slip that loop through the one on your hook to form a surface slip stitch. The instructor continues straight up, forming a clean line.

If you also do machine embroidery on other projects, you may be familiar with stabilizing aids like magnetic systems, but for crochet embellishment here, your hand tension and thumb control are the real heroes.

Continue to the next stitch along your planned path. Each time: insert the hook through the fabric, collect the yarn from the back, pull it to the front, and slip it through the existing loop. Aim for a consistent rhythm and even tension to keep the surface chain uniform.

Pro tip

• Hold the tail at the back for the first few stitches to stabilize the start. This helps prevent wobbly or oversized first loops and keeps your line straight.

As your column grows, check for spacing and tension. Straight up is the simplest route, but you can angle or curve your path if your design calls for it.

The maker in the video works a vertical line of about 10 surface stitches, which becomes a tidy stem-like guide for the embroidery.

Quick check

• Is your working yarn staying behind the fabric as you insert and pull up loops?

• Do your slip stitches look even, with no tight spots or slack links?

Once you complete your target count (about 10), you’ll have a clear, crisp chain that reads beautifully against the base fabric.

Watch out

• If your yarn splits as you pull through, back up and reinsert the hook cleanly. Splits can make the surface chain look fuzzy.

Mastering the Lazy Daisy Stitch for Embroidery With the surface chain in place, it’s time to embroider. The video switches from hook to tapestry needle and uses the same yarn tail as the working thread for the embroidery. Fastening off the surface crochet creates the secure end you need before you stitch.

Preparing Your Yarn and Needle Leave about a 70 cm tail when you finish the surface chain, then pull the tail through the last loop to fasten off. Thread that tail onto a tapestry needle. This simple setup avoids color changes and keeps the look cohesive.

If you sometimes alternate between hand embroidery and machine embroidery in your studio, note that tools like embroidery sewing machine accessories are separate; here you only need the tapestry needle.

Forming Your First Lazy Daisy Loop To form the first loop, insert the needle into the same spot where your yarn emerged for the surface crochet. Bring the needle up through a stitch slightly above. Loop the yarn under the needle and place your thumb lightly on the loop to prevent tangling as you pull the needle through. This creates the classic lazy daisy loop on top of the crochet fabric.

The instructor intentionally makes the loop a little larger than the width of the surface chain so it stands out clearly. Adjust yours until it looks balanced on your coaster.

If you also embellish sewn goods, you may have encountered terms like magnetic embroidery hoops—hand techniques on crochet don’t require them, but the idea of controlled tension carries over.

Securing and Repeating for Branching Designs Secure the loop with a tiny stitch just above its base to lock the shape. This keeps the loop standing without collapsing flat.

Then, reinsert the needle at the original base point to start the next loop.

To develop a branch, move up at a slight angle and repeat the loop process. Keep your yarn under the needle as you pull through, and hold the loop with your thumb to manage tension. The maker repeats this process, placing loops on either side of the central line for a symmetrical, leaf-like pattern.

Pro tip

• If a loop gets too tight, gently open it before you secure the tip. It’s much easier to adjust loop size while it’s still free.

Watch out

• Stitches that are too close to the loop’s tip can flatten the petal. Place the securing stitch just a hair above the base for a lifted, dimensional look.

Bringing It All Together: Combining Stitches for Design A vertical surface chain behaves like a stem. Lazy daisy loops flanking that center line create a graceful branch motif. The tutorial demonstrates building loops in pairs, alternating sides to maintain symmetry. You can stop at a single branch or repeat the sequence for a row of three branches.

Tips for Symmetrical and Even Stitches

• Mirror your loop placement on both sides of the center line.

• Keep loop sizes consistent; if one loop ends up tight, open it slightly before securing.

• Anchor each loop with a small perpendicular stitch at the tip.

From the comments, one helpful note: for surface crochet, it’s not necessary to pierce an entire crochet stitch. Catching some yarn from the fabric is sufficient to secure your slip stitch. Practically, this gives you freedom to place lines where they look best while maintaining structural integrity. If you work across different mediums, you might hear about magnetic hoops for embroidery machines—that’s a separate, machine-oriented workflow, but it underscores how even tension and secure anchoring matter in any embellishment.

Finishing Touches and Weaving in Ends When your design feels complete, pull your embroidery yarn to the back, tie a small knot, and weave in all tails to finish cleanly. The video emphasizes a neat back and secure ends so the coaster withstands use and washing.

How to Fasten Off Securely After the last surface stitch, fasten off by pulling the tail through the loop. For the embroidery, a small knot at the back keeps loops from loosening. Then weave tails in multiple directions so they don’t pop to the front later.

Best Practices for Weaving in Yarn Tails

• Use the tapestry needle to follow the path of stitches on the back.

• Split the yarn through existing strands to lock it.

• Trim only after you’ve woven enough distance to be confident it won’t escape.

Quick check

• No loose ends visible on the front?

• Tails anchored and invisible on the back?

Your Crochet Creations: Ideas and Inspiration The tutorial closes with two finished coasters: one with a single branch and another with three parallel branches. Both look crisp and modern against the terracotta base.

If you’d like to extend the motif, the video mentions ideas like adding three leaves per side or getting adventurous with small trees.

Design ideas to try

• Single “stem” with two to four lazy daisy leaves

• A trio of stems spaced across the coaster for a botanical set

• A minimal motif at the rim, echoing the central line but offset

Color play

• Use a high-contrast yarn for the surface chain and loops to make the design pop.

• For subtlety, match the yarn to the base coaster but switch fiber sheen for textural contrast.

From the comments: Your Top Questions, Answered Question: Does it matter if you go through the full crochet stitch for surface crochet? Answer: The creator confirms you don’t have to go through an entire stitch. As long as you catch some yarn from the fabric, the surface slip stitch will be secure. This flexibility is especially helpful when you’re placing lines at precise angles.

If you hop between hand and machine embellishment, you may have gear like a magnetic embroidery frame or a magnetic embroidery hoop. Those are great in their own right, but for this project, a steady hand and clear stitch path are all you need.

Quick Reference: What You’ll Learn

• Attach new yarn with a simple knot and pull up loops from the back to the front to form surface crochet

• Maintain even tension for a tidy surface chain (about 10 stitches in the sample)

• Form lazy daisy loops: loop under the needle, control with your thumb, then secure at the tip

• Finish strong: pull to the back, knot discreetly, and weave in ends for a clean reverse side

Troubleshooting at a glance

• Loop too tight? Ease it open before securing.

• Wobbly surface line? Re-anchor the early stitches by holding the tail at the back as you work.

• Yarn splitting? Slow down and reinsert the hook or needle cleanly.

Parting thought Surface crochet gives you the line work; lazy daisy provides the flourish. Together, they transform basics into heirlooms. Whether you stop at one branch or repeat across a set, you’ll practice fundamentals that transfer to any crochet embellishment.

From the studio notes

• Tools used in the tutorial: 3 mm crochet hook and a tapestry needle with fingering weight yarn.

• The coaster pattern referenced is linked below the video (not specified here).

If you’re also exploring machine embroidery along with crochet, keep your handwork toolkit separate and simple: hook, tapestry needle, and yarn. Later, when you switch mediums, that’s the perfect time to think about accessories like best embroidery machine for beginners and a balanced magnetic hoop—but your coaster embellishment needs only the basics today.