Welcome to our Design Doodler’s creative playground! We’ll walk you through creating a stunning monarch ponytail holder with step-by-step tips and tricks to help you master the Design Doodler’s features and bring your butterfly design to life.

monarch hair ornament banner

This project is perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any hairstyle and is suitable for beginners and experienced embroiderers. With our easy-to-follow instructions, you’ll learn how to design, stitch, and assemble a butterfly ornament that’s sure to turn heads.

Ready to add a flutter of beauty to your style? Gather your materials, fire up your Design Doodler, and let’s create some embroidery magic!

Material List:

  • Design Doodler or other embroidery software
  • One 4×8-inch piece of vinyl
  • One 4×8 piece of holographic gold mylar (available as gift basket filler at dollar stores)
  • Medium-weight tear-away stabilizer
  • Embroidery thread
  • One 3×7 inch piece of PUFF STUFF, the terrific puffy foam alternative
  • One 4×8 piece of felt
  • One 4×8 piece of Heat and Bond or other heat bonding material

Monarch Ponytail Holder Tutorial:

Step 1: Insert artwork into your Design Doodler and resize to a width of 7 inches.

monarch butterfly image

Step 2: Using a black running stitch, digitize around the butterfly, including the head.

monarch butterfly image

Step 3: Using a tatami fill stitch with a density of 1.2 mm (.047 inches), select travel on edge.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Choose drawing tool from basic widget
  2. Select the Filled shape (looks like a kidney bean)
  3. Choose how you want to draw it (squiggly free form line)
  4. Start drawing
monarch butterfly step widget

4. Change the density of a filled object

monarch butterfly change density

Step 4: Digitize the overall butterfly image with your lightest color.

monarch butterfly base

Step 5: Digitize the medium color highlights.

monarch butterfly medium

Step 6: Digitize the dark color highlights.

monarch butterfly dark base

Step 7: Digitize the tatami border and large black areas on the wings.

monarch tatami base

Step 8: Digitize the body and veins using a satin stitch.

monarch satin stitch
monarch veins

Step 9: Digitize satin circles for a stick or pencil to be inserted.

satin circle monarch

Step 10: Digitize a satin border around the butterfly.

free form stitch monarch

Step 11: You’re done!

Embroidering Your Butterfly:

Step 1: Hoop a piece of medium-weight tear-away stabilizer.

Step 2: Place in your embroidery machine and stitch out the placement line.

monarch line

Step 3: Remove the hoop from the machine and, using temporary adhesive spray, place the vinyl over the placement line (you can use small pieces of painters tape at the sides to ensure the fabric is held securely in place).

monarch vinyl

Step 4: Place the holographic mylar on the vinyl (painters tape also helps to hold this in place).

monarch glitter

Step 5: Return the hoop to the machine and stitch through the light orange background.

monarch base

Step 6: Remove the excess mylar.

butterfly mylar tear

Step 7: Stitch through the black tatami background for the veins and body.

Step 8: Remove the hoop from the machine and place the PUFF STUFF over the stitching area.

monarch puff stuff

Step 9: Return the hoop to the machine and stitch through the end of the design.

Step 10: Remove the puff stuff from the machine and trim it, saving all of the trimmings in a Ziploc bag (they can be used for a later project).

monarch puff stuff out

Step 11: Run your stitching under hot water and remove the remains of the gel with a soft toothbrush.

monarch ps water

Step 12: Place on a flat surface to dry.

monarch rinse

Putting Your Butterfly Ponytail Holder Together:

monarch

Step 1: Trim a piece of Heat and Bond or other bonding agent to a piece of black felt.

Step 2: Peel the paper away and apply it to the back of your butterfly.

Step 3: Bond the pieces together.

Step 4: Trim your butterfly design.

cut monarch

Step 5: Punch holes in the circles using a hole punch or die tool.

monarch circle

Step 6: Insert a stick or pencil and wear over a ponytail!

monarch finished

The Design Doodler is a fun, powerful tool that brings your creative ideas to life. This butterfly ornament is just the beginning! We encourage you to experiment with different designs, colors, and techniques to make each project uniquely yours.

P.S. Don’t yet have the Design Doodler? Try a free demo of the Design Doodler today and discover the endless possibilities for your embroidery projects.