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Butterflies on oval metal centres or alternative tatted centres - © Jane Eborall 2001

 

Plain butterfly on metal centre

Butterfly on metal centre

Butterfly with tatted centre

Small butterfly with tatted centre

 

There are two versions of this butterfly.  One has a fancy outline worked on the chain thread and the other is plain.  Either version can be tatted onto a metal centre or an alternative tatted centre.  All use beads.  The butterfly with the tatted centre can be made with a no. 80 thread.   The no. 20 thread makes a butterfly which  measures 4" x 3" and the no. 80 measures 2 ½” x 2".  A knowledge of split rings is needed for both versions and the addition of a third shuttle is required for the fancy butterfly. There is an optional floating chain which is made like a split chain.  I made a slip knot at the length required and tightened this round a bead before starting.  

 

Abbreviations for both versions
mc metal centre +B add bead to picot

Btwn

between

Wsh1 / Wsh2 / Wsh 3

Working shuttle 1, 2 or 3

SLT

Shoe Lace Trick (tie a knot)

w

white

CLR

clover ring

T & C

Tie and cut

pk

pink

LJ

lock join

vsp

very small picot

SCh

split chain/floating chain (optional)
Lp long picot (measurements given in brackets)
B or (b) bead - when on a ring, place bead on thread around the hand before starting the ring.  When on the second half of SR then move a bead on the Wsh next to last p worked.

[pk w] x 5

1 chain double in pink & 1 in a contrast colour made to run on the chain thread without flipping – see figs. 1, 2 & 3.  Make as many repeats as stated – e.g. [pk w] x 5 means work 1 pink, 1 white, 1 pink, 1 white, 1 pink, 1 white, 1 pink, 1 white, 1 pink, 1 white

 

 

Alternative tatted centre for both butterflies - one shuttle

13 beads on shuttle

R1        3 – 4 – 3 – 1 – 3 B

R2        3 + B (last p of R1) 2 – 2 B 2 – 2 – 3 B

R3        3 + B (last) of R2) 1 – 3 – 4 – 3 move 4B to form a chain

R4        3 + B (last p on R3) 2 – 2 – 2 – 3 B

R5        3 + B (last p of R4) 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 B

R6        3 + B (last p of R5) 2 – 2 – 2 +B (1st p on R1) 3  move 4B to form a chain.  T & C to base of R1

When joining the next round add a bead to each picot of the centre.

     

 

Plain Butterfly
NB  Before starting – add 11 beads onto Wsh2

 

Upper right wing.  Using Wsh1

R1        2 + (join 1 mc with brass middle wrong side facing up) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        3 – 3

*R2      2 +B (3rd p on last R) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R3        as last

Ch        6

R4        as last

Ch        6 +B LJ (3rd p on R4) 5 Lp (5/8”) 1

SR5      4 +B (2nd p R4) 4 / 4 – 4

SR6      4 +B (2nd p R3) 3 / 4 – 3

SR7      2 +B (2nd p R2) 2 – 2 / 2

SR8      3 – 4 / 3 +B (SR6) 4

SR9      4 – 4 / 4 +B (SR5) 4

SR10    5 – 5 / 10 + (10 beads Lp before SR5)

Ch        6 – 2 Change to Wsh2 & make clover

CLR1   2 + (p on last ch) 3 B 3 – 2

CLR2   2 + B (3rd p on CLR1) 4 B 4 – 2

CLR3   as CLR1 joining to CLR2 with bead.  Change to Wsh1

Ch        2 + (3rd p of CLR3) 6

R11      3 +B (SR10) 2 – 2

Ch        6

R12      2 +B (2nd p of R11) 2 +B (SR9) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R13      2 +B (3rd p of R12) 2 +B ( SR8) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R14      2 +B (3rd p of R13) 2 +B (p of SR7) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R15      2 +B (3rd p of R14) 2 +B (2nd p of R1) 2 + (join 2 mc) 2

Ch        3 LJ (join 3 mc) 6

R16      4 vsp 4

Ch        6  Change to Wsh2 and either make a SCh of 12 using a bead as an anchor or make a Lp (1.5cm) Change to Wsh1 4  Change to Wsh2 and make SCh or Lp as before.  Change to Wsh1 6

R17      4 + (vsp on R16) 4

Ch        6 +LJ (join 4 mc) 3  Continue to

 

Upper left wing.  

R18      2 + (join 5 mc) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        6

*R19    2 +B (3rd p of last R) 2 – 2 –2

Ch        as last

Repeat from * twice

R22      2 +B (3rd p R21) 2 – 3

Ch        6 – 2  Change to Wsh2 & make clover

CLR1   2 + (p on last ch) 3 B 3 – 2

CLR2   2 + B (3rd p of CLR1) 4 B 4 – 2

CLR3   as CLR1 joining to CLR2 with bead.  Change to Wsh1

Ch        2 + (3rd p of 3rd R of clover) 6  Change to Wsh2

SR23    1 Lp (5/8”) 9 / 5 +B (2nd p on R22) 5

SR24    4 – 4 / 4 +B ( R21) 4

SR25    4 – 3 / 4 +B ( R20) 3

SR26    2 / 2 +B ( R19) 2 – 2

SR27    3 +B ( SR25) 4 / 3 – 4

SR28    4 +B ( SR24) 4 + (10 beads Lp on SR23) / 4 – 4  Change to Wsh1

 

 

 

Ch        6 SLT – SLT (this will form a p for joining the next R) 6

R29      2 +B (p on last ch) 2 +B (SR28) 2 – 2

Ch        6

R30      2 +B (3rd p R29) 2 +B (SR27) 2 – 2

Ch        3 – 3

R31      2 +B (3rd p R30) 2 +B (SR26) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R32      2+B (3rd p R31) 2 +B (SR25) 2 + (join 6 mc) 2

Ch        3

 

Lower left wing.  

R33      2 + (join 7 mc) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        3 + (p on Ch btwn R31 & R32) 3

R34      3 +B (3rd p of last R) 3 – 3 – 3

Ch        4 + (p on Ch btwn R32 & R33) 4

R35      as R34

Ch        8

R36      3 +B (3rd p of R35) 2 – 2 – 3

Ch        6 – 2

R37      3 +B (3rd p of R36) 2 +B (2nd p of R36) 2 – 3  Change to Wsh2

R          2 + (p on last Ch) 5 B 5 – 2  Change to Wsh1

Ch        2 + (p on last R) 6

R38      3 +B (3rd p R37) 2 + (2nd p R37) 2 – 3

Ch        8

 

 

R39      3 +B (3rd p of R38) 3 +B (2nd p of R35) 3 – 3

Ch        as last

R40      3 +B (3rd p of R39) 3 +B (2nd p of R34) 3 – 3

Ch        6

R41      2 +B (3rd p of R40) 2 +B (2nd p of R33) 2 + (join 8 mc) 2

Ch        5 +LJ (join 9 mc) 5 – 2  Change to Wsh2

R          2 + (p on last Ch) 6 B 6 – 2  Change to Wsh1

Ch        2 + (3rd p on last R) 5 (join 10 mc) 5

 

Lower right wing.  

R42      2 (join 11 mc) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        6

R43      3 +B (3rd p of R42) 3 – 3 – 3

Ch        8

R44      3 +B (3rd p of R43) 3 – 3 – 3

Ch        as last

R45      3 +B (3rd p of R44) 2 – 2 – 3

Ch        6 – 2

R46      3 +B (3rd p of R45) 2 +B (2nd p of R45) 2 – 3  Change to Wsh2

R          2 + (p on last Ch) 5 B 5 – 2  Change to Wsh1

Ch        2 + (p on last R) 6

R47      3 +B (3rd p of R46) 2 + (2nd p of R46) 2 – 3

 

 

 

Ch        8

R48      3 +B (3rd p of R47) 3 +B (2nd p of R44) 3 – 3

Ch        4 + (p on Ch btwn R2 & R3) 4

R49      3 +B (3rd p of R48) 3 +B (2nd p of R43) 3 – 3

Ch        4 + (p on Ch btwn R1 & R2) 4

R50      2 +B (3rd p of R49) 2 +B (2nd p R42) 2 + (join 12 mc) 2

Ch        3  T & C to base of R1

 

Butterfly with Fancy Edging

 

NB  Before starting – add 31 beads onto Wsh3

 

Upper right wing.  Using Wsh1

R1        2 + (join 1 mc with brass middle wrong side facing up) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        [pk w] x 2 pk w vsp w [pk w] x 2 pk

R2        2 +B (3rd p on last R) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R3        as last

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk

R4        as last

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk LJ+B (3rd p R4) w [pk w] x 5 pk  Leave Wsh3 & continue with Wsh1 & Wsh2 only.  Wsh1

SR5      4 +B (2nd p R4) 4 / 4 – 4

SR6      4 +B (2nd p R3) 3 / 4 – 3

SR7      2 +B (2nd p R2) 2 – 2 / 2

SR8      3 – 4 / 3 +B (p on SR6) 4

SR9      4 – 4 / 4 +B (p on SR5) 4

SR10    5 – 5 / 10

Move 10 beads on Wsh3 to lie between Ch following SR5 & next chain

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk w vsp w pk w pk  Change to Wsh3 & make clover

CLR1   2 + (vsp on last ch) 3 B 3 – 2

CLR2   2 +B (3rd p on CLR1) 4 B 4 – 2

CLR3   as CLR1 joining to CLR with a bead 2.  Change to Wsh1

Ch        pk w pk w + (3rd p of 3rd R of clover using w thread to join) [pk w] x 5 pk

R11      3 +B (SR10) 2 – 2

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk

R12      2 +B (2nd p of R11) 2 +B (SR9) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R13      2 +B (3rd p of R12) 2 +B (SR8) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R14      2 +B (3rd p of R13) 2 +B (SR7) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R15      2 +B (3rd p of R14) 2 +B (2nd p of R1) 2 + (join 2 mc) 2

Ch        [pk w] x 2 pk LJ (join 3 mc) [pk w] x 3 pk

R16      4 vsp 4

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk With the white thread either make a SCh of 12 using a bead as an anchor or make a Lp (1.5cm) [pk w] (x 3) pk  SCh or Lp as before [pk w] x 5 pk

R17      4 + (vsp on R16) 4

Ch        [pk w] x 3 pk +LJ (join 4 mc) [pk w] x 2 pk

 

Upper left wing.  

R18      2 + (join 5 mc) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk

*R19    2 +B (3rd p of last R) 2 – 2 –2

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk

Repeat from * twice

R22      2 +B (3rd p R21) 2 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk w vsp w pk w pk  Change to Wsh3 & make clover

CLR1   2 + (vsp on last ch) 3 B 3 – 2

CLR2   2 +B (3rd p of CLR1) 4 B 4 – 2

CLR3   as CLR1 joining to CLR2 with a bead.  Change to Wsh1

Ch        pk w pk w + (3rd p of CLR3) w [pk w] x 5 pk  Change to Wsh2

SR23    10 / 5 +B (2nd p on R22) 5

SR24    4 – 4 / 4 +B (2nd p on R21) 4

SR25    4 – 3 / 4 +B (2nd p on R20) 3

SR26    2 / 2 +B (2nd p on R19) 2 – 2

SR27    3 +B (SR25) 4 / 3 – 4

SR28    4 +B (SR24) 4 / 4 – 4  Change to Wsh1

Move 10 beads on Wsh3 to lie between Ch following SR23 & current chain

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk SLT – SLT (this will make a p) for joining the next R) [pk w] x 5 pk

R29      2 +B (p on inside of last ch) 2 +B (SR28) 2 – 2

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk

R30      2 +B (3rd p R29) 2 +B (SR27) 2 – 2

Ch        [pk w] x 2 pk w vsp w [pk w] x 2 pk

R31      2 +B (3rd p R30) 2 +B (SR26) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

R32      2+B (3rd p R31) 2 +B (SR25) 2 + (join 6 mc) 2

Ch        [pk w] x 2 pk

 

Lower left wing.  

R33      2 + (join 7 mc) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        [pk w] x 2 pk w + (p on Ch btwn R31 & R32) w [pk w] x 2 pk

R34      3 +B (last p of previous R) 3 – 3 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 3 pk w + (p on Ch btwn R32 & R33) w [pk w] x 3 pk

R35      as R34

Ch        [pk w] x 7 pk

R36      3 +B (3rd p of R35) 2 – 2 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk w vsp w pk w pk

R37      3 +B (3rd p of R36) 2 +B (2nd p of R36) 2 – 3  Change to Wsh3

R          2 + (vsp on last Ch) 5 B 5 – 2  Change to Wsh1

Ch        pk w pk w + (p on last R) w [pk w] x 5 pk

R38      3 +B (3rd p of R37) 2 + (2nd p of R37) 2 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 7 pk

R39      3 +B (3rd p of R38) 3 +B (2nd p of R35) 3 – 3

Ch        as last

R40      3 +B (3rd p of R39) 3 +B (2nd p of R34) 3 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk

R41      2 +B (3rd p of R40) 2 +B (2nd p of R33) 2 + (join 8 mc) 2

Ch        [pk w] x 3 pk +LJ (join 9 mc) [pk w] x 4 pk w vsp w pk w pk  Change to Wsh3

R          2 + (vsp on last Ch) 6 B 6 vsp 2  Change to Wsh1

Ch        pk w pk w + (vsp on last R) w [pk w] x 4 pk + LJ (join 10 mc) [pk w] x 3 pk

 

Lower right wing.  

R42      2 + (join 11 mc) 2 – 2 – 2

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk

R43      3 +B (3rd p of R42) 3 – 3 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 7 pk

R44      3 +B (3rd p of R43) 3 – 3 – 3

Ch        as last

R45      3 +B (3rd p of R44) 2 – 2 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 5 pk w vsp w pk w pk

R46      3 +B (3rd p of R45) 2 +B (2nd p of R45) 2 – 3  Change to Wsh3

R          2 + (p on last Ch) 5 B 5 vsp 2  Change to Wsh1

Ch        pk w pk w + (vsp on last R) w [pk w] x 5 pk

R47      3 +B (3rd p of R46) 2 + (2nd p of last R) 2 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 7 pk

R48      3 +B (3rd p of R47) 3 +B (2nd p of R44) 3 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 3 pk w + (p on Ch btwn R2 & R3) w [pk w] x 3 pk

R49      3 +B (3rd p of R48) 3 +B (2nd p of R43) 3 – 3

Ch        [pk w] x 2 pk w + (p on Ch btwn R1 & R2) w [pk w] x 2 pk

R50      2 +B (3rd p of R49) 2 +B (2nd p R42) 2 + (join 12 mc) 2

Ch        [pk w] x 2 pk  T & C to base of R1

 

For help with this pattern please contact me.