Sparkly 3-D Dragonfly Wings Tutorial |
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I did this on a greeting card, but it could also be done on our Summer Dragonfly wall hanging and table runner kits.
This is a fun project that is easier than it looks! For supplies you will need water soluble stabilizer (I used OESD Aqua Mesh, but any one will do), an embroidery hoop, some tulle, netting, or other sheer fabric, and thread.
First, trace your shape onto the stabilizer. Then layer the stabilizer and the tulle, and place them in the hoop, with the bigger hoop down, so it lays flat. You can do this without the sheer fabric, that just adds a layer of stability and gives you a little more margin when it comes to the stitching. If you use only thread, you have to make absolutely sure all your thread is attached to other thread, or it will fall apart when you wash away the stabilizer.
To stitch, I first outlined the wings with a medium purple thread in the top and the bobbin. The bobbin thread will show, so choose it accordingly. It doesn't have to be the same as the top, sometimes using two colors gives a nice effect. Play around with it! Then, using the same thread, I stitched diagonal lines across the wings in both directions to form little diamond shapes.
Then, I switched thread to a clear iridescent thread in the top, and a lighter purple in the bobbin. I didn't want to deal with the clear thread I was using in the bobbin, but you could try it! With that thread, I just scribbled all over the wings, going over them twice to make sure they were covered, but not so much that my grid underneath disappeared.
Then, with a darker purple thread, I outlined them each three or four times, and stitched a swirl in the center, going over that forward and backward twice, so 4 rows of thread in all.
This is a fun project that is easier than it looks! For supplies you will need water soluble stabilizer (I used OESD Aqua Mesh, but any one will do), an embroidery hoop, some tulle, netting, or other sheer fabric, and thread.
First, trace your shape onto the stabilizer. Then layer the stabilizer and the tulle, and place them in the hoop, with the bigger hoop down, so it lays flat. You can do this without the sheer fabric, that just adds a layer of stability and gives you a little more margin when it comes to the stitching. If you use only thread, you have to make absolutely sure all your thread is attached to other thread, or it will fall apart when you wash away the stabilizer.
To stitch, I first outlined the wings with a medium purple thread in the top and the bobbin. The bobbin thread will show, so choose it accordingly. It doesn't have to be the same as the top, sometimes using two colors gives a nice effect. Play around with it! Then, using the same thread, I stitched diagonal lines across the wings in both directions to form little diamond shapes.
Then, I switched thread to a clear iridescent thread in the top, and a lighter purple in the bobbin. I didn't want to deal with the clear thread I was using in the bobbin, but you could try it! With that thread, I just scribbled all over the wings, going over them twice to make sure they were covered, but not so much that my grid underneath disappeared.
Then, with a darker purple thread, I outlined them each three or four times, and stitched a swirl in the center, going over that forward and backward twice, so 4 rows of thread in all.
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In the first photo, I had started to trim away the excess stabilizer. I trimmed away as much as I could, but left the tulle while I was rinsing out the remaining stabilizer. Just run it under lots of warm water and pat dry. (second photo above) If you leave a bit in, it is kind of like glue and adds some stability, you can decide what you like there. If they seem too stiff you can rinse out some more. They tend to curl a bit, which I like, but if you wanted them to lay flat just put a towel over them and then a weight while they dry, or iron them flat, using a press cloth in case there is still some stabilizer residue in them.
Then, carefully trim around each wing, and all that is left is to attach them to your dragonfly! I used the same thread that I outlined it with at the end, and just attached about half an inch out from the center, so most of it remained free, using the free motion foot.
Then, carefully trim around each wing, and all that is left is to attach them to your dragonfly! I used the same thread that I outlined it with at the end, and just attached about half an inch out from the center, so most of it remained free, using the free motion foot.
