Crochet Butterfly Pattern
This post may contain referral/affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
One of the first things I ever made for my first home was a crochet butterfly. I put a magnet on the back and it graced my refrigerator for a long time. It is long gone now, probably lost among some odds and ends misplaced during a move.
Fast forward a few decades and here I am crocheting butterflies again.
This free crochet butterfly pattern is so fun to crochet and very fast to put together. Any scraps will do. It is like a ruffled granny square with what seems to be way too many stitches, but at the end, when it is folded back upon itself…it’s magic..and a butterfly appears.
I added some simple chain for the body and antennae. It would be great as an embellishment on a wreath or a wallhanging. And, of course this crochet butterfly would be lovely as a magnet for your refrigerator.
Related: Small Crochet Projects
Butterfly Basics
This is a great beginner project because it uses such simple stitches: You’ll need to know the slip stitch and how to make double crochet stitches. I used worsted weight acrylic yarn but you can use DK weight yarn for a smaller butterfly or a bulky weight yarn for a bigger butterfly. Just be sure to change your hook size to match the yarn you choose.
Pick bold colors, like I did, or work in more subtle colors for a crochet art piece. You could even use a solid color for the butterfly wings on your crochet design. Use your crocheted butterflies to make crochet butterfly magnets or as appliqués for crochet projects like a crochet blanket.
Here’s how to make a beautiful crochet butterfly:
Crochet Butterfly Pattern
Here is what you will need:
- US H8/5 mm mm crochet hook (these are my absolute favorite crochet hooks I recommend to everyone!).
- Worsted Weight Yarn Scraps
- Tapestry needle and scissors
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart. Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches such as the single crochet, double crochet and chain stitch used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.
Crochet Abbreviations:
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- st = stitch(es)
Butterfly Pattern:
With color 1, chain 6 and join to form a ring.
Row 1: Work the following in the loop: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), 2dc, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2*, repeat * to * 6 more times (8 clusters). Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. Fasten off color 1.
Row 2: Attach color 2 in any space. [ Ch 3, 2dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in same space as joining, *in next space work [3dc, ch 2, 3 dc]*, repeat * to * 6 more times. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. Fasten off color 2.
Row 3: Attach color 3 in any ch-2 space. In same space as joining, work [ch3, 5 dc, ch 3, sl st to 1st ch (picot formed), 6 dc], sl st in next space, *in next ch-2 space, work [6dc, ch 3, sl st to 1st ch (picot formed), 6 dc], sl st in next space*, repeat * to * 6 more times. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. Do NOT finish off.
Carefully fold butterfly in half. Chain 15 or enough chain stitches to wrap around the fold for a firm fit. Do not sew down just yet. Fasten off, leaving a long strand for sewing.
Antennae:
Chain 14. Fasten off and tie a knot on each end of chain. Pull yarn tight and cut close to the knot.
Butterfly Assembly:
Wrap body chain up and around the body, catching the antennae under the chain at the top. Use the yarn tail to sew down firmly.
How fun! A crochet butterfly pattern that is fast and beautiful! Use your colorful butterfly crochet appliqué on another project, spread a little love in your community by hiding crochet butterflies around town or just keep one near your workspace to brighten your day.
Explore More Crochet Patterns
Do you love crochet as much as I do? I think you’re going to love these other fun crochet patterns:
- Crochet Pumpkin
- Crochet African Flower
- Easy Crochet Flower
- Crochet Whale
- Crochet Mushroom
- Crochet Cat Hat
- Crochet Flower Bouquets
I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making this Crochet Butterfly I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo. If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
I used a small hook and attached some hair ties for my granddaughter to wear in her hair. She loves butterflies! Thank you!
Do you have any project you use these for? I love the but don’t know what to use them for, besides sewing on a pillow?
I put a stick on magnet on the back of mine and it can go on the fridge! You could also sew them on a little one’s dress or skirt. Or hang them from a window.
You could put them on a hat for summer.
Great idea!
can make them into a brooch or a hairslide too.
Great idea!
I made a crochet ring and decorated it with butterflies and bees hung it on my door. Sorry the pic doesn’t transfer on here.
That sounds adorable!
Give it a tail and make it into a bookmark. Kids at school might like our seniors at assisted living.
You could knit or crochet a tea cosy and put flowers and butterflies on it.
What a cute idea!
I had used it as bookmarks…
What a cute idea!
I made a key ring!
Great idea!
Thank you for a quick and easy butterfly pattern. I am making theses for bingo prizes for the nursing home where my mother lives.
You have great patterns
What s great idea Debbie!
Thank you for not only your pretty little butterfly pattern, but for all your wonderful patterns available in the “vault”. I’m so excited to have found you, and can’t wait to start receiving your newsletter. You’re also a very sweet person for sharing your work for free. God Bless!
Thank you for this pattern. I made a butterfly body amigurumi style. But couldn’t figure out wings. Your butterfly pattern made perfect wings. Again, thank you for sharing this pattern. When I put a pic of the finished butterfly I will be sure to let everyone know that the wings came from you.
We used to make these back in the 70s and 80s. Everybody I knew had some butterflies on their fridge because I loved doing them. 🙂
How fun! I love making these butterflies too!
This was so easy. I made a butterfly embellishment for the strap of a bag I crocheted. So cute.
That sounds adorable! Glad you liked it!
I love this butterfly! I was looking for a butterfly pattern to add to a couple squares on a baby blanket and this one is perfect. Super quick and easy. (So much so I made like 20 of them lol)
Thanks for the wonderful patterns
Hi ! I made one of these for a friend and it became very popular! I sold one through my Etsy as a custom order and put in the description that it wasn’t my own pattern as I couldn’t find your name to credit you – do you have a business name that I can credit you properly? I want people to hopefully come looking at your website as it’s a gorgeous pattern xx
You can just reference our website at http://www.Crochet365KnitToo.com, state “Crochet 365 Knit Too” or you can reference my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Crochet365KnitToo
I love butterflies, too. Your pattern is really nice. I will be putting them on a lot of things. One thing that was not mentioned is to sew them on a T-shirt. Thank you for a very professional pattern.
That’s such a fun idea!
I use these butterflies as a piece of myself in my gifts to others. I fixed succulent arrangements for my sister’s. Crocheted my butterflies out of #3 and #10 crochet thread. Attatch with a plastic or thick wire. I place them in middle of my arrangements. They look so sweet. I’m the only crocheted in my family, so anything crocheted is from me.
Oh I love that idea!! And I bet the butterflies look wonderful in thread!
Our Knit and Natter group are using them to decorate a community garden. I have put them on hats and an Easter wreath.
Love it!!!!!!
Can u suggest the number of Stitches to make a huge one, would love to put it on a Afghan?
I have not tried working the butterfly bigger; that would require some experimenting. It might be easiest for you to increase the hook size and/or yarn weight to get a bit bigger butterfly to fit on the afghan.
Hi Cheryl. Thank you soo much for the pattern, your instructions were really great. I made a tiny butterfly using a No.2mm hook and embroidery cotton. I nearly went blind ? but it came out beautifully. I have attached it to the side of a sun hat that I have made for my mothers 80th birthday, along with a whole lot of brightly coloured little flowers – we are going into spring now here in South Africa and my mom loves sitting in the garden knitting so I thought this would be an appropriate gift. I must just add that it is the first time that I have done a project like this, and am just so chuffed with it all. Happy hooking xx
How cute!
Tk u for a cute pattern I must try this – never attempted anything like this before. I am getting a pkg ready to go to a nursing home – I belong to a FB group called “Random Acts of Crochet Kindness – RAOCK” which is a group who makes various items: butterflies, angels, worry monsters, worry worms, flowers, bees, etc. and leave them in parks, trees, porches, etc. for ppl to find and give them a smile and that “feel good” feeling – perhaps they r worried about something or just feeling down and these items which r placed in various places (sometimes ppl give them to hospitals as well) make them feel better and bring a smile to their faces. Since I cannot get around very well (lymphedema & severe osteo-arthritis in hip) I am giving mine to a nursing home plus my PSW’s (Personal Support Workers) so they can hand out to their clients as well. Many tks 4 sharing yr patterns – luv them. This sweet butterfly is a great addition to my stash of projects for them.
That’s great!
I will be using your pattern for a crocheted towel topper. I like to buy kitchen towels and crochet diffiriserent appliques to match the design of the towel and then sew them onto the crocheted topper.
What a fun idea!
Thank you for sharing! Love this!
Thank you for the pattern! I made tgem into magnets…sealed them in little bags (from the $store), attached a note and placed them on park benches and handed them out to people as random acts of kindness day. They make people smile!!
That’s such a fun idea!
That’s such a cute idea!
Thank you for a beautiful meaningful design. My friend is suffering from anxiety and depression after a divorce and I used the analagy of a butterfly for her to spread her wings and be beautiful…. then this pattern caught my eye. I will be making your wonderful design into a keyring and a brooch so she can be reminded that she is beautiful wherever she goes 🙂 Thank you sooo much.
I love that.. we are ‘beautiful wherever we go’! How lovely you are making this for your friend!
Thank you so much for the easy pattern! It looks very nice and beautifull.
These are beautiful. Ideal as a decoration on a cardigan or make them as a feature around a neckline, ideas just run wild. Love your work. Very inspirational.
I use them on baby blankets.
Thank you so much for this cute pattern! I just whipped one up and it was so fun and easy to do!
I wasn’t able to figure out from your photos if you sew the back part of the wings to the front part, I was going to do it anyway, but notice that my picot stitches don’t line up! Any advice you can give me would be great!
I did not sew the front to the back and my picots line up. I’d suggest popping over to our Crochet 365 Knit Too Club on Facebook and posting a photo and people can chime in to try to help figure out why yours isn’t quite lining up right.
I really enjoy your work and tutorials! I have been working on the butterflies and was wondering if you sew two sides together after folding the work in half or leave the wings to flutter. I find that if I don’t sew the sides together you can actually have the butterfly stand up but I think sewing the back to the front would work better if you were attaching a magnet. Which way do you usually make them? Thanks much!
I did not sew mine together, but you certainly could if you wanted to. I like the 3D effect of the wings, so if you do decide to do that, I would keep it to the center area only.