Crochet Blue Morpho butterfly- free pattern

Check out my Youtube video tutorial for this pattern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t51PimHz1YE

Materials needed:

DK yarn in turquoise/ blue, black and light green

3mm crochet hook

Embroidery thread (cotton) in black and white

Stitch marker

Scissors

Sewing needle

18 gauge florist wire

Florist tape

Abbreviations (US crochet terms):

st- stitch

ch- chain

mr- magic ring

sc- single crochet

hdc- half double crochet

dc- double crochet

sl st- slip stitch

inc- increase

invdec- invisible decrease

Repeat instructions in brackets the number of times stated

Top wings- make 2 in blue/ turquoise:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnd 2: sc in every st (6)

Rnd 3: (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (9)

Rnd 4: sc in every st (9)

Rnd 5: (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x3 (12)

Rnd 6: sc in nxt 5 st, inc, sc in nxt 6 st (13)

Rnd 7: sc in nxt 6 st, inc, sc in nxt 6 st (14)

Rnd 8: sc in nxt 7 st, inc, sc in nxt 6 st (15)

Rnd 9: sc in nxt 8 st, inc, sc in nxt 6 st (16)

Rnd 10: inc, sc in nxt 7 st, invdec, sc in nxt 6 st (16)

Rnd 11: inc, sc in nxt 7 st, invdec, sc in nxt 6 st (16)

Rnd 12: inc, sc in nxt 6 st, (invdec) x2, sc in nxt 5 st (15)

Rnd 13: inc, sc in nxt 5 st, (invdec) x2, sc in nxt 5 st (14)

Rnd 14: sc in nxt 6 st, (invdec) x2, sc in nxt 4 st (12)

Rnd 15: (sc in nxt 2 st, invdec) x3 (9)

Rnd 16: (sc in nxt st, invdec) x3 (6)

Fasten off leaving tail for sewing. Trim the tail from the magic ring.

Flatten piece so that the increases and decreases are on the side edge.

Bottom wings- make 2 in blue/ turquoise:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnd 2: inc in every st (12)

Rnd 3: inc in every st (24)

Rnd 4: sc in every st (24)

Rnd 5: (sc in nxt 2 st, invdec) x6 (18)

Rnds 6-7 (2 rnds): sc in every st (18)

Rnd 8: (invdec, sc in nxt 7 st) x2 (16)

Rnd 9: (invdec, sc in nxt 6 st) x2 (14)

Rnd 10: (invdec, sc in nxt 5 st) x2 (12)

Rnd 11: (invdec) x6 (6)

Fasten off leaving tail for sewing, flatten piece so that the decreases are on the edges. Trim tail from magic ring.

Body- in black:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnds 2- 9 (8 rnds): sc in every st (6)

Fasten off leaving tail, trim tail from magic ring. Thread tail onto needle, come up through the front loop only of each of the 6 stitches on the last rnd, pull tight to gather the stitches together and close the hole, find a loop nearby and go through it but not all the way- leave a loop, go through the loop from behind and pull tight to make a knot. Weave end through the body and cut the yarn close to the work. Use the end of your needle to push end inside.

Black edging on wings:

Lay out the wings so that they're a mirror image.

Left top wing: Push hook through the st nxt to where you fastened off, then through the st behind that (both layers), pull up a loop of black, ch 1, sc in same space, make 13 sc in the spaces between the ends of the rounds around the edge, make 2 hdc in nxt space, make 2 dc in each of the nxt 2 spaces, hdc in nxt 7 spaces, sl st in nxt space, Fasten off and weave in ends.

Right top wing: Push hook into a space on the edge where the horizontal straight edge ends (on the outer side, where the decreases are), pull up a loop of black, ch 1, sl st in same space, hdc in nxt 7 spaces, make 2 dc in each of the nxt 2 spaces, make 2 hdc in nxt space, sc in nxt 15 spaces. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Left bottom wing: Place the last rnd of the wing so it's touching the last rnd of the top left wing (in the position it will be sewn in later), use this as a guide to find the space underneath where the black edge ends on the top wing. Push hook into the space, pull up a loop of black, ch 1, sl st in same space, hdc in nxt 3 spaces, make 2 hdc in mr, hdc in nxt 5 spaces, sl st in nxt 7 spaces. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Right Bottom wing: Push hook into the space near to where you fastened off on the outside edge, pull up a loop of black, ch 1, sl st in same space, sl st in nxt 7 spaces, hdc in nxt 3 spaces, 2 hdc in mr, hdc in nxt 3 spaces, sl st in nxt space. Fasten off and weave in ends.

White markings:

Cut a long length of white embroidery thread, tie a double knot in the end, go through the opening of the top wing and come out at the top where the dc stitches are, make running stitches going underneath the V part of the black stitches, going down that side edge of the top wings. Then do the same for the bottom wings but don't go all the way along the bottom edge where it meets the bottom of the body. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sewing together:

Position all the pieces in place so that the wings line up with each other, use the blue tails to sew the ends of each wing to the body by picking up black loops and going through the blue stitches, once you've sewn the top and bottom wing on, weave the tail through to the space between them and sew them together for a few stitches along the egde where they meet. Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat the same for the other side.

Antennae:

Cut a 10cm long piece of black embroidery thread, fold it in half so the ends meet, push hook through the magic ring at the top of the body, pull the loop through, wrap the ends around the hook and pull through loop on the hook. Pull on the ends to tighten. You can trim them if you'd like.

Stem:

Measure 5cm from the end of the florist wire and bend it at this point, at a right angle. Push the short end into the back of the body in the middle, come out through a space 2 rnds down, pull through to the bend and then bend the short and long sides of the wire together. Take the florist tape and wrap it around the whole length of the wire, starting at the top and moving it down at an angle as you go. When you get to the bottom, leave about an inch of tape and cut it, don't wrap the end around yet.

Take the green yarn and leave several inches from the end, start wrapping it around the stem tightly, making sure there aren't any gaps. The stickiness of the tape will help the yarn to stick to it (it doesn't stay sticky for long so make sure you do it as soon as you've put the tape on). When you get to the end, cut the yarn and stop wrapping it around when you have about a cm left, then wrap the last bit of tape around it as many times as it will go, to secure it.

Thread the green tail from the start onto your needle, find a loop nearby on the body, go through it but not all the way, go through the loop from behind, pull tight to make a knot. Weave end through the body, cut the yarn close to the work and push end inside with your needle.

The butterflies are finished and you can display them in your favourite vase. I'd love to see a photo of your butterflies, you can share them with me by tagging me on instagram @laura_wilson01

Check out my Etsy shop for more patterns: https://laurawilsondesigns.etsy.com

This pattern was designed by Laura Wilson of Laura Wilson Designs. This pattern is strictly for personal, non-commercial use. Copy, distribution or commercial use of this pattern or any of its parts is not allowed. Please give credit if posting photos or selling finished item. © Laura Wilson 2024- All rights reserved.