Embroidery Insects
Embroidery Insects: make your DIY embroidery pattern and create realistic embroidery bugs for a gallery wall, like this dragon fly.
Embroidery insects are fun to make, and with our tutorial you can make your own embroidery pattern for any insect you like. Stitch them in realistic colours, or add some whimsy with your own colour choices.
I’m so excited to be joining in with the Seasonal Simplicity Fall Series. There are so many great Fall DIYs from my blogging friends, sure to inspire you as we head into fall. Be sure to check them all out at the end of this post.
Science Themed Decor
For several years in the fall I’ve decorated with a bit of a scientific botanical theme. You can check out my science themed fall home tours here, and here and here. These embroidery insects would be great any time of year, but I especially love this for fall mixed with lots of nature inspired decor, like pumpkins, grasses, leaves, acorns, pinecones. When I first used this theme for fall home decor, I imagined a historical nature loving botanist woman, who loved spending time outside and collecting specimens, and coming home to study and document them.
These embroidery insects are a beautiful addition. We used small embroidery hoops as the frames for the these pieces, and used lots of different colours, and some beads to create them. These were actually made by my 17 year old daughter Paige. She enjoys embroidery, and is great at it. I asked her to make these for me and she did an amazing job.
Use An Insect Image To Make Your Own Pattern
The pattern for the dragon fly embroidery was made with an image that we found on-line. You could use this method to make a pattern and embroider any insect you like.
You can either base your colours for the embroidery insects based on real insects, or you can get a bit more whimsical.
Dragon Fly Embroidery Pattern
Materials
- small embroidery hoop
- cotton fabric
- dragon fly image
- embroidery needle
- beads
- embroidery cotton thread in black, white, light blue, and greenish-blue
Tools
- Cricut light pad
Instructions
- To make the pattern for the dragon fly embroidery, start by choosing an image on-line and printing it. Make it large enough that you can see all the details. Don't worry about it fitting your embroidery hoop yet.
- Place the image on the ligt pad image side down, or on a window in the light, and use a pencil to trace the outline and details on the backside of the image, to create your pattern. Make it detailed enough to be interesting, but not too detailed to actually embroidery.
- Take a picture of your pencil sketch, and on a computer screen or ipad, size it to your fit nicely into your embroidery hoop. Place a white sheet of paper over the the computer or ipad screen and trace the pattern one more time, smoothly out any rough lines as you sketch. This will be your final pattern.
- To transfer your pattern to the cotton fabric, place it under the pattern and use a pencil to lightly trace the pattern on to the fabric.
- Place your fabric into the embroidery hoop, and begin to embroider the dragon fly. We used black, white, light blue, and greenish-blue colours, but the part of the beauty of creating your own is that you can use any colour combo you like. This one was inspired by the colours in the orginal photo. We used satin stich for the solid areas, backstich for the outlines, and some French knots for some of the details on the body, and eyes. The outlines are done with three strands of embroidery cotton thread, and the solid areas are done with two strands of embroidery cotton thread.
- Once the whole dragon fly is stitched, trim the excess fabric and hang it on the wall. You can use this pattern making process to create a pattern for any insect.
Want To Use Our Pattern?
To usse this pattern, just print the image above scaled to fit the size of your embroidery hoop.
I love how the three embroidery insects look together as a little grouping. We are hoping to add a few more to our embroidery insect gallery. These are so fun, I love how they turned out.
With this amazing embroidery insects gallery wall, life really is a party!
More Fall DIY Inspiration
This week I’m joining some of my talented blogging friends for the Fall Seasonal Simplicity Series. Today we are sharing our Fall DIY and Craft ideas with you! Be sure to check out all of the beautiful inspiration by visiting the links under the images below.
DIY Textured Vase at The Happy Housie
DIY Fall Frame Wreath at Confessions of a Serial DIYer
Dried Floral Cloche at Deeply Southern Home
Fall Wreath How-to at Hallstrom Home
Fall Dried Flower Arrangement at Modern Glam
Elevated Toilet Paper Pumpkins Free Craft at Tatertots and Jello
DIY Inexpensive Fall Wreath at The Happy Happy Nester
How to Make a Fall Wreath at A Pretty Life
Air Dry Clay Leaf Twinkle Lights at Clean & Scentsible
Embroidery Insects at Life is a Party
Dried Florals for Fall at Lemon Thistle
DIY Feather Wreath at Dans le Lakehouse
DIY Fall Wreath Tutorial at She Gave it a Go
How to Make a Succulent Table Runner at My Sweet Savannah
DIY Fall Harvest Nut Wreath at Sincerely, Marie Designs
DIY Fall Cutting Board with a Cricut at The DIY Mommy
These are fantastic, you daughter did an amazing job!! They’re so detailed and pretty!
OMG! These are so cute! I love them. Thank you for sharing.
I’ll have to try this! What a great idea
These are so unique and beautifully done! Your daughter really captured all those tiny details! XOXO
These are so beautifully detailed. What a great idea!
Your daughter did an amazing job. I love how detailed these little bugs are.