Get ready to create a flutter of beautiful crochet butterflies! From tiny butterfly appliques to cute amigurumi patterns, this list is full of fun crochet butterfly ideas.
Free Patterns for Beginners
Crochet butterflies are fantastic projects, whether you’re brightening up your space or crafting a special gift. They’re quick to make, and great stash-busters, too! In fact, many people love to add crochet butterfly appliques to magnets, hair clips, ornaments, or gift wrap.
In this collection, you’ll find a variety of crochet butterfly patterns for both beginners and intermediate crocheters. From butterfly garlands to amigurumi, dishcloths, and appliques, there’s truly something for everyone!
23 Free Crochet Butterfly Patterns
Enjoy these free crochet butterfly patterns for your next work in progress. Happy crocheting!
Crochet Butterfly
This tiny and adorable crochet butterfly applique could have so many different uses! These little butterflies measure just 3” x 3.5” and can be completed in about 30 minutes. You could use this butterfly as an applique addition for a crochet hat, purse, pillow, doll, or water bottle holder! The possibilities are endless!
Designer: BHooked
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
Butterfly Amigurumi
You won’t be able to help smiling while you work on this happy, summery crochet butterfly amigurumi pattern! By using self-striping yarn, it’s easy to add lots of color to the wings without having to do color changes. This cute project would make a great gift for anyone.
Designer: Spin a Yarn Crochet
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Bernat Handicrafter
Butterfly Amigurumi Tutorial
Check out this realistic crochet butterfly project! This detailed Monarch is a good project for intermediate or advanced crocheters. The pattern includes a video tutorial to help you through the assembly process.
Designer: Stella’s Yarn Universe
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Rico Creative Ricorumi DK
Easy & Quick Crochet Butterfly for Beginners
This tiny butterfly can be completed in just a few minutes and makes a lovely embellishment for all sorts of projects! You’ll use chain stitches, slip stitches, half triple crochets, and double treble crochets to make this pattern. A video tutorial is included.
Designer: Crazy Hands
Yarn weight: Aran
Suggested yarn: Lanoso Bebe Masal
Uma Beautiful Butterfly Crochet Pattern
These tri-toned butterflies were originally designed to be used as a bedroom garland, but they’d also be cute as an applique, a magnet, or even a hair clip! This design is perfect to crochet for a little girl in your life. It’s a great stash buster, too!
Designer: Stitching Together
Yarn weight: Bulky
Suggested yarn: Caron X Pantone
Small Crochet Butterfly
Need a super quick project? This tiny butterfly can be crocheted in just 5 minutes! You can use nearly any bit of yarn for this project. However, to make an extra small butterfly, you’ll want to choose a thin yarn or crochet thread and a small crochet hook.
Designer: Craft Passion
Yarn weight: Crochet thread
Suggested yarn: Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet Thread
3 Crochet Butterfly Patterns
Here’s a collection of 3 similar butterflies that make the most lovely butterfly family! You could make just one of these detailed designs or make all three of them to use as embellishments or even wall art. There’s a small, medium, and large pattern included, each with their own beautiful and slightly unique look!
Designer: My Picot
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream
Honour the Butterfly
Honour the Butterfly was designed as a special project to be given in comfort bags to hospital patients - specifically those who are at the end of their life. This would be a thoughtful project you could make to give someone hope. You can even donate your butterfly to this special initiative by sending it to the address included in this pattern.
Designer: Sharon Oldfield
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: DROPS Paris
Crochet Butterflies
These beautiful butterflies are both quick and enjoyable to make. After crocheting the body, the butterfly is folded in half and held with a chain of crochet stitches. You could also use a twisted pipe cleaner to hold your butterfly’s shape and form the antennae.
Designer: Planet Penny
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
Ava the Butterfly
This happy amigurumi butterfly features a chunky and loveable body, colorful striped wings, embroidered arms, and the most smiley little face! This easy pattern stands about 7 inches tall. Ava would make a beautiful gift for a child or baby.
Designer: Elisa’s Crochet
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease
Crochet Butterfly Pattern
These colorful butterflies are made with a ruffled granny square design that’s then folded to create your beautiful butterfly! They’re a bit addicting to make and are perfect for using up scrap yarn. You could use these butterflies as magnets, appliques, or to embellish a gift.
Designer: Crochet 365 Knit Too
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
B is for Butterfly
B is for Butterfly is part 2 of the author’s animal alphabet applique series! What better way to teach a child the alphabet than with cute and tiny crochet creatures? This little butterfly is quick to make and would be adorable for adding to clothing, purses, hair clips, and more!
Designer: Repeat Crafter Me
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
Free Crochet Butterfly Pattern
This colorful amigurumi butterfly would make such a fun gift for a little one (just make sure to substitute the safety eyes for embroidered eyes if the child is under 3). Its finished size is approximately 6.5” x 7”. This is a good pattern for experienced beginners or intermediates.
Designer: Cuddly Stitches Craft
Yarn weight: Sport
Suggested yarn: YarnArt Jeans
Ellie the Butterfly Amigurumi
This plush and cuddly butterfly is a cute toy to give to a child. When finished, Ellie measures approximately 5” tall. Make sure to switch out the safety eyes for embroidered eyes if you’re giving this butterfly to a baby or toddler.
Designer: Ana Veiga
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: DROPS Love You 8
Bernat POP! Butterfly Crochet Graphgan
Made with self-striping yarn, this crochet butterfly is full of life and color! The finished size of this butterfly graphgan is 29” x 19”. This lovely pattern would make a beautiful wall hanging!
Designer: Repeat Crafter Me
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Bernat Pop! Self Striping Yarn
Crochet Butterfly Pattern
This gorgeous rainbow applique butterfly pattern includes both written instructions and a video tutorial. Each color of the wings is made in separate segments and attached. For inspiration, check out the way the author used this butterfly as a beautiful applique on a scarf!
Designer: Kerris Crochet
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Patons 100% Cotton 4 Ply
Crochet Butterfly
This stuffed, amigurumi crochet butterfly measures approximately 3” x 2.5”. It’s worked in three pieces: the wings, the body, and the antennas. This cute and colorful butterfly would make a great stash buster!
Designer: Kouvarakia
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Scheepjes Catona
Crochet Butterfly Pattern for Butterfly Garland
These delicate and lacy butterflies are a beautiful choice for making a butterfly garland. You can hang your butterfly garland up in your kitchen, living room, or even outdoor space to celebrate spring and summer! Whether you choose solid butterflies or two-tone flying creatures, this project will remind you of the carefree feeling that warm days bring!
Designer: Saraphir Designs
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Patons 100% Cotton 4 Ply
Butterfly 2-in-1 Pajama Case Cushion
This butterfly design was created to be used as a pajama case, but it would also be easy to make as a pillow case! The front is made using the intarsia crochet technique. To make this pattern, you’ll need to know how to chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, work in the front loop and back loop, and chain 3 picot.
Designer: Crafty Cruella
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Knitcraft Cotton Blend
Crochet C2C Butterfly Pillow
Each of these little crochet butterfly pillows measures approximately 9” x 7.5”. This intermediate pattern is made using the corner-to-corner technique. These would be so cute for throwing on a little girl’s bed!
Designer: The Purple Poncho
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Caron One Pound
Lily Sugar'n Cream Butterfly Crochet Dishcloth
Celebrate the carefree beauty of butterflies while cleaning your kitchen! This practical butterfly is fun to make and is a great way to decorate your kitchen with a useful item. Lily Sugar ‘n Cream is an economical yarn that’s available in all sorts of color choices, so you can easily find one to coordinate with your kitchen.
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream
Red Heart Brilliant Butterfly Pillow
This vibrant butterfly pillow is full of character! From its unique stripes to its flower decals to its distinctive shape, this project is sure to become a treasured friend. This would be a fun pattern for decorating a bedroom or playroom.
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Butterfly Garden Baby Booties
Your little one will love exploring the outdoors in these soft and comfortable crocheted baby booties! Babies will enjoy looking at the bright butterflies on their toes, and you’ll be glad to know that their toes are safe! This pattern comes in two sizes: 0-6 months and 6-12 months.
Designer: Olivia Kent
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Cotton Light
Supplies You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make your crochet butterfly:
- Yarn or crochet thread
- Crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Other notions (stitch markers, embroidery thread, fiberfill, safety eyes, glue, etc.)
Planning on an applique butterfly project? You may also need magnets, hair clips, or anything else you’d like to glue your butterfly onto.
If you’re making a butterfly amigurumi project, please remember that safety eyes may not be safe for children under three. If you’re crocheting a butterfly for a child, stick with embroidered eyes to avoid a choking hazard.
What type of yarn is best for crochet butterflies?
You can use nearly any type of yarn to make a crochet butterfly, but the type you choose can affect the size and look of your finished product. For tiny butterflies, choose sport weight, fingering, or even crochet thread. For slightly larger butterflies, go with DK or worsted-weight yarn.
Beginner Tip: Medium-weight yarns are easier to work with than very fine yarns and threads.
As far as fiber content goes, both acrylic and cotton are good choices for crochet butterflies. Acrylic yarn is inexpensive and comes in so many colors. And cotton yarn has excellent stitch definition and tends to hold its shape a bit better.
Some of our favorite yarns for butterflies include Lily Sugar’ n Cream, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, and Red Heart Super Saver. We’ve included a suggested yarn for each pattern in this list, so you can spend more time crocheting and less time figuring out which yarn to use!
Crochet Techniques to Know
Some of the basic crochet techniques you may need to know to make your crochet butterfly include:
- Chain stitch
- Slip stitch
- Magic circle
- Single crochet
- Double crochet
- Half double crochet
- Treble crochet
- Working in the front or back loop
- Changing colors
- Granny stitch
- Intarsia crochet
- Embroidering features
Is a crochet butterfly a good beginner project?
Crochet butterflies can be an excellent project to try if you’re a beginner who’s comfortable with basic stitches and techniques.
That said, make sure to read through the pattern before getting started, as a number of them use intermediate and advanced stitches.
Some of the best beginner-friendly patterns from our list include the Easy & Quick Crochet Butterfly for Beginners (#4), Small Crochet Butterfly (#6), and the folded Crochet Butterflies (#9).
Tips and Tricks
Choose the right pattern for your skill level.
Before starting a new pattern, check its skill level to see if it’s a good fit. Then, do a quick read-through of the pattern to make sure you understand everything you’ll need to do. If it includes new stitches you’ve never tried before, practice on a small swatch first.
Use amigurumi best practices.
Choose a smaller-than-normal hook for amigurumi patterns to create a tight fabric that prevents your fiberfill from falling out.
In addition, use stitch markers to keep track of your stitches and rounds while making amigurumi.
Customize your butterfly!
Half the fun of crocheting is all of the customization options you have for your project! Whether you’re making a butterfly for yourself or to give as a gift, have fun choosing the perfect colors and yarn for your design. Choosing a thicker or thinner yarn is an easy way to adjust the size of your butterfly.
More Crochet Patterns
If you love to crochet, you may be interested in these related pattern collections.
- 17 Free Crochet Octopus Patterns: Fun for All Ages
- 17 Adorable (and Free!) Crochet Bunny Patterns
- 25 Easy Crochet Animal Patterns for Beginners
- 30 Free Easy Crochet Flower Patterns (plus ideas to use them!)
- 12 Free Crochet Bee Patterns
What’s Next?
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