Introducing our newest free crochet pattern, the intricate Modified Butterfly Shawl! You know we LOVE a crescent shawl around here and this beauty is no exception.

This shape of shawl drapes elegantly around the shoulders, making it perfect for cool evenings or an added layer of color and texture to any outfit. We added a stylized stripe for fun color contrast but you can easily make this in a solid color as well.

Pick up the yarn, either Merino DK or Sparkle DK, at one of our fave indie dyers, Asylum Fibers!

The Modified Butterfly Shawl - Free Crochet Pattern Is Great for Beginners!

The modern crochet design of the Modified Butterfly Shawl uses two contrasting or complimentary yarn colors to highlight its overall crescent shape. This feature, along with the intricate stitches of the lace section, really frames the face of the wearer as well as gives the shawl a little pop.

For this design I used a sparkle DK for the main body of the shawl and a merino DK for the stripe contrast letting the main color be the star of the show.

The Modified Butterfly Shawl works up quickly with rhythmic repeats creating a beautiful piece.

Let’s Begin and Make The Modified Butterfly Shawl - Free Crochet Pattern

Supply List:
Main Color: 2 Skeins Asylum Fibers Merino DK / 438 Total Yards
Contrast Color: 1 Skein Asylum Fibers Merino DK / 219 Yards
4.5 mm Crochet Hook
Large needle to weave ends
Button of choice
Tape Measure

Stitches Used / Abbreviations:
Fhdc – foundation half double crochet
ch – chain loop
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
scbl – single crochet back loop only
st(s) – stitch(es)
dc2tog – dc 2 together in same stitch as a cluster
sk – skip
(RS) – right side
(WS) – wrong side

NOTES:
PLEASE READ THROUGH BEFORE BEGINNING

GAUGE: 20 sts x 15 Rows in sc = 4” square
Gauge is not essential for this pattern – so long as you keep consistent stitches you will have a fabric you love.

Do not worry too much about the edges because the actual border for the neck side will be clean at the very end.

You may see significant change in finished measurements after blocking.

Please see video on Stitch & Hustle to learn this starting shawl method if you do not know it.

There will be a significant change to the shape of your shawl if you use a chain to start instead of the fhdc.

If you notice your fabric begin to “curl” up and round then you are likely doing your beginning ch 2 of each row too tightly In this case do a ch 3 instead to start each row.

The dc2tog stitch is typically a decreasing method, in this pattern it creates a mini cluster and done in a single stitch.

Lace section you will work repeat until specified number of stitches remains.

Due to the nature of the design, you may see an uneven top of this shawl. That is OK! See my tips on how to get a straight shawl edge through blocking here.

BEGIN USING MAIN COLOR:

ROW 1 (RS): fhdc 12, then ch 1,
Do NOT Turn your work. Instead, keep going and turn 90 degrees to work back across the base side of the fhdc row.

ROW 2 (RS): ch 2 (does not act as st); 3 hdc in last st of previous row, 2 hdc in each st across to last st, 3 hdc in last st. Turn./ 26 sts.

ROW 3: (WS) ch 2 (does not act as st); 2 hdc in last st of previous row, 2 hdc in next st, hdc across to last 2 sts, 2 hdc in last 2 sts. Turn. / 30 sts.

ROWS 4-8: ch 2 (does not act as st), 3 hdc in last st of previous row, hdc in each hdc across to last st, 3 hdc in last st, Turn. Increasing 4 sts each Row. / 50 sts at end of Row 8.

ROW 9: ch 2 (does not act as st), 2 hdc in last st of previous row, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in each of next 5 sts, * 2 hdc in next st, hdc in each of next 6 sts*; repeat * to * across to last 2 sts, 2 hdc in last 2 hdc. Turn. / 60 sts.

ROW 10: Repeat Row 3. / 64 sts.

STRIPE SEQUENCE 1:
CHANGE TO CONTRAST COLOR

ROW 11: ch 2, 2 sc in last st of previous row, 2 sc in next st, scbl in each st across to last 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. Increasing 4 sts / 68 sts.

ROW 12: ch 2 (does not act as st); 2 sc in last st of previous row, 2 sc in next st, sc across to last 2 sts, 2 sc in last 2 sts. Turn. /72 sts.

CHANGE TO MAIN COLOR
ROWS 13 – 14: ch 2 (does not act as a st), 2 sc in last st of previous row, 2 sc in next st, scbl in each st across to last 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. Increasing 4 sts / 80 sts.

CHANGE TO CONTRAST COLOR
ROWS 15 - 16: Repeat Rows 11-12 / 88 sts.

CHANGE TO MAIN COLOR
ROW 17: Repeat Row 13. / 92 sts.

ROW 18: ch 2 (does not act as st), 2 hdc in last st of previous row, 2 sc in next st, scbl in next 3 sts, 2 scbl in next st, * scbl in each of next 8 sts, 2 scbl in next st *; repeat * to * across to last 5 sts, 3 scbl in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in last 2 sts, Turn. / 106 sts.

CHANGE TO CONTRAST COLOR
ROWS 19 - 20: Repeat Rows 11 - 12 / 114 sts.

CHANGE TO MAIN COLOR
ROW 21: Repeat Row 13. / 118 sts.

STRIPE SEQUENCE 1 COMPLETE

BEGIN LACE SECTION
Note: The dc2tog is typically used as a decrease method.
For this pattern the dc2tog will be done in a single stitch to create a mini cluster.
Lace section you will work repeat until specified number of stitches remains rather than complete set repeats

On the lace section you will notice 2 separate “repeat patterns” emerge
1. The Lace itself
2. The increase sides creating the fan out
Once you get into that rhythm you will see you can “repeat” rows.

But they are written out here in detail for more beginner crocheters to follow along.

CONTINUE IN MAIN COLOR
ROW 22 (set up row): ch 2 (does not act as st); 2 hdc in last st of previous row, 2 hdc in next st, 56 hdc across to center, 2 hdc in 57th st, 57 hdc across to last 2 sts, 2 hdc in last 2 sts. Turn. / 123 sts.

ROW 23: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, * ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in next st * Repeat * to * across to last 4 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in last 2 sts. Turn. / 127 sts. (increase 4 sts)

ROW 24: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, * ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc * Repeat from * to * to last 6 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in last st. Turn. / 129 sts. (increase 2 sts)

ROW 25: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, 2 dc in next st, *ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog * Repeat from * to * to last 4 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in last 2 sts. Turn. / 133sts. (increase 4 sts)

ROW 26: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, * ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts dc2tog in sc* Repeat from * to * to last 6 sts sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in top of ch 3. Turn. / 135 sts. (increase 2 sts)

ROW 27: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, *ch 2, sk 2 sts dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, * Repeat from * to * to last 7 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, 2 dc in top of ch 3. Turn. / 139 sts. (increase 4 sts)

ROW 28: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, * ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts dc2tog in sc*, Repeat from * to * to last 9 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in top of ch 3. Turn. / 141 sts. (increase 2 sts)

ROW 29: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, *ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog*, Repeat from * to * to last 7 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, 2 dc in top of ch 3. Turn. / 145 sts. (increase 4 sts)

ROW 30: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, *ch2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc*, Repeat from * to * to last 12 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in top of ch 3. Turn. / 147 sts (increase 2 sts)

ROW 31: ch 3 (acts as 1st dc), dc in same, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, *ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in dc2tog, * Repeat from * to * to last 13 sts; ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc2tog in sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts; 2 dc in next st, 2 dc in top of ch 3. Turn. /151 sts. (increase 4 sts)

ROW 32: ch 2 (does not act as st); 2 sc in last st of previous row, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last 2 sts. Turn. / 153 sts.(increase 2 sts)

LACE SECTION 1 COMPLETE

STRIPE SEQUENCE 2:
CHANGE TO CONTRAST COLOR
ROWS 33 - 34: Repeat Rows 11-12 / 161 sts.

CHANGE TO MAIN COLOR
ROWS 35 - 36: Repeat Rows 13-14 / 169 sts

CHANGE TO CONTRAST COLOR
ROW 37: Repeat Row 11 / 173 sts.

ROW 38: ch 2 (does not act as a st), 2 hdc in last st of previous row, 2 hdc in next st, hdc 17 sts, 2 hdc in next st, *hdc in each of next 8 sts, 2 hdc in next st*; repeat * to * across to last 18 sts, hdc in next 16 sts, 2 hdc in last 2 sts, Turn. /193 sts.

CHANGE TO MAIN COLOR
ROWS 39-40: Repeat Rows 13 - 14 / 201 sts.

CHANGE TO CONTRAST COLOR
ROWS 41- 42: Repeat Rows 11-12. / 209 sts.

CHANGE TO MAIN COLOR
ROW 43: Repeat Row 13. / 213 sts.

STRIPE SEQUENCE 2 COMPLETE

CONTINUE IN MAIN COLOR FOR SECOND LACE SECTION
ROW 44: Repeat Row 3. / 217 sts

ROWS 45 – 54: Repeat Lace Section Rows 23 – 32 / 249 sts.

FINISHING AND TRIM:
CONTINUE IN MAIN COLOR:
ROWS 55 - 56: Repeat Row 3. / 257 sts.

CHANGE TO CONTRAST COLOR
ROWS 57 - 58: ch 2 (does not act as st); 2 hdc in last st of previous row, 2 hdc in next st, scbl across to last 2 sts, 2 hdc in last 2 sts. Turn. / 261 sts.

BLOCK & WEAVE IN ENDS

THIS PATTERN IS BEST SERVED WITH WET BLOCKING

Add button to one corner of the shawl. This can be used in a variety of style to secure the shawl’s position.