Easy DIY Fabric Butterflies

About a year ago we moved the girls into a different bedroom in the house because it was a bit larger. We persuaded them to switch by telling them they could decorate it however they liked, but we've been slow to make the decorating changes happen.  Honestly, I'd really hoped that the yellow walls would grow on them.  Alas, it's a year later and the kids still wanted a pink room...so I finally made it happen last week.  Another one of their other requests was fabric butterflies.  So check!  I can cross them off my list too...and I'm excited to share them with you today!

 

I'm actually not sure what I'm going to do with them yet.  I have a few ideas...so I'll keep you posted! 

The butterflies are all in pinks, blues and purples because those are the colors of the room...but I could totally see these butterflies with embroidered wings and beautiful bright colors.   

I'm going to do a quick (and not super detailed tutorial today) for how to make them.  If you make your own, I'd love to see them!  Post pics on instagram and tag me so that I don't miss them!  And if something isn't clear, leave a comment and I'll get back to you with clarification. 

   My little ladies really love them, and I hope you do to! Ready to make your own?  Let's get started:

Supplies:

• Fabric scraps 
• A small amount of fusible stabilizer (such as Peltex 71F Single sided ultra firm stabilizer)
• A small amount of poly-fil
• embroidery floss
• Template (download it from my craftsy store or download the image at the bottom of this post) 

Begin by cutting out the pieces:
Begin by fusing your stabilizer to the wrong side of one of the butterfly wings.  Leave open one of the sides, as shown below.  Turn the wings right side out and press.  Sew a top stitch along the sides of the butterfly wings, securing the opening.

A note about Peltex:

Peltex 71F Single sided ultra firm stabilizer is a super strong stabilizer that requires a heavy duty needle to sew through.  Pieces adhered to Peltex are cut smaller than the actual pieces they will be fused to.  Put shiny adhesive side on wrong side of fabric. Iron on fabric side (not Peltex side).  Iron on high, putting pressure as you iron.  Cover with a damp cloth and press firmly for 10-15 seconds, lift and move to next area until the entire area is adhered.  Remove damp cloth and iron to remove extra moisture.

Place the right sides of the butterfly body together and sew around the edges, leaving the base open.  Clip curve regions, turn right-side out, and stuff.

Use a whip stitch to close up the opening.  

Embroider the face of the butterfly as desired:

Then sew the wings to the back of the butterfly body.  The closer you add your wings to the side of the body the more that your wings will stand up, rather than lay flat.

I added the embroidery to the wings after I added I had the rest of the butterfly done, although you really could do it before you sewed the wings to the body.

And here's a close up of one of the finished butterflies:

 

What do you think?  Now what should I do with them?  Hang them from the ceiling?  Put them on the walls?  Or something else?  I'm just not sure!  

Finally, I just want to give a big shout out of THANKS to those of you who started "officially" following me via email, facebook, instagram or pinterest.  It really does mean so much to me!  Thanks for sharing your LOVE!

I shared this post on Sew Can She's Show Off Saturday.  Click below to see the other great projects!