1

Praying Mantis
By Jenna Wingate

There are over thousands of varieties of Mantids

found in temperate and tropical climates of the
world. Its unusual posture, stealth, and sometimes
savage mating practices led some ancient cultures
to believe it was a supernatural being. The earliest
known mention of a mantis is in a Chinese poem
from the 3rd century A.D. It has since been the
subject of works of literature, film, and art, and the
inspiration for Martial Arts and robotics. To top it off,
the mantis is also really good at pest control.

Praying Mantis Gauge:

By Jenna Wingate E hook: 19sc x 20rows = 4x4”
Yardage is based on this gauge.
Skill Level: Novice Crochet Skills, Advanced
Stitches Used:
Assembly Skills
Ch – chain
Sc – single crochet
Finished Size:
Sk – skip
29inches long
Slst – slip stitch
FLO/BLO – front/back loop only
Materials:
RS/WS – right/wrong side
 #4/Medium weight yarn in:
FO – finish off
o Color A – Main Color – 420yards
o Color B – Accent 1 – 30yards
Special Stitches:
o Color C – Accent 2 – 60yards
Surface Slip Stitch: Insert hook from front to back
o Color D – Lighter Hue of A –180yards
and pull a loop to the front side and through loop on
o Small amount of black
front of fabric to create a surface slipped stitch. See
 Crochet Hook:
Youtube for Surface Slip Stitch videos.
o E/4 3.50mm
 Long straight pins Pattern Notes:
 Tapestry Needle  Almost all of the ends can be hidden inside the
 Stuffing Mantis. Tie pairs of ends together to prevent
 18” long dowel unravelling whenever possible.
 16 gauge steel wire (12 - 15 feet)  I recommend that you use the same brand and
 20 gauge colored jewelry wire (3 feet) style of yarn for all of the colors so there are no
 Needle nose plyers issues with gauge when sandwiching pieces
 Measuring Tape together.
 Tulle or other thin fabric for wings  Pattern is written in recommended order of
 Magic markers completion.
 Sewing thread and needle  If you cannot find the answer to your question
 (optional) Stretchy Tape by reading ahead, feel free to EMAIL.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 2
About Colors:
There are over 2,400 species in about 430 genera of mantids (plural of mantis) in the world with
numerous variations of each, not to mention that a single mantis can change colors throughout its lifetime,
so choosing one particular mantis to make was difficult for me. I have based the basic body on the
Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina), which is the most common mantis in the US, but I have written
the pattern to incorporate more colors as found in a multitude of species as well as making it adaptable to
pass as an Orchid Mantis (class: Hymenopus) , which will be released later as a companion pattern to this
one. I recommend that you Google pictures of mantids in order to choose your colors, or just choose
colors that make you happy with the understanding that:

Color A – main color

Color D – lighter hue of main color
Colors B and C – desired accent colors.

12. 2sc, sc in 11, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (15)

13. Sc across, changing to (B) in the last stitch.

Ch1, turn. Do not FO (A).

14 - 15. (B) Sc across. Ch1, turn. (15)

16. Sk1, sc in 12, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.

17. (edging) (B) Across top: 2sc, sc in 11, 2sc. /

Down side: Sc, 2sc, change to (Join A). Sc in 11. /
Into bottom of MR at the tip: 3sc / Up side: Sc in 11,
2sc, sc, join, FO all.

With (C) join with a slst 5 stitches before the center

sc of the (3sc) at the tip. Sc in 4, 3sc, sc in 4, slst in
the next, FO.
Face
1. (A) In a MR, ch1 + 3sc. Ch1, turn. Close MR Surface Slip Stitch Details:
loosely. (3) With (A), Surface slipstitch:
 From the point to about halfway up the face
2. 2sc, sc in 1, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (5)  On either side of this to the top.
 On either side diagonally out and then up.
3. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

4. 2sc, sc in 3, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (7)

5. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

6. 2sc, sc in 5, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (9)

7. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

8. 2sc, sc in 7, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (11)

9. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

10. 2sc, sc in 9, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (13)

11. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 3

2. Sc in 2. (Sc, hdc) in the next. 2hdc in the next.

Hdc in 2. 2hdc in the next. (Hdc, sc) in the next.
(12)

3. Sc in 3. (Sc, hdc) in the next. 2hdc in the next.

Hdc in 4. 2hdc in the next. (Hdc, sc) in the next, sc
in the last. (16)

4. Sc in 4. (Sc, hdc) in the next. 2hdc in the next.

Hdc in 6. 2hdc in the next. (Hdc, sc) in the next, sc
in the last 2. Join, FO. (20)

5. (Join B) in the first stitch. Sc in 5, hdc in 12, sc in

3. Join, FO. (20)

6. (Join C) in the first stitch. Sc in each stitch

around. Join and FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Back of Head
FO will be bottom inside edge of the left (facing
1 – 12. (A) Same as 1 – 12 of Face.
you) eye and the top right inside of the right eye.
(So that the sc rows face inward) (Optional)
13- 15. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
Depending on the colors you are using, you may
wish to embroider some white light glints.
16. Sk1, sc in 12, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.

17. (edging) Across top: 2sc, sc in 11, 2sc.

Down side: Sc, 2sc, sc in 11.
Into bottom of MR at the tip: 3sc
Up side: Sc in 11, 2sc, sc, join, FO.

With (black) join with a slst 5 stitches before the

center sc of the (3sc) at the tip. Sc in 4. *Ch4, slst
in the 2nd chain from the hook and in the next 2
chains. (mandible made)* 3sc in the

next sc. Repeat * to *. Sc in 4, slst in the next, FO.

Antenna Base (make 2)

1. (A) In a MR, ch1 + 5sc. Do not join (5)

2. Working BLO, sc in 4, 2sc in the last. Join, FO,

leaving a long tail for sewing. (6)

Ocellus (Simple Eye)

1. (B) Ch4. 3sc the 2nd chain from the hook, sc in

Compound Eyes (make 2) the next. 3sc in the last chain and working on the
bottom of the chain, sc in 1. Do not join. (8)
1. (D) In a MR, ch1 + 2sc, 6hdc. Do not join. Mark
last stitch of each round. (8) 2. Working BLO, Sc around. Join, FO, leaving a
long tail. (8)

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 4

Face and Head Assembly

 Fit Face and Back of Head pieces together with

WS’s facing.
 Join (C) anywhere are sc through bother layers
to join, stuffing before completely closing.
 Position the Antenna Bases and the Ocellus
and sew on using their long tails. The Ocellus
goes in the center at the very bottom of the
color (B) section and the Antenna Bases go
diagonally below the Ocellus and just inside the
compound eye on the color (A) section.
 Position the eyes to the sides and wrapping Body (Back and Belly)
around the corners to the back. Sew on, stuffing Make 1 for Back in (A) and 1 for Belly with color
before completely closing. changes as indicated

Notes:
- Odd rows are RS rows
- Place Markers on Back only where indicated to
aid with assembly.

Prothorax
Back: A
Belly: D
1. Ch8. Sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and in
each chain across. Ch1, turn. (7)

2 – 3. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

4. 2sc, sc in 5, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (9)

5. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

6. 2sc, sc in 7, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (11)

7. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

8. 2sc, sc in 9, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (13)

9. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 5

10. 2sc, sc in 11, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (15) 47. 2sc, sc in 9, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (13)

11. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 48 – 52. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

Place Marker on row 49.
12. 2sc, sc in 13, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (17)
Metathorax
13. Sc across. Ch1, turn. . 53. Sc BLO across.
Back: Ch1, turn.
14. 2sc, sc in 15, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (19) Belly: Change to (B) in the last stitch Ch1, turn.
(13)
15 - 21. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
Place Marker on row 16. 54. Sc across. Ch1, turn. (13)

22. Sk1, sc in 16, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (17) 55. Sk1, sc in 10, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (11)

23 - 24. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 56. Sc across.

Back: FO, turn.
25. Sk1, sc in 14, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (15) Belly: Change to (D) in the last stitch Ch1, turn.

26 - 27. Sc across. Ch1, turn. Place Marker on this row.

28. Sk1, sc in 12, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (13) 57. Sk1, sc in 8, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (9)

29 - 30. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 58. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

31. Sk1, sc in 10, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (11) Tip: Place a marker where you begin the abdomen.
There are 9 sections of the abdomen divided by
32 - 33. Sc across. Ch1, turn. Back Loop rows. I have numbered these sections in
the pattern. Count the sections from the marker to
34. Sk1, sc in 8, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (9) help keep your place in the pattern.

35 - 36. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

37. Sk1, sc in 6, sk1, sc in the last.

Back: Ch1, turn.
Belly: Change to (B) in the last stitch Ch1, turn. (7)

38. Sc across. Ch1, turn. (7)

39. Sc across.
Back: Ch1, turn.
Belly: Change to (C) in the last stitch Ch1, turn.

40. Sc across. Ch1, turn. (7)

41. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

42. 2sc, sc in 5, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (9)

43 - 44. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

Mesothorax
45. Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (9) Abdomen
59. (Section 1) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (9)
46. 2sc, sc in 7, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (11)
Place Marker on this row. 60. 2sc, sc in 7, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (11)
Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs
 6

61 - 62. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 115. Sk1, sc in 14, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.
(15)
63. 2sc, sc in 9, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (13)
116. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
64 - 66. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
117. Sk1, sc in 12, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.
67. (Section 2) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (13) (13)

68. 2sc, sc in 11, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (15) 118. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

69 - 70. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 119. (Section 8) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (13)

71. 2sc, sc in 13, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (17) 120. Sk1, sc in 10, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.
(11)
72 - 74. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
121. Sk1, sc in 8, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (9)
75. (Section 3) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (17)
122. Sk1, sc in 6, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (7)
76. 2sc, sc in 15, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (19)
123. (Section 9) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (7)
77 – 78. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
124. Sk1, sc in 4, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (5)
79. 2sc, sc in 17, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (21)
125 – 126. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
80 – 82. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
127. Sk1, sc in 2, sk1, sc in the last. FO. (3)
83. (Section 4) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (21)
Back Only:
84. 2sc, sc in 19, 2sc. Ch1, turn. (23) Surface SlSt a wide ‘Y’ shape onto the widest part
of the thorax.
85 – 96. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

97. (Section 5) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (23)

98 – 100. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

101. Sk1, sc in 20, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.

(21)

102 – 104. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

105. (Section 6) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (21)

106. Sk1, sc in 18, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.

(19)

107 – 108. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

109. Sk1, sc in 16, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.

(17)

110 – 112. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

113. (Section 7) Sc BLO across. Ch1, turn. (17)

114. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs
 7

48. Sk1, sc in 14, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (15)

49. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

50. Sk1, sc in 12, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (13)

51. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

52. Sk1, sc in 10, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (11)

53 – 54. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

55. Sk1, sc in 8, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (9)

Front Legs (Make 2)
56 – 57. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
nd
1. (A) Ch8. Sc in the 2 chain from the hook and in
each ch across. Ch1, turn. (7) 58. Sk1. Sc in 6, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (7)

2. 2sc in the first, sc in 5, 2sc in the last. Ch1, turn. 59. Sc across Ch1, turn.
(9)
60. Sc across, changing to (D) in the last stitch.
3 – 25. Sc in each stitch across. Ch1, turn. Ch1, turn. FO (A).

26. Sk1, sc in 6, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (7) 61. (D) Sk1, sc in 4, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn.
(5)
27. Sk1, sc in 4, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (5)
62. Sc across, changing to (B) in the last stitch.
28. Sc across. Ch1, turn. Ch1, turn. FO (D).

29. 2sc in the first, sc in 3, 2sc in the last. Ch1, turn. 63 - 65. (B) Sc across. Ch1, turn.
(7)
66. 2sc in the first, sc in 3, 2sc in the last, changing
30. 2sc in the first, sc in 5, 2sc in the last. Ch1, turn. to (C) in the last stitch. Ch1, turn. FO (B). (7)
(9)
67. – 76. (C) Sc across. Ch1, turn.
31. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
77. Sk1, sc in 4, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (5)
32. 2sc in the first, sc in 7, 2sc in the last. Ch1, turn. 78 – 83. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
(11)
84. Sk1, sc in 2, sk 1 sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (3)
33 – 34. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
85. Sc across. Ch10, FO.
35. 2sc in the first, sc in 9, 2sc in the last. Ch1, turn.
(13)

36 – 37. Sc across. Ch1, turn. Pattern Usage

You are welcome to sell finished items made from this
38. 2sc in the first, sc in 11, 2sc in the last. Ch1, pattern. If you do so online, please link to the website
turn. (15) and give designer credit. Please do not reproduce,
share, sell, or ‘borrow from’ this pattern in whole or in
part, including all text or images. If you intend to offer
39 – 45. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
items made to order from any of my patterns, please
use your own work to advertise. Please email only if
46. 2sc in the first, sc in 13, 2sc in the last. Ch1, you have any questions. No other form of
turn. (17) communication is as reliable as email. Thanks!

47. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs
 8

Hind Legs (make 4)

1. (A) Ch12. Sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and

each chain across. Ch1, turn. (11)

2 – 5. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

6. Sk1, sc in 8, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (9)

Wings (make 2)
7 – 10. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
1. (A) Ch3. Sc in the 2nd chain from the hook, sc
11. Sk1, sc in 6, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (7) across. Ch1, turn. (2)

12 – 19. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 2. 2sc in each stitch across. Ch1, turn. (4)

20. Sc across, changing to (D) in the last stitch. 3. 2sc in the first, sc in 2, 2sc in the last. Ch1, turn.
Ch1, turn. (6)

21. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 4 – 6. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

22. Sk1, sc in 4, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (5) 7. 2sc in the first, sc in 4, 2sc in the last. Ch1, turn.
(8)
23 – 45. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
8 – 10. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
46. Sk1, sc in 2, sk1, sc in the last. Ch1, turn. (3)
11. 2sc in the first, sc across. Ch1, turn. (9)
47 – 66. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
12. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
67. Sc across, changing to (B) in the last stitch.
Ch1, turn. FO (D). 13. 2sc in the first, sc across. Ch1, turn. (10)

68 - 69. Sc across. Ch1, turn. 14. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

70. Sc across, changing to (C) in the last stitch. 15. 2sc in the first, sc across. Ch1, turn. (11)
Ch1, turn. FO (C) with a long tail.
16 – 18. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
71 – 74. Sc across. Ch1, turn.
19. 2sc in the first, sc across. Ch1, turn. (12)
75. Sc across. FO with a long tail.
20 – 40. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

41. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (11)

42 – 44. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

45. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (10)

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs
 9

46. Sc across. Ch1, turn. Building the Structural System

47. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (9)

48. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

49. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (8)

50. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

51. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (7)

52. Sc across. Ch1, turn. Marking where the wire will go:
- On the Back Piece, if you haven’t already, place
53. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (6) markers at row 16 of the Prothorax, rows 2 and 5 of
the Mesothorax, and row 4 of the Metathorax.
54. Sc across. Ch1, turn. - Line up your dowel flush with the top edge of the
back piece and mark on the dowel with a pen to
55. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (5) match each of the markers.

56. Sc across. Ch1, turn.

57. Sk1, sc across. Ch1, turn. (4)

Wing #1
58. Sc across. Ch1 , turn.

Wing #2
58. Sc across. Ch1, do not turn.

59. Sc completely around the wing, placing 2sc in

each corner. Down the long sides, sk every 9th row
to prevent rippling. Join with a slst to the beginning
sc, FO, leaving a very long tail for attaching the
wing to the wire later.

Surface Slst the veins onto the wings - one long

vertical line down the flat inner edge (1 stitch + Preparing the Wire:
edging margin) and then several diagonally from Note: It is better to cut too long than too short. You
the vertical stitch to the outer edge. I started mine can always trim off the extra. We are adding 3
every 8th row and slst’d 1 stitch over and 1 row inches, which should be enough to wrap around the
down each time. Sew in the ends. dowel plus curl the ends.
Measure your pieces to know the length to cut your
wires as follows:

Piece 1:
Length of front leg (x2) + width of Prothorax at 1st
marker + 3inches extra
(Mine is 19” + 19” + 4” + 3” = 45”)

Piece 2:
(Length of wing + 5 inches) (x2) + width of
Mesothorax at 2nd marker + 3inches extra
(Mine is (12”+5”) + (12”+5”) + 2.5” = 39.5”)

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 10

Piece 3: Building the Body

Length of hind leg (x2) + width of Mesothorax at 3rd
marker + 3inches extra.
(Mine is 17” + 17” + 3” + 3” = 40”)

Piece 4:
Length of hind leg (x2) + width of Metathorax at 4th
marker + 3inches extra.
(Mine is 17” + 17” + 3” + 3” = 40”)

Optional Piece 5:
If you want the end of the Abdomen to also be
poseable (to replicate a defense posture), then you
will need to wire it also.
- Mark the Back piece about 1 inch above where
the dowel reaches.
- Measure from the marker to the end of the
Abdomen and double it. Add 4 inches.
(Mine is (9” x 2) + 4 = 22”) Position the Structural System on the belly piece
and bend Wire Piece 5 to match the shape of the
end of the abdomen. Set this aside for now.
Attaching Wire to Dowel
Note: You may want to cut a piece and attach it Match the Back and Belly pieces of the body with
before moving to the next so they don’t get mixed WS’s together (free loop rows are facing out). It’s a
up. good idea to pin the edges together to prevent
 Wrap each length of wire around the dowel at shifting or stretching.
the markers. This is fiddly and requires plenty of
workspace, but you really can’t do it wrong.
 You may want to tape each one into place to
keep them from shifting.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 11

First side:
- With (A), join at the top edge and sc through both
layers to attach together.
- Leave holes for the wire to poke through (even
with the markers) by sc’ing the next 2 through the
front layer only.

Continue to sc both layers together stuffing as you

go and making openings for the wires as before. Be
sure to stuff both above and underneath the wires
and dowel. Do not overstuff.

At the top of the 2nd side, FO, leaving a long tail.

Neck end remains open. Stuff the opening well.

Abdomen End:
- At the base of Body Section 9, ch6 and slst in the
2nd ch from the hook and all chains across (spine
made).
- Sc around the end, placing 3sc in each of the
corners.
-At the base of Body Section 9 on the other side,
make another spine.
- Continue to sc both layers together for a few
inches.

You may need to shape the wiring at the end of the

abdomen to make it even and symmetrical.

NOTE:
In assembling the Front and Back legs onto the
Mantis, I made sure that the seams all pointed to
the rear. I thought it looked neater that they were all
the same.
Insert the Structural System into the Mantis now -
feeding the wires through the opening made. Front Legs
- Fold the front leg in half lengthwise. With (A),
leaving a long beginning tail, join at the end and sc

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 12

through both edges all the way to the end of the

Color (B) section. FO.

- Join (C) at the widest section and sc in each sc

edge. Continue to sc the color (C) part of the leg
section together, placing a spine every few stitches
(see Body assembly for spine instructions).

- Finish crocheting the color (C) to the end. Join

and chain 20. FO.

- Stop an inch before the end and pull out a large

loop and leave for later.
- Join (B) about 1/3 of the way into the color (C)
edging. Sc and place spines until just before the
color (C) spines. FO.

- With the long beginning tail, sew the top of the leg
to the body.

- Carefully slip the leg onto the correct wire

protruding from the body. Cut off any extra. Curl the
end of the wire to eliminate a sharp point.

- Sew in all ends.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 13

Optional Underwings Part 1 Back Legs

Depending on how you will wish to display you - Fold the leg in half lengthwise. With (A), leaving a
Mantis, you may or may not want to add long beginning tail, join at the end and sc through
underwings. (Google Images: Mantis Display ) both edges all the way across until just before the
leg narrows to 3 stitches wide. FO, leaving a long
- Using the Wing you have crocheted as a tail.
template, trace its shape onto a piece of paper. - Carefully slip the leg onto the correct wire
Mark the top end onto your pattern and a reminder protruding from the body. Cut off any extra. Curl the
to place the long edge onto a fold. end of the wire to eliminate a sharp point.
- Using the long tails remaining for each color
section, whip stitch the remainder of the leg closed.
Begin at the end (C) and sew through the wire loop
a few times to prevent slipping. Sew the tail out
through the end of the foot when you are done.
- Continue to sew each color section and sew the
tail out of the end of the foot when possible.
- When all 4 legs are done, you may want to add
another strand or two so the number of ‘hairs’ at the
end of the feet are the same.

- Pin your pattern onto the fabric ON THE FOLD

and cut out the fabric. (Google: ‘Cutting on the fold’
if you are unfamiliar with this sewing term)

- With the long beginning tail, sew the top of the leg
to the body.
- If you wish to decorate the wings, pin the fabric to
a clean piece of paper and use markers to add any
details. Your choice of marker and fabric will affect
how subtle of distinct the decoration will be.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 14

Wings
- Bend the wing wires over the body as pictured.
Curl the wire ends for safety.

- Use the long tails to first sew the wing and wire to
the body across the top and then sew the
remainder of the wire to the wing, bending the wire
to match the shape of the wing as you go.

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs

 15

Optional Underwings Part 2 The Antenna

- Fold your wing in half again like it was when you - This jewelry wire is really great for antennas as it
cut it out and position it so that the fold is toward is lightweight and also comes in a lot of colors.
the center of the body. - Fold the center of your wire as shown.
- Pin the underwing into place - both layers pinned
up into the ‘pit’ of the wing and the upper layer only
to the outer edge of the wing itself.
- Use your sewing thread and needle to discreetly
stitch the Underwing to the Mantis.
- You don’t have to sew all the way to the end of
the underwing - about 2/3 of the way will hold it into
place well enough for display.
- When displaying the mantis with wings down,
simply fold and tuck the underwing away.

- Insert the wire through from the back of the head

to where they come out of the center of the
Antenna Bases. Patience required for this.

- Cut to the desired length and curl the ends of the

wire as before.

My Underwings don’t show very well on the white

background, but they look very impressive in person!
Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs
 16

Attaching the Head Further Tips:

- Position the ‘neck’ to cover up the antenna wire - Each of the legs has 2 joints. In other words, it
on the back of the head. folds twice into 3 sections. Use the color changes
- Use the long tail to sew into place. or the narrowing of the stitching as a guide. You
- Keep stuffing the opening as you go so that it is can also refer to pictures.
very full and won’t flop about. - Your Mantis is pretty top-heavy, so it may not
- Secure the ends well. want to stand on its own in some positions. A
simple doll stand placed at the center of the belly
will help or, as I have done in my photos, sew a bit
of fishing line through the neck, being sure to catch
the dowel, and knot well. Now you can thumbtack
that guide line to the wall to stabilize.
- If you have used thinner than 16-gauge wire or
any other metal than steel for the structure, the legs
may buckle under the weight. In this case,
additional guide lines may be required.

FIND ME
Website Ravelry Store
Etsy Store FaceBook
Instagram Email

Please use Email for Pattern Assistance

Praying Mantis by Jenna Wingate © 2017 Jenna Wingate Designs