3-D Butterfly

Materials: (US) size 7 steel hook, size 10 cotton thread for main color, 6 inch piece of contrasting color size 10 cotton thread for body (or use main color), 2 stitch markers, fabric stiffener (optional)

Finished Size: 2.5 inches x 1.5 inches at widest points

Special Stitches:Picot: ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hookDouble Treble (dtr): yo 3 times, insert hook in designated st, yo, draw up loop, (yo, draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times

ch 5, join with sl st in 5th ch from hook to form loop

Round 1: ch 3, 2 dc in loop, ch 2, [3 dc in loop (shell made), ch 2] 7 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (8 shells)

Round 2: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into ch sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same sp, [(3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch sp], 7 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (16 shells)

Round 3: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into ch sp, ch 4, (6 tr, picot, 7 tr) in same sp, sc in sp between next 2 shells from prev row, (7 tr, picot, 7 tr) in next ch sp, sc in sp between next 2 shells from prev row, * [(2 dc, 2 tr, 3 dtr, picot, 3 dtr, 2 tr, 2 dc) in next ch sp, sc in sp between next 2 shells from prev row], place marker in sc just made (see Fig. 1), repeat between [ and ] once, ** [(7 tr, picot, 7 tr) in next ch sp, sc in sp between next 2 shells from prev row] twice, repeat between * and ** once, join with sl st in top of beg ch 4. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Finishing:

1. Fold the piece in half making sure the fold is between the 2 sets of upper wings. (see Fig. 1)

2. Fold 6 inch piece of thread in half and tie a knot approximately 5/8 inch from the fold. (see Fig. 2)

3. Making sure not to twist the loop, place the folded piece around the center of the body and pull knot through the loop. (see Fig. 3)

4. Stiffen as desired. *Butterfly will stand as shown in Fig. 4 without stiffening.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4