A graceful crochet wall hanging featuring a large butterfly at the top and a long chain of folded, leaf-shaped spiral motifs below. The design is worked in bright colour families – pink, blue and golden yellow – with a crisp white edging that highlights every curve.
The butterfly gives the piece a light, decorative focal point, while the repeated folded motifs create a sculptural, cascading effect. A pearl-style bead at the bottom adds a polished finish. This design works beautifully as nursery decor, a cheerful window hanging, a handmade gift, or a colourful accent for a craft room or hallway.
Finished length is approximately 65 to 85 cm, depending on yarn, hook size and the number of spiral motifs used. The butterfly is approximately 16 to 20 cm wide.
What you’ll need
DK cotton or light worsted cotton yarn in one main colour family such as pink, blue or yellow.
White or cream yarn for edging.
A small amount of a darker shade from the same colour family for depth, if desired.
A 3 mm to 3.5 mm crochet hook.
Tapestry needle and scissors.
One medium pearl-style bead or wooden bead for the bottom decoration.
Optional small white beads or craft pearls for the butterfly antennae.
Optional fabric stiffener or a light blocking spray if you want the butterfly to hold a very crisp shape.
Abbreviations are US terms. ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, tr = treble crochet, MR = magic ring.
Construction overview
The hanging is easiest to make in three parts.
First, crochet the butterfly as a separate flat motif and shape the wings with a white border.
Second, make a series of pointed oval or leaf-shaped motifs. Each one is edged in white, folded lengthwise and joined along the centre so it becomes a dimensional pod.
Third, connect the folded motifs vertically, attach them under the butterfly and finish with a hanging cord at the top and a bead at the bottom.
For the photographed proportions, make about 5 folded motifs below each butterfly.
Butterfly body
With white yarn, ch 10.
Starting in the second chain from hook, work 1 sc in each chain across.
Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc in each stitch across for another row.
Repeat for 3 to 4 rows to create a narrow padded body strip.
Fold the strip slightly and sew the long edges together. Leave the top end open for attaching the antennae.
For a more rounded body, you can instead work 6 sc in MR and continue in a narrow spiral tube for 8 to 10 rounds.
Upper butterfly wing
Make 2.
With the main colour, ch 11.
Starting in the second chain from hook work: sc, hdc, dc, dc, tr, tr, tr, dc, hdc, sc.
Work 3 sc in the last chain and continue along the opposite side with the same stitch sequence in reverse.
Join with sl st.
For the second round, work increases around the widest half of the wing so it opens into a broad teardrop shape. Keep the lower edge slightly narrower than the top.
Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.
Lower butterfly wing
Make 2.
Ch 8 in the main colour.
Starting in the second chain from hook work: sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc.
Work 3 sc in the final chain and mirror the stitches down the opposite side.
Join with sl st and fasten off.
The lower wings should be smaller and rounder than the upper wings.
White butterfly edging
Join white yarn anywhere around each wing.
Work sc evenly around the edge, placing 2 sc in stitches along the broad curves and 3 sc at sharp tips if needed.
For a softly scalloped look, work *sc, ch 2, sc* every few stitches around the outer edge.
Keep the edging even so the white line remains visible around the coloured wing.
Assembling the butterfly
Place the two upper wings behind the body and angle them upward and outward.
Position the two lower wings slightly below, with their points angled downward.
Sew the wing bases firmly to the body using matching yarn.
For the folded dimensional look in the photograph, pinch each wing gently along the centre and tack a few stitches at the base so the wing curves forward instead of lying completely flat.
Add a row of small knots or beads down the centre of the body if desired.
Antennae
Attach white yarn at the top of the butterfly body.
Ch 10 to 12 and fasten off.
Repeat for the second antenna.
Thread one small bead onto each antenna and secure it with a knot, or make a tiny yarn bobble at the end instead.
Folded spiral leaf motif
Make 5 for one hanging.
With the main colour, ch 16.
Starting in the second chain from hook work: sc, hdc, dc, dc, tr, tr, tr, tr, tr, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sc, sc.
Work 4 sc into the final chain.
Continue down the opposite side of the foundation chain, mirroring the stitches.
Join with sl st. The result should look like a long pointed oval or leaf.
If the motif feels too narrow, add one extra round of hdc, increasing gently around both rounded ends.
White edge for the folded motifs
Join white yarn to the outer edge.
Work 1 sc in each stitch around.
At each pointed end, work 3 sc into the same stitch so the tip stays sharp.
For a more decorative finish, replace every fourth sc with a small picot: ch 3, sl st into the first chain.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Creating the 3D pod shape
Fold each long oval in half lengthwise with the coloured sides facing inward toward each other and the white edges meeting.
Pinch the centre line so the motif forms a deep open petal or pod.
Sew 2 to 3 cm along the centre at the top and bottom, leaving the middle slightly open.
This partial joining is what creates the sculptural, twisted appearance seen in the reference image.
Repeat for all five motifs.
Joining the vertical spiral
Arrange the five folded motifs in a straight vertical line below the butterfly.
Rotate each motif about a quarter turn compared with the one above it so the openings alternate from left to right.
Sew the bottom tip of one motif to the top tip of the next with several strong stitches.
Keep the joins compact so the motifs appear to flow into one another rather than being separated by visible gaps.
After joining, gently twist the whole chain by hand until the cascade looks balanced.
Attaching the butterfly
Sew the top point of the first folded motif to the lower centre of the butterfly body.
Use several passes of yarn through the body so the weight of the hanging does not pull the butterfly out of shape.
Check that the butterfly remains level when the piece is held by the hanging cord.
Bottom bead finish
Thread a pearl-style bead onto a doubled strand of yarn.
Attach the yarn through the bottom point of the final folded motif.
Secure the bead with a small knot or tiny metal-look spacer bead below it.
The bead should hang freely without pulling the final motif closed.
Hanging loop
Attach white yarn to the top centre of the butterfly body.
Ch 35 to 45, depending on the desired hanging length.
Sl st back into the starting point and fasten off.
For a thicker cord, make a long chain and work slip stitches back along it.
Colour arrangement
For the pink version, use deep raspberry in the centre, medium pink around it and white on the edge.
For the blue version, use royal blue or cobalt with a lighter blue centre and white edging.
For the yellow version, combine golden yellow with a lighter butter yellow and white.
Using two close shades of the main colour creates more depth, especially in the butterfly wings and folded motifs.
Blocking and shaping
Lightly block the butterfly before assembly so the wings remain symmetrical.
Do not flatten the folded spiral motifs. Instead, dampen them lightly and shape each pod with your fingers.
Allow the full hanging to dry vertically if possible so the joins settle naturally.
If you use cotton yarn, a very light spray of fabric stiffener can help the butterfly wings hold their shape.
Size variations
For a shorter ornament, make only 3 folded motifs below the butterfly.
For a long wall hanging, use 7 to 9 motifs.
For a miniature version, use sport-weight cotton and a 2.25 mm to 2.75 mm hook.
For a larger nursery decoration, use worsted cotton and a 4 mm hook.
Alternative uses
Hang one in a window so the folded motifs catch the light.
Make three in coordinating colours and display them as a wall set.
Shorten the design and use it as a nursery mobile element.
Make a small version as a gift topper or decorative door hanger.
Use neutral beige, sage and cream for a softer botanical version.
Questions I get asked
Do I need wire inside the butterfly? No. Cotton yarn and light blocking are usually enough. Wire is optional if you want very rigid wings.
How many folded motifs do I need? Five gives a proportion close to the reference image, but you can easily add or remove sections.
Can I make the folded sections completely flat? Yes, but the three-dimensional fold is what creates the strongest sculptural effect.
Can I use acrylic yarn? Yes. Cotton gives crisper edges, while acrylic makes a softer and slightly lighter hanging.
How do I stop the piece from twisting too much? Join each motif securely at the exact centre point and rotate the motifs gradually rather than randomly.
Can I wash it? Hand washing is safest. Reshape the butterfly and folded sections while damp and dry flat or suspended.
Note
| This pattern is a visual recreation based on the supplied reference image rather than an original written pattern from the designer. Exact stitch counts may need small adjustments depending on your yarn, hook size, tension and preferred finished proportions. |