Introduction
This delightful butterfly amigurumi brings a touch of nature's beauty to your home or makes a perfect gift for nature lovers. With delicate wings and a plump body, this butterfly captures the charm of these graceful insects while maintaining the cute appeal of amigurumi. The pattern features carefully designed wing shapes that maintain their structure without wire supports, making this project both child-safe and beginner-friendly. You can customize the colors to create anything from realistic butterfly species to fantasy color combinations. This project takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and uses basic amigurumi techniques with a few simple embellishments.
Materials
- Yarn A (Body): Worsted weight (4) in dark purple, black, or brown - approximately 20 yards
- Yarn B (Wings - Main): Worsted weight (4) in bright color (orange, blue, or pink) - approximately 30 yards
- Yarn C (Wings - Accent): Worsted weight (4) in contrasting color - approximately 15 yards
- Yarn D (Antennae): Worsted weight (4) in black - approximately 5 yards
- Crochet hook: 3.5mm (E/4) for tight stitches
- Polyester fiberfill: small amount for stuffing body
- Black embroidery thread: for facial details (optional)
- Safety eyes: 6mm black (optional, can be embroidered instead)
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
Skill Level & Techniques
Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate Techniques Required:
- Magic ring
- Single crochet (sc)
- Increase (inc)
- Invisible decrease (dec)
- Color changes
- Slip stitch (sl st)
- Chain stitch (ch)
Expected Time: 2-3 hours
Abbreviations & Terms
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- inc: increase (2 sc in same stitch)
- dec: invisible decrease (sc2tog)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sl st: slip stitch
- rnd: round
- mr: magic ring
- BLO: back loops only
- FLO: front loops only
- ( ): total stitch count at end of round
- [ ]: repeat instructions inside brackets
Pattern Instructions
Body
Using Yarn A (Body color):
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: [inc] 6 times (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Round 6: sc in each st around (30)
Round 7: sc in each st around (30)
Round 8: [3 sc, dec] 6 times (24)
Round 9: [2 sc, dec] 6 times (18)
Round 10: [1 sc, dec] 6 times (12)
Begin stuffing the body firmly, making sure to pack the stuffing well.
Round 11: [dec] 6 times (6)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Use yarn needle to close the remaining hole by weaving the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close, then weave in the end.
Wings (Make 2 identical sets)
Upper Wing (Make 2)
Using Yarn B (Main wing color):
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: [inc] 6 times (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Round 6: [4 sc, inc] 6 times (36)
Do not fasten off yet if adding color accents. If making single-color wings, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Color Accent (Optional)
If adding color accents with Yarn C: Continue with Yarn C:
Round 7: Working in BLO, sc in each st around (36) Round 8: [5 sc, inc] 6 times (42) Round 9: sc in each st around (42)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Lower Wing (Make 2)
Using Yarn B (Main wing color):
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: [inc] 6 times (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Do not fasten off yet if adding color accents. If making single-color wings, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Color Accent (Optional)
If adding color accents with Yarn C: Continue with Yarn C:
Round 5: Working in BLO, sc in each st around (24) Round 6: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Antennae (Make 2)
Using Yarn D (Black or same as body):
Chain 12. Row 1: Starting from second ch from hook, sl st in each ch down the length. At the end, make 3 sc in the last chain to form a small ball.
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Assembly Instructions
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Arrange all wing pieces flat on your work surface before attaching.
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For each side of the butterfly:
- Place the upper wing slightly overlapping the lower wing, aligning them to form a natural butterfly wing shape.
- Use the yarn tails to sew the upper and lower wings together where they overlap (approximately 3-4 stitches).
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Position the connected wing sets on either side of the body, slightly towards the top.
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Sew each wing set securely to the body using the yarn tails, ensuring they are symmetrically placed.
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Attach the antennae to the front top of the body by sewing the end of each chain securely, positioning them about 1/2 inch apart.
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Add eyes by either:
- Sewing safety eyes between rounds 3-4 of the body on the front side, or
- Using black embroidery thread to create small eye spots
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Optional: Using Yarn C, embroider small dots or lines on the wings to create butterfly markings.
Finishing Touches
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Gently bend the wings slightly to give them a more natural curved appearance.
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Fluff the body and adjust the antennae to stand upright and slightly curled at the ends.
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If desired, lightly press the wings flat (do not iron directly, use a pressing cloth and low heat).
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For extra detail, you can add tiny French knots with embroidery thread along the wing edges or body segments.
Technical Tips
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Tension Control: Keep your stitches tight, especially on the wings, to ensure they maintain their shape.
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Stuffing Technique: Stuff the body firmly enough to hold its shape but not so tight that the stitches stretch too much. Use small bits of stuffing rather than one large piece.
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Wing Attachment: For wings that stand out better, sew them only at the center point where they meet the body, leaving the edges free.
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Mounting Option: Insert a thin, clear sewing thread through the top of the body and create a loop for hanging the butterfly as a decoration.
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Customization: For a more detailed butterfly pattern, consider embroidering veins on the wings using a thin strand of matching or contrasting yarn.
Care Instructions
- Spot clean only with a damp cloth
- Air dry completely if the amigurumi becomes wet
- Avoid direct sunlight for extended periods to prevent color fading
- For display pieces, occasional gentle dusting with a soft brush will keep your butterfly looking fresh
Final Measurements
- Wingspan: Approximately 5-6 inches (12-15 cm)
- Body length: Approximately 2-2.5 inches (5-6.5 cm)
- Height with antennae: Approximately 3-3.5 inches (7.5-9 cm)
Customization Ideas
- Create a rainbow butterfly by using different colors for each wing section
- Add beads to the body for a decorative touch
- Make multiple butterflies in different sizes by changing hook size
- Create a mobile by making several butterflies and hanging them at different heights
- Add wire to the antennae if this is intended as a decorative piece for adults
Pattern designed with love for crochet enthusiasts of all skill levels.
