Since it looks like I have some new readers lately, thanks to Craft Gossip, I thought I might give you something to look at. This is a tutorial I posted last year, on how to make a tiny dragonfly embellishment, using DMC's Memory Thread. Enjoy!
In 2010 I designed this project for the Homewood Embroiderer's Guild, to teach in spring 2010. I wanted a charm to go on the panel but couldn't find one I liked, so I devised this dragonfly from DMC Memory Thread to add instead.
You can make your dragonfly any size you want. These are about 1-1/2" to 2". To begin, cut a piece of Memory Thread about 6" to 7" long. Do not use your good scissors for this--there is wire inside this thread. It's thin but will still mar your nice scissors. Use wire cutters or old scissors.
Fold your Memory Thread in half.
Tie an overhand knot in the Memory Thread at the cut end.
This is the head. Tighten it so that you have antennae of maybe 3/8". You can trim them later if they're too long but you can't make them longer.
Now push the Memory Thread up toward the head so it bows out at the sides to form wings. Or pull it apart to make the wings. Make them what ever size you want.
Twist the wire just under the wings.
Don't worry about the shape, that comes next.
Shape your wings like you want them and then twist once at the base of each wing. Continue to shape it until you're happy.
That's it. I tacked the dragonflies to the felt at the twists. For this project, it didn't need to do more but you can also tack it down just above the head and at the tip of the tail, too. I found the cut ends fuzzed a bit--if you don't like that, fray check the thread before cutting it, let it dry, and then cut your thread to size.
In 2010 I designed this project for the Homewood Embroiderer's Guild, to teach in spring 2010. I wanted a charm to go on the panel but couldn't find one I liked, so I devised this dragonfly from DMC Memory Thread to add instead.
You can make your dragonfly any size you want. These are about 1-1/2" to 2". To begin, cut a piece of Memory Thread about 6" to 7" long. Do not use your good scissors for this--there is wire inside this thread. It's thin but will still mar your nice scissors. Use wire cutters or old scissors.
Fold your Memory Thread in half.
Tie an overhand knot in the Memory Thread at the cut end.
This is the head. Tighten it so that you have antennae of maybe 3/8". You can trim them later if they're too long but you can't make them longer.
Now push the Memory Thread up toward the head so it bows out at the sides to form wings. Or pull it apart to make the wings. Make them what ever size you want.
Twist the wire just under the wings.
Don't worry about the shape, that comes next.
Shape your wings like you want them and then twist once at the base of each wing. Continue to shape it until you're happy.
That's it. I tacked the dragonflies to the felt at the twists. For this project, it didn't need to do more but you can also tack it down just above the head and at the tip of the tail, too. I found the cut ends fuzzed a bit--if you don't like that, fray check the thread before cutting it, let it dry, and then cut your thread to size.
