MODULAR BUTTERFLY DESIGN 6 Blanket Square
Designer's notes:
This is my first attempt at designing and publishing a knitting pattern. I designed this butterfly square for a magazine knitting competition a few years ago, where it gained second place. It has taken all that time for me to be brave enough to write it up and publish it. So here it is! This butterfly square is knitted in garter- stitch throughout and made up of five sections. These sections are either cast on or made by picking up stitches. See diagram A. I have incorporated chain selvedges where possible to give structure and definition to the edges, ready to join together. EVERY BUTTERFLY WILL GROW IN FRONT OF YOU AND BECOME A 'LITTLE WORK OF ART', JUST LIKE A CATERPILLAR METAMORPHOSING IN ITS CHRYSALIS, EVENTUALLY EMERGING IN TO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY. \~krisserliss I hope you enjoy the challenge and the end results!
Design idea for a 6x8 throw
Modular Butterfly Pattern
Modular Butterfly 6" Blanket Square
By Janis Higgs (krisserliss)
Materials:
Double Knitting yarn or Light worsted / 11 Wpi / 8 ply For the butterfly, I used Patons Fairytale Dreamtime DK Pure Wool (Shade 04970) Quantities: MC = Wings Approx. 30 metres / 33 Yards CC = Background Approx. 25 metres / 27 Yards SCC = Abdomen & Antennae Approx. 6 metres / 7 Yards (I used washable tapestry yarn) Note: Use like yarns for your project in order to keep gauge/ dimensions correct. Notions: One pair of 4mm (UK 8/US 6) needles One pair 3 mm needles (UK 11/US 3), for knitting abdomen & head Tapestry needle Removable markers / safety pins
Tension/Gauge:
20 sts and 40 rows to 10cm, using 4 mm needle and garter stitch - every row knit. (Or size to obtain gauge).
Abbreviations:
MC = Main Colour tbl = through back of loop CC = Contrast Colour Wyif = with yarn in front SCC = Second Contrast Colour st/s = stitch /stitches WS = Wrong Side psso = pass slipped stitch/stitches over RS = Right Side tog = together K = knit dd = double decrease; P = purl slip 2 sts k wise, k 1, psso k wise = knitwise (centre st uppermost) p wise = purlwise inc = increase by knitting into the front sl = slip and back of next stitch
Special abbreviation
slpwiyf /b = slip stitch purlwise with yarn at front/ then move yarn to the back between the needles ready to proceed with a knit row.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If using a space dyed or striped yarn for the whole butterfly, start at same point along the pattern repeat to ensure symmetry in the wings.
Order of Construction:
1. Left Wing - Lower 5.Large Triangle 2. Left Wing - Upper 6.Abdomen 3. Right Wing - Lower 7. Head & Antennae 4. Right Wing - Upper 8.Finishing NOTE: Numbers refer to instruction sections with the corresponding numbers. e.g.(1) next to a heading would refer to number 1 in the above list.
Diagram A: Showing component parts of butterfly
INSTRUCTIONS:
1ST SECTION - Lower Left Wing & Background Border (1) \*Using 4 mm needles and CC cast on 31 sts. Set up row: (WS) Slpwiyf/b, k to end. Row 1 (RS) [Place marker at stitch 16 to show right side & centre stitch] K edge stitch tbl, k to centre 3 sts, dd, k to last st; wyif sl st p wise. Row 2: (WS) K 1 tbl, k to last st; wyif sl st p wise Rows 4 & 5: Repeat rows 1 & 2
Picking up stitches through chain selvedge knit-wise Row 6: (RS) Change to MC and k as row 1 Continue repeating rows 1 & 2 until 3 sts remain, ending after a R.S. row, Next:(WS) Sl 2 tbl, kl, psso. 1 stitch remains, without breaking yarn and keeping stitch on the right hand needle\* R.S. facing, and selvedges to your left, continue as follows:- 2 ND SECTION - Upper Left Wing (2) 1 st remains on the right hand needle, pick up and k 1 st in both bars of every chain, 15 more sts, (16sts total). Set up row: (WS) Slpwyif/b, k to end. Row 1: (RS) S1 1, kl, psso, k to last stitch, wyif sl st p wise. Row 2: (WS) K 1 tbl, k to end. Repeat rows 1 & 2 until 2 sts remain ending on a R.S. row. Next row: (WS) k 2 tog tbl, 1 st left on needle, cut yarn approx. 30 cm, Pull yarn through loop
LEFT SIDE COMPLETED. Left side completed 3 RD SECTION: - Lower Right Wing & Background Border (3) Knit as 1ST section from \* to \* third section completed, continue as follows;- 4 TH SECTION: - Upper Right Wing (4) TURN work and with WS facing, selvedges to your left, 1 st on your right hand needle; Pick up and PURL 1 st in both bars of every chain. 15 more sts (16sts). Row 1: (RS) K edge st tbl, k to end. Row 2: (WS) Sl 1, kl, psso, k to last st, wyif sl st p wise. Repeat rows 1 & 2 until 2 sts remain. Next : (RS): K 2 tog tbl, 1 st remains, cut yarn approx. 30 cms pull yarn through loop. RIGHT SIDE COMPLETED.
Picking up stitches through chain selvedge purl-wise Both sides of butterfly completed.
Right side completed 5 TH SECTION: Picking up stitches for Large Triangle (5)
Two halves become one!
You will now be picking up stitches along the diagonal edges of the wings. Here you will see garter bumps, alternating with ‘horizontal bars' (single), some are knit and some skipped, each counts for one stitch. I have worked out the maths so you don't have to (that is if everything has gone all right so far!)
Here we go:
For a neat finish pick up each group of 3, thus; garter bump/bar/garter bump Change to CC with RS facing, beginning with garter bump at tip A;- Right-hand Side: Pick up and knit (3 sts, skip 1), 7 times [21 sts].
Centre Sts:
Next: K next garter bump, pick up 1 stitch each from centre of sections 1 and 2, and k tog (mark this as centre st), skip 1 bar, k1 garter bump. [3 centre sts].
Left-hand side:
(Skip 1 bar, k3), 7 times, ending in last garter bump at tip B. (21 sts). Total 45 sts. Don't worry if you have tojiggle it a litte, as long as the stitches are evenly spaced and symmetrical.
Point A : Start picking up stitches along right wing
Close up of picking up two centre stitches prior to knitting two together
Picking up stitches along right wing and two centre stiches
Picking up stitches along left wing ending at point B.
All stitches picked up along both sides of wings, ready for knitting large triangle. Page 6 Okrisserliss 5 TH SECTION: Knitting Large Triangle (5) Set up row (WS) Slpwyif/b, kl, psso, k to last 2 sts, k 2 tog. Row 1 (RS) Slpwyif/b, k to 3 centre sts, dd, k to last st, Wyif sl st p wise. Row 2 (WS): K 2 tog tbl, k to last 2 sts, k 2 tog. Repeat rows 1 & 2 until 3 sts remain. Next Row: (RS) Slpwyif/b, k 2 tog, psso, 1 st remains, cut yarn approx. 30 cm pull yarn through loop. Congratulations you have now completed the main part of the Butterfly Square!
Constructing the Abdomen (6):
The abdomen, head and antennae are made with one continuous length of yarn, each stage flows into the next so there is no need to cut the yarn. Use 3 mm & SCC RS facing and working from right to left, pick up and knit; 1 st in cast on edge, plus 1 st in each of the 15 chains and 1 before centre, (17 sts), then 1 st after centre, plus 1 st in each of 15 chains, plus stitch at cast on edge, (17 sts). Total 34sts. NOTE: DO NOT pick up the centre stitch Important: Check your stitch count here to make sure you have an equal amount of stitches onboth needles Row 1: K to end, turn. Row2: Slpwyif/b, k to last 4 sts, wrap the next st, (wrap = sl next stitch pwise to right needle, move yarn to front between needles, place slipped stitch back onto the left hand needle), turn. Row 3: Knit to last 4 sts, wrap and turn. Row 4: Knit to the middle of the row; 17 sts on each needle, End. DO NOT CUT YARN and proceed to grafting instructions for abdomen.
Abdomen stitches picked up along open seems (RS facing)
Completed abdomen ready for zipper bind-off
Grafting the seam/abdomen:
I am giving you instructions for a'zip' graft bind-off because it is invisible and does not add extra rows, though you may have your own methods of grafting these two edges together. I discovered this bind-off in a sock pattern designed by Spindleknitter (Kirsten Hall) called ZIPRELAXAGON'. If you have not used this method before you can follow this YouTube link below; this offers a video demonstration of the technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9lmWxkXxwY alternatively, follow written instructions below:
Zipper:
You might want to practice this. You have to concentrate but it is worth it. Move yarn to back, 17 sts on each needle (ensuring equal stitches) Keep the yarn taught until you have worked past it, no knitting involved!
Instructions:
Transfer 1 st from the left needle to the right needle. Pass second stitch on right needle over the transferred st. 1. Transfer 2 sts from right needle to left. Pass left st over right st. 2. Transfer 2 sts from left to right. Pass right st over left st. 3. Repeat steps 2 and 3until 1 st remains on needle, pull yarn through loop. Done!
Modular Butterfly Pattern
Abdomen after graft Four picked up stitches ready for head Head completed
Head & Antennae (7):
Here you will be making a head and embroidering the antennae without cutting the yarn, this cuts down on those horrible ends.
Making the head:
Bring yarn up from graft through to the top of the abdomen, on the right. Pick up and k 4 sts evenly across the top of abdomen through the garter bumps. Turn. Next;- (W.S.): Knit to end. (R.S.): K1, inc 1, k2, inc 1, k1. 6sts. (W.S.): Knit to end, turn. (R.S.): K2 tog 3 times. (W.R.): K 3 tog. Pull yarn through loop. Do not cut yarn.
Embroider
Antennae:
Embroider antennae, see diagram B. Secure head at its nose tip, level with the third or fourth furrow and centralise, Start with right antennae by back stitching for the desired length along the furrow over every 3 stitches or so, back-stitching the final stitch 3 or 4 times.
Weave yarn back through stiches to point of nose ready to stitch the left antennae in the same way. When you get to the nose, fasten head down securely and weave inends.
Diagram B: Showing suggestions for embroidery
Garter stitch head
Back Stitch Weave in and out through back-stitch Garter stitch Abdomen
Finishing (8):
With W.S. facing, close seam behind the abdomen by over sewing, weaving any leftover ends through the tunnel created. Weave in all other ends.
Seam before being over-sewn Seam after being over-sewn
Alternative methods of embroidery for abdomen:
Alternatively embroider the head and abdomen by using doubled yarn and satin stitch or cross stitch to bring the seams together through the chain selvedges, forming a point at the tip if desired.
Example of an alternative abdomen design
