Be inspired by real butterflies to make your butterfly shawl.
The butterfly dance is a beautiful, empowering process performed as an expression of renewal. The butterfly shawl, with its long fringe, flows with the dancer and symbolizes the butterfly's wings. The dance steps, twists and twirls represent the butterfly's flight. The butterfly shawl is a very personal item, embodying the personality of the owner. It is often painted or decorated with embroidered motifs and appliques. Though beads or feathers can be used, they aren't used often because they can make the shawl heavy to dance in. Dancers may also be disqualified if parts of their regalia fall off during competitions.
Instructions
1. Stand the wearer of the shawl with arms outstretched. Use a tape measure to measure the width of the shawl from fingertip to fingertip. Add 2 inches and note the number. Adjust the depth of the fabric to suit the wearer. The bottom of the fringe should be just above the knees.
2. Cut two rectangles from the two different materials, and place the right sides of the fabrics together.
3. Using the sewing machine to stitch the two pieces along one edge of the whole width of the shawl. This edge, which will not have fringe, will be the edge that is placed on the shoulders.
4. Make a hem by folding 1/4 inch fabric into the wrong side along all the other edges, and stitch the hem in place. You now have two rectangular pieces joined together in the middle with neatly stitched edges all around.
5. Add any appliques or embroider any designs that you want. It is important to do so before you add the fringe and stitch the remaining edges of the two rectangular pieces together. The shall will be reversible, and the embroidery can match the color of the fringe. If not, go straight to step 6.
6. Place the edge of the fringe on the edge of three sides of one of the rectangles. The fringe should be placed on the wrong side of the fabric on the already stitched edge. Pin the fringe to the edge, and stitch it on with the sewing machine.
7. Fold the other part of the rectangle over, and pin the three edges without the fringe to the edges with the fringe. Iron the seam on the top edge so that it lies flat; adjust the pins to remove any loose folds. Stitch all along the edges so that the two pieces of the shawl are joined together at the edges and the stitched edge of the fringe is hidden from view.
8. Gently tease out the loose ends of the fringe. Iron the shawl lightly, particularly the edges; avoid ironing the fringe.
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