Today I’m bringing you one of my favorite embroidery designs, a cute pair of kissing butterflies for you to try and add to your collection. This butterflies embroidery looks gorgeous on both dark and light backgrounds and makes a great introduction if you’re looking to try the needle painting technique.
If you like stitching butterflies check out my other butterflies garden pattern for a more colorful pattern using more or less the same technique.
Let me show you how easy to stitch this beautiful woodland-inspired pattern is!
Disclaimer: This post might contain some affiliate links, you can find my full Disclosure Policy here.
Project Overview
PROJECT SIZE: 10 x 9.5 cm
STITCHES USED: Split Stitch, Long and Short, Satin Stitch
While in the beginning, I wasn’t sure if the pattern would look good on a light grey background, in the end, I think I like the grey background version a bit better.
Regarding the color you choose for the background, the technique remains the same.
Tools and Materials
Let’s have a look at the materials you’ll need when stitching these cute butterflies.
MATERIALS YOU’LL NEED
- Butterflies pattern – the pattern is free for personal use and available to download from my Free Pattern Library
- Cotton fabric
- Embroidery hoop – I’m usually using the Elbesee brand
- White transfer carbon paper – for transferring the pattern onto dark fabrics
- SAKURA Gelly Roll Gel Pen – for re-inforcing the traced pattern if needed (for dark fabrics only)
- Led Light Pad – lightbox for tracing the pattern onto light fabrics
- HB Pencil or FriXion Erasable Pen – for tracing the pattern (for light fabrics)
- Embroidery needle – size 7
- ANCHOR threads – DMC conversion chart provided below
- Needlework Scissors – for cutting the thread
- Iron – to remove any fabric creases * Optional
- HP ENVY Photo Printer – for printing your pattern * Optional
- Magnifying lamp – the magnifying lamp will make stitching much easier * Optional
- Sticky Roller – for removing lint when done * Optional
The tools needed to transfer the butterflies will depend on the color and thickness of the fabric you’ll be using.
If you’ll stitch the embroidery onto a light grey background as I did, you can use a light source for transferring it onto your fabric (Light Pad or just use a window).
If you go for the darker background fabric, you will need white transfer carbon paper.
Download the Free Embroidery Pattern
Download the butterflies pattern from my Free Pattern Library. To get access to the Free Pattern Library fill out the form below and I will send you an email with your password. You can read more about my Free Pattern Library here.
Once you have downloaded the embroidery pattern, print the Cut and Trace file on A4 paper.
The pattern you have downloaded is full size, so when printed on the A4 paper will have the exact size to fit into a 6inch hoop. You just need to have the Fill Entire Paper option selected.
Note: If you do not own a printer, you can just trace the embroidery pattern on A4 paper, then trace it onto your fabric using one of the methods explained below.
Transferring the Pattern onto Light Fabrics
My go-to method to manually transfer patterns onto light fabrics is using a lightbox under the fabric and the pattern design.
To transfer the butterflies pattern manually using a lightbox, you can use this simple method:
- Print your pattern. If you don’t own a printer, you can trace the pattern onto a piece of tracing paper or regular A4 paper.
- Plugin and turn on the Light Pad
- Place the printed pattern (or traced pattern if you don’t own a printer) on top of the lightbox, then place your fabric on top of the pattern. Secure with masking tape if needed.
- Trace over the pattern’s lines with an erasable or washable tracing pen.
Transferring the Pattern onto Dark Fabrics
When transferring patterns onto dark fabrics the normal transferring methods will be hard to work. You might get away with using the Lightbox technique, but only if your fabric is light enough to see through it.
To transfer the butterflies pattern manually using white carbon transfer paper, you can use this simple method:
- Print your pattern. If you don’t own a printer, you can trace the pattern onto a piece of tracing paper or regular A4 paper.
- Place the white carbon paper (face down) on top of the fabric.
- Place the pattern centrally on top of the carbon paper and secure it with masking tape.
- Trace over the pattern’s lines with an HB pencil or HB mechanical pencil. You could even use a different color when tracing, so you can see your progress.
1. Place a sheet of white carbon paper (face down) and secure it with masking tape if needed
2. Place the pattern on top of the tracing paper and start tracing using an HB Pencil
Color Palette and Thread List
This pattern uses a simple yet bold color palette. Brown is a low-value desaturated version of orange, red-orange, or yellow-orange. Thus a complementary blue-green color would create a harmonious and eye-catching final work.
For the entire work, I used ANCHOR stranded cotton. If your brand of choice is DMC, please use the Anchor to DMC conversion chart below.
ANCHOR STRANDED COTTON
 |  |  |  |
| 2 | 875 | 1070 | 403 |
DMC STRANDED COTTON
| | | |
| White | 3817 | 3849 | 310 |
RGB HEX VALUES
If you plan to use this color palette for digital display works (TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone) use the RGB HEX values from the chart below.
| | | |
| #FFFFFF | #99C3AA | #52B3AE | #000000 |
The butterflies pattern was stitched with 1 strand of thread.
In order to separate your thread, pull out and cut about 30-40cm length of thread from the skein, more or less the distance between your fingers and your elbow.
Separate one strand and thread your needle. Use a sharp needle size 9.
1. Cut about 30-40cm of thread
2. Separate one strand
3. Pull the separated strand while holding firmly the rest
4. Thread your needle (size 7)
Stitching the Pattern
Note: For the entire work I used ANCHOR threads. If your brand of choice is DMC, please use the conversion chart above.
1. Start by outlining the white butterfly with Split Stitch using ANCHOR 403 (Black)
2. Fill in the spots with Satin Stitch using ANCHOR 403 (Black)
3. Fill in the wings with Long and Short Stitch using ANCHOR 2 (White). Work your way from the outside toward the inside shapes.
4. Fill the body with Long and Short Stitch using ANCHOR 2 (White). Work your way from the bottom toward the head.
5. For the green butterfly we’ll use the same process. Start by outlining the butterfly with Split Stitch using ANCHOR 403 (Black). Leave the bottom part for later, that area will be filled with the Long and Short Stitch.
6. Fill the wings with Long and Short Stitch. Start for the outside of the shape using ANCHOR 875 (Celadon Grn Light), then continue shading using ANCHOR 1070 (Teal Grn Light).
7. When done stitching the wings, fill in the body with Long and Short Stitch using ANCHOR 1070 (Teal Green Light). Same as before, work your way from the bottom toward the head.
Finishing Your Embroidery
If you intend to use the embroidery hoop as a frame, the easiest method to finish the back of your work is to use the drawstring method.
In addition, depending on the purpose of the finished work, you could also stitch a piece of felt on top of the back to give it a more professional look.
8. Start by cutting the excess fabric, leaving at least an inch allowance. To prevent the fabric from fraying you can use zig-zag scissors.
9. Use 6 strands and make sure you have enough thread for the entire circle. Tie a knot at the end of your thread. Use a Running Stitch until you complete the full circle.
10. Leaving enough thread at the end, join the 2 ends together and tie another knot. Cut the excess thread and you’re done!
11. I applied the same technique for the dark background version, using a brown thread color.
Congratulations! You have successfully completed this tutorial!
I really hope you enjoyed the butterflies embroidery project and please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or suggestions about stitching this pattern.
I would love to see your progress and how you decided to use your bag. Don’t forget to tag @makenstitch on Instagram and hashtag it #makenstitch so I can see your work!
You can download the butterflies pattern from my Free Pattern Library. To get access to the Free Pattern Library fill out the form below and I will send you an email with your password.
The downloaded pattern can only be used for personal projects. You can read more about my Free Pattern Library here. Happy stitching, lovelies!
If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out this flower coloring pages article. Even though they’re not exactly embroidery patterns, you can totally tweak them for a cool hand embroidery project and use the same technique covered in this tutorial.
More Embroidery Projects
- Sakura Tree Embroidery Decoration Tutorial
- Daisies Embroidery Decoration Tutorial
- Embroidered Strawberry Jar Cover
- Floral Alphabet: Stitching the Flower
Did you try this embroidery pattern? Come over to our Facebook Group and show everyone your magic!
SAVE THIS FOR LATER? ADD THE BUTTERFLIES TUTORIAL TO YOUR FAVOURITE PINTEREST BOARD
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