🧶 Beautiful ✨ Detailed 💝 Adorable

Butterfly Pattern

Butterfly Pattern
4.1★ Rating
12-15 Hours Time Needed
2.8K Made This
✂️

Advanced Level

Designed for experienced crocheters, these patterns involve intricate designs and complex techniques to challenge and inspire.

⏱️

Multi-Day Project

A rewarding 12+ hour journey—perfect for dedicated crafters who love detailed work.

🏡

Cozy Accent

A warm touch for your space that transforms ordinary corners into inviting nooks filled with handmade charm.

About This Butterfly Pattern

This pattern creates a decorative crochet butterfly using DMC Babylo 20 thread and a 0.6mm hook. It includes instructions for a delicate small wing motif and a larger, corded sculpted wing with arches, picots and shaped petals. The design focuses on lacy stitches, back-loop shaping and an internal cord to create crisp edges and dimension.

Butterfly Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Perfect for advanced crocheters who enjoy intricate detail work, the motif pieces are sewn together to form a finished butterfly. You'll learn cord-attachment technique, working in front/back loops and how to create even arches for a professional finish.

Why You'll Love This Butterfly Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it combines fine lace crochet with sculptural shaping to create a piece that looks delicate but holds its form beautifully. I enjoy the patient rhythm of working tiny stitches and watching the arches and picots appear row by row. The corded technique is one of my favorites—it lets you contour the wing edges and create crisp, dramatic shapes. Making this butterfly always feels rewarding and results in a decorative item I'm proud to display or gift.

Butterfly Pattern step 1 - construction progress Butterfly Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Butterfly Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Butterfly Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love how this pattern adapts to different looks; try changing the thread color for a bolder or softer aesthetic — metallic threads give a delicate shimmer while pastel shades make a vintage piece.

I sometimes increase the hook size and use thicker thread to create a chunkier, more sculptural butterfly that works as a brooch or wall art.

For a mini version, switch to finer thread and a smaller hook, or for a larger statement piece, use sport or DK weight yarn with a suitable hook.

I often add embroidered veins or seed beads along the wing arches to create texture and sparkle that catch the light.

You can make the wings removable by sewing small snaps into the body and wings, letting you interchange colors or styles without reworking the whole piece.

I also experiment with combining two or three butterflies into a garland or mobile — it makes a wonderful gift or nursery decoration.

Consider stiffening the finished wings with a diluted fabric stiffener or light starch if you need them to hold an upright shape for display.

If you want a wearable version, attach the finished small wings to a hair clip or brooch back and secure with tight stitches and hidden ends.

I recommend trying different cord materials for varied shaping: a thicker twisted cord will make stronger definition while a thin cord gives subtle shaping.

Finally, play with border treatments: add extra picots, longer chains between arches, or a fringe to make your butterfly unique and personal.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping to the next step without counting stitches can ruin the motif; always count stitches at the end of each round and correct mistakes immediately. ✗ Not attaching and tensioning the cord evenly will make the wing misaligned; attach the cord carefully and pull it straight to align the wing before securing. ✗ Working into both loops when back-loop instructions are given will change the texture and shape; follow 'back loops only' directions strictly for consistent shaping. ✗ Forgetting to hide the first tail inside the motif looks untidy on the finished piece; weave the first tail into the middle of the motif as instructed before cutting the yarn.

Butterfly Pattern

Create a delicate lace butterfly using fine thread and a tiny 0.6mm hook. This pattern guides you through making small decorative wings and a larger sculpted wing with a cord for shaping. Ideal for home decor, appliques, or framed art, you will enjoy stitching detailed arches, picots, and corded edges to achieve a lacy, elegant finish.

Advanced 12-15 Hours

Materials Needed for Butterfly Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    DMC Babylo 20 thread (fine crochet cotton) - main quantity dependent on project (several grams per wing)
  • 02
    Use a 4-thread cord (cord length minimum 65 cm or longer) for the larger wings

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook 0.6mm
  • 02
    Scissors
  • 03
    Tapestry/yarn needle for hiding tails and sewing wings
  • 04
    Stitch markers (optional for marking arches)
  • 05
    Thin cord (4-thread cord) approx. 65 cm or longer
  • 06
    Pins for blocking (optional)
  • 07
    Blocking surface and pins (optional)

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Small wing :

Round 1 :

10 ch, join into the ring.

Round 2 :

Work 21 sc, 1 slst into the 1st sc to join

Round 3 :

Then work around different crochets, and always make 1 ch between: 2 ch, 1 hdc, 3 dc, 4 tc, 3 dc, 4 tc, 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc

Round 4 :

Work another round: *make 2 sc into the arch, 1 sc into the loop of PR* - rep till the end. Total 56 sc

Round 5 :

1 ch, turn And work 56 sc in back loops

Round 6 :

1 ch, turn And work 56 sc in back loops

Round 7 :

Turn. 3 ch, 3 dc in the same loop, then work: *1 ch, skip 2 loops, 4 dc in the next same loop* - rep till the end. 1 slst in the 3rd ch Total 19 rapport

Round 8 :

Then make arches: *1 sc in the 1ch of the PR, 5 ch* - rep till the end. 1 slst in the 1st arch

Round 9 :

Work 6 sc in each arch

Round 10 :

Work: *1 sc, 3 ch, 2 sc, 3 ch* - rep till the end

Info :

Small wing is ready. Cut the yarn, hide the 1st tail into the middle of motif, and leave the 2nd one to sew to the butterfly body.

— Big right wing :

Row 1 :

Work over the 4thread cord 43 sc (Cord has to be minimum 65 cm or longer)

Row 2 :

Turn and work without the cord in back loops only: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 15 tc, 5 dc, 1 hdc, 4 sc

Row 3 :

Turn and work: 1 ch, 3 sc, 2 hdc, 17 dc, 2 hdc, 3 sc, 1 sc over the cord

Row 4 :

Turn, attach the cord, and work together in back loop 21 sc (attaching the cord to the row). 1 sc over the cord only. Pull the cord, straight the cord, make the wing align.

Row 5 :

Turn and work 12 sc with the cord (attaching the cord to wing) on front loops. Then work 8 sc over the cord only. (Later the waviness can NOT be correct)

Row 6 :

Turn and work without the cord in back loops only: 1 ch, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 10 tc, 5 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc

Row 7 :

Turn and work: 1 ch, 2 sc, 3 hdc, 4 dc, 7 tc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 2 sc. 1 sc over the cord only.

Row 8 :

Turn and work 16 sc on back loops attaching the cord to the wing. Then leave the cord and make arches on the side of the wing. Try to measure even spaces between arches in every 3rd loop: 1 sc, 2 ch, 1 hdc, 2 ch *1 sc, 2 ch* - rep 2 times, 1 hdc, 2 ch, 1 sc into the 3rd loop of the lower cord. Has to be 6 arches in total.

Row 9 :

Turn and work 3 sc in each arch. Then 1 sc into the 1st loop of the wing. Then grab the cord and work 11 sc on front loops and over the cord together (attaching the cord to the wing); and then work 13 sc over the cord only.

Row 10 :

Turn and work without the cord on back loops only: 1 ch, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 13 tc, 4 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc

Row 11 :

Turn: 1 ch, 2 sc, 1 hdc, 4 dc, 10 tc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 3 sc. 1 sc over the cord only.

Row 12 :

Turn and work 14 sc on back loops attaching the cord to the wing. Then leave the cord and work without it: 1 sc, 2 ch, *1 hdc, 2 ch* - rep 1 time, *1 dc, 2 ch* - rep 7 times, 1 hdc, 2 ch, 1 sc into the 3rd loop of the lower cord. (Make crochet on even distance from each other. Total 11 arches)

Row 13 :

Turn and work 3 sc in each arch. Then 1 sc into the 1st loop of the wing. Then grab the cord and work 8 sc on front loops and over the cord together (attaching the cord to the wing); and then work 15 sc over the cord only.

Row 14 :

Turn and work without the cord on back loops only: 1 ch, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 17 tc, 7 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc

Row 15 :

Turn: 1 ch, 4 sc, 3 hdc, 4 dc, 15 tc, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 2 sc. 1 sc over the cord only.

Row 16 :

Turn and work 21 sc on back loops attaching the cord to the wing. Then leave the cord and work without it. Make arches: 1 sc, 2 ch, *1 hdc, 2 ch* - rep 2 times, *1 dc, 2 ch* - rep 9 times, *1 hdc, 2 ch* - rep 1 time. 1 sc into the last loop of the lower cord. (Make crochet on even distance from each other. Total 15 arches)

Row 17 :

Turn and work 3 sc in each arch. Then 1 sc into the 1st loop of the wing. Then grab the cord and work 16 sc on front loops and over the cord together (attaching the cord to the wing); and then work 11 sc over the cord only.

Row 18 :

Turn and work without the cord on back loops only: 1 ch, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 16 tc, 3 dc, 4 hdc, 1 sc

Row 19 :

Turn: 1 ch, 2 sc, 3 hdc, 5 dc, 13 tc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 2 sc. 1 sc over the cord only.

Row 20 :

Turn and work 26 sc on back loops attaching the cord to the wing. Then leave the cord and work without it. Make arches: 1 sc, 2 ch, *1 dc, 2 ch* - rep 11 times. In the end make 1 dc and 1 sc. (Total 13 arches)

Row 21 :

Turn and work 3 sc in each arch. Then 1 sc into the 1st loop of the wing. Then grab the cord and work 24 sc on front loops and over the cord together (attaching the cord to the wing); and then work 1 sc over the cord only.

Row 22 :

Turn and work sc till the end on back loops attaching the cord to the wing. Leave the cord and make 1 sc into the last loop. The cord is NOT needed anymore.

Row 23 :

Turn and work 1 slst into the 2nd loop, then work sc till the lower end of the wing on front loops. Note. On wing tops make additional 2 or 3 sc (on top edges we have made 1 sc over the cord only). On lower edges of the wing insert the hook between the vertical threads of cord loops.

Row 24 :

Turn *3 ch, 1 dc into the 2nd loop, 3ch-picot, 3 ch, 1 dc into the 2nd loop* - rep all around the wing. Note. You can correct some waviness by skipping the more loops or working in each loop. Finish last arch approximately 0.5 cm till the end and work slst.

Assembly Instructions

  • Sew the small wings to the butterfly body using the long tail left from the small wing; position each small wing symmetrically and stitch securely through the motif center to the body.
  • Attach the larger right and left wings to the body by aligning the inner edges and sewing with small, tight stitches; use the cord ends to position and shape the wing before securing.
  • Hide and weave in all yarn tails neatly into the motif or along the cord so seams are invisible; trim excess once tails are secured.
  • Block each wing flat before final assembly using pins and a blocking surface to open the arches and picots for a crisp finish.
  • If using a cord, tension and straighten the cord to align wing shape before final sewing; secure the cord ends inside the motif to prevent slippage.

Important Notes

  • 💡Work the back-loop only instructions exactly where indicated to achieve the correct wing curvature and layer separation.
  • 💡Attach and tension the cord carefully while checking wing alignment frequently; uneven cord tension will distort the finished shape.
  • 💡Hide tails as instructed: hide the first tail into the middle of the motif and leave the second tail for sewing to the body to produce a clean finish.

This beautiful lace butterfly is a lovely finishing touch for home decor and gifts, made with fine thread and tiny stitches for an elegant result. The pattern combines corded shaping with delicate arches and picots to create wings that hold their form beautifully. Enjoy blocking and assembling your pieces to reveal the full lacy detail—happy crocheting! 🧶✨

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished butterfly size will vary depending on your tension and thread, but using DMC Babylo 20 and a 0.6mm hook produces a delicate winged motif approximately similar in scale to the photos (wingspan approx. 20-25 cm combined depending on blocking).

Can I use a different yarn or hook size?

Yes, you can change yarn weight and hook size but this will significantly alter the finished size and drape; if you choose a thicker thread use a proportionally larger hook and adjust cord length and stitch spacing as needed.

Do I need prior experience for this pattern?

This is an advanced pattern that requires confidence with small hooks, working in front/back loops, attaching cords, and following multi-row shaping instructions.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most experienced crocheters complete this project in 12-15 hours across multiple sessions, depending on complexity of shaping and finishing.