Ronghua Tutorial: How to Make Butterfly Napkin Ring

The butterfly napkin ring is a light, decorative accent inspired by the delicate form of a butterfly in motion. With its balanced symmetry and softly curved wings, it adds a sense of elegance and playfulness to the table. 

Preparation: What You’ll Need

If you’ve purchased our Ronghua Toolkit, you already have everything required!
If not, prepare the following tools:

1. Bristle brush (Medium to soft hardness)
2. Flat iron (the one you use to straighten your hair)
3. Tweezers
4. At least 2 pairs of Scissors
5. wooden sticks / pencils / chopsticks
6. Hair spray or diluted white glue (1:2-1:3 with water or alcohol)
7. Big clips (around 15cm)
8. Twisting boards and wooden blocks (for even tension)
9. Anti-slip powder (optional but helpful)

Full Tutorial Video

Step 1. Align and Arrange the Silk Threads

Start by untying your silk threads. Locate the knot at one end of each bundle and cut it open carefully. Refer to the diagram for color combination details.

Step 2. Group and Prepare the Threads

Each silk bundle consists of tiny strand-like structures — these are your individual strands. Align all strands neatly and tie them around a thin stick, keeping the ends even. Avoid uneven lengths — this ensures consistent texture later on.

Step 3. Make Silk Rows

Repeat the above process to create your silk rows. Remember to refer back to the data provided in the diagram for the following rows, as each will differ slightly. Below are the finished silk rows we made.

Step 4. Brush the Silk

Use your bristle brush to comb the silk rows. Continue brushing for about 10 minutes until the silk is smooth, fluffy, and free of tangles. If the silk becomes static, use a spray bottle to lightly mist the air (not the silk directly) with water.

This is what it should look like after brushing:

Step 5. Attach Copper Wires

When you feel that the silk is brushed enough, secure its tail with another big clip to your table or anything that can help stretch it taut. Take out one copper wire from the folded end of the row and straighten it. Twist the folded part into a spiral of about 3 cm. Clamp the silk threads between two copper wires and twist the opposite side tightly. Pull both wires taut and continue twisting until they merge into one. Remember, the twisting direction for the left and right end are opposite.

The spacing should be as shown in step 1. If you have anti-slip powder, it will be much easier to dip your fingers in it and twist it.

We highly recommend you watch the video tutorial for this step:)

Once done, remove the silk row from the stand and lay it flat.

Step 6. Cut the Silk Strips

Trim the row’s end neatly, then cut between each pair of copper wires to create even silk strips. When cutting, the scissors must be placed in the middle of two copper wires, otherwise the width of the silk strips will be inconsistent. If threads stick to your scissors, clean them — it’s usually caused by static or residue. Cut quickly and cleanly for smooth edges. Don't touch the wire or it may get displaced.

Step 7. Center and Twist the Strips

Align the copper wire to the middle of each strip using a flat surface or wooden block. Once centered, twist both hands in opposite directions to tighten.

Next, place the copper part between the twisting boards and continue twisting in the same direction. Stop when the wire feels firm — twisting too far may cause it to break. How do you know if it is tightened enough? If tightened properly, the copper wire should only faintly show. If the copper wire is very visible, it’s not tight enough.

Step 8. Flatten and Set the Wing Strips

Begin by cutting the pink-yellow strips in half. For the blue-green strips, trim off the wire on the blue end. Once your flat iron is heated, press all the strips until they are smooth and flat—viewed from the side, they should no longer show visible layers. Neatly trim the wire ends.

Next, prepare a setting solution. Spray hairspray into a bowl, or alternatively mix white glue with water or alcohol (1:2 or 1:3). Soak the strips thoroughly, then remove any excess liquid.

At this stage, no shaping is needed. Insert all the strips into foam to hold them in place, repeating until all are set. If necessary, use tweezers to remove excess liquid. Allow the strips to dry completely; once dry, they will become firm. Remove them from the foam and run them through the flat iron again to make them thinner and smoother. 

Step 9. Trim and Layer the Strips

Now trim each strip into an inverted triangle shape, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Be sure not to use the same scissors for cutting wire and petals, as this will dull the blades.

Squeeze out some white glue and use a piece of wire to apply it along one edge of each strip. Once all strips have glue on one side, begin layering and sticking them together, using five strips per group. Each butterfly requires four such groups. After the glue dries, press them again to strengthen the bond. 

Step 10. Shape the Wings and Antennae

Trim the layered pieces into wing shapes, adjusting the form as you like while keeping the left and right wings symmetrical. You can use one finished wing as a reference for the other.

Once shaped, prepare two 10 cm copper wires, fold them in half, and thread a bead onto each. Twist the wires tightly, using a twisting board if needed, and make two of these components. 

Step 11. Create the Floral Accents

Next, create the small flowers. Trim the petal shapes so they are fuller in the middle and tapered at both ends, keeping them as even as possible.

Use a tool to gently curve the petals outward.

Cut the flower stamens in half, take two stamens, and secure them together with silk thread.

Attach four petals around them to form each small flower, using green silk thread and wrapping downward about 2–3 cm. Make five flowers for each color. 

Step 12. Assemble the Flower Branch

Prepare a 15 cm steel wire and begin wrapping thread from the center, moving forward and then reversing direction. Fold the wrapped section in half and continue wrapping. Attach the flowers along the wire, leaving small gaps between them and following a natural arrangement. Add more flowers as needed, then trim the wire at an angle and tuck the thread into the wire to secure the end. 

Step 13. Assemble the Butterfly

Now assemble the butterfly. Start with the back wings, wrapping thread around the wire for about 1 cm, and repeat for the symmetrical wing.

Combine the two wings and attach the antennae.

Wrap the thread down to the end and tie it off, then fold the wings upward and curve the antennae. Bind the front wings together and secure with a knot at the wire tail. Gently open the wings outward and combine both pairs. Add two small flowers at the center of the butterfly’s body and bind them tightly with thread. Trim any excess wire if necessary. 

Step 14. Reinforce and Finish the Structure

To reinforce the structure, add two 10 cm steel wires, inserting them between the copper wires. Wrap thread around the connection point, ensuring all wires are fully covered, and continue wrapping downward to conceal them.

Once you reach the bottom, tie off the thread. Bend the base of the butterfly to a 90-degree angle, then wrap the steel wire around a stick 5–6 times and tighten slightly to create a subtle vibrating effect. 

Step 15. Attach the Piece to the Accessory

Attach the butterfly to the floral arrangement using four strands of thread for stability. Wrap downward about 3 cm and secure, making sure no wire extends beyond the napkin ring. Trim any excess. 

Attach the entire piece to the napkin ring in two passes: first to secure it firmly, then to neatly cover any gaps.

For a clean finish, prepare a 3 mm copper wire, fold it, and place it as shown before wrapping over it. Thread the silk through the wire loop, pull it through, and trim any excess. 

You can watch our video tutorial for this step:)

To complete the piece, gently bend the flower branches and adjust their positions. Apply a light layer of hairspray to the wrapped areas to secure the thread and prevent slipping. The butterfly napkin ring is now finished.