Crochet Meadow Butterfly

Did you know that one of the collective nouns for butterflies is a "kaleidoscope"? I can't tell you how much I love the idea of crocheting a kaleidoscope of butterflies, the very idea of it pleases me on so many levels! This sort of small, decorative crochet is hugely pleasing and once you've made a few and got to grips with the pattern, I bet you anything that a whole kaleidoscope of butterflies will be flying off your hook in every colour of the rainbow....it's just too irresistible!

Yarn and hook sizes 

I love to use cotton yarn for this sort of thing, but any smooth yarn (including Stylecraft Special DK) will work well.

The butterflies measure around 6 cm across.

In the photo above, the purple butterfly on the left was made using Stylecraft Classique cotton DK and a 4 mm hook.

The pink butterfly on the right was made using Ricorumi cotton DK and a 4 mm hook, which came out slightly smaller.

You will need to choose two colours for your butterfly, and after experimenting a little I've found that it works well if you choose two shades of the same colour. Use the darker shade for the centre of the wings and the body, and the lighter shade for the outside of the wings.

Before we begin, a little summary of the basic stitches. I'm writing using UK crochet terms ::

sl st [slip stitch] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.

dc [double crochet] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US sc stitch)

htr [half treble]:: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US hdc stitch)

tr [treble] :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops (note :: this is equivalent to the US dc stitch)

dtr [double treble] :: yarn over TWICE, insert hook, yarn over, pull loop back through stitch (four loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through two loops (three loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (2 loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops (note :: this is equivalent to the US tr stitch)

Round 1 : Begin with colour A (the darker shade).

Chain 5, then slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Note : all stitches will be worked into the ring for this round. Crochet over the tail end for all stitches worked (hold the tail end horizontally across the top of the chain ring and pass the hook underneath it as you work your stitches)

First Wing (small)

Chain 2; 2 htr ; chain 2; slip stitch into the centre ring.

Second Wing (large)

Chain 3; 1 tr; 1 dtr (refer to stitch description above if you're unsure about what a double treble is); 1 tr; chain 3; slip stitch into centre ring.

Third Wing (large)

Chain 3; 1 tr; 1 dtr; 1 tr; chain 3; slip stitch into centre ring.

Fourth Wing (small)

Chain 2; 2 htr ; chain 2; slip stitch into the centre ring. Fasten off, leaving a 20cm tail end for stitching up later.

Turn your work over and give the beginning tail end that you crocheted over a firm tug - this will close up the centre hole a little (it won't close completely). You can snip this tail end off, but leave the long tail end attached. 

This is what your butterfly should look like after round 1 (note the long tail end which should sit at the bottom centre).

Round 2 will begin at the start of the first small wing.

I'm showing you the round-1 stitches so that you can learn where to put your hook.

Round 2 : Use with colour B (the lighter shade).

 First Wing (small)

Insert your hook in the top of the chain-2 (shown by my needle in the above photo) and pull through a loop of the new colour. Chain 1; 1 dc in same stitch.

Work 1 htr in each of the next 2 stitches.

Work 1 dc in the top of the chain-2; chain 1.

Now work a long dc into the centre hole (where my needle is pointing). Insert your hook into the hole from front to back, yarn over, then pull a loop through to the front, drawing it up so that it sits level with the bottom of the small wing..... 

....see above, the long dc coming out of the centre hole? It looks like a double strand of yarn. 

Chain 1.

Ready to make the next wing?

I've labelled the round-1 stitches in the above photo so that you can see where to put your hook.

Second Wing (large)

Work 1 dc into the top of the chain-3 (you can see I've already done this in the photo above)

In the next (tr) stitch, work 1 dc; 1 htr.

In the next (dtr) stitch, work 1 tr; chain 2; 1 tr.

In the next (tr) stitch, work 1 tr; 1 htr.

Your next 2 stitches will be worked into the chain-3.....

Work 1 dc in the top of the chain-3 (you can see I've already done this in the photo above).

Now see where my needle is? That's the 2nd (middle) chain of the chain-2......

....pick up one loop of the 2nd (middle) chain of the chain-3 and work a slip stitch.

Chain 1.

Now work a long dc into the centre hole, pulling the loop of the stitch up to the height of the wing.

Chain 1.

Third Wing (large)

This is a reverse of the wing you just made. 

I've labelled the round-1 stitches so you can see where to put your hook.

Work a slip stitch into  the single loop of the 2nd (middle) chain of the chain-3.

Work 1 dc into the top of the chain-3.

In the next (tr) stitch, work 1 htr; 1 tr.

In the next (dtr) stitch, work 1 tr; chain 2; 1 tr.

In the next (tr) stitch, work 1 htr; 1 dc.

Work 1 dc in the top of the chain-3.

Chain 1.

Work a long dc into the centre hole, then chain 1.

FourthWing (small)

1 dc in the top of the chain-2.

1 htr in each of the next 2 stitches.

1 dc in the top of the chain 2, then slip stitch into the same chain. Fasten off and darn in ends.

And that's your pretty little butterfly wings all complete.

Now lets make the body and bring it all together.

Butterfly Body

Use colour A (the darker shade)

Chain 7.

Beginning in 2nd chain from hook, work 1 slip stitch in each of the next 6 chains. Fasten off.

Your two tail ends will become the antennae - don't trim them just yet, they stay in better shape if you stitch the body on first and then trim.

Place the butterfly body on top of the wings and thread the long tail end (left attached after Round 1) onto a darning needle.

Stitch the body in place.

Now make sure the tail ends are sticking out evenly at the top, and trim them off with sharp scissors.

You can use a little paper glue (Pritt stick) on the antennae to stop them from fraying - rub the glue onto the yarn ends with your fingers, twisting the antennae a little until they are smooth and straight, then leave to dry.

 These butterflies are very cute and once you've made a few they will very quickly multiply and swarm all over your table.

You can use them to decorate bags, hats, cushions. You can crochet a whole kaleidoscope of butterflies and string them up to make a mobile or some pretty bunting. You might decide to add them to a card or some gift wrap, or maybe they might like to land amongst the flowers on a crochet wreath? Or how about adding a little pin to the back and making a butterfly brooch....

......these are such versatile little things, I really hope you enjoy grabbing some scraps of colourful yarn and hatching a few for yourself.

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Here is a condensed version of the pattern for you to copy/paste/print if you wish.

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ATTIC24 CROCHET BUTTERFLY

Round 1 : Begin with colour A (the darker shade).

Chain 5, then slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Note : all stitches will be worked into the ring for this round. Crochet over the tail end for all stitches worked (hold the tail end horizontally across the top of the chain ring and pass the hook underneath it as you work your stitches)

First Wing (small)

Chain 2; 2 htr ; chain 2; slip stitch into the centre ring.

Second Wing (large)

Chain 3; 1 tr; 1 dtr ; 1 tr; chain 3; slip stitch into centre ring.

Third Wing (large)

Chain 3; 1 tr; 1 dtr; 1 tr; chain 3; slip stitch into centre ring.

Fourth Wing (small)

Chain 2; 2 htr ; chain 2; slip stitch into the centre ring.

Fasten off, leaving a 20cm tail end for stitching up later.

Turn the butterfly over and pull on the starting tail end to close up the centre hole a little, then darn in end.

 

Round 2 : Use with colour B (the lighter shade).

 First Wing (small)

Insert your hook in the top of the chain-2 and pull through a loop of the new colour. Chain 1; 1 dc in same stitch.

1 htr in each of the next 2 stitches; 1 dc in the top of the chain-2; chain 1.

1 long dc in centre hole; chain 1.

Second Wing (large)

 1 dc into the top of the chain-3.

(1 dc; 1 htr) in next tr stitch.

(1 tr; chain 2; 1 tr) in next dtr stitch.

(1 tr; 1 htr) in next tr stitch.

1 dc in the top of the chain-3; slip stitch in 2nd (middle) chain of the chain-3; chain 1.

1 long dc in centre hole; chain 1.

Third Wing (large)

This is a reverse of the wing you just made.

Slip stitch into 2nd (middle) chain of the chain-3; 1 dc in the top of the chain-3

(1 htr; 1 tr) in next tr stitch.

(1 tr; chain 2; 1 tr) in next dtr stitch.

(1 htr; 1 dc) in next tr stitch.

1 dc in the top of the chain-3; chain 1;

1 long dc in centre hole; chain 1.

FourthWing (small)

1 dc in the top of the chain-2.

1 htr in each of the next 2 stitches.

1 dc in the top of the chain 2, then slip stitch into the same chain. Fasten off and darn in ends.

 

Butterfly Body

Use colour A (the darker shade)

Chain 7.

Beginning in 2nd chain from hook, work 1 slip stitch in each of the next 6 chains. Fasten off.

Your two tail ends will become the antennae.

Place the butterfly body on top of the wings and thread the long tail end (left attached after Round 1) onto a darning needle.

Stitch the body in place, then trim the antennae to size.

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ps. you can read more about my crochet butterfly obsession HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Aava]

Thank you! I have to try this after my cat wakes up and leaves my lap. Then I can check my yarn collection. :D

[Jo-Anne Wells]

Thank you! I'm such a newbie to crochet but I very much wish to try this.

[Kathryn Ashe]

I love how you simplify patterns, and keep them just as cute as a button. A few years ago, I heard about a project which entailed making a butterfly, then giving it to someone who needed hope. Well...the patterns were all too fiddly for me, so I gave up hope and did not participate. Now...maybe I can!

[Sue singer]

Thanks for the tutorial. I have. Ever done anything like this, but your decorations make it doable.

[Moirin O'Connor]

Lovely. You have inspired me to use my leftovers in cotton vogue.Thank you.

[Sandra]

Your two-tone little butterfly is very pretty. I quite like the double butterflies as well as they look lovely spray starched with their wings arranged in an open flying position. I have made many of those.
A great tip I discovered for the antennae is to add some white glue to stiffen them and they always remain 'perky' and stay in place!

[Donna]

Always a delight to watch you create a pattern and then make a rainbow of items in the pattern you just created. Delighted for the butterfly pattern!! THANKS !

[Sue Boulding]

Love these ! You are so creative and your colours are always pretty .

[Mary kay Alguire]

I just can’t wait to try your little butterfly. You are the best. Thank you thank you