Lesson 12
Butterfly Assembly: Layered Wings and Beaded Details
In this final lesson, you will bring your embroidered butterfly wings together. After reinforcing the stitches and cutting out one pair of wings, you will position them over the pair remaining on the fabric and secure them by hand. Beads, stones and small pearls complete the body and decorative details, while a pearl between the layers helps lift the upper wing.
Materials to Prepare
Embroidery frame with both embroidered wing pairs
Glue suitable for your fabric and thread
Fine scissors
Hand-sewing needle and thread
Beads or stones for the butterfly’s body
Small pearls
Pencil
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Reinforce embroidered wings before cutting them out.
Trim the silk edges neatly.
Position cut-out wings over the remaining embroidered pair.
Join the wing layers with satin stitches.
Create a slender body using beads or stones.
Add lift with a pearl between the wings.
Finish the antennae and tail details.
Your Practice
Apply glue over the stitches to reinforce both wing pairs and allow it to dry. Cut out one pair, leaving the other on the framed fabric. Carefully trim any loose silk threads from the edges.
Arrange the cut-out wings over the corresponding embroidered wings. Using a needle and thread, bring the needle up beneath the lower layer and secure the upper wings with satin stitches, following the demonstration.
Add beads or stones to form the butterfly’s slender body. Place a small pearl between the wing layers where shown to lift the upper wing.
Draw the antennae and tail details, add small pearls at the antenna tips and stitch along the drawn lines to complete your composition.