Linked Butterflies Free Crochet Pattern

Inspired by the success of the interlocking hearts design and because it’s springtime, I decided to create this beautiful linked butterfly design.

This pattern is written so that it can easily be extended to make longer panels which can be joined together, perhaps with plain panels in between to make blankets of varying sizes.

For this project I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn but if you are making a blanket you may want to use a softer, higher quality yarn.

I used perfect pink and lilac for the butterflies with soft white and tea leaf green for the border.

You will need a crochet hook size H/8 – 5mm. The first round of the border includes some complicated stitches – triple crochet two together and double crochet two together which makes this pattern a little challenging so I recommend you have some experience crocheting.

However, I have included a video tutorial with this pattern where I take you step by step through working these stitches.

If you love butterflies take a look at my Beautiful Butterflies Round-up.

If you’d like to see more of my designs you can find them HERE.

Linked Butterflies Free Crochet Pattern

US Terminology

Hook – H/8 – 5mm

First Butterfly (lilac)

Rnd 1: Magic Ring, ch7, sc into ring, ch7, sc into ring, ch5, sc into ring, ch5, sc into ring, pull ring closed. You should have 4 rings that make up the frame work for the wings.

Rnd 2: Working in the 1st ch7 sp [2sc, 2hdc, 2dc, ch3, 2dc, 2hdc, 2sc] Repeat [ ] for 2nd ch 7 space.
[3sc, ch3, 3sc] in each of the ch5 spaces. Sl st in top of 1st sc and fasten off.

Second Butterfly (pink)

Rnd 1: Repeat Rnd 1 of 1st butterfly

Rnd 2: Working in the 1st ch7 sp [2sc, 2hdc, 2dc, sl st through bottom right ch3 sp of previous butterfly, ch2, continuing to work in ch7 sp, 2dc, 2hdc, 2sc]. Working in the 2nd ch7 sp [2sc, 2hdc, 2dc, ch3, 2dc, 2hdc, 2sc]. Working in the next ch5 sp [3sc, ch3, 3sc]. In the last ch5 sp [3sc, sl st through top right ch3 space of previous butterfly, ch 2, continuing to work in ch5 space, 3sc]. Sl st in top of 1st sc and fasten off. This butterfly should be upside down and connected to the previous butterfly by the wing tips.

Third Butterfly (lilac)

Rnd 1: Repeat Rnd 1 of 1st butterfly

Rnd 2: Working in the 1st ch7 sp [2sc, 2hdc, 2dc, ch3, 2dc, 2hdc, 2sc]. Working in the 2nd ch7 sp [2sc, 2hdc, 2dc, sl st through the ch 3 space at the top of previous butterfly (the bottom wing but it’s at the top since it’s upside down), ch2, continuing to work in ch7 sp, 2dc, 2hdc, 2sc]. Working in next ch 5 sp [3sc, sl st in ch3 space at bottom of previous butterfly, ch2, continuing to work in ch5 sp, 3sc]. Working in the next ch5 sp [3sc, ch3, 3sc]. Sl st in top of 1st sc and fasten off.

Reapeat the 2nd and 3rd butterflies to make as many as you like but you must finish up with an EVEN number of butterflies. For my sample I made 4 so only repeated the 2nd butterfly.

Border

Using white and starting in the top right of the third butterfly, join with a slip stitch in the back loop only of the second stitch. Continuing to work in the back loops only, sc in next, hdc in next, dc2tog, tr, dc2tog, hdc, sc in next 3. Now you’ve reach the next butterfly which is upside down so you will be working across the bottom of it.

Bottom of butterfly

Starting in the chain before the first stitch (back loops only). Hdc, dc2tog, tr2tog, dc2tog, hdc.

Top of butterfly

Starting in the top of the first stitch (back loops only). Sc in each of the next 3, hdc, dc2tog, tr, dc2tog, hdc, sc in next 3.

Side of butterfly

3 sc in the next stitch to make the corner, sc in each of the next 3, hdc, dc2tog, tr2tog, dc2tog, dc, then 3hdc in the next stitch to make the corner.

Repeat the ‘bottom of butterfly’ and ‘top of butterfly’ sections as above across your row of butterflies. When you reach the end of your row, repeat the ‘side of butterfly’ section.

When you have gone around your whole piece and are back to where you started, sc in the last stitch.

If you want to continue in the same colour, slip stitch in the top of the first sc to join. Or to change colour, use the new colour to make the slip stitch.

Rnd 2: Ch2, dc in next stitch. Dc in each stitch along the row. To make the corner (find the 3 stitches that make up the corner of rnd 1) – dc in the top of the first stitch, [dc, ch3, dc] in the second stitch, dc in the third stitch. Continue to work a dc in the top of each stitch and make each corner the same way around the whole piece. Slip stitch to join in the top of the first dc and fasten off. Check you have the same number of stitches on the top and bottom and on the sides. The sides have 12 dcs. My 4 butterflies sample piece has 36 dcs on top and bottom.

If you’d like to feature this pattern on your website, you have my permission to use 1 photo as long as you provide a link back to my site.