Materials
Cream cotton yarn. About 350 to 450 g in DK weight.
Purple cotton yarn. About 180 to 250 g in DK weight.
Dark purple or brown yarn. A small amount for the butterfly bodies and antennae.
Crochet hook. 3.0 mm to 3.5 mm.
Tapestry needle.
Scissors.
Stitch markers.
Optional small pearl beads for the butterfly details.
Blocking mats and pins.
Finished Size
Approximate length. 100 to 120 cm.
Approximate width. 28 to 34 cm.
Large purple circle. About 16 to 18 cm across.
Butterfly. About 14 to 17 cm across.
Abbreviations
MR = magic ring
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet
inc = increase
sp = space
rep = repeat
Construction
Make four cream swirl lace sections and four purple round sections. Join them in an alternating line. Then make three butterflies and sew them over the joins. Finish with a cream bobble style edge around the outer curves.
Purple Circle Motif
Make 4.
Round 1. With purple yarn make MR. Ch 2. Work 12 dc in ring. Join with sl st. 12 stitches.
Round 2. Ch 2. Work 2 dc in every stitch. Join. 24 stitches.
Round 3. Ch 2. Work 1 dc in next stitch and 2 dc in next stitch. Rep around. Join. 36 stitches.
Round 4. Ch 2. Work 2 dc then 2 dc in next stitch. Rep around. Join. 48 stitches.
Round 5. Ch 2. Work 3 dc then 2 dc in next stitch. Rep around. Join. 60 stitches.
Round 6. Ch 2. Work 4 dc then 2 dc in next stitch. Rep around. Join. 72 stitches.
Round 7. Work 1 hdc in every stitch. Join.
Round 8. Work 1 sc in every stitch. Join and fasten off.
If the circle ruffles stop the increase sequence one round earlier. If it cups add a few extra increases evenly.
Cream Swirl Lace Motif
Make 4.
Round 1. With cream yarn make MR. Ch 2. Work 12 dc in ring. Join.
Round 2. Work 2 dc in every stitch. Join. 24 stitches.
Round 3. Work 1 dc then 2 dc in next stitch. Rep around. Join. 36 stitches.
Round 4. Work 2 dc then 2 dc in next stitch. Rep around. Join. 48 stitches.
Round 5. Ch 4. Skip 1 stitch. Sc in next stitch. Rep around to make open arches.
Round 6. In each ch 4 space work 1 sc 4 dc 1 sc.
Round 7. Sl st to the middle of the next shell. Ch 6. Sc in the middle of the next shell. Rep around.
Round 8. In each ch 6 space work 1 sc 6 dc 1 sc.
For the swirl effect do not finish the full outer round on one side. Instead work back and forth over about half of the circle for 4 rows. Decrease 1 shell at the beginning and end of each row. This pulls one side inward and creates a crescent or S shaped section.
Finish with 1 row of sc around the whole motif. Keep the inner curved edge firm and the outer curved edge relaxed.
Cream Bobble Edge
Join cream yarn to an outer curve.
Work 1 sc in the next 3 stitches.
In the next stitch work 5 dc together to create a small bobble.
Work 1 sc in the next 3 stitches.
Repeat around the visible outer edges.
Skip this edge where motifs will be joined.
Large Butterfly
Make 3.
Body. With dark purple or brown yarn ch 14. Sc in second ch from hook and across. Turn. Work 2 more rows of sc. Fasten off leaving a long tail.
Upper wing make 2. With purple yarn MR. Round 1 work 8 sc. Round 2 work 2 hdc in every stitch. Round 3 work 1 hdc then 2 hdc in next stitch around. Flatten slightly into an oval. Change to pale purple or cream and work 1 sc around. Fasten off.
Lower wing make 2. With purple yarn MR. Work 10 sc. Round 2 work 2 sc in every stitch. Round 3 work 1 sc then 2 sc in next stitch around. Shape into a smaller oval. Add a pale purple or cream border.
Wing shaping. Pinch one end of each wing. Sew 2 large wings near the upper body and 2 smaller wings below them.
Wing details. With cream yarn surface crochet a short curved line inside each wing. Add 2 or 3 small pearl beads if desired.
Antennae. Join dark yarn at the top of the body. Ch 8. Sl st back down. Repeat for the second antenna.
Sew the butterfly body over the wing joins so all raw edges are hidden.
Joining The Runner
Lay the motifs on a flat surface before sewing.
Alternate one cream swirl section and one purple circle down the length.
Overlap each pair by about 3 to 4 cm so the runner forms a continuous S shape.
Sew each join from the back using matching yarn and small whip stitches.
Place one butterfly over every second join. Use three butterflies total.
Sew through the butterfly body and only a few points of each wing so the wings keep some dimension.
Add the cream bobble edge around the outside if it was not added earlier.
Blocking And Finishing
Weave in all yarn ends.
Wet block the runner on mats.
Pin the cream swirls into smooth curves.
Pin the purple circles flat.
Shape the butterflies gently and leave the wings slightly raised.
Allow the runner to dry fully before using