How to Crochet a Butterfly Hair Clip (Free Step-by-Step Pattern)

There's something special about handmade hair accessories. A ball of yarn, a crochet hook, and a little patience can turn into a pretty piece you'll never find on a store shelf — and this crochet butterfly hair clip is proof of that.

The design pairs a bright, textured butterfly with two dainty Lily of the Valley–style flowers and long, trailing strings. Once it's finished, you can clip it into your hair, thread it onto a hair elastic, or even turn it into a bag charm or brooch.

At first glance, the butterfly's wings look intricate, but the technique behind them is actually just one repeated motion. Once you get comfortable pulling loops and working them in pairs, the whole pattern comes together quickly.

What You'll Need

• Yellow cotton yarn (for the butterfly)
• Olive green yarn (for the hanging strings)
• Yellow yarn (for the small flowers)
• A 2 mm crochet hook
• A hair clip or hair elastic
• A small amount of glue to secure the yarn ends

A note on the strings: this pattern uses about 70 chains per string, but that's just a guideline. Shorten them for a subtler look, or lengthen them if you want something more dramatic.

Step 1: Start the Butterfly Body

Begin with a magic ring, then chain 8.

Keep these chains loose — don't pull them tight. You'll need enough slack in a moment to work into the back loop of each one.

Working into the back loops, pull up a loop from each of the 8 chains, then pull one more loop from the magic ring itself. You should now have 9 loops sitting on your hook.

Instead of working these loops one at a time, this pattern pulls the yarn through two loops at once, moving across in pairs. That paired technique is what gives the butterfly wings their distinctive ridged texture, and you'll repeat it throughout the whole project.

Step 2: Build the First Large Wing (Increasing)

The first wing grows wider gradually, row by row.

For each new row, add one extra chain before pulling your loops through — that extra chain is what creates the increase. Then work across the row using the same paired-loop technique from Step 1.

Here's how the loop count grows over five rows:

Row	Loop Count
1	9
2	10
3	11
4	12
5	13

Keep your yarn loose throughout — if it's pulled too tight, you'll struggle to fit the hook back through the loops.

Once row 5 is done, slip stitch your way back down to the magic ring. That completes the first large wing.

Step 3: Build the Second Large Wing (Decreasing)

Now you'll build the matching wing on the other side — but this time, instead of increasing, you'll decrease.

Start with 12 chains, then work through them and the magic ring the same way as before. Your first row will begin with 13 loops.

For each following row, start with a slip stitch to eliminate a loop before working across the row as usual. The count drops like this:

Row	Loop Count
1	13
2	12
3	11
4	10
5	9

Finish by slip stitching back to the magic ring. You now have both large wings in place, forming the main body of the butterfly.

Step 4: Add the Two Small Wings

The small wings are much simpler — no increasing or decreasing required.

Chain 6, then work into the chains and magic ring as before to get 7 loops total. Work 3 rows using the same paired-loop pattern, then slip stitch back to the magic ring.

Repeat this exact process to make a second small wing.

At this point, your butterfly should have all four wings: two large, two small.

Step 5: Finish the Butterfly Base

Cut the yarn and pull the tail through to the back of your work. Pull the magic ring snug to close any gap, then tie off securely.

Weave the loose yarn ends through nearby stitches to hide them, and add a tiny dab of glue if you want extra security. It's worth taking your time here — a clean finish on the back makes a noticeable difference in how polished the final piece looks.

Step 6: Crochet the Small Flowers

Each butterfly gets two tiny accent flowers, styled after Lily of the Valley blooms.

Flower base (green):

1. Make a magic ring and work 5 single crochets into it, joining with a slip stitch.
2. Chain 3, then work a double crochet plus a chain into the next stitch. Repeat this combination all the way around.
3. You should end up with 6 spaces evenly spaced around the ring.

Petals (yellow):

1. Attach yellow yarn into one of the spaces and chain 2.
2. Work several yarn-over loops into that same space, then pull them through together to form a small rounded petal.
3. Repeat in each of the remaining spaces until all six are filled.

Secure the yarn, hide the ends, and repeat the whole process to make a second flower.

Step 7: Make the Hanging Strings

Switch to the olive green yarn. Make a slip knot and chain approximately 70 — or more/fewer, depending on the length you want. Make two strings total.

Step 8: Attach the Flowers

Attach one flower to the end of each string, securing it firmly and hiding the yarn tail on the back. For a more natural, handmade look, position the flowers so they hang at slightly different heights rather than lining up perfectly.

Step 9: Assemble the Whole Piece

Now bring everything together. Lay the two flower-topped strings against the back of the butterfly — one positioned slightly above, the other slightly below — and stitch them securely in place.

• For a hair tie: attach a hair elastic to the back of the butterfly before finishing.
• For a hair clip: glue or stitch a metal or plastic clip firmly to the back.

Double-check that everything is securely attached before wearing it.

Tips for Success

• Loose is better than tight. This pattern relies on being able to slide your hook through pairs of loops easily — tight tension makes that nearly impossible.
• Count your loops. The wing shape depends entirely on tracking your increases and decreases row by row, so a quick count at the end of each row saves you from having to rip back later.
• The first one is the hardest. The paired-loop technique feels unfamiliar at first, but it clicks quickly. Your second butterfly will go noticeably faster than your first.

Make It Your Own

Part of what makes this project fun is how easy it is to customize. Try a pastel butterfly for something soft and delicate, or go bold with contrasting colors for extra impact. You can lengthen or shorten the hanging strings, swap the flowers for a different accent, or resize the whole thing to turn it into a bag charm, brooch, or gift topper instead of a hair accessory.

It's also a great stash-buster — each butterfly only needs a small amount of yarn in each color, so it's an inexpensive way to experiment with new color combinations.

Final Thoughts

This crochet butterfly hair accessory is a satisfying mix of technique and payoff: the wings come together through a simple pattern of increasing and decreasing loops, the small wings add balance with a quick three-row repeat, and the flowers and trailing strings give it that extra handmade charm.

Once you've made your first one, don't be surprised if you want to make a whole set — in every color you can find.