FEATHER BUTTERFLY BROOCH TUTORIAL

(also available in video format, click here to visit our YouTube channel)

Materials and tools:

1. A pair of mirrored black goose feathers approximately 6″ long
2. A pair of mirrored blue mallard duck feathers approx. 5″ long
3. A pair of green teal duck wing feathers approx. 3″ long
4. A pair of green lady amherst’s pheasant  feathers  approx. 2″ long
5. 1 1/2″ black chenille stem pipe cleaner (40mm)
6. A pair of red seed beads size 11/0
7. One brooch pin approx. 1″
8. 2″ x 2″ cut of black nylon fabric (Tip: it can be from an old umbrela, or bag lining). It  is important to choose a resilient material like nylon because this little cut will work as the foundation of the brooch.
9. Multi purpose glue
10. Scissors (long nose, multi-purpose)
11. Ruler
12. Sewing needle
13. Black thread
14. Pattern to cut nylon fabric (click here)
15. White pencil
16. Long nose jewellery plier

 

Instructions:

Wings: Download and print the pattern (click here to open file). The printed image should measure approximately 40 mm height.

On a flat surface, place the pattern on top of the nylon fabric. Outline the material using a white pencil and then, cut it. This little cut will work as the foundation of the brooch, as it will connect the feathers and the pin.

Gather the pair of black feathers (item no.1) and using a scissor with thin tip, cut part of their top, as shown below and as per our YouTube video on this tutorial. Do not throw anything away yet! Keep the small feather section you just cut, because you will need it. Repeat this step with the pair of mallard duck feathers (item no.2).

Make sure you cut both feathers of the same pair, evenly. Use a white pencil to mark where to cut if necessary.

Now, let’s trim all the feathers up to the “afterfeather” point. Remember! The pairs must be even in length. Our YouTube video shows in detail how to do that.

Next, we have to glue the smaller feathers on to the bigger ones (see video). Allow them to dry for about ten minutes. Later, glue them to the nylon fabric foundation as shown below:

Press the feather against the nylon foundation for one minute. Then, allow up to ten minutes drying time before continuing your project.

The next stage is quite important, so please do not skip it.

Body: Cut the black chenille stem (item no.5) to approximately 40mm length. After you done that, notice the stem wire edges are quite pointy and dangerous, we do not want anyone getting hurt! Besides, after the stem is cut, it tends to unravel the chenille material from the wire, so to stop that, bend both edges with a plier, forming a very tiny loop, as illustrated below:

Eyes and antenna: Take the black feather left over (top section) and remove two barbs from it, these will be the butterfly pair of antennas. Then, dip the tip of the barb into the glue and stick it inside the bead, repeat this step once more. Let the pair of eyes/antennas dry and later, glue them on to the body of the butterfly. Allow it to dry.

Bonding wings and body: Apply glue to the back body surface, as shown above, photo F.  Then, apply more glue to the middle of the wings and immediately bring both parts together, applying pressure until the glue sets (wait at least one hour).

Brooch pin: After the glue is dried. Insert the thread into the needle and sew the metal pin at the back of the nylon fabric base. When you pass the thread through the other side, make sure to wrap it around the body of the butterfly, as shown in the video, this will secure your work. As a final touch, after tying up the thread, apply a bit of glue to the knot. Allow it to dry.

This is the end result!

Dimensions of the final brooch: 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Watch this and other tutorials on our Youtube channel (www.YouTube.com/angablue).

I hope I have succeeded in teaching you this craft. Please follow Angablue on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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