How to Make Butterfly Embellishments Out of Fabric

Make fabric butterflies to add a whimsical touch to your home decor or for an eye-catching fashion accessory.

Butterflies are colorful and playful creatures that make attractive embellishments for a variety of home and fashion accessories. Add them to purses, hair clips, headbands, hats, clothing and jewelry. Make assorted sizes of fabric butterflies from scraps of colorful solid and print fabrics and use them to add whimsy to home decor items, such as mobiles, flower arrangements and garlands. Use basic machine- and hand-sewing skills to create butterfly embellishments to add to personal items and handmade gifts.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Fabrics
• Interfacing
• Sewing shears
• Sewing machine
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Sketch a simple pattern for your butterfly on paper or download the template included in the resources. Re-size the template, if necessary, to accommodate the size of butterflies you want to create. Cut out with scissors, adding 1/4 inch for a seam allowance.

2. Select two fabrics for the front and back of your butterfly. Place them with right sides together on your work surface.

3. Place a layer of interfacing on top of the fabrics.

4. Place the pattern for the butterfly on top of the interfacing, pin in place and cut out all three layers.

5. Stitch the three layers of fabric and interfacing together, with the right sides of fabric together and interfacing on top on a sewing machine. Leave a 2-inch opening to turn right-side out along one edge.

6. Trim along the edges to remove excess fabric and turn the butterfly right-side out.

7. Thread coordinating thread onto the needle and pull through to double. Knot the end.

8. Pinch the center top and bottom edges of the butterfly together. Hold in place while inserting the needle through the top of the gathered fabrics, pushing through to the bottom. Stitch back through the fabrics two or three times to secure the shape. This creates a gathered center on the butterfly. Tie a knot at the bottom to secure the gather.

Tips & Warnings

• Add antennae to the butterfly by wrapping a chenille stem or thin wire around the gathered area, twisting at the top and curling the ends. Cut off any excess.

Resources

• Thrifty Fun: Butterfly Template