Lesson 5.3
Butterfly Embroidery: Sequin Wings, Pearl Filling and Final Details
In this final lesson, you will complete the butterfly in two stages. First, you will build curved rows of matt and shiny sequins beside the crystal chain. Then, you will fill the inner wing sections with pearls of different colours and sizes, finishing with thread antennae, bead accents and a stone body.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Position paired sequins within a crystal-bordered wing.
Build curved rows while alternating colour arrangements.
Secure turns and fill gaps without crossing the outline.
Fit varied pearls into the inner wing sections.
Embroider antennae with coloured thread and bead accents.
Complete the butterfly’s body with large stones.
Materials to Prepare
Embroidery frame with your butterfly in progress
Embroidery hook and thread
Matt and shiny sequins in your chosen colours
Pearls in various colours and sizes
Beads for the antennae
Coloured thread for the antennae
Large stones suitable for stitching
Soft pads for holding your materials
Scissors
Your Practice
Test a sequin beside the crystal chain to find a starting point that keeps it within the drawn border. Make a lock and begin attaching paired sequins close to the chain. At the boundary, add a short securing stitch, step approximately 5 mm inwards and continue anticlockwise.
Build the following rows, repeating the first row’s colour arrangement in the third and the second row’s arrangement in the fourth. Fill any remaining gaps while preserving the wing’s shape.
Make a starting lock inside the remaining wing section and fill it with pearls, varying their colours and sizes to suit the space. Add securing stitches wherever needed, then repeat on the second wing.
Finish the antennae with your chosen coloured thread, beginning with a bead and following the drawn lines. Add large stones to form the butterfly’s body and secure the remaining threads.