Elegant Butterfly Pencil Topper | Free Crochet Pattern

Looking for quick and easy last minute gifts to crochet?

Try this gorgeous Elegant Butterfly Pencil Topper pattern.

It's perfect for all ages and works great for last-minute or bulk gifting events!

Butterflies symbolize transformation. Before they can emerge as strong and beautiful creatures, they first must go through different stages and face several hardships.

First, they must find nourishment and grow as a caterpillar. Next, they prepare for the biggest transformation as they develop further in a cocoon. Finally, they must face the struggle to break free from the cocoon, so they can emerge as the beautiful butterfly they were always meant to be.

In our lives, we also go through stages and face struggles as we learn, grow and slowly transform into beautiful people. So, whatever you are going through right now, know that you too, have the strength to go through it, and soon you will emerge as a beautiful butterfly too!

Butterflies hold a special significance to my mom as she has gone through so many transformations, and she proudly wears a tattoo of a beautiful butterfly on her lower back as a reminder that she can and will get through whatever life throws her way.

I dedicate this butterfly pencil topper pattern to my mom for her birthday today.

I love you mommy. Happy birthday!

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This minutes-to-make pattern includes written instructions and photo tutorials for crocheting this butterfly pencil topper for standard issue pencils and pens. Plus, tips are included for turning this topper into a finger pencil instead!

This project was inspired from an idea I had while dreaming. See Dreaming of Pencil Toppers for the full story and to see more pencil topper designs.

Gifting ideas include stocking stuffers for Christmas, trick-or-treats for Halloween, party favours and back-to-school accessories. My favourite idea is to make several for a Teacher's appreciation bouquet with various stationary staples in a coffee mug!

This crochet pattern is also available as a printer friendly, 7-page PDF download. GRAB IT HERE for only $1.75, OR SIGN UP for Rebeckah's Newsletter and grab this one or another pattern of your choosing (from the loyalty program list) for FREE in the next edition!

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This pattern is copyrighted to Rebeckah Ferger of www.rebeckahstreasures.com. It is for personal use only.  No part of this pattern may be copied or distributed in any way. If you sell what you make from this pattern, please credit me as the designer. All rights reserved, 2016.

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You'll Need:

• cotton thread size 10 (I use Circulo Clea) about 10m (2 grams / scraps) - in three colours
• 1.05mm hook (or hook to achieve gauge)
• stitch markers
• tapestry yarn needle
• scissors
  

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Abbreviations: ~US Terminology Used~

*...** - repeat instructions between the two asterisks as directed ~ I always highlight the repeat directions for this in purple so it is easier to see.
(...) - work the stitches between the parentheses into the space as directed
[...] - work stitches between the brackets however many times called for

avail - available
BL - back loop
ch - chain
dc - double crochet
dtr - double treble crochet - yo 3
FL - front loop(s)
f/o - fasten off
hdc - half double crochet
lp(s) - loop(s)
picot - (instructions below)
prev - previous
rem - remaining
rep - repeat
rnd - round
RS - right side
sc - single crochet
sk - skip
sl st - slip stitch
sp(s) - space(s)
st(s) - stitch(es)
tr - treble/triple crochet
WS - wrong side
yo - yarn over

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Special Abbreviations:

*Picot = ch 3, insert hook into the v-ridge of the last st made, yo and pull though it right on thru the st and the ch-lp on the hook. *See the first example in this video tutorial by Moogly.

Sizing:

Designed to fit a standard pencil or pen when using lace weight yarn. The base of this pencil topper, the part that slips onto the pencil, is approximately 1” (2.5 cm) in height.

Sizing can be adjusted by changing the yarn weight and hook size.

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Gauge:

20 single crochet stitches x 24 rows = 2” (5 cm), or 10 single crochet stitches fit around the pencil snuggly but not too tight.

TIP: Thread/Yarn weight and hook size are flexible. Most lace or fine weight yarns will work well for creating a pencil topper. Whereas, thicker yarn weights such as DK or WW work great for turning it into a finger puppet.

All you have to ensure before you begin, is 10 single crochet stitches wrap snuggly, but comfortably around the pencil, pen, chalk, finger or whatever staple you wish to accessorize!

Pattern Notes:

You should be familiar with basic crochet stitches (chs, sl sts, sc, hdc, dc, tr), taller crochet stitches (dtr), picots, working in rows, rounds, front/back loops, and how to do increases and decreases.

Additional notes for each part are included as you come to them below...

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Elegant Butterfly Pencil Topper Instructions:

This butterfly pencil topper is worked in five parts. The first part creates the pencil topper base and antennae. The remaining parts create the wings.

Base Instructions:

Make 1

The base of this butterfly pencil topper is worked in continuous rnds from top to bottom. The third rnd creates the antennae and serves as a base for the wings to be worked into later.

Work continuously and do NOT turn at the end of rnds unless directed otherwise to do so. *Side facing you = RS.

Starting with black...

     rnd 1:  sc 5 into a magic circle (5 sts).

     rnd 2:  sc 2 in each st around (10 sts).

     rnd 3:  [ch 2, sk 1 st, sc] x 2, starting the antennae → *ch 5 (change to ch 7 or ch 9 for longer antennae), sl st in the bottom lp (a.k.a. back hump) of the 2nd ch from hook & in each ch across,** sl st in the same sp on the circle, rep from * to ** – antennae complete, sc in the same sp on the circle, [ch 2, sk 1 st, sc] x 2, (hdc, dc 2) in the FL of the next st, (dc 2, hdc) in the FL of the next st – tip: mark the 2 unworked BL sts so they are easier to find for the next rnd (4 ch-sps, 11 sts + antennae). *This is the wing base rnd. The taller sts are the tail or bottom of the butterfly.

     rnd 4:  sc 2 in each skipped st from the prev rnd – pulling the ch-2-sps to the front of work so they stay on the RS or the outside of the butterfly, sc in each unworked BL from the prev rnd – it helps to pull the tail sts inwards towards you, so you can easily find the BL and work the last sts of this rnd (10 sts).

     rnd 5-16:  sc 10 – 12 rnds or until desired height is reached, sl st & f/o at the end of the last rnd (10 sts). *The number of rnds you work here may vary according to your project and preference.

*Click on tutorial pictures below to enlarge them...

butterfly base complete - top side / RS facing up

butterfly base complete - left side ch-sps facing up

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Bottom Left Wing Instructions:

Make 1

The bottom left wing of this butterfly pencil topper is worked directly into the ch-sp on rnd 3 of the base, nearest to the tail on your right, when looking at the butterfly base from above. It is broken down into 2 separate rnds that are worked in the same direction and in different colours. *Side facing you = RS.

     rnd 1:  make a slip knot in inner bottom wing thread colour (purple in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you → sl st attach to the ch-2-sp from rnd 3 of the base nearest to the tail on your right or the left of the butterfly, ch 2, (tr 2, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) into the same ch-2-sp, ch 1, f/o (6 sts). *The ch-2 here counts as one st.

bottom-left-wing rnd 1: sl st attach to bottom left ch-sp

bottom-left-wing rnd 1: work all sts into the same ch-sp

     rnd 2:  make a slip knot in outer bottom wing thread colour (pink in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you → sl st attach to the same ch-2-sp in front of the first sts from rnd 1, ch 2, tr in the same sp, dc into top of ch-2 from the first rnd, dc in the next st, picot, (dc, hdc) in the next st, (hdc, sc) in the next st, sc 2 in each of the last 2 sts, sl st into the ch-2-sp after the first rnd, ch 1, f/o (12 sts). *The ch-2 in this rnd counts as one st.

bottom-left-wing rnd 2: sl st in same ch-sp before rnd 1

bottom-left-wing rnd 2: ch 2, tr in same sp before rnd 1

bottom-left-wing rnd 2: dc into top of ch-2 from rnd 1

bottom-left-wing rnd 2: work rem sts, sl st in ch-sp, ch1

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Top Left Wing Instructions:

Make 1

The top left wing of this butterfly pencil topper is worked directly into the ch-sp on rnd 3 of the base, nearest to the antennae on your right, when looking at the butterfly base from above. It is broken down into 2 separate rnds that are worked in the same direction and in different colours. *Side facing you = RS.

     rnd 1:  make a slip knot in inner top wing thread colour (pink in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you → sc attach to the next avail ch-2-sp from rnd 3 of the base next to the antennae, (dc, tr 2, dtr 2) into the same ch-2-sp, ch 1, f/o (6 sts).

top-left-wing rnd 1: sl st attach to top left ch-sp

top-left-wing rnd 1: work all sts into the same ch-sp

     rnd 2:  make a slip knot in outer top wing thread colour (purple in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you → sc attach to the same ch-2-sp in front of the first sts from rnd 1, dc in the same sp, dc 2 into the first st from rnd 1, dc 2 in each of the next 4 sts, picot, dc 2 in the last st, dc 2 into the first 3 bars of the last dtr post, hdc in the last bar, sc into the ch-2-sp after the first rnd, sl st in the same sp, ch 1, f/o (22 sts).

top-left-wing rnd 2: sc in same ch-sp before rnd 1

top-left-wing rnd 2: dc in same sp before rnd 1

top-left-wing rnd 2: dc 2 into first st from rnd 1

top-left-wing rnd 2: work rem sts over rnd 1

top-left-wing rnd 2: (dc 6, hdc) down side of dtr

top-left-wing rnd 2: sc, sl st in ch-sp after rnd 1, ch 1

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Top Right Wing Instructions:

Make 1

The top right wing of this butterfly pencil topper is worked directly into the ch-sp on rnd 3 of the base, nearest to the antennae on your left, when looking at the butterfly base from above. It is broken down into 2 separate rnds that are worked in the same direction and in different colours. *Side facing you = RS.

     rnd 1:  make a slip knot in inner top wing thread colour (pink in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you → sl st attach to the next avail ch-2-sp from rnd 3 of the base on the other side of the antennae, ch 5, (dtr,  tr 2, dc, sc) into the same ch-2-sp, ch 1, f/o (6 sts). *The ch-5 in this rnd counts as one st.

     rnd 2:  make a slip knot in outer top wing thread colour (purple in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you → sc attach to the same ch-2-sp in front of the first sts from rnd 1, hdc in the first ch from rnd 1, dc 2 in each of the next 4 chs, picot, dc 2 in each of the next 5 sts, (dc, sc) into the ch-2-sp after the first rnd, ch 1, f/o (22 sts).

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Bottom Right Wing Instructions:

Make 1

The bottom right wing of this butterfly pencil topper is worked directly into the ch-sp on rnd 3 of the base, nearest to the tail on your left, when looking at the butterfly base from above. It is broken down into 2 separate rnds that are worked in the same direction and in different colours. *Side facing you = RS.

     rnd 1:  make a slip knot in inner bottom wing thread colour (purple in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you → sc attach to the final ch-2-sp from rnd 3 of the base, (hdc, dc, tr 2) into the same ch-2-sp, ch 2, sl st into the same ch-2-sp, ch 1, f/o (6 sts). *The ch-2 in this rnd counts as one st.

     rnd 2:  make a slip knot in outer bottom wing thread colour (pink in model) & with the RS or top of the base facing you →sl st attach to the same ch-2-sp in front of the first sts from rnd 1, sc 2 in each of the first 2 sts from rnd 1, (sc, hdc) in the next st, (hdc, dc) in the next st, picot, dc over the last 2 sts, tr into the ch-2-sp after the first rnd, ch 2, sl st into the same sp, ch 1, f/o (12 sts). *The ch-2 in this rnd counts as one st.

Weave in all ends. Attach to your favourite stationery staple!

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Do you have any pictures of your pencil toppers? Share them with me on Ravelry, or in one of my Crocheting Treasures groups!

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Thanks Elizabeth M., Margie E. and Wendy B. for testing the Elegant Butterfly Pencil Topper/Finger Puppet crochet pattern for me, and thanks Theresa P. for your help tech editing this pattern too!

Thanks so much for visiting today! 

If you have any questions, or need pattern help, comment below OR visit my one of my groups / communities on Facebook, Google+ or Ravelry.

​Have a marvelous day!

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