From Charity Shop Find to Festival Favourite: My Symmetrical embroidered dress

There is nothing quite like the thrill of a charity shop score - finding that perfect blank canvas just waiting for a little bit of needle-and-thread magic. Last year, I picked up a simple navy linen shift dress that had great bones but needed a serious personality transplant.

With Love Saves the Day 2025 in Bristol on the horizon, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: a bold, symmetrical floral piece that would pop against that deep navy blue.

The Design Process: Digital to Physical

I started where I always do when I want precision: my iPad. Designing the motifs digitally allowed me to play with the mirroring and ensure the symmetry was pixel-perfect before I even touched a needle.

However, working with dark linen presents a classic embroidery challenge - visibility. My usual heat-erase pens weren't going to cut it on a fabric this dark. To solve this (and to keep the linen from shifting), I used a "stick and stitch" water-soluble stabilizer.

Why I love this method:

• Precision: I printed my digital sections directly onto the stabilizer.

• Stability: It acted as a temporary interface, keeping the symmetry intact while I worked.

• No Mess: Once I was finished, a quick rinse and the stabilizer vanished, leaving only the thread.

The Stitching: Keeping it Simple

Sometimes, less is more. I decided to stick to a few soft pastels and greens. To give the design a clean, illustrative look, I used stem stitch to outline the entire floral pattern.

The stem stitch is a personal favorite for these types of designs because of its rope like texture, creating a smooth outline.

The Result: Festival Ready!

The finished dress made its debut at Love Saves the Day here in Bristol. There’s a special kind of pride in wearing something you’ve spent hours hand-crafting, especially when the sun is out and the music is playing!

Lizzie’s Tip: When embroidering on thrifted linen, always give it a good wash and iron before you start your design to account for any shrinkage or old creases.

What have you been upcycling lately? I’d love to see your latest charity shop transformations. Tag me on Instagram! @lizziesembroideryclub