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Butterfly Crochet Pattern

Butterfly Crochet Pattern
4.0★ Rating
8-10 Hours Time Needed
4.1K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

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All-Day Adventure

Requires 8-10 hours, ideal for a full day of immersive crocheting.

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Cozy Accent

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

About This Butterfly Crochet Pattern

This pattern creates a beautifully detailed lace butterfly using DMC Babylo 20 cotton and a 0.6 mm hook. It includes instructions for both the small circular wing motif and the larger shaped wing, with step-by-step photos. Techniques include working with a cord, back/front loop work, and decorative picots to create the lace edging. The finished wings can be sewn together and attached to a body or used as standalone decor.

Butterfly Crochet Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The design emphasizes delicate arches and cord-attached shaping to create a natural wing curve. Detailed rows and notes help you correct waviness and achieve a balanced, professional finish.

Why You'll Love This Butterfly Crochet Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it turns simple stitches into a delicate, lace-like butterfly that feels almost magical to make. I enjoy the combination of cord work and lace arches that let me shape the wing precisely as I go. The step-by-step photos made the technique approachable for me, and I appreciate how the pattern lets you correct waviness as you work. Sharing this finished butterfly brings so much joy — it makes a lovely gift or a treasured decorative accent.

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

Switch Things Up

I love how easy it is to customize this butterfly to suit your style, so I often change the color to match decor or gift themes.

I sometimes use a slightly thicker cotton or thread and a larger hook to create a bigger statement butterfly for wall art.

I like to add metallic thread or a contrasting color for the picot edge to give the wings a subtle shimmer and highlight the lace border.

To make a tiny version for a brooch or keychain I use thinner thread and a 0.5 mm hook and shorten the cord proportionally.

I often stitch two small wings side-by-side for a layered look or attach beads to the arches for a beaded lace effect.

If you want a softer wing, try blocking the pieces more gently and use a light starch or fabric stiffener to hold a graceful curve.

I sometimes embroider veins on the wings using a fine needle and matching thread for extra realism and texture.

For a seasonal twist, I change colors to pastels for spring or metallics for holiday decorations — the pattern adapts well to color play.

When making multiple butterflies I keep one small wing as a practice piece to test tension and cord placement before starting the main wings.

I recommend experimenting with picot sizes and spacing to change the lace edge — smaller picots look delicate while larger picots give a bolder scallop.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not preparing a long enough cord will make shaping difficult; use a cord of at least 65 cm or longer before starting the big wing. ✗ Working into the wrong loop (front vs back) can collapse the wing shape; follow the instructions carefully and mark the rows where front or back loops are specified. ✗ Skipping counting the arches will give you uneven spacing and fewer or more arches than required; count and measure to ensure the correct total arches for each section. ✗ Pulling the cord too tightly while attaching can distort the wing curvature; attach the cord and then gently pull and straighten it to align the wing evenly.

Butterfly Crochet Pattern

Create an elegant lace butterfly using fine crochet cotton and a tiny hook. This pattern walks you through making delicate small and large wings with clear step-by-step photos and instructions. Perfect for home decor, appliques, or framing, you will enjoy shaping the wings and adding finishing touches. Follow the rows carefully to recreate the intricate lace effect.

Intermediate 8-10 Hours

Materials Needed for Butterfly Crochet Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    DMC Babylo 20 (size 20 crochet cotton) - as used in the pattern (Yarn: DMC Babylo 20 shown)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook 0.6 mm
  • 02
    Four-thread cord (minimum 65 cm or longer) for corded sections
  • 03
    Scissors
  • 04
    Tapestry/yarn needle for hiding tails and sewing pieces
  • 05
    Pins for blocking and aligning wings
  • 06
    Stitch marker (optional) to mark rounds and starting points

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Small wing :

Row 1 :

10 ch, join into the ring.

Row 2 :

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

Row 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

Row 4 :

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

Row 5 :

1 ch, turn And work 56 sc in back loops

Row 6 :

1 ch, turn And work 56 sc in back loops

Row 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

Row 8 :

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

Row 9 :

Work 6 sc in each arch

Row 10 :

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

Row 11 :

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

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 *1sc, 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 wing to the butterfly body using the tail left from Row 11 of the small wing, hiding the first tail into the middle of the motif and leaving the second to sew to the body.
  • When attaching the cord to the big wing, align the wing by pulling and straightening the cord after attaching (Row 4 instruction), then secure the cord ends and weave them in.
  • Pin wings in place before final sewing to ensure symmetry; attach big right wing and mirror left wing so arches and picots match.
  • Trim and hide all tails with a tapestry needle, and finish edges with the picot round (Row 24 on big wing) to create a finished lace border.

Important Notes

  • 💡Cord has to be minimum 65 cm or longer for the big wing construction.
  • 💡Pull the cord and straighten it to make the wing align before proceeding to the next rows.
  • 💡You can correct waviness by skipping more loops or working in each loop during edging.
  • 💡On wing tops make additional 2 or 3 sc as needed to level the edge where instructed.

This delicate lace butterfly pattern is perfect for creating elegant home decor or a thoughtful handmade gift. It features intricate corded shaping and pretty picot edging that bring the wings to life. Enjoy the relaxing process of working fine cotton with a tiny hook and watch your butterfly bloom. 🧶✨🦋

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished butterfly size will vary depending on your tension; using DMC Babylo 20 and a 0.6 mm hook the wings are lace-sized and suitable for framing or appliques. Exact dimensions are not given but the cord lengths and stitch counts are provided for shaping.

Can I use a different yarn or hook size?

Yes, you can change yarn or hook size, but this will affect the final size and drape. If you use thicker yarn or a larger hook, expect a much larger, less delicate butterfly; adjust cord length and stitch tension accordingly.

Do I need to prepare a cord before starting the big wing?

Yes, prepare a four-thread cord at least 65 cm long as the pattern specifies, because the cord is used to shape and attach sections of the big wing during multiple rows.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters will complete this detailed lace butterfly in about 8-10 hours, though time may vary depending on experience and how carefully you shape and block the wings.