How can i better learn traditional embroidery patterns from my grandmother?

[Jeffrey71]

I’ve been trying to learn my grandmother’s traditional embroidery, but I keep getting the stitches for the floral border wrong. It feels like I’m missing a deeper understanding of the patterns, not just the technique. Has anyone else struggled with this gap when trying to learn a family craft?

[LilyNL]

I started copying the border stitch by stitch and then realized the real challenge was the rhythm of the line, not just the stitches themselves. The way the petals weave into the leaves makes the border breathe, and when I force the same stitch everywhere, it looks stiff in my embroidery practice.

[Stephen19]

I tried to troubleshoot by counting stitches and spacing, but the pattern still felt off, so I took a photo of my work next to grandma's sampler and noted where the curves diverged at the corners.

[Ryan52]

Do you think the problem is the pattern or the way it was taught to you as a kid?

[Amelia.C]

I kept at it for weeks, then paused because I kept tripping on the same loop and got frustrated, and only later remembered to slow down and just enjoy the thread flow rather than chase perfection.