Step-by-Step Butterfly Machine Embroidery with Metallic Threads (Beginner Guide)

Video reference: “Butterfly Embroidery Machine” by M embroidery515

Bring a butterfly to life with luminous metallics—clean outlines, smooth fills, and crisp antennae—on a single-needle setup. This guide walks you through the exact color order and touchpoints used to stitch red, light gold, and dark gold wings that gleam.

What you’ll learn

• How to hoop, thread, and sequence three colors for a polished butterfly design

• The four-pass stitch plan: red outline/fill, light gold inner fill, dark gold body accents, and final light gold details

• Speed control, hoop handling, and fill-density checks to avoid gaps and puckering

• Community-backed fixes for fabric stretching and precise detail work

Unveiling the Beauty of Machine Embroidered Butterflies A butterfly is the perfect beginner project: high visual payoff, forgiving fills, and a compact stitch area that builds confidence quickly. You’ll finish with a richly layered design that showcases bold color blocking (red) against luminous metallics (light and dark gold).

Pro tip: If you’re new to multi-color designs, start with a well-defined file that groups each color logically. This keeps swaps simple and reduces mistakes. embroidery machine for beginners

Primer: What This Butterfly Project Achieves This project uses three color passes to create contrast and dimension:

• Red: Wing outlines and outer fills

• Light gold: Inner wing fills and final accents

• Dark gold: Body and select wing details

Where it applies

• Single-needle machines that can run a standard design file

• Any smooth, stable fabric hooped securely in an embroidery hoop

Constraints

• The stitch density and speed settings aren’t specified—use visual checks below to ensure smooth coverage and clean edges.

• Precision matters: small areas like the antennae require controlled speed.

Quick check: After each color, verify even coverage and alignment before moving on. Minor corrections are easy now and hard later. hooping station for embroidery

Prep: Tools, Materials, and Files Tools and setup

• Embroidery machine

• Embroidery hoop

• Clean, flat workstation for the machine

Materials

• White fabric (or similar smooth base)

• Threads: red, light gold, dark gold (additional colors like blue and green can produce variations)

• Optional support (from the comments): fusible interfacing or paper to back stretchy fabric

Files

• Butterfly embroidery design file

From the comments: several viewers asked about the machine. The creator noted they used an industrial SINGER 20u in a reply. You don’t need that exact model; the process below fits a typical single-needle workflow.

Watch out: If your fabric is stretching in the hoop, back it with fusible interfacing or paper (creator tip). This prevents distortion and gaps during fills. magnetic embroidery hoops

Prep checklist

• Design file on hand and loaded

• Hoop matches your design’s stitch field

• Threads staged in color order: red → light gold → dark gold

• Fabric clean, pressed, and supported if needed

Setup: Hooping, Threading, and Why Sequence Matters Hooping for stability

• Seat the fabric in the hoop so it’s taut (flat drum feel) but not stretched.

• Confirm the hoop locks firmly into the machine.

Why color order matters Following a fixed color sequence reduces thread changes and keeps outlines sharp. This project flows: red base → light gold fills → dark gold body → final light gold details.

Threading checkpoints

• Thread feeds smoothly from spool to needle; no snags

• Bobbin is correctly seated

• Test a few stitches off to the side (or in a margin) to confirm tension and flow

Decision point: If your fabric shows ripples under tension, add a backing layer (fusible interfacing/paper per creator tip). Else, proceed as normal.

Quick check: With the hoop in place, move the needle over the first stitch point and ensure there’s clearance on all sides of the hoop. embroidery magnetic hoop

Setup checklist

• Fabric taut and secure

• Thread path and bobbin verified

• Needle positioned at the design start

• Color order noted and ready

Operation: Stitching the Butterfly in Four Passes Pass 1 — Outline and Initial Fill (Red) 1) Start the outline. Begin stitching the butterfly wing outline in red. Watch for steady thread feed and alignment with the design.

2) Build the first fill. Let the machine fill the first outer wing section in red. You should see dense, even coverage forming a smooth surface.

3) Continue coverage. As the machine expands the fill, look for consistent density and clean edges. If you notice gaps, pause and check tension.

4) Adjust if needed. If the hoop shifts slightly, stop, reseat, and resume. Avoid tugging fabric while the machine is running.

5) Mirror to the second wing. The same red pass fills the matching area on the opposite wing.

Expected result: Both wings have bold red outer sections with even fills and aligned edges.

Watch out: Thread breakage or uneven stitching often traces back to tension or snagging in the thread path. Re-thread calmly and test before resuming. magnetic hoops

Pass 2 — Inner Wing Fill (Light Gold) 6) Swap to light gold. Change the top thread to light gold and start the inner wing fill.

7) Build smooth metallic coverage. Metallic threads look best when fills are continuous—listen for a consistent stitch rhythm.

8) Cover the central area thoroughly. As the inner shape grows, confirm edge-to-edge coverage with no show-through.

9) Finalize the section. Stop when the inner gold region is fully filled; check for uniform sheen across the area.

Expected result: A luminous light-gold inner fill sits cleanly inside the red outer sections.

Pro tip (speed control): Multiple viewers asked about slowing the machine. The creator’s advice: feather the foot pedal—press lightly to tame speed, especially for tight curves and corners. hoopmaster

Pass 3 — Body and Dark Accents (Dark Gold) 10) Thread dark gold. Start by stitching the butterfly body; this darker tone adds depth and definition.

11) Add wing accents. Let the machine place dark gold in targeted areas to contour shapes and create contrast.

Expected result: A defined, dimensional body and subtle dark-gold accents that sharpen the overall form.

Quick check: Tiny details show flaws quickly. If stitches look crowded or thready, ease the speed with the pedal and confirm the thread path is clear. brother embroidery machine

Pass 4 — Final Wing Fill and Antennae (Light Gold) 12) Switch back to light gold. Complete the remaining wing sections and outer edges, blending them with the red base.

13) Stitch the antennae. Slow and steady wins here—delicate strokes require a controlled feed.

14) Inspect edges and overlaps. Metallic meets red at the boundaries; ensure clean transitions without fray.

Expected result: A fully embroidered butterfly with crisp outlines, luminous wings, and fine antennae details.

Operation checklist

• Red base fills complete and even

• Light-gold inner fills solid and smooth

• Dark-gold body crisp, no distortions

• Final light-gold details and antennae clean

Quality Checks: What “Good” Looks Like

• Coverage: No fabric peeking through the red or gold fills

• Edges: Lines meet without gaps or fraying

• Density: Even sheen; no thread pooling or bird-nesting

• Registration: Mirror symmetry across wings

Quick check: Tilt the piece under light—metallics should reflect uniformly where fills are even. embroidery machine hoops

Results & Handoff: Unhoop, Finish, and Display Unhoop and finish

• Stop the machine and remove the hoop.

• Gently release the fabric from the hoop.

• If you used a backing (interfacing/paper), remove or trim per its instructions.

Display variations The process concludes with three finished butterflies in different colorways—proof that this workflow adapts beautifully to alternate palettes like blue or green.

From the comments: Some viewers asked about commissions; the creator indicated they share work on YouTube rather than take orders. Regardless, this pattern makes great patches, framed décor, or apparel accents. magnetic embroidery hoops

Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom: Thread breakage during fills

• Likely cause: Tension issues or a snag in the thread path

• Fix: Re-thread top thread and bobbin; verify spool feeds smoothly; resume and check density

Symptom: Uneven or gappy coverage

• Likely cause: Hoop slippage or thread not seating correctly

• Fix: Re-hoop to restore tension; re-thread and run a small test; re-stitch over sparse areas

Symptom: Fabric puckering

• Likely cause: Fabric stretching or insufficient support

• Fix (from the comments): Back with fusible interfacing or paper; ensure hoop is tight but fabric not stretched

Symptom: Overshooting fine details (antennae)

• Likely cause: Speed is too high for tight shapes

• Fix (from the creator): Feather the foot pedal to slow the machine; stitch delicate areas in a steady rhythm

Symptom: Misaligned accents in dark gold

• Likely cause: Hoop moved between color passes

• Fix: Realign the hoop; verify the start point; re-run the section at controlled speed

Quick isolations

• If artifacts appear only on metallic passes, check that metallic thread feeds friction-free.

• If only one wing shows distortion, re-hoop and compare frame tension on both sides. embroidery hoops magnetic

From the comments

• Which machine is used? The creator replied: industrial SINGER 20u.

• How do I slow the machine? Tip from the creator: lightly press the foot pedal to keep control.

• My fabric stretches in the hoop. Creator suggests backing the fabric with fusible interfacing or paper support.

• Do you take orders? The creator noted they publish their work on YouTube rather than accept orders.

Pro tip: Color swaps are your rhythm—use the red pass to lock outlines, the light gold to build the luminous base, and dark gold to sculpt the form. One final light-gold touch unifies the whole piece. magnetic hoop