How to Make a Butterfly Out of a Stocking

Nylon butterflies in stores can be overpriced.

Butterflies, made from an ordinary stocking, can be used to decorate just about anything. Use them to decorate your baby's room, your flower pots, the inside of your kid's lockers, hang them from your review mirror, or put them on a bathroom mirror. Making your own butterfly is a very simple project -- so simple that a beginner can do it. Imagine making your own customized designs. This just may be a project that turns into a hobby for you.

Things You'll Need

• Nylon stocking
• 2 6-inch pieces of wire
• 2 4-inch pieces of wire
• Scissors
• Thread
• Batting
• Needle and thread
• Sewing pin
• Craft glue
• Spray glitter (optional)

Instructions

1. With your two 6-inch pieces of wire, and your two 4-inch pieces of wire, create a circle. Use a paper towel tube to help you make a perfect circle. You will have extra wire after you make the circles. Twist the ends together like a twist tie. This twisted wire should stick out from the circle no more than 1/4-inch. They will be shaped like a lollipop with a very short, twisty stick.

2. Cover each wire circle with a piece of nylon stocking. The opening of the stocking should be at the twisted stick part. Gather the fabric here and tie it in place using thread. When finished, you should have four wings. The bigger circles are the bottom part of the wings, and the smaller circles are the top part of your butterfly wings.

3. Attach the four wings. Position them side-by-side the way butterfly wings look. One side should have the smaller top wing, with the bigger wing on bottom. The other side should match. Tie the wings together using thread. Use the ends and the knots from the wings to help secure the wings together with thread.

4. Make the body of your butterfly by stuffing the toe of the stocking with batting. You will have to cut the end of the stocking off, fairly close to the toe. Measure up 3 inches from the toe and cut across. Fill the toe with batting and twist the excess stocking around tightly.

5. Shape the body of the butterfly into a long log-like shape. Leave the top more round than the bottom. The bottom needs to be more pointed. Sew the back of the fabric up, using a needle and thread.

6. Hold the butterfly body in your hand, and twist the top part of the body to create a head for your butterfly. Stick a sewing pin through the top of the head down through the body to hold it in place.

7. Lie the butterfly body between the wings. Use thread to tie around the neck of the butterfly to attach it to the wings. Dab a little craft glue on the back of the butterfly body to help secure it to the wings. Remove the pin from the body.

8. Add spray glitter or any other decoration you desire. Your butterfly is ready to be put on display.

References

• Brainz: What is Nylon?
• Craftionary: Want to Make Nylon Butterflies this Spring?