Protea Machine Embroidery Designs - 4 sizes

By knowing the speed of your embroidery machine, you can find out how long it will take to embroider a design.
To use the embroidery calculator, click on the number of stitches in the product description.

Create striking botanical embroidery with two detailed protea flower motifs inspired by the exotic flora of South Africa. The set works beautifully on decorative pillows, tote bags, jackets, table runners and textile wall art. Directional stitches, layered pink shading and sculpted green foliage give the flowers a realistic, hand-embroidered appearance.

Design sizes and stitch counts

Protea 1

Size: 97.5x156.2mm (3.84x6.15 "), Stitches: 29122
Size: 112.0x179.7 mm (4.41x7.07 "), Stitches: 34735
Size: 123.6x198.3mm (4.87x7.81 "), Stitches: 39320
Size: 142.1x228.1mm (5.59x8.98 "), Stitches: 47152

Protea 2

Size: 128.3x155.8 mm (5.05x6.13 "), Stitches: 36023
Size: 147.4x179.0 mm (5.80x7.05 "), Stitches: 43479
Size: 169.4x205.8 mm (6.67x8.10 "), Stitches: 51774
Size: 194.7x236.6 mm (7.67x9.31 "), Stitches: 62436

Formats: .dst, .jef, .pec, .vip, .hus, .pes, .exp, .sew, .dat, .vp3

Hoop requirements

Botanical embroidery project ideas

Use both protea flowers together on the front of a large linen pillow or embroider one flower as a vertical accent on a tote bag. The taller Protea 1 composition works well on jacket backs, long vests, table runners and narrow textile panels. Protea 2 has a wider flower head and makes an expressive central motif for cushions, framed embroidery and botanical wall décor.

For clothing, place the design on a stable jacket panel before construction whenever possible. This allows the fabric and stabilizer to be hooped evenly and keeps bulky seams away from the embroidery arm.

Matching South African botanical designs

Bird of Paradise Strelitzia Set

Bird of Paradise Strelitzia Flower

Bird of Paradise Strelitzia Flower Large

Bird of Paradise Strelitzia Large

Protea 1 color chart

Protea 2 color chart

Screen colors are visual references. Actual thread shades may look different depending on the monitor, thread batch and lighting.

Recommended stabilizers

These protea designs contain long directional fills and relatively high stitch counts. One lightweight layer of tear-away is not sufficient for the larger files. For stable linen or cotton, hoop the fabric with two layers of medium tear-away placed in different grain directions. For loose fabric, clothing or items that will be washed repeatedly, use permanent cut-away support.

Thread, needle and machine settings

• Use 40 wt rayon thread for maximum shine and smooth color transitions.
• Use 40 wt polyester when the finished item will be washed frequently or exposed to abrasion.
• Use a fresh 75/11 embroidery needle for linen, cotton and medium-weight woven fabric.
• Use an 80/12 embroidery needle for dense canvas, denim or heavy tote-bag fabric.
• A practical starting speed is 550–650 stitches per minute, especially through the long flower stitches.
• Run a test stitch on the same fabric and stabilizer before embroidering the finished item.

Rayon thread reflects light along the direction of each stitch. That is why the flower appears to change from pale pink to deep burgundy as the viewing angle changes. This shimmer is difficult to reproduce in a flat photograph and is especially noticeable on decorative pillows and framed textile art.

Important advice about temporary adhesive

If temporary spray adhesive is needed, spray it lightly onto the stabilizer away from the embroidery machine. Do not spray toward the hoop while it is attached to the machine. Excess adhesive can collect lint, transfer to the needle area and eventually contaminate the hook mechanism. Self-adhesive stabilizer is a cleaner option for premade bags and other difficult-to-hoop projects.

Frequently asked questions

How many designs are included?

The download contains two different protea flower motifs. Each motif is supplied in four sizes.

Can I embroider the designs in a 5x7 hoop (5х7)?

The smallest Protea 1 fits an actual embroidery field of at least 100x170 mm (4x6.69"). The smallest Protea 2 requires an actual embroidery field of at least 130x180 mm (5x7"). Always check the usable embroidery field stated in your machine manual.

Which fabric gives the best result?

Medium-weight linen, cotton, twill, canvas and stable pillow fabric give the most reliable results. Thin napkin fabric requires careful testing and additional support because these are detailed, high-stitch-count designs.

Is this a physical embroidered product?

No. This is a digital machine embroidery design. Fabric, thread, stabilizer and the finished embroidered item are not included.

Can finished embroidered products be sold?

You may use the designs to create finished physical items for personal use or small-business sales. The digital embroidery files may not be shared, copied, traded or resold.