Thursday, 12 May 2011

Crochet Butterfly Pattern



At yesterday's craft morning I taught the butterfly, everyone seemed to really enjoy it and so I thought I would write out a really clear pattern with photos for it, as I didn't manage to find a proper one online. Enjoy :)

You can use any yarn and needle you like. For this I have used a single ply merino wool and a 1.75 needle.

Abbreviations:
Chain (ch)
Double Crochet (dc)
Treble (tr)


This pattern is written using UK crochet terms. For US terms, replace tr with dc and dc with sc.


Start by making a magic circle or if you prefer you can join a chain of 6 to form a circle.

Round 1


All the following stitches are made into the center of the circle: *3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 2ch*.


Repeat from * to * 4 times so you end up with 8 groups of 3tr separated by 2ch.


Join with a slip stitch in the top of the first treble of round 1.

(NOTE that if you made your initial circle using 6 chains (not the magic circle) replace the first treble with 3 chains i.e. 3ch, 2tr for the first of the 8 groups. Continue with 3tr, 2ch for the following 7 groups. Join with a slip stitch in the top of the 3ch.)


Round 2:



3ch.


Then make (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) into the next 2ch gap (circled in red in the image above)


Make (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in the following six 2ch gaps.


In the last gap make (3tr, 2ch, 2tr) and join with a slip stitch in the top of the 3ch – the 3ch you made at the beginning of the round, acts as a treble.


You should now have eight groups of (3tr, 2ch, 3tr).

Round 3:



8tr in the following 2ch (the peak of the 'petal') then a slip stitch into the next gap (the space between the two 'petals'). Repeat this all the way around until you have eight groups of 8tr.


Join with a slip stitch into the last space. Fasten off.


Sew in the yarn end that’s in the center of the circle.

Antennae:


Make a chain in the length that you’d like your antennae to be (remember it will be folded in half). Fasten off and sew in the ends. Fold it in the middle.


Fold the circle in the middle to create a butterfly shape.


Fold it so the remaining yarn end is at the bottom center of the butterfly. Use this yarn end to sew the butterfly together along the center.


With the same yarn sew your antennae so they are fastened in the center of the initial circle.


And you're done!

Attach a pin at the back of the butterfly to create a lovely summer brooch. You can also attach a hair pin, magnet or simply sew it onto to clothing cushions etc.

Variations:


Create multi coloured butterflies by making each/some of the rounds a different colour.


Use metal wire to make the antennae. Add beads to the ends.

Please contact let me know if you spot any mistakes or have any questions.

This pattern was not developed by me, I am not sure who first came up with it. I have written this version of the pattern out and photographed it myself.

120 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting this Marie - I'm going to get to work on another one. I really enjoyed making these. I'm glad you tried making one with two colours too - looks lovely. See you Wednesday x

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  2. I've was pointed here by a friend and have just made my first butterfly. Thank you s much for posting this. Such a simple pattern but with such delightful results. Thank you!

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  3. These are beautiful. I made my first one the other day. Thanks for your wonderful tutorial. It was easy to follow!

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  4. So beautiful. I can't wait to try and make one. Thanks for posting the pattern.

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  5. These are so beautiful. I can see them having many applications. I think I will make some as hair clips for my daughter first.

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  6. These are so pretty! Linking up tomorrow at Tangled Happy. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. :)

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  7. These are so pretty, I saw them on Tangled Happy.

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  8. Thanks for teaching how to do them!! they are so beautiful. I will do some when I arrive home from work

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  9. Thank you for sharing these, I've been looking for a great butterfly pattern!
    Helen x

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    1. Hi, just to let you know I've shared your tutorial on my blog this week, instructing people to visit you for instructions :)
      http://creativechaosart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/tried-and-tested-tip-number-9-crochet.html
      Helen x

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    2. Thank you so much Helen! x

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  10. I love this tutorial, thank you very much.
    Esther.

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  11. Thank you all for your lovely comments! I'm so glad you enjoyed the tutorial - I'd love to see some of your butterfly versions. x

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  12. I found the link on Pinterest. I made my first one tonight - stripy yarn is interesting. And that darn Magic Ring - yeah, that's impossible, so I did the chain 6 and it turned out super cute. My daughters thought the flower was fun, but will like the butterfly even better. I did mine with as US G hook and a thin 4-ply and it ended up about 6 inches across.

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    1. That sounds brilliant Traci - a giant butterfly! It might look really nice framed on its own in a box frame? The magic circle can be tricky but there are lots of helpful Youtube links if you want to give it another go :)

      Marie

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    2. I love the magic circle. YouTube & lots of practice. It will change your crocheting life. Lol

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  13. Oh my goodness, these are too cute! I would love to stop everything right now and make some, but I must go partake in my birthday festivities, lol. What a darling project - thank you for sharing it with us! I see many, many butterflies in my future. :)

    Have a lovely evening!

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    1. Happy Birthday Shani! Hope you've had a lovely day and that you'll get time to crochet some butterflies soon :)
      Marie

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    2. Thank you, Marie! It was the loveliest of birthdays; I am so very blessed. :)

      Off to make a butterfly now... I've been thinking of them constantly. I'm thinking adorable toppers for a gift, or strung together as bunting, or attaching one to the top of a pretty ribbon and using it as a bookmark. I see Mother's Day gifts in the off-ing.

      *sigh* So many pretty yarny things to make, so little free time. :)

      Have a lovely day!
      Shani

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  14. The butterfly is so sweet!! Maybe I'm missing something but is the abbreviation for crochet and double crochet the same in your directions? I'm fairly new at crochet and was a little confused reading through the pattern. Thanks so much!!

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    1. Hi Christin! You're right, in my abbreviations I've made a mistake! I'll correct it now. The abbreviation for double crochet is usually dc but I don't think this pattern uses any double crochet stitches so I'm not quite sure why I put that in the abbreviations! Every time it says ch in the pattern, it means chain (not double crochet). Hope this helps and thank you for letting me know.

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  15. Hi, your tutorial was great, I have put it to good use! My picture frames have got great reviews :) Thanks!

    http://dillytante.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/birthday-butterflies/

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    1. Ah I'm so glad your friend liked her present. It looks amazing thanks so much for sharing it.

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  16. Saw this, this morning on Pintrest, and had to try it today, Just finished and it didn't look nothing like a flower the whole time I was making it, and sure didn't look like a butterfly when I folded it, but then I kept folding it in half and turning and folding in half and voila, there a flower became a butterfly! So Cute!!!

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  17. I found this tut Via pinterest. I am redoing my daughter's room and was looking for butterfly ideas. These will look great flying around her room. I made a practice one today... Much easier than I feared (novice crocheter

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  18. what a beautiful butterfly. I love your clear instructions and photos. Thank you for sharing. I teach knitting and crochet and this would be a lovely small project to teach too.
    Thanks again
    xx

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    1. Thanks Deanne, I'm glad you like it!

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  19. Oh, they are sooooo sweet:) I must try myself:) Thanks for insporation!

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    1. Thank you! I hope they turn out really well.

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  20. This is a really nice pattern, I might have a go I think. TY for sharing it.

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    1. Thank you. I hope you did have a go, they're really fun to make and give away as gifts.

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  21. Thanks for your generosity in sharing this pattern...hope to have a go when time permits.

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  22. Thank you for a lovely pattern, I really enjoyed making these.
    Carol xx

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  23. This is a beautiful pattern!

    My blog is currently hosting a craftivism challenge, where we are making butterflies for The Butterfly Project. I'm planning on doing a few of these, and linking back here.

    Found you via Dilly Tante on Mum of All Trades - hope you'll come by for a visit!

    Ann @ Suburban Prairie Homemaker
    www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com

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    1. Thank you! Very nice post and I love the project.

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  24. That's really clever! They are so pretty too. I'm always looking for good butterfly patterns and I think this is the best yet. Thanks so much.

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  25. Thank you for your very clear tutorial!

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  26. Thanks for sharing, I will try to make one, just so beautiful.

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  27. Hello,

    I loved the butterfly tutorial! I was hoping you have one for a very small, delicate rose or tulip?

    I would appreciate it. My email is slguillory@gmail.com.

    Thanks,

    Sherie Guillory

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    1. Hello Sherie,
      Unfortunately I don't have a rose or tulip one, but I'll definitely keep my eyes open and post it here if I find one.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  28. Very cute. Great idea and not so hard when you do it this way!

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    1. Thank you! I'm really glad you found the instructions easy. Hopefully you've made loads by now.
      Mariex

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  29. They are very beautiful, congratulations

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  30. Love your butterflies! thanks for sharing. I just made two of them.

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    1. Thank you! It's so nice to think of all these butterflies being crocheted around the world.
      Marie x

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  31. Love those little butterflies! :)

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    1. Tak! Og du har også en fin blog :)

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  32. Gorgeous butterflies! Thank you for the tutorial and sharing, have a wonderful weekend, take careX:)

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    1. Thank you and you're welcome! Hope you're having a lovely Easter break. Mariex

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  33. Wow! These are beautiful! Thank you for sharing the directions to do them. I make cards, so maybe I could try to make one of these to put on a very special one - Mother's Day is coming! I'm putting on my pinterest board so I'll be able to find you again. thank you!

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    1. Thank you, I'm so glad you like them. A mother's day card sounds like a lovely idea - you could even make a few different sized ones and put a swarm of butterflies on the card. Mariex

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  34. I'm your newest follower from http://tampabaycrochet.blogspot.com. Great pattern and I love your blog!

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    1. Thank you and welcome to my blog Megan! x

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  35. Wow lovely butterflies

    http://truptiscraft.blogspot.com/

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  36. I tried a similar pattern but got a bit confused. I am going to give your pattern a try later today. I am making them for our special needs sons medical conference held in Chicago this June. The state insect is a butterfly and so we are using a butterfly as our logo. My goal is to make pins in our logo colors with embroidery floss for all of the staff to wear. If I can do it well perhaps I would make them for attendees if they give a small donation to the CdLS foundation! Wish me luck!

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    1. How did you do on the butterfly crocheting Joanne? Hopefully the tutorial made sense and you are able to make loads in time for the conference. I think the donation idea is brilliant! I wish you so much luck. Mariex

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    2. I am struggling but not giving up! Keep you posted; your pattern is beautiful and I love the magic circle! Still working on that one also. We have an amazing store here in TX, the Woolie Ewe. The gal I took classes with never mentioned the magic circle so I don't know if it is popular here in the states. They said crochet is the new knit.... At least here!

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  37. Thank you Marie for the lovely butterfly pattern and your generousity of sharing it.

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    1. You're very welcome Tricia. I'm so glad you like it. x

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  38. made my first butterfly today, and it took me less than 15 mns, I like that!!!
    Planning on making a door hanging thing with them, should look nice for summer :-)

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    1. That's quick! You'll have a door hanging thing in no time ;)
      x

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  39. Bloody Brilliant! Essentially folding over a flower, best butterfly pattern I've seen thus far.

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    1. Thank you! I'm so glad you like it. x

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  40. I had to take a crochet break; too many things going on at once but now I am back to it!
    I was having a really hard time getting my 1st round to come out with 8 groups. I was using a steel hook and floss and it was hard to see where to put the hook. I finally gave in and used a g hook and sport weight yarn and a beautiful butterfly emerged!
    I found some beautiful bamboo yarn with a little thread of sparkle in it; it makes a beautiful butterfly! Thank you again for sharing this pattern! I cannot wait to share my butterflies at our conference next months!

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    1. I completely understand, crocheting should be fun, not frustrating! I'm so glad you got the hang of the pattern now. It's often easier to start of with yarn and a hook that you're comfortable with, then once you've made a few you can always go back to the floss if you want you to.

      Your bamboo yarn sounds lovely, would love to see it if you post any photos of it.

      Happy Crocheting! x

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  41. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on this post. I'm so happy I've in some way contributed to lots of butterflies being crocheted around the world!

    Marie x

    P.S. I've got a giveaway on the blog this week: http://blog.mariesmaking.com/2012/05/spring-give-away.html

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  42. Just found your pattern and blog. Thanks for sharing it. I'll give it a go. They are delightful. Cx

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    1. You're very welcome, I'm so glad you like the pattern! x

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  43. Can't wait to try it...in fact, why not now?

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    1. Did you give it a try? How did it go?

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  44. It really is a clear pattern, thank you very much.
    I made a keychain with this butterfly, i added ribbons to it. There's a picture on my blog: creatiefbezig.blogspot.com

    Greetings
    Jolanda (from Holland)

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  45. Just made 5 of these tonight. Using thicker yarn so they are massive butterflies my daughter loves them. Thnx

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  46. Lovely pattern thankyou for sharing xx

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  47. Marie, thanks for sharing pattern. I just bought an iPad and I love having the online patterns. I just fire it up and start crocheting from the screen where I have made a link to your page. So very portable this way when I travel, which is my favorite time to do needlework!

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  48. Hi there, I have made these kind of butterflies for years. Mine is a little different, I do have double crochets & I have never heard of the magic circle, but will give it a try. I do have 8 double crochet of 10, groups & when done, then fold the butterfly & I use a pipe cleaner folded inhalf & put over the butterfly that's folded & the folded end for the tail & the front ones are twisted & curled into the antenae. I put a magnet or a pin on the back. Yours are very cute!!

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    1. Hi SharaLee, thank you for the tips, I like the magnet idea a lot! Mariex

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  49. I love your pattern and instructions for a beautiful butterfly! Its so therapuetic Thank you!
    Ali x

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    1. Hi Ali, thanks for letting me know. I also find crocheting, or any craft really, very therapeutic. Mariex

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  50. So cute! I made one with cotton crochet thread, it's really pretty :)

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    1. Hi Kristen, thank you for letting me know. I'm really glad you enjoyed the tutorial. Mariex

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  51. Dang! I saw your butterfly on Pinterest, came here and made one. Now I'm hooked. Thinking of so many variations, applications, etc. I think my hubby may be cranky with you. ;)

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    1. Oh dear! Hopefully he has gotten over it by now :)
      I'm really glad you like the pattern and thank you for letting me know.

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  52. Thank you i've searched every where for this. Great pattern.

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    1. You're very welcome, I'm so glad you like it.

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  53. What a cute pattern! I did a couple during lunch today, and they are adorable. Thank you!

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  54. Hi Marie!

    I wanted to thank you for sharing this pattern! I am making butterfly appliques for baby blankets for a foundation that is incredible. It is called the Butterfly Fund. You can find out more info if you'd like at http://thebutterflyfund.org/. You may need some tissue;) So thank you for sharing this pattern. I can adorn their little blankets with these beautiful butterfly's!

    My question is, I can not figure out the last part before the sewing begins. This part, "Sew in the yarn end that’s in the center of the circle." What exactly am I sewing? Am I sewing one of the ends instead of weaving throughout?

    Thank you again for the pattern and for your help!

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    1. Hi Ashley - I'm so sorry for getting back to you so late. As this is an old post I only come back to it once in a while. You're just sewing in one of the ends - weaving it in, as you say, is probably a better way of describing it :)

      It's a lovely foundation and cause, I had someone else from there contact me a while back about these butterflies.
      Mariex

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  55. hi this is a great pattern i've just made one in double knit on a size 5mm hook it bigish!!!im well pleased with it thank you for the easy pictures and instructions i whizzed through them!!lol kerena

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  56. hi just a quick update i've now tried with a smaller hook and crochet cotton looks great but i did'nt realise until i folded it the colour combo makes it look like a slice of water mellon!!!when i can i will try to add a picture for you!it might take a while i'm not very technical!!!lol

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    1. Thank you Kerena, I'm so glad you like the pattern! Sorry for my delay in getting back to you. Have a lovely day. Mariex

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  57. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. Hi - sorry I accidentally hit delete comment when I wanted to reply! I'm really glad you like the tutorial and thank you for taking the time to let me know :)
      Best,
      Mariex

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  58. Where did you find this pattern?

    I believe it was first published in a Polish Magazine long ago, have you asked the designer for permission?

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    1. Hi Tina!

      This pattern is widely available on the internet, as far as I could work out it doesn't belong to anyone. All I have done is explain the pattern using my own images and my own words.

      I am not selling the pattern, I am not claiming ownership of it and I'm not selling the butterflies.

      If the images from this blog were published in a Polish magazine, then they were using mine.

      Best,
      Marie

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  59. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  60. So beautiful, and simple - like nature! Congratulations!!!

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  61. i've done my own, and this is my first doing crochet.. it was really easy to understand and i did it ;)

    its beautiful at the end, i'm so so happy.. thank you Marie *hugs*

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  62. Thank you!! This was easy to follow and turned out beautifully!

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  63. I am trying to use this tutorial to make a mobile for my daughter's nursery and I had a couple questions. I am using the US abbreviations and noticed that someone mentioned something in one of the comments that said that there were no double crochet's in this tutorial. I thought "dc" in the US version is "double crochet?" Also, what would be the best yarn to use? Just a very thin yarn? I am sort of new to crocheting and so don't always know what to use. Thank you!!

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  64. Have these butterflys on my frige that my husbens grandmother made over 25 years ago thanks for showing me how to make them for my grandoughter i did not wount to take one apart .

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  65. Thank you for sharing this pattern, it is lovely and I plan on making some for my granddaugher.

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  66. Hi Marie ~ Thank you for posting your butterfly directions. So cute I sat here at my computer and tried it out using a thin 4-ply yarn (something on hand) and H hook and of course it's huge, but so darn spectacular. My DH said "wow you just made that, it's looks like a real butterfly" - HAH, the wonders of crochet!! I'm making some of these to go on head-wraps or earwarmers. Two colors looks great I will have to try. I think my version is too large so will try again with smaller hook. So easy to follow - Sweet!

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  67. These are absolutely gorgeous, I've just been getting back into crochet, thanks for sharing, looking forward to taking a stroll round your blog. Blessings, Amanda

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  68. Thank you for posting this pattern. My late mother-in-law made me two as refrigerator magnets (glued magnet strip on the belly), and I have hunted for years to locate the pattern. NOW I HAVE IT, and I will be making more. *S*

    Lisa
    kcks at gorge.net

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  69. Your butterflies are absolutely gorgeous! Love them!
    Thanks so much for sharing the great tutorial! Would love to have you visit me sometime.
    Have a fabulous week!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  70. Hi Marie

    I have just completed my first Butterfly, it is only my second project and although I may have made a small mistake I am thrilled with it. I only had 1 4.5 hook and some Double knit, but it looks great and I will definately have another go.

    Many thanks

    Lorraine Sargeant
    ps found this on Pinterest by the way.

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  71. Thank you for sharing! I will be making these tonight for a fairy birthday party. They will be perfect for decorations!

    Rikke /aka Frk Fogh

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  72. Thank you for sharing. :) It's lovely. :)

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  73. Hi Marie. I love these and have shared them on my blog littlescrapscrafts@wordpress.com

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  74. Great tutorial, love making theses

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  75. This is lovely. Thank you so much. I found your tutorial really easy to follow, and the butterfly is pretty. I intend to make lots of them.
    Alix

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  76. Would these work w/ embroidery floss?

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  77. the butterflies are going to be a Friday feature on the At Play blog tomorrow.
    I hope you'll stop by

    atplayonline.com

    Megan

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