This butterfly motif is soft, lacy, and quietly festive. Each of its four rounded blush-pink wings frames an open teardrop window. A ribbed gold body runs down the center, and gold knots finish the wing tips and the antennae. It looks delicate from across the room and crisp up close.
It uses two colors: a dusty blush pink for the wings and a warm gold for the body, antennae, and tip knots. The style falls between vintage lace and modern holiday décor. It works on a tree, as a gift topper, or strung on cords for a hanging display.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished motif measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide and 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall across the wings. The antennae add about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) above the head.
Construction is simple. The wings are crocheted as one piece. You start from a magic ring with four chain loops that become the open windows. Three more rounds build the wings outward, and a pink trim round firms up the edge. Then you add eight gold knots at the wing tips, make a small ribbed body with antennae, and sew the body down the center.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall, plus 1.25 in (3.2 cm) antennae
- Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (#3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 finished motif (one-piece wing unit plus a sewn-on body)
- Layout: single motif, 4 wings around a central ring, body laid vertically on top
- Piece size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) x 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- Size before border: 5.25 in (13.3 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Border depth: 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per edge, adding 0.25 in (0.6 cm) to each overall dimension
Materials
Choose a smooth, tightly plied DK cotton. Mercerized cotton gives the clearest stitch definition and keeps the teardrop windows open after blocking. Avoid fuzzy or very soft acrylics, because they blur the wing edges.
- Color A (Blush Pink): 12 g, about 29 m (32 yd)
- Color B (Gold): 5 g, about 12 m (13 yd)
These quantities include a margin of about 20 percent for a gauge swatch and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Scissors
- Rustproof pins and a blocking mat or folded towel
- Spray bottle with clean water
- Optional: a pinch of fiberfill for the body
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- [ ] x N – repeat the bracketed sequence N times
Special stitch – Gold Knot (GK): Ch 3. In the 3rd ch from the hook, work 5 dc, leaving the last loop of each on the hook (6 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops. Ch 1 to close, then sl st in the same st at the base. Each GK makes a firm round ball about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) across.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc and 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm); 18 dc x 9 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), worked flat with the 3.5 mm hook.
Gauge matters here because stitch height creates the wing shape. Make one complete motif through Round 5 and check every checkpoint below. Measure with the piece laid flat and unstretched.
- After Round 2: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall
- After Round 3: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- After Round 4: 5.25 in (13.3 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- After Round 5: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall
If your piece is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too big at any checkpoint, switch to a 3.25 mm (D-3) hook. If it is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too small, switch to a 3.75 mm (F-5) hook. Don’t change the stitch counts to fix the size, because the shaping depends on them.
Wings (Color A, Blush Pink)
The wings are one continuous piece. Each round travels around all four wings in this order: upper right, lower right, lower left, upper left. The inner edge of each wing stays low with sl sts so the wings sit close at the center. The outer edges grow taller.
Round 1 (chain loops): With Color A, make a magic ring. Ch 1, sc in ring, ch 18, sc in ring, ch 12, sc in ring, ch 12, sc in ring, ch 18, sl st in first sc. Pull the ring fully closed.
Count: 4 sc in the ring and 4 ch-loops (two ch-18 upper loops, two ch-12 lower loops).
The ch-18 loops become the upper teardrop windows. The ch-12 loops become the lower windows.
Round 2 (filling the loops): Do not turn. Work all sts into the space of each ch-loop, over the chain.
- Upper right: 26 sc in the first ch-18 loop, sl st in next center sc.
- Lower right: 18 sc in the ch-12 loop, sl st in next center sc.
- Lower left: 18 sc in the ch-12 loop, sl st in next center sc.
- Upper left: 26 sc in the last ch-18 loop, sl st in first center sc.
Count: 88 sc (26 + 18 + 18 + 26), plus 4 center sl sts.
Spread the sc evenly so each loop curves into a smooth teardrop. Each open window should be about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long on the upper wings and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long on the lower wings.
Round 3 (first wing fan): Work into the sc of Round 2. Between wings, sl st in the center sl st.
- Upper wings (26 sts each): sl st in next 3, sc in next 2, hdc in next 2, [2 dc in next, dc in next] x 6, hdc in next 2, sc in next 2, sl st in next 3.
Count per upper wing: 32 sts (3 sl st + 2 sc + 2 hdc + 18 dc + 2 hdc + 2 sc + 3 sl st). - Lower wings (18 sts each): sl st in next 2, sc in next 2, [2 dc in next, dc in next] x 5, sc in next 2, sl st in next 2.
Count per lower wing: 23 sts (2 sl st + 2 sc + 15 dc + 2 sc + 2 sl st).
Round 3 total: 110 sts (32 + 23 + 23 + 32), plus 4 center sl sts.
The dc runs build the rounded outer lobes. The sl sts keep the inner sides tight against the windows.
Round 4 (second wing fan): Work into the sts of Round 3, matching the stitch types at each end. Between wings, sl st in each center sl st.
- Upper wings (32 sts each): sl st in next 3, sc in next 2, hdc in next 2, [dc in next 2, 2 dc in next] x 6, hdc in next 2, sc in next 2, sl st in next 3.
Count per upper wing: 38 sts (3 sl st + 2 sc + 2 hdc + 24 dc + 2 hdc + 2 sc + 3 sl st). - Lower wings (23 sts each): sl st in next 2, sc in next 2, [dc in next 2, 2 dc in next] x 5, sc in next 2, sl st in next 2.
Count per lower wing: 28 sts (2 sl st + 2 sc + 20 dc + 2 sc + 2 sl st).
Round 4 total: 132 sts (38 + 28 + 28 + 38), plus 4 center sl sts.
On each upper wing, place markers in the 6th and 18th dc of its 24-dc run. On each lower wing, place markers in the 8th and 13th dc of its 20-dc run. These mark the wing corners for the next round.
Border: Pink Trim Round and Gold Tip Knots
The border uses the same gauge as the wings: 20 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). One sc round adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm) to each outer edge.
Round 5 (trim round, Color A): Work 1 st into every Round 4 st, matching its height: sl st in each sl st, sc in each sc, and sc in each hdc and dc. Work 2 sc in each marked st. Between wings, sl st in each center sl st.
- Upper wings: 38 sts worked 1-per-stitch + 2 extra at the markers = 40 sts each.
- Lower wings: 28 sts worked 1-per-stitch + 2 extra at the markers = 30 sts each.
Round 5 total: 132 sts worked 1-per-stitch + 8 extra = 140 sts, plus 4 center sl sts.
Fasten off Color A and weave in the ends. Leave the markers in, but move each one to the second sc of its increase pair.
Why the math works: Each fan round adds 6 dc to every upper wing and 5 dc to every lower wing, a steady rate that keeps the curve flat instead of ruffled. The trim round adds one extra st at each marked corner. That is enough to sharpen the tip without making it flare. The inner sl sts never increase, so the wings stay snug around the windows and the center stays small enough for the body to cover.
Gold tip knots (Color B): Each wing gets 2 GK at its outermost tip.
- Upper wings: Join Color B with a sl st in the marked st nearest the top outer corner. Work a GK, sl st in the next 2 sts toward the corner, then work another GK. Fasten off.
- Lower wings: Join Color B with a sl st in the marked st nearest the bottom tip. Work a GK, sl st in the next 2 sts toward the tip, then work another GK. Fasten off.
Count: 2 GK per wing, 8 GK total.
Remove all markers and check the size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall.
Body and Antennae (Color B, Gold)
Round 1: With Color B, ch 11. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in the next 8 ch, then work 3 sc in the last ch. Turn the piece to work along the underside of the chain: sc in the next 8 ch, then 2 sc in the ch that holds the first sc. Sl st in the first sc.
Count: 22 sc (9 + 3 + 8 + 2).
Round 2 (ribbed round): Ch 1, sc BLO in each st, but work 2 sc BLO in each of the 3 sts at the 3-sc end from Round 1. Sl st in the first sc.
Count: 22 sts worked 1-per-stitch + 3 extra = 25 sc.
Working in the back loops leaves a raised line of front loops, which creates the ribbed, segmented texture. The wider end is the head. The body measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide. Leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.
Antennae: Join Color B with a sl st at the head end, 1 st to the right of center. Ch 10. In the 3rd ch from the hook, work a 5-dc bobble (5 dc together, ch 1 to close). Sl st in each of the remaining 7 ch back to the head. Sl st in the next 2 sts along the head, then repeat for the second antenna. Fasten off.
Count per antenna: 10 ch, 1 bobble, 7 sl st.
Each antenna stands about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall. Bend them gently outward into a soft V.
Attaching the body: For a slightly raised body, tuck a pinch of fiberfill underneath it. Center the body vertically over the magic ring, with the head end up between the upper wings. Pin it in place. Whipstitch around the edge through the outer loops of Round 2 and the wing sts underneath. Keep the stitches small so they hide in the ribbing. Weave in all ends.
Final Blocking
- Lay the motif face down on the blocking mat.
- Mist it evenly with water until damp but not dripping.
- Turn it face up and pin the center first, through the body.
- Pin each wing tip so the motif measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide and 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall.
- Pin each teardrop window open to its full length: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) on the upper wings and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) on the lower wings.
- Shape the outer edges into smooth curves, placing a pin every 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
- Roll each GK between your fingers so it sits round.
- Let the motif dry completely, about 6 to 8 hours, before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Round 2 has 88 sc and 4 center sl sts.
- Round 3 has 110 sts, Round 4 has 132 sts, and Round 5 has 140 sts.
- The upper windows are clearly larger than the lower windows.
- All 8 gold knots sit at the outer wing tips, 2 per wing.
- The body is centered and fully covers the magic ring.
- The antennae are the same length and form a symmetrical V.
- The finished motif measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) x 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
- All ends are woven in on the back and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
Wings ruffle or cup upward: Your dc rounds are too loose, or you added extra increases. Recount Rounds 3 and 4 and try a smaller hook.
Windows close up or look like slits: The Round 2 sc are packed too tightly. Slide them along the chain to spread them out, then pin the windows open while blocking.
A hole shows around the body: The magic ring wasn’t pulled fully closed. Tighten the tail from the back and secure it with two stitches.
Wings are uneven: Check that each upper wing has 38 sts in Round 4 and each lower wing has 28. A single missed increase is easy to see.
Gold knots flop: Close each bobble with the ch 1 and sl st firmly into the base st.
Body twists: Recount Round 1. The 3-sc group and the 2-sc group must sit at opposite ends.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Press the water out in a towel and dry flat, reshaping the wings and windows while damp. Do not wring or tumble dry.
Final Notes
The measurements build in a short chain that is easy to check. After Round 2 the piece measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide. The two fan rounds bring the wings to 5.25 in (13.3 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm). The trim round adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per edge, for a finished size of 5.5 in (14.0 cm) x 4.25 in (10.8 cm). If each checkpoint matches, the gold body will sit neatly over the center and the wings will block flat and even.
A single butterfly makes a lovely ornament or gift topper.
Happy crocheting!