FREE PATTERN: Crochet Butterfly Top

This pattern has been updated to include sizing as of May 3rd, 2024.🎉

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Hey there! I'm excited to share that I have taken the opportunity to revamp this pattern after two years of learning and growth. In a commitment to size inclusivity, I've added multiple sizes to the pattern. I’ve also created a beginner-friendly YouTube video to guide crocheters in creating this gorgeous butterfly top! The video can be found below.

Just a heads up, while this pattern is not my original design, I aim to enhance and offer a trustworthy resource. With many scam patterns out there, I wanted to bridge the gap by providing a free, written pattern, perfect for beginners looking to create their first garment and small business owners looking to sell their creations.

Please be aware that all photos and pattern are the intellectual property of Mae Crochets, LLC. They should not be resold or reposted in any manner.

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Tutorial Video

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Testers

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Sizes

Materials:

• Size F/3.75mm Crochet Hook

• Weight 4 Cotton Yarn - 140 (170, 200, 230, 260) (320, 370, 410, 450) yards

  • I recommend Lion Brand Pima Cotton yarn

• Scissors

Gauge

• 15 sts x 9 rows (4" x 4"/10cm x 10cm) of double crochets

Stitches:

• ch - chain

• dc - double crochet

• f/o - fasten off

• inc - increase double crochet (see special stitches)

• sk - skip

• slst - slip stitch

• st(s) - stitch(es)
  

Special Stitches:

• Increase Double Crochet (inc): Place two double crochets in one stitch.

Additional Notes:

• This pattern is first worked from the middle of the top (the body of the butterfly), then the wings of the butterfly are added to the body by joining to the sides of the butterfly’s body.

• The () at the end of each row depicts the total amount of double crochet stitches you should have at the end of each row.

• The turning ch’s do not count as a stitch.

• When you see “Row # - #”, that means you will repeat the instructions throughout the rows specified.

• This is written in US Terminology.

Pattern:

Sizes: XS(S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Butterfly Body (Middle of Top)

Row 1: Ch 4. Place 4 dc in the 1st ch that you made. (4)

Row 2 - 3: Ch 3, turn. Dc across. (4)

Row 4: Ch 3, turn. Inc, dc across until one sts is left, inc. (6)

Row 5: Repeat row 4. (8)

Row 6: Turn. Slst into the 2nd st from your hook. Ch 3, dc in the same st as your ch 3, dc across until one st remains. Leave that st unworked. (6)

Row 7: Ch 3, turn. Dc across. (6)

Neck Straps

Ch 100. (This will be half of the neck strap. You can increase the st count if needed.) Turn. [Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, slst down the ch.] Once you meet the top of the butterfly’s body, slst across to the first st from row 7. Ch 100 (or the same ch amount you did for the first strap). Repeat from [ to ] until you meet back onto the body. Slst into the body. F/o.

Butterfly Wings (x2)

Attach your yarn to the top of the 5th row of the butterfly body to the st we slst over that has no dc.

Row 1: We’re now going to set up our wings. Ch 5. Dc in the same st the yarn was attached. Ch 5, dc between body rows 4 & 5. Ch 2, dc in the same st. Ch 3, dc between body rows 3 & 4. Ch 2, dc in the same st.

Row 2: Ch 3, turn. Place 4 dc in the first ch space, ch 1. [Place 3 dc in the next ch space, ch 1] repeat from [ to ] 1 more time. Place 5 dc in the next ch space, ch 1. Place 3 dc in the last ch space. Lastly, place 1 more dc at the top of the ch 3 at the end of the row (part of the ch 5 of the previous row). (19)

Row 3: Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times - once in the st the ch 3 is, and once in the next st. (4). Ch 2, sk the ch space, inc in the next 5 sts (10). Ch 2, sk ch space, place 3 dc in the middle st of the next three sts (3). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 3 sts (6). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts, leaving the last two sts unworked (4). (27)

Row 4: Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, [inc, dc] repeat from [ to ] 2 more times (9). Ch 2, sk ch space, place 3 dc in the middle st of the next three sts (3). Ch 2, sk ch space, repeat from [ to ] 5 times (15). Ch 2, inc in the next 2 sts, leaving the last two unworked (4). (35)

Only sizes S - 5X:

Row 5 - (6, 6, 8, 8) (10, 12, 12, 14): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the first st, dc across until one st left before the next ch space, inc. Ch 2, sk ch space, place 3 dc in the middle st of the next three sts (3). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc, dc across until one st left before the next ch space, inc. Ch 2, inc in the next 2 sts, leaving the last two unworked (4).

Continuing with all sizes

Upper Wing

Row 5 (7, 7, 9, 9) (11, 13, 13, 15): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc, dc across until one st left before the next ch space, inc. Ch 2, sk ch space, place 3 dc in the first st, leaving the rest of the sts unworked (3). (24 (28, 28, 32, 32) (36, 40, 40, 44))

Row 6 (8, 8, 10, 10) (12, 14, 14, 16): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc, dc across until one st left before the next ch space, inc. Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts (4). (27 (31, 31, 35, 35) (39, 43, 43, 47))

Now, we will only be increasing once in the middle, not two times.

Row 7 (9, 9, 11, 11) (13, 15, 15, 17): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc, dc across until the next ch space. Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts (4).

Row 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) (14, 16, 16, 18): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, dc across until one st left before the next ch space, inc. Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts (4).

Continue alternating between the last two rows until you have a total of 9 (11, 13, 15, 17) (21, 23, 25, 27) rows and 30 (34, 36, 40, 42) (48, 52, 54, 58) sts.

Row 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) (22, 24, 26, 28): Turn. Slst across 3 times starting in the 2nd st, slst in the next ch space, slst 2 more times. You should be in the second st after the first ch space. Ch 3, dc across until one st left before the next ch space, inc. Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts (4). (26 (30, 32, 36, 38) (44, 48, 50, 54))

Row 11 (13, 15, 17, 19) (23, 25, 27, 29): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the first st after the ch space, dc across until 5 sts remain. Leave the rest of the sts unworked.

Row 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) (24, 26, 28, 30): Turn. Slst into the next 5 sts starting in the 2nd st. Ch 3, dc across until one st remains before the ch space, inc. Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts (4).

Continue alternating between the last two rows until you have a total of 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) (26, 28, 30, 32) rows. Row 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) (27, 29, 31, 33): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times. (4)

Row 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) (28, 30, 32, 34): Turn. Slst across 3 times starting in the 2nd st. Place another slst in the top of the ch 3. Ch 170 (190, 200, 220, 240) (260, 280, 300, 320) (this will be one of the strands that will cross in the back, you can adjust the length accordingly). Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, slst across the ch. Slst in the st the ch started from, f/o.

Lower Wing

Attach your yarn to the outer dc sts in the middle 3 sts from row 6.

Row 5 (7, 7, 9, 9) (11, 13, 13, 15): Ch 3, place 3 dc in the same st (3). Ch 2, sk ch space, dc across until the next ch space. Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts (4). (16 (20, 20, 24, 24) (28, 32, 32, 34))

Row 6 (8, 8, 10, 10) (12, 14, 14, 16) - 9 (13, 13, 17, 17) (21, 25, 25, 27): Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 2, sk ch space, sk first st, dc across until one st left before the next ch space. Ch 2, sk ch space, inc in the next 2 sts (4).

Row 10 (14, 14, 18, 18) (22, 26, 26, 28): You should have only one st left in the middle of the two ch spaces. Turn. Slst in the 2nd st, slst in the 3rd st. Ch 3, inc two times (4). Ch 1, sk the next 2 ch spaces. Inc in the next 2 sts (4). (8)

Row 11 (15, 15, 19, 19) (23, 27, 27, 29): Turn. Slst across 3 times starting in the 2nd st. Ch 3, dc in the same space. Ch 1, sk ch space, inc. (4 - ch 3 counts as a stitch this row) F/o.

Repeat the butterfly wing instructions for the other side of the butterfly’s body. Weave in all the ends.

The Straps

There are many ways you can tie this top to fit your body the best. Here is one way of doing it. The straps attached to the top of the butterfly’s body will tie around your neck. Then, the other straps will first cross over the back and are put into the butterfly's upper wing’s widest opening space. Then, the straps cross over again into the butterfly’s lower wing’s widest opening space. Then, the two strands are tied together (see pictures below).

Finishing Up

Hide in all your ends and you're finished! I hope that you enjoyed this pattern! Share your finished work by tagging #MaesButterflyTop and @mae.crochets. And if you’re selling your amazing creation, please add in the description that you used this pattern. Good luck! If you are interested in seeing more of my patterns, you can find them at www.maecrochets.com/shop.