Butterfly-Stitch Prayer Shawl
Shawl designed by: NJ Sharon & modified by Debi Adams This shawl is a triangular, topdown design with a 4-row repeat. The butterfly stitch is a 7-stitch pattern consisting of double crochet stitches and one treble stitch which will capture 2 rows of chain stitches and will make up the butterfly “body." The shawl will have a 2-stitch increase at each side edge and both sides of the center point for wing rows. There will be a single-stitch increase at each edge and both sides of the center point for the solid row of half-double crochet which will separate the butterfly rows. The shawl will work well in different lengths, from scarf-sized to full "hug-sized" shawl. You can make this shawl your own design by adding your own edging or try out one of the suggestions at the end.
Supplies:
You may find it helpful to use at least 4 stitch markers at the start of this pattern until you are comfortable with the location of the anchor stitch for the treble stitch that creates the butterfly body. The treble stitch will be placed in the 4" stitch of the base row of each butterfly and will cross over the 4" stitch of the chains in the wing rows. A loose treble stitch will create a more interesting body, a tight treble will cause the wings of the butterfly to be more curved. Experiment to determine what tension you prefer for your shawl. Hook: depends on yarn size. Yarn & Yardage: The shawl works well in almost any type of yarn, although a solid colored or long striping yarn will make the butterfly design stand out in the finished shawl. For a smaller butterfly shawl (which have 9 pattern repeats on each side edge), I've been using one skein of Patton's Lace (498 yards-455 m) using an E- sized hook. I was also able to create a 5 row 'net' edging from that single skein. A 10-butterfly repeat with edging required 1.3 skeins of Patton's Lace. Results will differ based on your own stitch tension and hook size selected. Technical stuff:
Pattern abbreviations:
Abbreviations: Ch - chain stitch sc - single crochet dc - double crochet hdc - half double crochet T Tr - treble
Start:
Ch 6, slip stitch in 1" chain to form a circle. Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as first double crochet) turn, 5 dc in circle. (You have 6 stitches in circle) Row 2: base row - Ch 3, turn, 2 dc in 1" stitch, 3 dc in next dc, place marker on 2nd dc stitch in this group (this will be where you will anchor your treble stitch in the 3rd wing row); 3 dc in next stitch, Ch 2 (center point of shawl), 3 dc in next stitch; 3 dc in next stitch then place marker on 2nd dc stitch in this group, 3 dc in 3rd turning chain of previous row. (The anchor stitch for the butterfly body will be the 4th stitch in the 7-stitch pattern and will always be part of the last solid row of stitches. )
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, 2 dc in same first stitch, ch 7, skip 7 stitches of previous row, dc in last dc before ch 2 space; 2 dc, ch 2 (center point), 2 dc in ch 2- space, 1 dc in next dc; chain 7, skip 7 stitches of previous row, 3 dc in last stitch of turning chain. Row 4: Ch 3, turn, 2 dc in same stitch, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, chain 7, 1 dc in next 3 dc; 2 dc, Ch 2 (center point) 2 dc in ch 2- space, 1 dc in next 3 dc, ch 7, 1 dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in last dc of row.
See chart on last page for Rows 5 - 9 Row 5: Ch 3, 2 dc in same stitch, 1 dc in next 3 dc; 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, treble into marker stitch of Row 2, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 4 dc; 2 dc, chain 2 (center point), 2 dc in ch 2- space, 1 dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, chain 2, treble into marker stitch in Row 2. Ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 3 dc in last stitch of turning chain of previous row. Row 6: solid row. Ch 2, turn, 1 hdc in same stitch (there are now 2 stitches in the first stitch or a 1- stitch increase), 1 hdc in every stitch to center ch-2 space, 1 hdc in ch 2 space, chain 2 (center point), 1 hdc in ch- 2 space, 1 hdc in every stitch to last stitch of row, 2 hdc in last stitch of row.
Repeat Section begins here with Row 7:
Row 7: Ch 3, turn, 2 dc in same stitch, chain 7, skip 7 stitches of previous row, ( place marker in 4th stitch skipped), 1 dc in next 7 stitches, chain 7, skip 7 stitches, (place marker in 4'h stitch skipped), dc in last hdc of row, 2dc, chain 2 (center point), 2 dc in chain 2 space, 1 dc in next dc, chain 7, skip 7 stitches, (place marker in 4h stitch skipped) 1 dc in next 7 stitches, chain 7, skip 7 stitches, 3 dc in last turning chain. Row 8: ch 3, turn, 2 dc in same stitch, 1 dc in next 2 dc, chain 7, skip 7 stitches, dc in next 7 stitches, chain 7, skip 7 stitches, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc, ch 2, (center point) 2 dc in ch 2-space, 1 dc in next 3 dc, chain 7, skip 7 stitches of previous row, 1 dc in next 7 dc, ch 7, skip 7 stitches, 1 dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in turning chain. Row 9: ch 3, turn, 2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, chain 2, treble to 4 stitch of base Row 6 where you placed marker, chain 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, chain 2, treble to 4"h stitch of Row 6 (or base row) where you placed marker, chain 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc, chain 2 (center point), 2 dc in chain 2 space, 1 dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, chain 2, treble into 4\*h stitch of butterfly in Row 6 (or Base Row) where you placed marker, chain 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, chain 2, treble into 4" stitch of Row 6 (or base row) where you placed marker, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 3 dc in last turning chain. Row 10 - ch 2, turn, 1 hdc in same stitch, 1 hdc in every stitch in rest of row, 1 hdc, chain 2(center point), 1 hdc in chain 2 space, 1 hdc in every stitch in row, 2 hdc in last turning chain. Repeat Rows 7- 10 until shawl is as long as you desire. You will be adding a new butterfly wing pattern at the beginning and end of each Row 7 repeat. Your block of 7 solid dc stitches will end up being placed directly under the completed chains and treble stitch that creates the butterfly of the previous repeat section. Edging: choose your own design or use a favorite. NJSharon used a modified version of the border from the Cheche a la Sauce Bidules Chouettes for her butterfly shawl. That border created a lacy fan-like edging. A nice cocoon-like design edging can be adapted from the Margarita Shawl edging published by Tucateje on Ravelry.com Increase the chain length between the design to spread over the 7-stitch pattern. I've used this edging pattern a number of times because I thought it contributed to the symbolism of the butterfly shawls gifted to friends who suffered a recent loss of loved ones. I've also been using a simple 'net' edging. After completing a solid hdc row, I chained 6, skipped 2 hdc stitches, 1 sc, chain 5, skip 2 hdc, sc, ch 5, etc. repeat chains and sc to center, chain 5, sc into ch-2 space, ch 5, sc into ch-2 space (creates a center ch 5), ch 5, skip 2 hdc sc, etc. to edge. Row 2: Chain 6, sc into end ch 5 loop (increase) ch 5, sc into next ch 5, repeat the ch 5, sc pattern to the center, where the center ch 5 loop is again repeated. Continue the rows of ch 5, sc until you reach the edging length you want (or run out of yarn). The chain 5s make beading an easy option. If you like this pattern, please consider gifting one to a friend who is going through a rough patch in life. Or make one for yourself in a yarn and color you love. Butterflies have the wonderful ability to create smiles. o= ch T=dc T=hde
