Fluttering Butterflies Top

Even if you've only checked out a couple of my posts, I'm sure you already know that I'm a little girl at heart.  I love butterflies, I love pink, and I love sparkles.  Today's project has two of the three, and as one very famous song from long ago says...that ain't bad~

I was going to use this idea to make a top for myself but I figured it would be so much cuter for my little niece.

Here are the materials I used:

A couple of weeks ago we melted the edges of fabric with my Obi Belt tutorial.  This week we're going to fray the fabric so it's a good idea to use a natural fibre, like cotton.  Because you're using a natural fibre you will want to make sure to pre-wash the fabric.  If you use a contrasting colour from your top make sure to add something to the water for colourfastness.  I added about a tablespoon of salt.  This way when the top is washed the white should stay white and the pink should stay pink.

Steps:
1) I'm not one of you lucky ducks who own a cricket or other cutting machine but if you have one, this step will go lickety split.  I created a paper butterfly pattern the old fashioned way, by tracing out a butterfly shape from a cookie cutter.

2) Then use your pattern to cut out as many butterflies as you will need to cover the front of your shirt. 

3) As I was cutting I placed them on the shirt to make sure I had enough.  For this little girls top I used 12 butterflies.

4) Now comes the only time consuming part of this project....take each butterfly and sew approximately 1/4" from the outside edge.  This will stop the fabric from completely fraying into nothing but little rags on your top.

Don't worry about staying exactly 1/4" inch from the edge, and just go very very slowly.  Control your fabric by lifting your presser foot in the corners and manoeuvring the fabric.  You'll find a rhythm after a couple of them and it'll go by quickly.

5) Pin all of your butterflies back onto your top.

6) Make one straight stitch down the centre of the body of each butterfly.  This way the wings will be free to flutter. (Make sure you're stitching through only one layer of your top!)

7) Throw your top into the dryer for about 30 minutes to get it to start fraying.  Each time you wash it, it will fray a bit more, creating a very cute effect.

And when my niece has this top on and is dancing around the house, her butterflies will be fluttering and dancing away with her!

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This is a fun and easy project for beginner sewers.  When I first learned how to sew I had to stitch squares on paper and lost points for every stitch that went off the line.  This is a much better when to get the feel of your machine.  You can try different shapes, like leaves or circles and try out different patterns on your top.  I thought about doing it on leggings too.  I think that would look really cute!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. 

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