There is a whole spread of beautiful crochet butterflies in Duplet 127. The idea was to connect small butterfly lace motifs to make a larger butterfly. There are also some examples of using the motifs to make a doily.
I tried making one of the smaller butterfly laces and here is what I came up with – three butterfly motifs joined together to make a simple choker.
Black Butterfly Laces
Then I wrote the pattern down, together with the modifications that I made to working the motif. The original pattern is completed in about 6 rows, but I was able to complete it in only 3 rows, there being less turns in the modified version. I also add the pattern for making the ties.
Crocheting the butterfly can be tricky if you’re not used to making tr and dtr stitches. I’ve never been fond of these long stitches but this is one application of the stitches that made me appreciate them more. So I suppose, this butterfly lace pattern is a good way of practising and perfecting the tr and dtr stitch.
The sc’s over the long chains may also look wonky as you work them, So you will need to occasionally even out the stitches over the chain as you work, flattening the stitches every now and then.
Then the real beauty of the lace will show when you block them.
Now, the butterfly pattern that I wrote down does not include instructions for joining the motifs. The motifs can be joined as you work the picots. It is up to the crocheter to figure out this simple join as you go method.
Otherwise, the butterflies can be crocheted separately and then joined together by sewing.
And as usual, if you have any questions or if you see any problems or errors in the pattern, just email me at fats.lasay@gmail.com any time.
Happy Crocheting!
Black Butterfly Laces
Butterfly Laces
Hook: 1mm
Yarn: Cotton 8
Making the Butterfly
Special Stitch:
Picot: Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch fr hook.
Ch 6.
Row 1: In 6th ch fr hook (hereafter referred to as Start Ch) make (tr, ch 1, tr, ch 1, tr). Ch 9, turn.
Row 2: Dtr in ch-1 sp, ch 2, dtr in tr, ch 2, dtr in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, dtr in next tr, ch 2, dtr in 6-ch sp, ch 13, tr in Start Ch, (ch 1, tr in start ch) 3 times, ch 9, turn.
Row 3: Dtr in ch-1 sp, ch 2, dtr in tr, ch 2, dtr in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, dtr in next tr, ch 2, dtr in next ch-1 sp, ch 8, sl st in tr, 13 sc in 13-ch sp,8 sc in 8-ch sp, sc in dtr, picot, (2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in dtr, picot) 4 times, 9 sc in 9-ch sp, 4 sc around stem of tr, sc in Start Ch, 4 sc around stem of next tr, 9 sc in next 9-ch sp, picot, (sc in dtr, 2 sc in 2-ch sp, picot) 4 times, 8 sc in 8-ch sp, sc in each of next 13 sc, sl st in sc to join. Fasten off.
Black Butterfly Laces
Ties:
With RS facing, join yarn with sc to 2nd picot at end of choker.
Row 1: Ch 3, sc in next picot, ch 3, sc in next picot, ch 7, turn.
Row 2: Keeping last loop of each dtr on hook, make dtr ch-3 loop, in sc, in next ch-3 loop, in sc; yo and draw through all loops on hook, Ch 1, turn.
Row 3: Sc in top of dtr cluster, ch 50 for tie. Fasten off. Needle weave the end of the yarn then knot the end of the tie and trim.
Repeat for other end of choker.
