Butterflies are captivating little creatures. We all are fascinated by them, and now it is so easy to incorporate these adorable butterflies in our crafts with machine embroidery.
One great way to incorporate dimension and texture into your crafts is by creating our lightweight, 3D Freestanding Tulle Butterfly with our machine embroidery design. This 3D Tulle Butterfly is perfect for creating butterflies that can be added to baby clothes, girl’s dresses, bags, and even gifts. If you like making your own hair accessories, these butterflies will be the perfect addition to headbands, scrunchies, and hair pins.
Once you've made one of these 3D Tulle Butterflies you will want to make one in every color, and did I mention that they sell like sweet cakes at craft, and school fairs. These butterflies steal the show every time. They are easy to attach to anything, really, all you need is a glue gun and some glue sticks.
Are 3D Tulle Butterflies Difficult To Make?
You can make these butterflies even if you have just started embroidery. They are so easy to make. All you need to do is follow our Step-by-Step PDF Instructions included in the design file. You can easily print out the instructions and keep them right next to your embroidery machine. The key to making a successful embroidered tulle butterfly lies in the hooping and stabilizer. If you get those steps right, you shouldn't have any problems.
Which Stabilizer Will I Need?
You will need water soluble stabilizer for this project so that you can wash it out when your butterfly is finished. I prefer to use two layers of the fabric water soluble stabilizer, it just works better than the PVC plastic kind.
Can I use fabric instead of Tulle to make 3D Applique Butterflies?
The short answer is yes. It is totally possible and acceptable to make these butterflies with normal fabric...BUT...the long answer is no. If you want a butterfly that is lightweight and want the wings to stand up nicely, normal fabric is too heavy and will make the butterfly heavy and droopy. It is the transparent effect of the tulle that adds to the dainty and feather light appearance of the butterfly. You can try other lightweight fabrics like organza, but only use one layer.
Here's how you make the 3D Freestanding Tulle Butterfly:
To make this 3D Freestanding Butterfly Machine Embroidery Design, you will need:
- your embroidery machine and 4x4" Hoop
- water soluble stabilizer
- tulle in the colors of your choice, and
- embroidery thread in the colors of your choice.
- painters/masking tape
- sharp fabric scissors
- and of course this cute butterfly design
Note: If you want the butterfly to be reversable, use a bobbin with the same color thread as the top thread.
Step 1
Load the small butterfly wings design (3D Freestanding Butterfly Part 1) onto your embroidery machine. Hoop 2 layers of water soluble stabilizer. I prefer the fabric type, not the plastic type.
Step 2
Place 1 or 2 layers of tulle on top of the stabilizer, making sure that the tulle pieces are large enough to cover the embroidery area. Secure the tulle with painters/masking tape. When using a sturdy tulle one layer will be enough but for a flimsier tulle you might need two. Make a few butterflies with different tulle fabrics to see which you like most.
Step 3
Place the hoop on the embroidery machine and embroider the first color which is the outline and detail of the butterfly. Embroider this step in the color of your choice.
Remove the hoop from the embroidery machine. DO NOT unhoop the design yet. Remove the painters/masking tape and cut away the excess tulle around the butterfly outline close enough so the tulle won’t stick out when you embroider the satin outline. Make sure not to cut into the embroidered line or stabilizer.
Step 4
Place the hoop back on the embroidery machine. You can embroider the satin outline in the same color or change your color now. Embroider the satin outline and remove the hoop from the machine.
Step 5
Remove the stabilizer with the finished butterfly wings from hoop. Cut away the excess stabilizer close to the border of the wings. The rest of the stabilizer will be removed completely with water. Cut away any loose threads at the front and back of the butterfly.
Your butterfly should look like the image above.
Step 6
We are basically repeating the same process for the second set of wings. Load the 3D Freestanding Butterfly Part 2 design (larger wings) on your embroidery machine. Hoop 2 layers of water soluble stabilizer and place your squares of tulle in the embroidery area. Secure the tulle with painters/masking tape to prevent the fabric from moving.
If you are not sure where to place the tulle. Place the hoop on the embroidery machine and embroider the placement line first. Otherwise you can skip the design to the second step for the outlines and detail.
Step 7
Embroider the the second step of the design for the outline and detail of the butterfly in your preferred color. Remove the hoop from the machine and carefully cut away the excess tulle around the border of the butterfly, taking care not to cut into the thread or stabilizer.
Step 8
Place the hoop back on the machine and embroider the last step which is the satin border. Remove the hoop from the machine but DO NOT unhoop the design.
Step 9
This is the fun part. Place a piece of painters/masking tape on the outside edges of the small finished butterfly wings. Place the wings in the center of the large wings on the hoop making sure that the body and the wings align in the middle. Secure the painters/masking tape to the large butterfly.
Step 10
Load the 3D Freestanding Butterfly Part 3 design for the body of the butterfly onto your embroidery machine. Change the thread to your preferred color and remember to change the bobbin thread as well if needed. Place the hoop on the machine and embroider the body of the butterfly.
Step 11
Remove the hoop from the machine. Remove the painters/masking tape and unhoop the design. Cut away the excess stabilizer close to the butterfly border and cut away any loose threads. Your butterfly should look like the image below.
Step 12
To remove the remaining stabilizer, rinse the butterfly in water. I prefer a little soapy water and then let it soak for a little while. I find that if I only give the stabilizer a quick rinse there is sometimes a sticky residue. So it is best not to rush through this step. Dab the butterfly dry between two layers of a towel and set aside to dry. You can also blow dry the butterfly with a hair dryer or iron between two layers of fabric so that the tulle doesn’t melt.
Your 3D Tulle Butterfly is finished! Now you can attach it to any craft of your choice.
To attach the butterfly to hair accessories you can simply use a glue gun with some hot glue to secure it onto Alice Bands, scrunchies and hair pins. Sew the butterfly onto dresses, curtains, tablecloths, giftbags and more, or you can float your fabric underneath the hoop when embroidering the body of the butterfly. Use some temporary spray glue when doing this to prevent the fabric from moving. We will do a separate tutorial on that.
If you enjoyed crafting this butterfly with us, let us know in the comments and share your beautiful butterfly crafts with us.
