Butterfly Appliqué Knitting Pattern
My Butterfly Appliqué 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!
Table of Contents
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!
Watch Video Tutorial
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)
- 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.
Printable Knitting Instructions
Printable Knitting Pattern
Learn how to easily knit a butterfly with this fun quick knit pattern.
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
- Row 1: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, Sl1P (10 Sts)
- Row 2: K1, KFB, K6, KFB, Sl1P (12 Sts)
- Row 3: K1, KFB, K8, KFB, Sl1P (14 Sts)
- Row 4: K1, KFB, K10, KFB, Sl1P (16 Sts)
_____ - Row 5: K1, SSK, K10, K2Tog, Sl1P (14 Sts)
- Row 6: K1, SSK, K8, K2Tog, Sl1P (12 Sts)
- Row 7: K1, SSK, K6, K2Tog, Sl1P (10 Sts)
_____ - Row 8: BO 3, K5, Sl1P (7 Sts)
- Row 9: BO 3, K3, CCO 5 (9 Sts)
- Row 10: K9, CCO 5 (14 Sts)
_____ - Row 11: K1, KFB, K10, KFB, Sl1P (16 Sts)
- Row 12: K1, KFB, K12, KFB, Sl1P (18 Sts)
- Row 13: K1, KFB, K14, KFB, Sl1P (20 Sts)
_____ - Row 14: K19, Sl1P (20 Sts)
- Row 15: K19, Sl1P (20 Sts)
_____ - Row 16: K1, SSK, K14, K2Tog, Sl1P (18 Sts)
- Row 17: K1, SSK, K12, K2Tog, Sl1P (16 Sts)
- Row 18: K6, K2Tog, K2Tog, K5, Sl1P (14 Sts)
- 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
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.