Let’s stay connected! Sign up for email updates on the site, and receive new, free knit and crochet patterns weekly, exclusive coupons, and free goodies you won’t find anywhere else! New email subscribers also receive a coupon for 15% off of their first order! It’s our happy, positive place on the Internet! xoxo

This pattern is free for a limited time. Just add to cart and complete checkout to receive the download. For more info, click here.

SIZE:

79” L x 36” W (201 cm x 91 cm), unblocked (See Finishing Section.)

MATERIALS:

Expression Fiber Arts Moongleam Fingering yarn

Shown in Primavera Hues: C1) Taupe, C2) Ivory, C3) Pink, C4) Gold, C5) Blue, and C6) Mint.

If those colors aren’t available, any from this category will work.

HOOK:

US size 7 (4.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge. Gauge is important to this project.

SKILL LEVEL:

Intermediate to Advanced: For the adventurous crocheter who loves to tackle something a bit more complicated. Skills/concepts include butterfly stitch and border stitch, working with tall loops, working loops off hook similar to Tunisian crochet, single crochet, and stacked single crochet. Crocheters should be comfortable working with long repeats and able to follow a photo tutorial.

Notes from the Designer:

Papilio is the Latin word for butterfly. The Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park in Dallas is where the state fair is held every year. It is home to the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House where you are surrounded by hundreds of fluttering butterflies. The gardens offer a live butterfly release in the two-story, tropical butterfly house! Magical!

The butterfly stitch developed for this pattern is meant to be an impressionistic interpretation of the magic in this enchanting place. The stitch takes a little practice at first, but it soon becomes familiar. Next, the magic really begins, as the beautiful, colorful butterflies start fluttering around to encompass you. The unique border is also an interpretation of the tropical plants you might find among the butterflies. I hope you will enjoy surrounding yourself with these light, lacy, fanciful beauties!

• Click here to watch a video tutorial showing how to work the butterfly stitch and the border stitch.
• The sample shown used approximately 2500 yds/2286 m total: C1: 420 yds/384 m, C2: 437 yds/ 400 m, C3: 437 yds/400 m, C4: 437 yds/400 m, C5: 437 yds/400 m, and C6: 332 yds/304 m.
• Since the pattern uses full skeins of Colors 2 - 5, you will want to ensure that your gauge is the same as the designer’s. If your gauge does not match, we suggest omitting a repeat or two or using a smaller hook. The pattern is a multiple of 5 + 1, and the border is a repeat of 3.
• The butterfly stitch is worked in three parts stacked on top of each other. The first row is worked from right to left, the second from left to right, and the third from right to left.
• The chain 3 loop at the top of each butterfly is where the butterfly on the next row will be worked and should be loose enough to allow the crochet hook to be inserted easily.
• Row 2 uses a marker to aid in finding the correct sp to place the last sc of the row as you are learning. Once you are comfortable with where to place this sc, you can stop using the marker if you wish.
• Starting with Row 3, four stacked sc stitches are worked at the beginning of each row. Work the first butterfly stitch of each row in the top of this stacked sc column. The last stitch of each row will always be a sc in the top of the butterfly stitch below it. This will maintain the correct stitch count for each row. Count your stitches on each row before proceeding to the next row.
• There are photo tutorials for both the butterfly stitch and the last row of the border.
• When changing colors, you may use any method for securing the ends that you are comfortable with, such as Russian join, magic knot, cut and weave in long tails, etc. We used the Russian join because it is secure and takes care of loose ends as you go. You may also choose to change colors at the end of a row if desired. It is also acceptable to start a butterfly with the current working color and finish with the new color.
• The main body of the shawl is worked in rows, and the border is worked in rounds.

Designed by MJSQD

You’ll receive a digital file only (instantly downloadable as a PDF) and won’t be shipped anything. Please allow a few minutes for the download link to be emailed to you. If the email doesn’t arrive within a few minutes, just log into your account on our site, and you’ll see your Completed Orders. From there, you’ll find the download link.

Happy crocheting!

Chandi

New? Read about our pattern download process here.

“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny.” – Tony Robbins