If you’ve spent any time browsing Pinterest, you’ve probably come across that beautifully detailed lace crochet butterfly diagram that’s been shared far and wide. I loved it so much that a few years ago, I made a video tutorial to help others crochet it too.
And now, for all of you who prefer following a written pattern, it’s finally here! I’ve translated that well-loved diagram into written instructions that I hope will make the process smoother and more enjoyable, so you can crochet this charming butterfly in the way that suits you best.
Let’s bring this little lace crochet butterfly to life together now, shall we?!
Material
Abbreviations – Crochet Butterfly Free Pattern
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
tr: treble crochet
Picot of 3: Chain3 and slip stitch in the 1st loop of the chain 3
dc2tog: 2 double crochet together
2-dc cl: 2 double crochet cluster stitch
beg: beginning
R: row
Notes – Crochet Butterfly Pattern
The dc2tog stitch is made this way: Yarn over, insert hook into the first stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through the first two loops. Yarn over again, insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (four loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through the first two loops. Finally, yarn over and pull through the remaining three loops on the hook.
The 2-dc cl stitch is made this way: Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through the first two loops. Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (four loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through the first two loops. Finally, yarn over and pull through all three remaining loops on the hook. The 2-dc cl stitch is essentially a dc2tog made in the same stitch.
The finished lace butterfly measures 6 cm.
The gauge for the cotton yarn is: 2,5 cm x 2,5 cm = 9 sc x 9 rows.
If you find any part of the pattern tricky, feel free to revisit the original diagram on Pinterest or check out the video tutorial below for extra guidance.
Full Tutorial Video
Lace Butterfly Crochet Pattern
Butterfly’s body
Let’s begin by crocheting the butterfly’s body, we’ll need it as the foundation before we can create the two sets of wings.
Row 1: chain 3, sl st in the 1st loop of the ch3, ch15, starting the 2nd loop from the hook: 2 sl st, 6 sc, sl st in the next stitch, ch8, sl st in the 3rd loop from the hook.
Cut the yarn and weave in ends.
Bottom Right Wing – Crochet Butterfly
Row 1: Ch6, dc in the 1st loop of the ch6
Row 2: ch4, (dc2tog with one dc in the first free loop of the previous ch6 and the other dc in the 2nd loop), ch3, (dc2tog with the first dc in the same 2nd loop as the previous one and the 2nd dc in the 3rd loop), ch1, 1 dc in the 4th loop of the previous ch6.
R3: ch4, sc in the middle loop of the previous ch3, ch5, sl st in the 2nd loop of the beg ch4 of previous row.
Cut the yarn and weave the ends.
Bottom Left Wing
Row 1: Ch6, dc in the 1st loop of the ch6
Row 2: ch4, (dc2tog with one dc in the first free loop of the previous ch6 and the other dc in the 2nd loop), ch3, (dc2tog with the first dc in the same 2nd loop as the previous one and the 2nd dc in the 3rd loop), ch1, 1 dc in the 4th loop of the previous ch6.
R3: ch5, sc in the middle loop of the previous ch3, ch4, sl st in the 2nd loop of the beg ch4 of previous row.
The Edges
Don’t cut the yarn: next, we’ll work along the edge of the left bottom wing, join it to the body, continue with the edge of the right wing, connect it back to the body, and finish off by completing the edge of the first wing.
Round 4: ch1 then turn, in the ch4 space: 1 sc, 1 hdc, ch1, (1 dc, ch1) x 2, 1 hdc, 1 sc, then continue in the ch5 space: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch1, 1 dc, picot of 3, ch1, 1 dc, ch1, 1 hdc, 1 sc, continue working around the beg dc of row 2: 3 sc, then in the ch2 space of the beg: 2sc.
Now take the crochet butterfly’s body and, starting from the bottom, locate the 4th single crochet. Join the wing by making one slip stitch into the corresponding loop of the foundation chain and one slip stitch into that 4th single crochet. Then, grab the right bottom wing; we’re going to continue by working around its edge as follows:
Around the beg dc of the 1st row: 2 sc, in the next chain space: 3 sc, in the ch5 space of row 3: 1 sc, 1 hdc, ch1, 1 dc, ch1, picot of 3, 1 dc, ch1, 1 dc, ch1, 1 hdc, 1 sc, continue working around the next ch4 space: 1 sc, 1 hdc, ch1, (1 dc, ch1) x 2, 1 hdc, 1 sc, work as follow around the dc from row 2: 3 sc, next in the chain space: 3 sc.
Join the wing to the body just as before: with a slip stitch in the 4th single crochet and another in the chain base loop of that stitch. Now, return to the left wing and complete the edging as follows: 3 sc around the beg dc, and 3 sc in the next chain space. To finish, cut the yarn and make an invisible join. Weave in all loose ends.
The right top wing – Lace Crochet Butterfly
Row 1: Ch6, (1 tr, ch2, 1 tr, ch2, 1 dc) in the 1st loop of the ch6
Row 2: ch6, (2-dc cl, ch2, 2-dc cl) in the 1st loop of the second ch2 from the previous row, ch2, (2-dc cl, ch2, 2-dc cl) in the next loop of the previous ch2, ch3, 1 tr in the 3rd loop of the beg ch6.
Row 3: ch7, sc in the first ch2 space, ch4, sc in the next ch2 space, ch3, sc in the last ch2 space, ch3, sl st in the 3rd loop of the previous ch6.
Cut the yarn and weave the ends.
The left top wing
Row 1: Ch5, (1 tr, ch2, 1 tr, ch2, 1 tr) in the 1st loop of the ch5
Row 2: ch7, (2-dc cl, ch2, 2-dc cl) in the 1st loop of the second ch2 from the previous row, ch2, (2-dc cl, ch2, 2-dc cl) in the next loop of the previous ch2, ch2, 1 tr in the 3rd loop of the beg ch5.
R3: ch3, sc in the first ch2 space, ch3, sc in the next ch2 space, ch4, sc in the last ch2 space, ch7, sl st in the 3rd loop of the previous ch7.
The Edges
Don’t cut the yarn, we’re going to work the edges just like we did for the bottom wings of the crochet butterfly, but this time with a different stitch pattern:
Round 4: ch1 then turn, (3 sc, 1 hdc, ch1, 1 dc, ch1, 1 tr, ch1, 1 dc, ch1, 1 hdc, 1 sc) in the ch7 space from previous row, 1 sc in the sc from previous row, 5 hdc in the ch4 space, 1 sc in the next sc, 4 hdc in the ch3 space, 1 sc in the next sc, (4 hdc, 1 sc) in the next ch3 space, 4 sc around the tr from row 2, 2 sc in the next chaine space.
Join the wing to the butterfly’s body with a slip stitch into the foundation loop of the 5th single crochet, then make another slip stitch into the 5th single crochet itself (that’s the stitch directly above the one we used to attach the bottom wings).
Grab the right top wing and work around its edge as follows:
3 sc around the ending dc from row 1, 3 sc in the chain space from the beg of row 2, (1 sc, 4 hdc) in the ch3 space from row 3, 1 sc in the first sc from row3, 4 hdc in the next chaine space, 1 sc in the next sc, 5 hdc in the next chain space, 1 sc in the sc, (1 sc, 1 hdc, ch1, 1 dc, ch1, 1 tr, ch1, 1 dc, ch1, 1 hdc, 3 sc) in the next chain space, 4 sc around the tr from row 2, 4 sc in the chain space.
Connect the wing to the body again on the same stitch and loop (the 5th one) with 2 sl st.
Continue working on the left wing this : 4 sc around the tr from row1, 4 sc in the chain space from row2. Cut the yarn and finish with an invisible join, then weave in all ends.
And your butterfly is finally complete! Bravo!
Want your crochet butterfly to look extra cute and keep its shape? Try blocking it to flatten everything out nicely. For a sturdier finish, you can mix a little cornstarch with water (classic trick!) or even water down some fabric glue. Once your butterfly is finished, dip it lightly into your chosen mixture, gently press out the excess (don’t wring it!), and pin it into shape on a blocking mat. Let it dry completely, and voilà: your butterfly is flatter, firmer, and ready to shine! This will help your crochet butterfly stay in shape for the long run!
I hope you enjoyed bringing this delicate crochet lace butterfly to life as much as I did!
If you share your creation, don’t forget to tag me, I love seeing your butterflies out in the wild! You can follow along (and flutter back for more patterns) on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, and don’t miss out on tutorials over on YouTube.
Happy crocheting, and until next time, keep creating beautiful things!
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