How to make a wired slip

A leaf or petal that stands up.

Step by step

1. Bend the wire to your shape, leaving a 1 to 2 inch tail.
2. Couch the wire to the fabric with a single strand.
3. Cover the wire with buttonhole stitches that touch each other.
4. Add a split stitch line just inside the wire.
5. Fill the shape, for example in long and short stitch, covering the split stitch.
6. Take it out of the hoop and cut out the slip without cutting the buttonhole stitches.

Sources

All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Jessica Long Embroidery: Stumpwork, an introduction to wired slips
2. Needlework Tips and Techniques: Stumpwork embroidery techniques