This butterfly embroidery pattern is an extract from Creative Embroidery and Beyond: Inspiration, tips, techniques, and projects from three professional artists Jenny Billingham, Sophie Timms, Theresa Wensing. Used with permission of the publishers Walter Foster Publishing.
Butterfly by Sophie Timms
Make like a butterfly and adapt and overcome! Test your embroidery skills with my two favorite stitches: satin stitch and the French knot!
Note from The Sewing Directory: we have a guide to embroidery stitches here if you are not au fait with those stitches.
Tools & Materials
Stranded cotton embroidery thread
Embroidery and fabric scissors
Embroidery needles
6-inch embroidery hoop
Calico fabric: 2 layers, sized approximately 8″ x 8″
Robert Kauffman Essex Linen fabric in leather: 1 square, sized approximately 8″ x 8″
Pilot FriXion heat-erasable pen (or your preferred method of pattern transfer)
Thread colour guide
DMC 310 Black
DMC 320 Medium Pistachio Green
DMC 561 Very Dark Jade
DMC 738 Very Light Tan
DMC 920 Medium Copper
DMC 977 Light Golden Brown
DMC 3826 Golden Brown
DMC 3865 Winter White
DMC 3866 Ultra Very Light Mocha
Pattern
Print at 100%, the circle should have a 5 inch diameter.
Step 1
Transfer the pattern onto your chosen fabric.
Step 2
Using six strands of light yellow thread (DMC 738), fill the sections of the wing using satin stitch. The direction of the satin stitches should point inward, toward the butterfly’s body.
Step 3
Using six strands of pale orange thread (DMC 977), fill the sections of the wing using satin stitch.
Step 4
To finish the lower wing, use six strands of dark orange thread (DMC 3826) to fill in the last six sections.
Step 5
Using six strands of the same dark orange (DMC 3826), fill the three sections at the top of the wing using satin stitch.
Step 6
Use six strands of red thread (DMC 920) and satin stitch to fill the middle of the upper wings.
Step 7
Using six strands of dark red and satin stitch, fill in the lower sections of the top wings.
Step 8
Fill in the two small sections at the bottom of the lower wing using six strands of light yellow thread (DMC 738).
Step 9
With six strands of white thread (DMC 3865), use satin stitch to complete the small sections on the edges of each wing. Although the areas to fill are small, using six strands helps create more texture over and above the black parts of the wing.
Step 10
Using four strands of black thread (DMC 310), use satin stitch to fill in each segment of the body.
Step 11
Complete the wings by using two strands of black (DMC 310) to fill in with two long and short stitch.
Step 12
With one strand of black thread (DMC 310) and backstitch, stitch along the lines to complete the antennae and legs.
Step 13
Using three strands of beige (DMC 3866), fill in each section of the flower with individual French knots. Go around the edge of each section, winding each French knot twice to create even knots. Then fill in each section with more French knots until all sections are complete.
Step 14
Combine two strands of light green (DMC 320) and two strands of dark green (DMC 561) for four strands of thread, and then use long and short stitch to fill in the stem. Finish the hoop.
Spiritually, butterflies represent profound change and transformation.
Accepting change is the epitome of mindfulness, so why not embroider a butterfly of your own?
For more beautiful embroidery projects purchase Creative Embroidery and Beyond here.
