My Submission for The Butterfly Project

Photo source: Holocaust Museum Houston

The brilliance of this project idea really impacted me: using 1.5 million butterflies that are themselves unique and individual to symbolize and represent each of the 1.5 million children lost in the Holocaust. This exhibition will make visual a number that I still can't wrap my head around. 1.5 million is a large lump sum, but to think of each individual number boggles my mind.

Amy’s Free Small Butterfly Embellishment Pattern

It's taken me longer than I thought, but I finally finished designing a small butterfly embellishment! Here is the pattern. If you find any errors or need clarification, please let me know.

Materials Needed:

• Any yarn you want to use

• Any crochet needle that works with your yarn

• Gauge & finished size will change depending on yarn used

**Fine yarn was used for the butterfly in picture, measuring approximately 2 inches by 2 inches (not including antennae)**

Wings

Ch 7, sl st back into first ch.
Row 1: Sc 11 in loop, ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Dc 5, sl st in next st, dc 5, ch 1, turn.
Row 3 : Dc 2 in each of next 2 sts, in 3rd st [dc, sl st, dc], dc 2 in next st, dc 3 in next st, sl st in sl st from row 2 (left wings completed). Dc 3 in next st, dc 2 in next st, repeat [] in 3rd st, dc 2 in next sc, dc 4 and sc 1 in last st (right wings completed). Sc 1 around post of dc from row 3, sc in ring, sc 1 around post of dc from row 3, sl st in 1st st from top left wing (finishing on top wings). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembly

Cut 6 inches of yarn (or less if you plan to weave in) and use hook to wrap yarn around both sides of the center loop (on the wings). Tie a knot in back, securing the loop together. Leave the strands for attachment to an object or weave in if you want them hidden.

For the body, cut 7 ½ inches of yarn and fold in half. Holding the loop end behind the middle of the top wings, fold the yarn under the lower wings and bring up along the front to the loop. Pull the strands through the loop and arrange the antennae. **Starching the antennae helps maintain the shape and durability of the yarn**

You can download the PDF pattern by clicking on the image below.

If you don't have Adobe Reader, you can download it free.

Happy Crocheting!

My Butterflies: Pictures

I have been working on my butterflies over the past few days and have finally been able to take some pictures! 

Butterfly 1

I think this one is my favorite so far. I'm going to add embellishments. This is the 2-D Butterfly pattern. I used worsted weight yarn. 

Butterflies 2 and 3

Butterfly 2 (top) is made of Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn using Nellie's Crochet Butterfly pattern. Butterfly 3 (bottom) is the same pattern but with Row 3 of the pattern skipped to make it smaller. To make the red border I slip stitched around the border. 

The next step I have planned for Butterflies 2 and 3 is starching. The bodies of the butterflies themselves are strong enough on their own, but I am finding that the antennae are too flimsy and don't stick up to my liking without some help. My mother-in-law has some spray starch called "Stiffen Stuff" that I'll be using. 

Also, I'm working on a butterfly pattern of my own. It is currently in the trial and error phase as I try to crochet and write the pattern. I hope to be able to share it with you soon!

♥ Amy S

My Butterflies: The Butterfly Project

In Spring 2013 the Holocaust Museum Houston has scheduled an exhibition called The Butterfly Project. This exhibition remembers the 1.5 million children who perished in the holocaust with 1.5 million butterflies, based on the book "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" which is a compilation of drawings and poems by children of the Terezin Concentration Camp.
The neat thing about this exhibition is that all of the butterflies are handmade donations that can be from anyone. The Butterfly Project offers an activity that is children appropriate for use in the classroom. There are a few guidelines regarding what materials can NOT be used; the following is directly from the Project Page:

• Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches. 
• Butterflies may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred.
• Glitter and all glitter-related products should not be used.
• Food products (cereal, macaroni, candy, marshmallows or other perishables) also should not be used.
• If possible, e-mail a photograph of your butterflies, to butterflyproject@hmh.org.

The museum has approximately 800,000 butterflies so far, and the deadline is June 30, 2012. The submission form can be found here.


A special thanks to The Left Side of Crochet for one of the patterns and for including the link to the Butterfly Project -- I had not heard of it until I found her pattern.


I hope this will inspire you to consider donating as well! I'm currently working on several crochet butterflies to donate; I will post pictures and links to patterns soon!


♥ Amy S