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How To Embroider A Butterfly (Easy and Colorful!)

In this post, you’ll learn how to embroider a butterfly. This butterfly was part of a tutorial I made all about how to embroider on the back pocket of your jeans, so definitely check that out if you’re interested! You only need to know a few embroidery stitches and gather a few thread colors for this design. Regardless, it’s super cute and colorful!

how to embroider a butterfly

How To Embroider A Butterfly

Supplies Needed

Disclaimer: This post has some affiliate links in it. I receive a small commission from purchases at no additional cost to the buyer. I only recommend products I would use and love and that are of good quality. All opinions are my own!

  • Embroidery Floss – I recommend using a brand that is colorfast (purchase on DMC)
  • Embroidery Hoop (purchase on Amazon)
  • Embroidery Needle (purchase on DMC)
  • Stick n stitch (on Amazon) or a fabric marker to transfer the design (on Amazon)

Embroidering the Wings

embroidering butterfly wings

First, split stitch the outline of the wings and the veins in each wing with 2 strands of black. This will make the edges neater when you go to fill in each wing.

Then make long and short stitches to fill in the black areas of the wing. These stitches should run the length of each wing. Be sure to stitch over top of the split stitches you made.

Repeat on both sides of the wings.

filling in butterfly wings

Begin making long and short stitches and fill in half of each area of the wing using 2 strands of orange as pictured. These stitches should go in the same direction as the black stitches.

Fill in the rest of the wing with long and short stitches using 2 strands of yellow. Be sure to overlap these stitches into the orange stitches in order to blend the two colors together.

Repeat on both sides.

Final Details and Body

adding final details and stitching the body of the butterfly

Add a few straight stitches using 2 strands of white along the edges of the wings.

Split stitch down the center using 2 strands of dark grey.

And you’re done!

If you enjoyed this tutorial, check out even more mini embroidery design tutorials here.

Butterfly Embroidery Designs

You may also like some of these butterfly embroidery patterns that come with a larger design and more in depth instructions.