Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 17 hours ago
Bring a little “bug art” to your hoop 🪲✨ In this hand embroidery tutorial, Beth Upstill (West Coast Wool) shows you how to stitch a tiger beetle from her book Garden of Embroidered Bugs using a woven picot body, bullion knots for the head, and backstitch details for the legs and antennae.
You’ll learn Beth’s best tips for getting a tight, smooth woven picot (no “bubble” at the end!), how to adjust bullion knot wraps for perfect coverage, and easy options for marking or freehanding the legs.
What you’ll learn
* How to create a 3-spoke woven picot beetle body
* How to shape the body (rounded vs. pointed) as you weave
* How to stitch bullion knots (and how to add wraps if needed)
* How to add legs + antennae with simple backstitches
* How to customize the beetle with different thread sizes and colors
Supplies used (as shown in the video)
* WonderFil Eleganza™ Perle Cotton (Size #8)
* Brown: EZ42
* Variegated green: EZM09
* Milliner’s needle #3 (wrap stitches / bullion knots)
* Chenille needle #24
* Needle threader (optional)
* Long straight pin (for the woven picot)
* Scissors
* Water-soluble marking pen (optional, for legs)
📖 Pattern reference: Garden of Embroidered Bugs — page 23 (Tiger Beetle)
Inside the book you’ll find diagrams, thread + needle recommendations, and ways to change each design to make it your own—plus 32 original bug designs and 2 bonus projects.
Chapters
0:18 Supplies overview
1:27 Woven picot beetle body (3 spokes)
8:02 Bullion knots for the head13:11 Legs + antennae (marking vs freehand)
16:16 Variations + book projects
18:48 Where to buy the book
Where to find the book
You can purchase at West Coast Wool website.
Click here: westcoastwool.com
Connect with Beth:
🔗 Sign up for Beth’s newsletter at westcoastwool.com
🔗 Join the private Facebook group: Leaf the Week Behind
facebook.com/share/g/1Gm4VryWRy/?mibextid=wwXIfr
🔗 Follow Beth on Instagram: West_Coast_Wool
TikTok: @1CreativeBeth
Facebook: @westcoastwool
#HandEmbroidery #EmbroideryTutorial #BullionKnot #WovenPicot #PerleCotton #Needlework #EmbroideryPatterns #WonderFil #WestCoastWool
Shop WonderFil Products!
Shop Local at a retailer near you: shopwonderfil.com/shop-local
Shop Online
Canada: shopwonderfil.ca
USA: shopwonderfil.com
Europe: https://wonderfil.eu/
United Kingdom: wonderfil.co.uk
Australia: https://shopwonderfil.com.au/
New Zealand: shopwonderfil.co.nz
Want to have sewing tips and tutorials delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up for our educational newsletter, delivered weekly, for unique content and project ideas. Join our Newsletter: eepurl.com/hcxbrT
Bring a little “bug art” to your hoop 🪲✨ In this hand embroidery tutorial, Beth Upstill (West Coast Wool) shows you how to stitch a tiger beetle from her book Garden of Embroidered Bugs using a woven picot body, bullion knots for the head, and backstitch details for the legs and antennae.
You’ll learn Beth’s best tips for getting a tight, smooth woven picot (no “bubble” at the end!), how to adjust bullion knot wraps for perfect coverage, and easy options for marking or freehanding the legs.
What you’ll learn
* How to create a 3-spoke woven picot beetle body
* How to shape the body (rounded vs. pointed) as you weave
* How to stitch bullion knots (and how to add wraps if needed)
* How to add legs + antennae with simple backstitches
* How to customize the beetle with different thread sizes and colors
Supplies used (as shown in the video)
* WonderFil Eleganza™ Perle Cotton (Size #8)
* Brown: EZ42
* Variegated green: EZM09
* Milliner’s needle #3 (wrap stitches / bullion knots)
* Chenille needle #24
* Needle threader (optional)
* Long straight pin (for the woven picot)
* Scissors
* Water-soluble marking pen (optional, for legs)
📖 Pattern reference: Garden of Embroidered Bugs — page 23 (Tiger Beetle)
Inside the book you’ll find diagrams, thread + needle recommendations, and ways to change each design to make it your own—plus 32 original bug designs and 2 bonus projects.
Chapters
0:18 Supplies overview
1:27 Woven picot beetle body (3 spokes)
8:02 Bullion knots for the head13:11 Legs + antennae (marking vs freehand)
16:16 Variations + book projects
18:48 Where to buy the book
Where to find the book
You can purchase at West Coast Wool website.
Click here: westcoastwool.com
Connect with Beth:
🔗 Sign up for Beth’s newsletter at westcoastwool.com
🔗 Join the private Facebook group: Leaf the Week Behind
facebook.com/share/g/1Gm4VryWRy/?mibextid=wwXIfr
🔗 Follow Beth on Instagram: West_Coast_Wool
TikTok: @1CreativeBeth
Facebook: @westcoastwool
#HandEmbroidery #EmbroideryTutorial #BullionKnot #WovenPicot #PerleCotton #Needlework #EmbroideryPatterns #WonderFil #WestCoastWool
Shop WonderFil Products!
Shop Local at a retailer near you: shopwonderfil.com/shop-local
Shop Online
Canada: shopwonderfil.ca
USA: shopwonderfil.com
Europe: https://wonderfil.eu/
United Kingdom: wonderfil.co.uk
Australia: https://shopwonderfil.com.au/
New Zealand: shopwonderfil.co.nz
Want to have sewing tips and tutorials delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up for our educational newsletter, delivered weekly, for unique content and project ideas. Join our Newsletter: eepurl.com/hcxbrT
