Butterfly Knitting Pattern

My Butterfly Knitting Pattern shows you how to create these cute embellishments in a variety of color combinations. Especially when it feels too hot to knit, it’s fun to craft small quick knit appliques. You may wish to add these knitted butterflies to clothes, hairpins, notebooks, knitted flower bouquets and more.

Get all of your materials, techniques, with free printable written pattern instructions and video tutorial!

Butterfly Knitting Pattern Construction

Butterfly Body

This is an easy pattern construction, sure to inspire an entire kaleidoscope of butterflies! It’s a favorite yarn-buster project to help you use up your stash. The body of your butterfly is knitted:

• Bottom-up
• Flat using straight needles
• Short rows to create the curved shape
• Seamless

Finishing Embellishment

First, we will slightly fold bottom portion of wings overlapping top portion and tack with yarn to secure.

We then knit a little abdomen with any contrasting yarn color of your choice. By braiding three strands of yarn, create an antenna. Finishing is simply weaving in yarn ends!

Knitting Supplies

• Yarn in any weight, fiber, & color of your choice
• Knitting Needles sized appropriately for your yarn
• Scissors
• Tapestry Needle

Knitting Techniques

Not only is this a fun little quick knit project, but it’s a great opportunity to practice Basic Knitting Stitches, along with Increase and Decrease Stitches.

Increase Stitches

• CCO = Cable Cast On (Increase)
• KFB = Knit Front and Back (Increase)

Decrease Stitches

• K2Tog = Knit Two Together (Decrease)
• SSK = Slip Slip Knit (Decrease)

Check out my entire library of Knitting Techniques to help you along as you knit up this project.

More Embellishment Ideas

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Printable Knitting Instructions

Printable Knitting Pattern

Learn how to easily knit a butterfly with this fun quick knit pattern.

Makes: Knitted Butterfly Embellishment

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Intermediate

Print

Materials

• Yarn - 42 yards of Worsted Weight in any fiber and colors of your choice

Tools

• Knitting Needles - Size 7 US straight needles
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

Instructions

Cast On 8 Stitches

1. Row 1: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, Sl1P (10 Sts)
2. Row 2: K1, KFB, K6, KFB, Sl1P (12 Sts)
3. Row 3: K1, KFB, K8, KFB, Sl1P (14 Sts)
4. Row 4: K1, KFB, K10, KFB, Sl1P (16 Sts)
   
   _____
5. Row 5: K1, SSK, K10, K2Tog, Sl1P (14 Sts)
6. Row 6: K1, SSK, K8, K2Tog, Sl1P (12 Sts)
7. Row 7: K1, SSK, K6, K2Tog, Sl1P (10 Sts)
   
   _____
8. Row 8: BO 3, K5, Sl1P (7 Sts)
9. Row 9: BO 3, K3, CCO 5 (9 Sts)
10. Row 10: K9, CCO 5 (14 Sts)
    
    _____
11. Row 11: K1, KFB, K10, KFB, Sl1P (16 Sts)
12. Row 12: K1, KFB, K12, KFB, Sl1P (18 Sts)
13. Row 13: K1, KFB, K14, KFB, Sl1P (20 Sts)
    
    _____
14. Row 14: K19, Sl1P (20 Sts)
15. Row 15: K19, Sl1P (20 Sts)
    
    _____
16. Row 16: K1, SSK, K14, K2Tog, Sl1P (18 Sts)
17. Row 17: K1, SSK, K12, K2Tog, Sl1P (16 Sts)
18. Row 18: K6, K2Tog, K2Tog, K5, Sl1P (14 Sts)
19. Row 19: K5, K2Tog, K2Tog, K4, Sl1P (12 Sts)

BO: All 12 Stitches

_____

ABDOMEN

CO: 14 Stitches

BO: 14 Stitches

_____

ANTENNA

Braid 3 strands of yarn, knotting them to secure on either side until your braid is approximately 2” in length.

_____

FINISHING

• Slightly fold bottom portion of wings overlapping top portion, tack with yarn to secure.
• Tack abdomen over the center of wings;
• Add an antenna; and
• Weave in ends.

Fly away!

Notes

Butterfly Size: Approximately 3.25” wide x 2.5” tall with size 7US needles and worsted yarn. Using smaller or larger materials will alter the size of your finished butterfly accordingly.

Knitting Techniques

• CO = Cast On Long Tail Method
• CCO = Cable Cast On (Increase)
• K = Knit Stitch 
• K2Tog = Knit Two Together (Decrease)
• KFB = Knit Front and Back (Increase)
• Sl1P = Slip One Stitch Purlwise
• SSK = Slip Slip Knit (Decrease)
• BO = Bind Off

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Kristen McDonnell
Author & Designer

After publishing her first knitting tutorial video, Kristen founded StudioKnit LLC. Enamored with teaching online, she films knitting lessons and designs from her vibrant production studio on Half Moon Bay’s California coast.

Kristen McDonnell is the author of the highly acclaimed book Knit Stitch: 50 Knit + Purl Patterns featuring vintage and unique designs.