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From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-08-2005, 04:13 PM (1 of 13)
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I think this is where I should ask this question. I want to make free flying butterflies, but! I don't know where to start. I want the wings to be free from the fabric and the butterflies attached at the bodies. Does this make sense? I am thinking I should make the butterflies,cut them out and attach. Am I even close in my thinking? Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: paroper
Date: 06-08-2005, 04:18 PM (2 of 13)
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That's what I would do. I would stitch them on by sewing down each side of the body of the butterfly and let the wings just "go". You'll want to be sure that the edges of the butterfly are well-bound to keep them from raveling if you should wash the item.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Stitchwitch
Date: 06-08-2005, 08:48 PM (3 of 13)
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If you have an embroidery machine it's very quick and easy to stitch out butterflies and then sew the body down. If you are going to do this free form, you could find some colorful fabric, do some applique around the outline, and then stitch the body down. If you are going to do the whole butterfly free motion embroidery you might want to apply some interfacing to the back after you are done, so the underside of the wings don't look too untidy.
Blessed be...
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User: Stitchwitch
Member since: 04-22-2004 Total posts: 10 
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From: Catalina
Date: 06-09-2005, 06:41 AM (4 of 13)
| This is how I would do it. Get the fabric you want to use. Either layer flannel or thin quilt batting in between. Draw or trace the butterfly. Stitch around the butterfly outline with small straight stitch. Then satin stitch around on top of the straight stitch. Then cut out and use fray check on the edges. That way it won't unravel and you'll have the same fabric on top and botton and the flannel or quilt batting will give it body. Then sew the center down on your project. |
User: Catalina
Member since: 01-06-2005 Total posts: 119 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-10-2005, 01:11 AM (5 of 13)
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Thank you, I didn't think of the back of the wings. I think I got it now and will see what happens and then let you all know how they turned out. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 07-07-2005, 07:18 PM (6 of 13)
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The way I like to do these is to decide on my fabric; then draw the butterflies. First straight-stitch and then satin-stitch the outlines, then apply Fray Chek. This is a very good method. I then usually do a design on the wings, using a water-soluble on the back, and using matching thread on spool and bobbin. I often straight-stitch the design with a double thread for the top stitching. Then I remove the water soluble stabilizer and attach the wings to the body as I stitch the body to the background fabric. You can also spray the wings, before attaching them, with stiffener, depending on the look you want. This is not difficult and you can really get some nice effects. MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-08-2005, 06:50 PM (7 of 13)
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MariLynn, Will have to try your method for butterflies,they sound really nice. My question is,(and you know me always a question) What is the trick to using two threads,I have tried it without a lot of sucess. I think the effects would be beautiful if I could only do it. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 07-09-2005, 06:48 PM (8 of 13)
I wrote an answer and somehow it just disappeared instead of being posted! Don't know what I did to it. Anyhow, I fill a bobbin with the thread I am using for the stitching, and place both bobbin and spool on the thread holder. Then I thread both threads through the machine and needle. Use a size larger needle (an embroidery needle is best) for two threads. This really adds emphasis to your decorative stitches or design stitches. I use it often with cutwork for the open spaces with only a water-soluble stabilizer beneath them. It is also better on an edging that is being stitched on stabilizer, like on the edge of a collar or sleeve or handkerchief. If you've never done that, it's fun...a little tricky at first, but interesting! I reckon I need to get back to packing; I've only one week until our garage sale and I'm supposed to be ready to move to Friendswood the 10th of August!  MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-11-2005, 01:42 PM (9 of 13)
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MariLynn, Hope your moving goes smoothly. Not my favorite thing to do,am always so happy when it is done. Thank you for the help,now I see what I was doing wrong. Still playing with free motion embridery and love it more all the time. I am thinking of getting another basic sewing machine and setting it up just for free motion embroidery. I could still use it as a back up machine if the other one goes to the shop. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 07-11-2005, 05:59 PM (10 of 13)
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This sounds good, Nonie. I know some people are bothered by changing the tension on the machine if necessary when doing fme, and some keep a separate bobbin case for it. Mostly I haven't ever been worried about changing tension, and now I usually use lingerie bobbins and the thread is light enough so that the tension doesn't need loosening. But if you do an great deal of fme I can see that a separate machine would be very convenient! I am working on getting things sorted out for the garage sale next Friday and Saturday--Shauna and I are having it at her house which we think is sold!!! These people are talking to a bank about the loan! I had better get back to sorting books! Send me the link to your sewing site again, please...when my computer was worked on I forgot to remind him to be very careful not to lose my Favorites list, so naturally he lost it. MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-12-2005, 02:26 AM (11 of 13)
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MariLynn, the site is http://www.everythingsewing.net I don't do as much fme as I want to do because of the machine set up. Not that it is hard to do,I am just lazy sometimes. I might make a pair of pants and thing a flower would look cute,but then don't do it because I have to change a few things. Very few really but like I say sometimes I can be lazy. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: paroper
Date: 07-12-2005, 08:31 AM (12 of 13)
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I know what you mean. Unless I have an area that is just mine to sew. My husband has always been very rude about my sewing. He is always piling stuff around and on top of my machines. I'll be all excited about sewing but when I go in to do that, if I have to totally clean a room, tables, ironing board, machine tables, etc...maybe dump a husband out of my chair and off my computer...it kind of ruins the mood. My space has always been a little crowded anyway and I'm closterphobic.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 07-12-2005, 01:26 PM (13 of 13)
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My DH bought me the Pfaff 1475CD when he was in the hospital with his 4th heart attack. I really appreciated it(and I paid for for some of it) but I think he felt bad about the $20,000 bass boat!! He liked for me to make my own money but he thought I should give him some of it and I disagreed. When I was working for the State for several years he expected half my paycheck for the household bills, although I was still doing all the cooking and housework. I said he was tight and he said I didn't appreciate that he was working so hard and saving so we wouldn't be short of money when he retired. As it turned out, he had a 5th heart attack and pancreatic cancer and I was short of money after his death and had to sell the house. He just wasn't good at managing money but would never admit it. And he liked having control, would never let me have any money, wrote all the checks, etc,himself. I just didn't tell him how much I was making on my calligraphy and custom sewing and put my money away. He would come into my sewing room and stack his stuff on my desk and mess with the computer, and read my appointment book to see if I was complaining about him, and he was terrifically jealous, for absolutely NO reason and hated my singing , especially at the Old Bastrop Opera House. I asked him once what could possibly have made him think I would EVER consider marrying again and his feelings were very hurt. I realize now that he couldn't help it, he was just made that way by an unhappy childhood, no mother, and a father who seldom remembered he was there. By nature, I am gregarious, happy, and sociable, probably the worst wife he could have picked! But I did try! MariLynntx Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
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