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Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern

Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern
4.0★ Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
2.5K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

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Stylish Touch

An elegant detail to elevate any look, combining traditional techniques with contemporary design sensibilities.

About This Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern

This pattern creates a butterfly-shaped shoulder bag made from two crocheted butterfly wings joined together with a strap and border. You will work the central abdomen, forewings and hindwings, then assemble and add a decorative border. The pattern uses medium weight (size 4) yarn and color changes to build the butterfly motif.

Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The design is intermediate level and includes color-change instructions and a graph for the border. Two butterflies are made and joined to form the bag, with an adjustable strap you can size to your preference.

Why You'll Love This Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it transforms simple stitches into a striking wearable piece that feels like art. I enjoy how the color changes and shaping create a lifelike butterfly that becomes a functional bag. The construction is satisfying—making two mirrored butterflies and joining them gives a great sense of progress. I also love that you can customize colors and strap length, so every bag becomes a personal statement.

Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern step 1 - construction progress Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love customizing this pattern by changing the colors to match my wardrobe—try ombre tones for a soft look or neon brights for a bold, modern statement.

You can make a mini version for a keychain by using fingering or sport weight yarn and a smaller hook; reduce the number of rows proportionally.

To make a larger tote-style bag, use a bulkier yarn with a bigger hook and lengthen the strap; add extra rows to the border to increase stability.

I often add embroidered accents or French knots on the wings to create extra texture and a handmade feel—try white tufted dots or metallic thread highlights.

If you prefer a sturdier bag, I recommend lining the interior with fabric and a bit of light interfacing to keep the shape and protect against stretching.

I sometimes add an inner pocket before closing the strap joins so the bag is more practical for keys and phone storage.

For a boho look, use natural cotton yarn for the butterflies and a chunky wool for the border and strap to create layered textures.

I also experiment with asymmetrical straps—make one long strap for crossbody wear or two shorter straps to carry on the shoulder like a purse.

To make the pattern kid-friendly, use soft pastel colors and shorter straps sized for smaller bodies; this makes a delightful child's bag or toy accessory.

Finally, I recommend blocking the butterfly pieces before assembly to ensure smooth curves and easier joining—use a light steam or pin-and-spray method depending on yarn fiber.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping the note about crocheting with the right side out can reverse your design and seams; make sure the foundation tail sits on the left and keep the right side facing up throughout. ✗ Changing color incorrectly creates messy joins at the wing edges; stop before the last two loops, drop the old color, pull the new color through the last two loops to complete the stitch and continue crocheting. ✗ Not checking stitch counts after increase rows makes wing shaping go off; count each row, especially after inc/dec sequences, and correct immediately if counts differ. ✗ Failing to pin and fold the wings before joining will produce misaligned wings; fold each butterfly in half, right sides in, pin matching points and sew with temporary tacking stitches before final slip stitching the border.

Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern

Make a charming Butterfly Bag that's equal parts playful and practical. This pattern guides you through crocheting two butterfly motifs, assembling a sturdy strap, and joining everything into a stylish shoulder bag you can wear every day. The design uses medium weight yarn and clear shaping instructions so you can create a standout accessory you will love to show off.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Butterfly Bag Crochet Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Acrylic/Cotton yarn in Medium weight (size 4)
  • 02
    Pictured bag yarn amounts: acrylic yarn approx 166 g (main colors) and cotton yarn for border & strap approx 330 g
  • 03
    Sample notes: Red Heart yarn weight 4 and acrylic approx 310 g used with 3.5 mm hook (tester sample)
  • 04
    Tester sample 2: all acrylic weight 4 (black - big twist; greens - loops and threads impeccable) approx 406 g

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 4.5mm (recommended)
  • 02
    Crochet hook size 3.5mm (used in some tester samples)
  • 03
    Yarn needle for sewing
  • 04
    Scissors
  • 05
    Stitch markers (optional)
  • 06
    Measuring tape
  • 07
    Tapestry needle for weaving ends
  • 08
    Iron or steamer for blocking (optional)

Progress Tracker

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— Abdomen :

Round 1 :

Crochet in rounds. Foundation row: Ch 17,

Round 2 :

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from your hook, sc 14, sc 3 into the next stitch, sc 14, sc inc, sl st and ch 1. (34)

Round 3 :

Row 2: sc 16, sc inc, sc 16, sc inc, sl st and fasten off. (36)

Round 4 :

Size: 3.5 cm x 12.5 cm

Infos :

Crochet with your right side out for all parts, meaning the tail from the foundation row is on the left. Ch 1 counts as turning chain and Ch 3 counts as 1 dc. Ch 3 = 1 dc = 1 stitch. Ch 3 at the end of the row = 1st stitch for the dc row. In all dc rows, start from the 2nd stitch. Weave in the loose ends as work progresses. You can add a lining if using soft yarn so it does not stretch too much.

— Forewings (Left) :

Round 1 :

Colors: Light purple-1, medium purple-2, dark purple-3, blue-4 and white-5. Attach your yarn-2 to the 3rd stitch of the abdomen with the right side facing up.

Round 2 :

Row 1: Insert your hook and make a chain, sc in the same stitch (change to yarn-1), then dc 3, sc 1, ch 3 and TO. (5)

Round 3 :

Row 2: 2 dc inc (change to yarn-2) dc 1, dc inc, ch 3 and TO. (8)

Round 4 :

Row 3: Dc in the same stitch, dc inc (change to yarn-1), tr 2, dc 4 (change to yarn-2), ch 1 and TO. (10)

Round 5 :

Row 4: Sc 1 (change to yarn-1), sc 5 (change to yarn-2), sc 1, dc 2, dc inc (change to yarn-3), ch 3 and TO. (11)

Round 6 :

Row 5: Dc in the same stitch, dc 2 (change to yarn-2), dc inc, dc 2, 2 tr inc, dc 1 (change to yarn-3), dc 2, ch 1 and TO. (15)

Round 7 :

Row 6: Sc 3 (change to yarn-2), sc 7 (change to yarn-3), sc 4, sc inc, ch 3 and TO. (16)

Round 8 :

Row 7: Dc in the same stitch, dc 2, tr 4, dc 4, sc 5 (change to yarn-4), ch 1 and TO. (17)

Round 9 :

Row 8: Sc across the row, ch 3 and TO. (17)

Round 10 :

Row 9: Dc in the same stitch, dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 4, ch 1 and TO. (18)

Round 11 :

Row 10: Sc 4 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 3, sc inc, ch 3 and TO. (19)

Round 12 :

Row 11: Dc in the same stitch, dc 4, tr 2, ch 4, sl st to the 2nd tr, tr 2, dc 4, hdc 2, sc 3, sl st and fasten off. (20)

Info :

You have finished the left forewing. Let's work on the right forewing.

— Forewings (Right) :

Round 1 :

Attach yarn-1 to the 28th stitch of the abdomen with the right side facing up.

Round 2 :

Row 1: Insert your hook and ch 1, sc in the same stitch, dc 3 (change to yarn-2), sc 1, ch 3 and TO. (5)

Round 3 :

Row 2: Dc in the same stitch, dc 1 (change to yarn-1), 2 dc inc, dc 1, ch 3 and TO. (8)

Round 4 :

Row 3: Dc 3, tr 2 (change to yarn-2), 2 dc inc, ch 3 and TO. (10)

Round 5 :

Row 4: Dc in the same stitch, dc 2, sc 1 (change to yarn-1), sc 5 (change to yarn-2), sc 1 (change to yarn-3), ch 3 and TO. (11)

Round 6 :

Row 5: Dc 1 (change to yarn-2), dc 1, 2 tr inc, dc 2, dc inc (change to yarn-3), dc 2, dc inc, ch 1 and TO. (15)

Round 7 :

Row 6: Sc inc, sc 4 (change to yarn-2), sc 7 (change to yarn-3), sc 3, ch 1 and TO. (16)

Round 8 :

Row 7: Sc 5, dc 4, tr 4, dc 2, dc inc (change to yarn-4), ch 1 and TO. (17)

Round 9 :

Row 8: Sc across the row, ch 3 and TO. (17)

Round 10 :

Row 9: Dc 3 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2, dc inc, ch 1 and TO. (18)

Round 11 :

Row 10: Sc inc, dc 3 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), sc 4, ch 1 and TO. (19)

Round 12 :

Row 11: Sl st, sc 3, hdc 2, dc 4, tr 2, ch 4, sl st to the 2nd tr, tr 2, dc 4, dc inc and fasten off. (20)

Info :

You have finished the right forewing. Continue to the hindwings.

— Hindwings (Left) :

Round 1 :

Attach your yarn-1 to the 10th stitch of the abdomen with the right side facing up.

Round 2 :

Row 1: Insert your hook and ch 3, dc in the next stitch, tr 3 in one stitch, dc inc, sc inc, ch 1 and TO. (9)

Round 3 :

Row 2: Sc inc, hdc 3, dc 1, dc inc, dc 1, tr 2 (change to yarn-2), ch 1 and TO. (11)

Round 4 :

Row 3: Sc 1, hdc 2, dc inc, tr 2, dc 2, hdc 2, sc 1 (change to yarn-3), ch 1 and TO. (12)

Round 5 :

Row 4: Sc 5, hdc inc, dc 2, tr inc, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1 (change to yarn-4), ch 1 and TO. (14)

Round 6 :

Row 5: Sc 3, sc inc, sc 5, sc inc, sc 4, ch 1 and TO. (16)

Round 7 :

Row 6: Sc 9, hdc inc, dc inc, dc 2 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), sc 1, ch 3 and TO. (18)

Round 8 :

Row 7: Dc 5, 3 dc inc, dc 3, ch 4, sl st to the last dc, sc 4, sl st 2 and fasten off. (21)

— Hindwings (Right) :

Round 1 :

Attach your yarn-1 to the 21st stitch of the abdomen with the right side facing up.

Round 2 :

Row 1: Insert your hook and ch 1, sc inc in the same stitch, dc inc, tr 3 in the same stitch, dc 2, ch 4 and TO. (9)

Round 3 :

Row 2: Tr 1, dc 1, dc inc, dc 1, hdc 3, sc inc (change to yarn-2), ch 1 and TO. (11)

Round 4 :

Row 3: Sc 1, hdc 2, dc 2, tr 2, dc inc, hdc 2, sc 1 (change to yarn-3), ch 1 and TO. (12)

Round 5 :

Row 4: Sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, tr inc, dc 2, hdc inc, sc 5 (change to yarn-4), ch 1 and TO. (14)

Round 6 :

Row 5: Sc 4, sc inc, sc 5, sc inc, sc 3, ch 1 and TO. (16)

Round 7 :

Row 6: Sc 1 (change to yarn-5), dc 2 (change to yarn-4), dc 2, dc inc, hdc inc, sc 9, ch 1 and TO. (18)

Round 8 :

Row 7: Sl st 2, sc 4, ch 4, sl st to the 4th sc, dc 3, 3 dc inc, dc 6 and fasten off. (21)

Info :

You have finished the wings. Make 2 butterflies in total (mirror left and right) and iron the butterflies if necessary before adding the border.

— Border :

Info :

Here is the graph of the border. Row 1 is graphed in black. Row 2 is in purple and yellow. Attach your yarn to the last stitch of the abdomen with the right side facing up.

Round 1 :

Row 1 (left forewing to the abdomen): Ch 1, sc 17, hdc 2, dc 2, ch 3, sl st to the 2nd dc, dc in the same stitch, dc 1, tr 2, dc 4, sc 16, ch 3, sl st to last sc, sc in the same stitch, sc 16

Round 2 :

Row 1 (left hindwing to the bottom of the abdomen): sc 10, ch 2, sl st to the last sc, sc in the same stitch, sc 3, hdc 2, dc 4, hdc 2, sc 13, ch 3, sl st to the last sc, sc in the same stitch, sc 3, hdc 2, dc 2, sc 4, dc 1

Round 3 :

Row 1 (right hindwing to the abdomen): dc 1, hdc 2, sc 4, ch 3, sl st to the last sc, sc in the same stitch, sc 12, hdc 2, dc 4, hdc 2, sc 4, ch 2, sl st to the last sc, sc in the same stitch, sc 11

Round 4 :

Row 1 (right forewing): sc 15, ch 3, sl st to the last sc, sc in the same stitch, sc 15, dc 4, tr 2, dc 2, ch 3, sl st to the last dc, dc in the same stitch, dc 1, hdc 2, sc 17, sl st and ch 1. (214)

Round 5 :

Row 2: Sc 1, sc3tog, sc 8, hdc 5, dc 4, tr 3, dc 3, tr 5, dc 4, hdc 5, sc 14,

Info :

Then fold the butterflies into half, right sides in, and connect the lower part of the forewing and the top of the hindwing together by sc 11 and fasten it off. (Yellow part of the graph)

Round 6 :

Attach the yarn to the 2nd ch of the top left corner of the left hindwing. ch 1, sc in the same stitch, sc 4, hdc 2, 2 dc inc, dc 9, hdc 9, hdc inc, hdc 7, hdc3tog, sl st 2, hdc3tog, hdc 7, hdc inc, hdc 9, dc 9, 2 dc inc, hdc 2, sc 5. Again, connect 2 wings together by sc 11 and fasten off.

Round 7 :

Attach the yarn to the 4th stitch counting from the right, after the ch 3, from the bottom of the right forewing. ch 1, sc in the same stitch, sc 13, hdc 5, dc 4, tr 5, dc 3, tr 3, dc 4, hdc 5, sc 8, sc3tog, sc 1, sl st and fasten off. (208)

Info :

You have now finished 1 butterfly. Make 2 in total. Iron the butterflies if necessary.

— Strap :

Round 1 :

After finishing 2 butterflies, ch 8 (or till the desired width of the strap), sc in the 2nd ch from your hook, *sc across, ch 1 and TO*, repeat till you reach the desired length, including the border of the butterfly.

Round 2 :

Then you may sc/ sl st/ sew the ends of the strap together, with wrong sides facing up.

Round 3 :

Length of the strap should include part of the butterfly bag and the strap itself. First, crochet a long rectangle. Then, connect the ends of the strap together.

— Assembly :

Round 1 :

Connect the strap and the butterflies by sc from the bottom centre of the abdomen, with right sides facing up.

Round 2 :

After sc across the left side of the butterfly, continue to sc along the edge of the strap, then connect back to the top of the right wing.

Round 3 :

Sc across till you reach the bottom of the abdomen again, sl st and fasten off.

Info :

Repeat to connect both butterflies to the strap so the bag has two butterfly faces joined by the strap and border.

Assembly Instructions

  • Fold each butterfly in half (right sides in) and tack the lower forewing to the top of the hindwing, then slip stitch 11 times to secure the pieces before finishing the join.
  • Attach the strap to the bottom centre of the abdomen with right sides facing up using single crochet stitches; continue single crocheting along the edge of the strap to the top of the right wing and back to the bottom to secure.
  • When joining wings and borders, pin positions first to ensure symmetry and then use slip stitch or whipstitch to secure before weaving in ends.
  • After attaching both butterflies, reinforce the strap join by stitching through all layers and weaving in ends neatly on the inside so the seam is hidden.
  • If using soft yarn, add a lining inside the bag before finishing the strap joins to prevent stretching and maintain shape.

Important Notes

  • 💡Work with your right side out for all parts so seams and borders align correctly when assembling.
  • 💡When changing colors, stop before pulling through the last two loops, drop old color, yarn over with new color and pull through the last two loops to finish the stitch cleanly.
  • 💡Weave in ends as you go to keep the project tidy and avoid tangled tails during assembly.
  • 💡Pin and check alignment of wings before sewing or slip-stitching the border so wings match symmetrically and the bag sits evenly.

This Butterfly Bag Pattern is designed to spark joy and creativity—crochet two colorful butterfly motifs, add a bold border and a comfy strap, and you have a wearable piece of art. 🦋 Make it your own by changing colors or adding embroidery for a unique statement. 🧶 Happy crocheting and enjoy showing off your handmade butterfly bag!

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

Size varies with yarn and hook; the abdomen example is 3.5 cm x 12.5 cm and assembled bag dimensions depend on strap length—tester samples show bags approximately 9-10.5 inches wide.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights but this will change the final size and drape; use an appropriate hook for your chosen yarn and expect to adjust stitch counts or strap length accordingly.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate; familiarity with single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, increases and basic color changes is recommended for best results.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete the project in 5-7 hours, depending on experience, color changes, and assembly time.