Hello all!
I’m in a very summery frame of mind these days. The weather is still pretty cool in my neck of the woods but I seem to be dreaming of summer days already.
I received a request for a butterfly pattern ages ago but it just never felt like the right time to set my mind to designing one until now. When I was at my local Michael’s recently, I saw a display of the Caron Cotton Cakes and it suddenly struck me how fun it would be to use a self-striping yarn in an amigurumi. I thought a butterfly’s wings would be the perfect canvas so it was decided.
Many of my patterns have a lot of colour-work and require a fair amount of tapestry crochet (like, a tonne, if I’m being honest), which can be just what you need when you’re looking for a challenging project that you can really settle into and spend some time on. But…not every project needs to be the most challenging and complicated project you’ve ever worked on. That’s why I decided to make this one a little simpler by not incorporating a tonne of tapestry crochet.
That being said, you can easily make this pattern your own by colour-blocking the wings in whatever colours you want! You don’t have to use a self-striping yarn at all. Each of the sections are very easy to customize, since they are separated by two rows of the main body colour, so it won’t be any trouble to switch to a new colour for each new section.
I used Bernat Handicrafter cotton for the body of two of the butterflies and when I couldn’t decide on what colour to use for the third, I decided to try the Loops & Threads Capri yarn, since the Lavender colourway was the perfect shade to match the wing colours. The Capri yarn is very soft and squishy (a delight to work with!) but, because of that, it’s probably not the best yarn to use for amigurumi. The cotton definitely has more structure and gives the body and wings good definition.
Let’s get started! (Or Pin for later!)
As usual, this pattern is made in the same style as our Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. Each butterfly has 8 separate pieces.
The finished measurements of each butterfly is approximately 14cm/5.5″ from top to bottom.
Here’s what I used:
**If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased HERE.**
- 3.5mm hook (I use THESE hooks!);
- For the main body colours (50g for one butterfly):
- Bernat Handicrafter in Overcast; or
- Bernat Handicrafter in White; or
- Loops & Threads Capri yarn in Lavender.
- For the wings: Caron Cotton Cakes in Gerber Daisy (one 100g skein was enough for all three butterflies).
- Safety eyes (I used both 9 and 10 mm);
- Black crochet thread for mouth and eyebrows;
- Stuffing;
- Tapestry needle
Reading this Pattern:
There are no colour changes in this pattern, however, there are two rows in the middle of each wing (rows 13 and 14) that will be the main body colour, rather than the wing colour. So, when starting the new colour in the next row, it’s best to insert your hook into the stitch for the last stitch of Colour A and pull up a loop, then, with Colour B, yarn over and complete the stitch by pulling through both loops with Colour B. Drop your working yarn in Colour A and continue to ch 1 and start the new row with Colour B. You will pick your Colour A working yarn back up again for row 15 when you need it.
Also, you will need to drop your yarn on opposite sides depending on what wing panel you are working on. So, for example, for the first wing panel, you will drop your yarn on one side (pay attention to where your starting yarn tail is; that will help you keep track!) When you’re working on the second wing panel, you will drop your yarn on the opposite side from the first; this will ensure the ends are all facing inward when you line the panels up later to join them.
Stitches and Special Terms:
Ch – Chain
Sc – Single crochet
Inc – Increase. Work 2 sc in the same st.
Dec – Decrease. Work a regular sc decrease.
Hdc – Half double crochet
Dc – Double crochet
Cluster st – [Yarn over, insert hook into st, YO, pull through st, YO, pull through two loops], repeat [ ] three more times (5 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 5 loops, ch 1.
Body (make 2 panels) with 3.5mm hook:
The panels are worked from the bottom up. Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row. The body panels are completed all in one colour.
Row 1: Ch 4, sc across (3 sts)
Row 2: Inc, sc 1, inc (5 sts)
Row 3: Inc, sc 3, inc (7 sts)
Row 4: Inc, sc 5, inc (9 sts)
Rows 5-8: Sc across (9 sts)
Row 9: Dec, sc 5, dec (7 sts)
Rows 10-11: Sc across (7 sts)
Row 12: Dec, sc 3, dec (5 sts)
Rows 13-14: Sc across (5 sts)
Now we will start the head.
Row 15: Ch 3, sc 2 along chs, then continue across row, sc 5 (7 sts)
Row 16: Ch 3, inc twice across chs, then continue across row, sc 5, inc twice (13 sts)
Row 17: Inc, sc 11, inc (15 sts)
Row 18: Inc, sc 13, inc (17 sts)
Row 19: Inc, sc 15, inc (19 sts)
Rows 20-23: Sc across (19 sts)
Row 24: Dec, sc 15, dec (17 sts)
Row 25: Dec, sc 13, dec (15 sts)
Row 26: Sc across (15 sts)
Row 27: Dec, sc 11, dec (13 sts)
Row 28: Dec, sc, hdc 2, dc 3, hdc 2, sc, dec (11 sts)
Tie off. Repeat for second panel. Set panels aside for assembly later.
Wings (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) with 3.5mm in Gerber Daisy:
Row 1: Ch 5, sc across (4 sts)
Row 2: Inc twice, sc 1, inc (7 sts)
Row 3: Sc 5, inc twice (9 sts)
Row 4: Inc, sc 7, inc (11 sts)
Row 5: Sc across (11 sts)
Row 6: Sc 10, inc (12 sts)
Rows 7-10: Sc across (12 sts)
Row 11: Dec, sc 10 (11 sts)
Row 12: Sc across (11 sts)
Switch to main body colour.
Row 13: Sc across (11 sts)
Row 14: Dec, sc 9 (10 sts)
Switch back to wing colour.
Row 15: Dec twice, sc 6 (8 sts)
Row 16: Sc 6, inc twice (10 sts)
Row 17: Inc twice, sc 6, dec (11 sts)
Rows 18-19: Sc across (11 sts)
Row 20: Sc 10, inc (12 sts)
Row 21: Sc 10, dec (11 sts)
Row 22: Sc across (11 sts)
Row 23: Inc, sc 8, dec (11 sts)
Row 24: Dec, sc 9 (10 sts)
Row 25: Sc 8, dec (9 sts)
Row 26: Dec, sc 7 (8 sts)
Row 27: Sc 6, dec (7 sts)
Row 28: Dec, sc 5 (6 sts)
Tie off. Repeat rows 1-28 for the second panel. Place both panels together, matching up all sides, and begin attaching the panels together by chaining 1 and single crocheting around the edge of the panels in your main body colour.
(Sc, ch 2, sc) in the top corner and at the bottom curve of the wing, as seen in the photo below. Stuff when you’ve crocheted about two-thirds of the way around. (The photos below show two opposite wings (both right and left); I realized after that this might be confusing!)
Make sure the front of the wing is facing you as you crochet around! You will need to crochet in the opposite direction on the second wing so that the crochet edging is facing out on both.
After the wings were finished, I decided to stitch the panels together by stitching across the two rows of the main body colour to give the wings more definition.
Atennae (make 2) with 3.5mm hook and main body colour:
Row 1: Ch 7, sc across chs (6 sts), ch 1, then, in the last st, crochet a cluster st.
Tie off. Weave in ends.
Move on to assembly below!
Assembly:
Step 1: Face and Feet
The first thing we need to do is add our facial features to the front panel.
First, add safety eyes (I used 9mm for the purple butterfly and 10mm for the grey) or stitch happy eyes using black crochet thread.
Stitch on the mouth using black crochet thread.
Stitch on cheeks and eyebrows as well if you want!
Step 2: Body and Wings
Yay! Time to start attaching things! Here are the pieces you should now have:
Cut four lengths of your main body yarn approximately 30cm/15″ long and set them aside for later.
Place the two body panels together, matching up all sides.
**Make sure the front of your butterfly is facing you as you crochet around the outside.**
Starting on the left side of the head, begin attaching the panels together by chaining one and single crocheting around the outside of the panels in your main colour.
Stop before you get to the bottom of the head. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now.
With your tapestry needle and a length of yarn you set aside earlier, place the first wing between the panels and sew through all three pieces, the back panel, the wing and the front panel. I have labeled the picture below to give you an idea of where you will be sewing your pieces. So the “A” on the first wing will match up to the “A” on the body and in each stitch down until the “B” on the wing is matched up with the “B” on the body. When the wing is sewn in place between the panels, tie a knot in the yarn tails to secure and hide them between the panels of the body.
Continue crocheting down the side of the head and body. When you get to the wing, simply crochet in the stitches of the front panel only, sine this portion is already sewn shut. Stop when you get to the bottom. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now.
With a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, place the second wing between the panels and attach the same way you did for the first. Tie the yarn tails in a knot inside the panels of the body to secure.
Continue crocheting around. Again, when you get to the wing, simply crochet in the stitches of the front panel only.
Stop here and stuff the bottom of the body.
Continue crocheting up the side of the head. Stuff as you go.
Next, with a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, place the first antenna between the panels and attach by sewing through all three pieces, the back panel, the antenna and the front panel. Tie the yarn tails in a knot inside the panels of the body to secure.
Continue crocheting across the top of the head. Stuff as you go.
Place the second antenna the same way you did for the first.
Continue crocheting around the head, topping up stuffing as you go. Close with a slst to first st and tie off. Poke the yarn tails back inside the piece.
That’s it! Enjoy!
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Very cute & simple to make!
Is this available in a simple pdf or am I missing something?
Hi Beverly,
Yes, an inexpensive pdf version of the pattern can be found in my Etsy shop!
https://etsy.me/2IH3iDD
Thank you. I’m going there now!
The butterflies are so cute! Thank you so much for such a sweet project.
Thank you!! This is too cute cannot wait to start
Thank you for sharing! they are so cute!
These are adorable. I have 3 great nieces who lost their grandma 3 years ago. Grandma is remembered by butterflies and lilacs. I made butterflies for each of them, but they were from a magnet pattern and 1 dimensional. These are perfect and I love the cute face of the stitched eyes. On my to do list now. Thank you for the free pattern.
Absolutely adorable ❤️
They are so cute!! Thank you for the pattern. Many of my 14 grandchildren and three great grands will love them
Magnifique
Hi Jillian. Your butterflies are adorable. Thanks so much for sharing your pattern. Our readers will love it. We’ve included your post in our craft inspiration roundup. https://craftylikegranny.com/i-made-it-myself/ Cheers Jodie 🙂
Ik vind u vlinders en sprinkhaan heel erg grappig.
Thanks for sharing. Its very cute. Love it.
Thanks for sharing this cute butterfly pattern – I finished one today and I love it! It was very easy to follow the pattern. I am already looking forward to crocheting the grasshopper!
All of your crocheted pieces are beautiful.
best regards Dagmar
Hello,
i’m loving this pattern, i’m up to row 17 of the wing and i believe there could be a small mistake, the previous row makes 10 stitches, then row 17 says ” Inc twice, sc 6, dec (11 sts)” but that makes 9 , so increase twice = 4 stitches, sc 6 = 10 then it says dec which would bring it back to 9 , it doesn’t work no matter how many times i look at it 🙂 so i increased instead at the last stitch and it works with the rest of the pattern after that, am i right or is my brain twisted
anyway thank you, i’m making toys for the kids of friends in lockdown during coronavirus,and i love this <3
Hi Janet,
In row 16 of the wing, you have 10 sts.
In row 17, you will work an increase in each of the first 2 sts, then work 6 sc (so this accounts for 8 sts so far from row 16, leaving 2 unworked stitches from row 16), then work a decrease over the last 2 sts of row 16.
This results in Row 17 having a total of 11 sts. Does that help at all?
🙂 i will do my best thank you x
Love these adorable butterflies!!! I think several of these hanging from the ceiling in a little girls room would be so beautiful!!! Made from all cotton would be a great baby shower gift. The babies being able to hold them and chew on them would help when they are teething. I would use eyes made from the cotton yarn for that though. And putting them in a lingerie bag to throw in the washer would keep them nice and clean. I can’t wait to make some new little butterfly friends!!!
These are all such wonderful ideas! Thanks, Lisa!
Love this pattern but I can’t figure out how to crochet the wing panels together. Can you explain or link a tutorial?
Hi, I’m really struggling to make the wings. I have made two so far, but the wrong side will be on the outside. How do I get the wings to be the opposite to the first please? Thank you😊
Hi Ellie,
If you’re having trouble with the wings, I would recommend making all four panels first and then assembling them afterwards instead of making one then assembling and then making the second one. This way, you can lay all four panels out in front of you and make sure they are facing the correct way.
First, place two panels together so that they match perfectly. If there are any yarn tails facing out (either on the front or back), simply weave them to the other side so that they are between the panels.
Since each wing panel is exactly the same, take the other two panels for the second wing, and simply invert them so that they are facing the opposite way as the first wing. Again, if there are any yarn tails facing out, weave them to the inside of the panels.
Now, assemble each wing by crocheting around and stuffing as per the instructions, making sure that the front of each wing is facing you.
I hope that helps!
Jillian
Thanks so much Jillian, I’m just finding when inverting that the wrong sides are facing the front. I’ll keep trying though, thanks again
You’re right, I find an error in row 17 and add a stitch manually. Just insert an increase in there as can. It works out fine.
Hi Shelly! I don’t believe there is an error in row 17. Please see my comment above for clarity on that row!
so far easy pattern, but struggling with assembly
If I am to drop yarn on the “opposite” side of the wing, does that mean at the beginning of a different row than Row 12 as in the first wing panel I made? I guess I am dense as I don’t get it.
Hi Connie,
When making the front wing panel, the yarn ends will be on the back (away from you). When working on the back wing panel, the yarn ends should be on the front (toward you) so that they all get hidden inside when the panels are placed together. Hopefully I’ve understood your question!
Jillian
Ive had the same problem for the Gingerbread boy. When i put WS together they don’t perfectly match up bc i cant reverse them. Should be mirror image.
Hi Shelly,
The WS will be different for each panel (for the front panel, the even numbered rows is the WS. For the back panel, the odd numbered rows will be the WS). Essentially, you just need to make the body panel two times (exactly the same) and simply turn one around so it matches up. Hope that helps!
I loved the simplicity of this pattern. I have notade it yet but I really did like that you got the pattern easy to understand. Thank you so much!! Keep crocheting!!🤗
Thank you so much, Pami!