Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly in DMC - PAT0479 - Downloadable PDF

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly Embroidery Pattern – PAT0479 by DMC

This free downloadable PDF embroidery pattern from the DMC Library guides stitchers through creating a beautifully detailed Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) in thread. The finished design measures 16.3 cm x 12.8 cm, making it an ideal statement piece for framing, hoop art, or as an embellishment on fabric items such as cushions, tote bags, or clothing. The pattern is bilingual, presented in both English and French, reflecting DMC's international heritage.

About the Design

The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly is one of the most recognisable and beloved insects in European gardens, known for its vivid orange wings edged with deep blue and black markings. This embroidery pattern captures that intricate natural beauty with a rich palette of nine carefully chosen DMC thread colours, including warm amber tones, deep browns, and striking blue and orange shades. The colour guide and technical chart included in the PDF allow stitchers to follow the design section by section, with each area of the butterfly's wings and body clearly labelled with colour codes and stitch type references.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This pattern is rated intermediate difficulty, making it well suited to embroiderers who have moved beyond beginner basics and are comfortable working with multiple stitch types and blending colours. The following embroidery stitches are used throughout the design:

• Long and Short Stitch (Passé empiétant): The primary filling technique used across the butterfly's wings. This classic needlepainting stitch involves alternating rows of long and short stitches that interlock with each other, allowing colours to blend seamlessly and create smooth gradients that mimic the natural shading of the butterfly's wing scales.
• Backstitch (Point arrière): Used for outlining and adding fine linear detail, such as the wing veins and body contours. Backstitch creates a clean, continuous line that defines the edges and internal structure of the design.
• Satin Stitch (Passé plat): Applied to smaller, solid areas of the design where smooth, flat coverage is needed. Satin stitch involves placing parallel stitches closely together to fill a shape completely, giving a polished and lustrous finish.

Materials Required

The pattern specifies the following materials for completing the design at the stated size:

• Thread: DMC Mouliné Spécial Embroidery Thread (Article 117) – nine colours in total, each requiring one skein. The full colour list includes:
  • DMC 3781 – a dark mocha brown
  • DMC 840 – medium beige brown
  • DMC 842 – very light beige brown
  • DMC 3825 – pale pumpkin orange
  • DMC E677 – a light gold metallic thread
  • DMC S310 – satin black
  • DMC S798 – satin dark Delft blue
  • DMC S800 – satin pale Delft blue
  • DMC S741 – satin medium tangerine
• Needle: A No. 12 embroidery needle is recommended, which is a fine needle appropriate for working with stranded cotton on fabric.
• Fabric: The pattern is designed to be worked on embroidery fabric of the stitcher's choice.
• Transfer Tools: A DMC Magic Sheet, transfer pen, and transfer paper are recommended for transferring the butterfly design accurately onto the chosen fabric before stitching begins.

Pattern Format and Availability

This pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF directly from DMC. The five-page document includes a full colour guide, a technical chart, an instructions page with stitch keys, and a complete materials list. It is part of the wider DMC Library collection of insects and nature-themed embroidery designs. As a free pattern, it offers exceptional value for intermediate embroiderers looking to develop their needlepainting and thread