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Butterflies on a Branch Embroidery Project

By Ramona Baird on June 21, 2016

SKILL LEVELBeginner
TIME REQUIRED03:30

Description

Add a touch of the outdoors inside with embroidered butterflies resting on a birch branch.

Step of

Materials

Project Preview Video

Materials

Ivory colored nylon organza - enough for two layers and two hoopings

Embroidery thread according to color sequence

Birch branch

Floral wire

Silk ivy

Hot knife – be extremely careful in handling the hot knife. Read and follow all the manufacturer’s directions.

Hot glue gun and glue stick

Designs used in this project

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/Machine-Embroidery-Designs/1/26447

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/Machine-Embroidery-Designs/1/22321

Final Product: What You Will Create

Preface:

On a hiking trip or in the backyard, find a birch branch lying on the ground. Embroider the butterflies on two layers of nylon organza and use a hot knife to cut them from the fabric. To put the project together, wrap the ivy around the branch and hot glue the butterflies in place.

Step 1:

Gather the materials and read through the instructions before beginning. The amount of fabric to be used will depend upon the size hoop being used. For each butterfly design two layers of nylon organza are hooped then the butterfly embroidered. Print out templates of the designs to follow the color sequence.

Step 2:

Using a very low-heat iron, press the organza to get the wrinkles out. Fold the fabric in half and then place the hoop in the lower corner of the fabric. I find it easier to hoop the two layers of fabric and then cut out the excess fabric from around the hoop; the fabric seems to lie more smoothly in the hoop this way. Using two layers of nylon organza eliminates the need for any other stabilizer.

Step 3:

Load the “Butterfly” embroidery design on the machine and place the hoop on the machine. Embroider the design following the color sequence. Remove the embroidery from the hoop at set the fabric aside.

Step 4:

Hoop two more layers of nylon organza. Load the design “Monarch Butterfly” on the machine and stitch the design following the color sequence. For this project I substituted purple threads for the pink flowers in the design.

Step 5:

After the design has finished stitching, leave it in the hoop for ease in cutting it out of the fabric. Plug in the hot knife and allow it to heat while doing the next couple of steps.

Step 6:

Cut the branch to size if needed. Untangle the silk ivy and cut off two lengths of wire to make hanging loops for hanging the decorated branch on the wall.

Step 7:

Loop the wire on each end of the branch, form a loop, and wind the wire to create a loop.

Step 8:

Wrap the ivy loosely around the branch as desired, cutting off the excess.

Step 9:

After the hot knife is heated, work very fast - yet carefully - melting the fabric from around the design. Hold the hoop up so the hot knife does not damage any other surface. Be sure the hot knife does not touch the hoop. Work about 1/8” outside of the design moving the knife along as the fabric melts. The fabric will melt back to the thread. If the knife touches the thread it will either melt or burn the thread. Around the flowers and antennae just generally go around the area.

Step 10:

After the first design has been cut, place the other design back in the hoop and melt the fabric around the design. Having the design in the hoop for “cutting” creates tension on the fabric and it makes it easier to “cut” out the design with the hot knife.

Step 11:

Decide on the placement of the embroidered designs on the branch.

Step 12:

Heat up the hot glue gun. Place a small amount of glue in the spot for the design and then press the embroidered design into the glue. Use additional glue as needed to hold the design into position.

Step 13:

Hang the branch up on the wall using small nails and the wire loop hangers.

Step 14:

This project teams nicely with the "Vine Alphabet Monogrammed Towels" project. Embroider the towels and hang the "Butterflies on a Branch" project above the towel rack for a nice summertime accent to a bathroom.

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Meet the Author: Ramona Baird

Ramona Baird has been in the embroidery industry for over 23 years. She and her husband owned a commercial and retail embroidery store in Arizona for many years. She is an experienced digitizer having been mentored by award-winners Pat Williams and Lindee Goodall. Ramona is a contributor to “Creative Machine Embroidery” magazine having 5 covers to her credit. Ramona has worked for Wilcom America and served many years as Education Director for the American Sewing Guild. With a degree in fashion design, she is able to design and execute patterns which Pat Williams says are “out of the box” in creativity and application. Ramona likes to challenge the boundaries of embroidery and bring new and exciting designs, ideas, and projects to EmbroideryDesigns.com. She wants embroiderers of all levels to increase their skills and enjoyment in using their embroidery machine for gift-making and personal pleasure.

Butterflies on a Branch Embroidery Project

Materials

Project Preview Video

Monarch Butterfly

Butterfly

Cut Away Stabilizer - 2.5 Oz wt.

Cut Away Stabilizer - 2 oz wt.