Last weekend, we went to the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory with our 15 month old daughter and she had a blast! We reserved timed tickets online and they had great protocols with one way traffic only.
Just before going to the Butterfly Conservatory, I did some research on butterflies. To my surprise, butterflies are better with their sight than their olfactory senses. Butterflies can see three main colours: red, yellow, and orange. So, I decided to do a little experiment, and crochet flower attractors to see if I could get butterflies to land on us.
I made 3 different flowers:
a red one that can be clipped to shirts/hair/bag
a yellow arm/wrist corsage band
an orange head band/hair tie
Now, my toddler was moving around a lot and so I think it was difficult for the butterflies to land on. Whereas, the orange flower head band that I was wearing, when I was standing, or sitting; I actually had butterflies land on me successfully!! It was very exciting for my family to see the butterflies landing on me.
So, if you've tried this pattern and have gone to a butterfly conservatory - I want to hear your results!
Materials & Yarn:
Lily’s Sugar n’ Cream: three colours of your choosing. I used the a scented one for one of the layers so the flower smelled; but it’s known that butterflies can see better than they can smell so it doesn’t really matter
Crochet Hook Size: 3.0 mm
Attachment accessories (i.e. pin, head band, clips, or hair ties)
Abbreviations
Ch = Chain
Inc = Increase
Sc = Single Crochet
Hdc = Half Double Crochet
Dc = Double Crochet
Sp = Space
Slst = Slip stitch
St(s) = Stitch(es)
MR = Magic Ring
F/O = Fasten off
[repeat everything within brackets]
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Pattern
With the center colour of your choosing: make a MR, Ch 3 and dc 11 times into the middle of the magic ring, then pull tight. Slst into the beginning of the ch 3. F/O (12) Leave a somewhat long tail so you can tie it together onto a hair tie/headband.
Join the 2nd colour of your choosing into the top of any dc st made. [Ch 2 and dc into the same st, dc, ch 2 and sl st into the next st.] repeat for a total of 6 times. F/O (6 petals)
With the right side facing you, work behind the flower of row 2 and insert the 3rd colour of your choosing into a st that is between two petals. [Ch 4, sl st into a st that is between the next two petals] repeat this 5 times. Do not F/O.
Sl st into 1 ch-4 sp [Ch2, 3dc, ch2, slst] into the same sp. Sl st into the next ch-4 sp and repeat brackets for a total of 6 times. (6 petals)
With the right side facing you, work behind the flower of row 2 and insert the 4th colour of your choosing into a st that is between two petals. [Ch 5, sl st into a st that is between the next two petals] repeat this 5 times. Do not F/O.
Sl st into 1 ch-5 sp [Ch2, 2dc, ch2, sl st into the 2nd ch from hook, 2dc, ch2, slst] next ch-5 sp and repeat brackets for a total of 6 times. (6 petals)
Leaves with green yarn (make 2)
Ch7, sc in the 2nd ch from hook, hdc in the next st, dc into the next 3 sts, [2hdc,ch2,sc back into the 2nd ch from hook, 2hdc] in last st. Rotate and crochet on the opposite side like you would doing the sole of a shoe. Dc in each of the next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in the last st, sl st to join. F/O and wave in threads.
For headbands and hair ties, the yarn left in the middle is used to tie a knot on the headbands or hair ties.
For alligator clips, all the sts after the ch7 is done through the clip. Or you could glue the clip on the leaves.
Disclaimer
Thank you for trying/purchasing this pattern. Please leave me a comment or contact me if you have any questions about this pattern. I would love to see your finished goods, so please do not forget to tag me @the.mad.knatter on Instagram or use #themadknatter. This is a personal pattern. You may sell or share your own finished goods, but please give me credit for the design. Do not copy, alter, or distribute this pattern. If you would like to see more free patterns -- please support me by following me on Instagram @the.mad.knatter and on Ravelry @themadknatter.