How to Make a Hopeful Butterfly Hat – Free Crochet Pattern
The Hopeful Butterfly Hat crochet pattern was designed as a crochet chemo cap with a variation of the awareness ribbon.
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I added raised stripes around the bottom that can be color coordinated with awareness colors.
And since butterflies represent hope and transformation, I thought it was most fitting to include them in the design.
This hat was originally designed as part of the Cancer Challenge in 2019, where we all signed up to represent a different type of cancer, so we could color coordinate the hats with an awareness ribbon color way.
For this challenge I chose Thyroid Cancer.
About Thyroid Cancer
Fortunately, Thyroid Cancer is referred to as the “good cancer”; basically, if you had to choose a cancer, this is the one you would want, because the most common type has a high cure rate.
However, there is a misconception in ways, because there are a few types of thyroid cancer, and some are more aggressive than others. And while survival rate is high for the “good thyroid cancer”, the removal of the entire thyroid is the “cure”.
What people don’t realize is that the Thyroid gland is the body’s powerhouse, so removing it leads to lifelong medications to replace hormones and many other system (and health) issues along the way. #checkyourneck
My Hope
My hope is for a better understanding of this gland and the cancer, so there can be a better “cure” in the near future.
About My Hat
The Hopeful Butterfly Hat is made with 3 stripes, because the Thyroid Cancer Awareness Ribbon is Purple, Teal, and Pink. I also chose to add butterflies for dual purpose: 1) the thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland at the front of your neck, so the butterflies represent the thyroid and 2) butterflies are the symbol of hope, endurance, transformation, and new beginnings.
What I love most about the Hopeful Butterfly Hat pattern is the ease of changing the colors to any awareness coloring (cancer or other diseases/disorders).
Check out these samples from my testers:
Here’s how to make your own Hopeful Butterfly Hat:
Materials
Worsted Weight Yarn (#4)
-Any Colors (<5oz)
I/9/5.50mm Hook (Hat)
G/6/4.00mm Hook (Butterflies)
Yarn Needle
Gauge
14 sts x 11 rows = 4”
Sizes
Toddler (18”)
Child (20”)
Adult (22”)
Stitch Guide
arnd = around
ch = chain
hdc = half double crochet
sc = single crochet
sl st(s) = slip stitch(es)
Skill Level
Easy
Notes
- Beginning ch-1 does not count as a stitch
- Butterflies are optional and worked as separate appliques.
- This hat can be made so the main color is your awareness color and the stripes are neutral or make the stripes your awareness color and the main portion in a neutral.
Special Stitches
Third Loop Only (TLO) = The loop that runs parallel to the front/back loops on the backside of a half double crochet. AKA Camel Stitch
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Instructions
With Main Color,
R1. Make magic ring, ch 1, 8 hdc in ring, sl st to join in 1st hdc (8)
R2. Ch 1, 2 hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (16)
R3. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (24)
R4. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 2* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (32)
R5. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 3* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (40)
R6. Ch1, *2 hdc, hdc x 4* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (48)
R7. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 5* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (56)
R8. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 13* 4X, sl st to join in 1st hdc (60)
R9-12. Ch 1, hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (60)
With Accent Color,
R13. Ch 1, hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (60)
R14. Ch 1, TLO hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (60)
With Main Color,
R15. Ch 1, TLO hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (60)
With Accent Color,
R16. Rep R13
R17. Rep R14
With Main Color,
R18. Rep R15
R19-20. Rep R13; Fasten at end of R20.
With Main Color,
R1. Make magic ring, ch 1, 8 hdc in ring, sl st to join in 1st hdc (8)
R2. Ch 1, 2 hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (16)
R3. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (24)
R4. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 2* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (32)
R5. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 3* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (40)
R6. Ch1, *2 hdc, hdc x 4* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (48)
R7. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 5* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (56)
R8. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 13* 4X, sl st to join in 1st hdc (60)
R9. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 29* 2X, sl st to join in 1st hdc (62)
R10-11. Ch 1, hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (62)
With Accent Color,
R12. Ch 1, hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (62)
R13. Ch 1, TLO hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (62)
With Main Color,
R14. Ch 1, TLO hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (62)
With Accent Color,
R15. Rep R12
R16. Rep R13
With Main Color,
R17. Rep R14
With Accent Color,
R18. Rep R12
R19. Rep R13
With Main Color,
R20. Rep R14
R21-22. Rep R12; Fasten at end of R22.
With Main Color,
R1. Make magic ring, ch 1, 8 hdc in ring, sl st to join in 1st hdc (8)
R2. Ch 1, 2 hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (16)
R3. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (24)
R4. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 2* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (32)
R5. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 3* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (40)
R6. Ch1, *2 hdc, hdc x 4* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (48)
R7. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 5* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (56)
R8. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 6* arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (64)
R9. Ch 1, *2 hdc, hdc x 31* 2X, sl st to join in 1st hdc (66)
R10-13. Ch 1, hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (66)
With Accent Color,
R14. Ch 1, hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (66)
R15. Ch 1, TLO hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (66)
With Main Color,
R16. Ch 1, TLO hdc arnd, sl st to join in 1st hdc (66)
With Accent Color,
R17. Rep R14
R18. Rep R15
With Main Color,
R19. Rep R16
With Accent Color,
R20. Rep R14
R21. Rep R15
With Main Color,
R22. Rep R16
R23-24. Rep R14; Fasten at end of R24.
Make magic ring, *ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, sl st, ch 2, 2 hdc, ch 2, sl st* 2X; Fasten, leaving a long tail. Pull ring closed and shape wings. Wrap long tail around center 2X, going between the two small wings and the two large wings. Fasten.
Finishing
- Sew butterflies to the coordinating stripes.
- Hide all strings.
Now you have your own Hopeful Butterfly Hat!
Use #CrochetCancerChallenge
To help spread the word about this event, we need your help! Please make your hats from the designs and post to your social media. Use #CrochetCancerChallenge when posting on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or anywhere else. Also, tagging the designers who gave you the pattern to use would be wonderful. We all appreciate a little love on social media and may even share your project on our page.
Looking for more crochet hats?
Granite Stitch Hat & Cowl Set
Kitty Cat Hat
Nor’easter Hat
Birthday Party Hat
Thank you for joining us!
Written pattern and photographs ©2019 Sonya Blackstone of Blackstone Designs. Please do not sell, share, or modify this pattern, but instead share the link to where the pattern can be found. You may sell items you make with this pattern. This pattern, as with all Blackstone Designs/Sonya Blackstone patterns, are not for educational use without written permission from the designer.
Sonya Blackstone is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
My daughter has thyroiditis & hypothyroidism. I think I’ll make this one for her. She’s only 8 & is scared of having to take medication for the rest of her life.
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Thank you for this pattern. I’m a thyroid cancer survivor. I had it when I was 17 and I will be 60 on Veterans Day.
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This is such an elegant but simple design. Who knew there was a third loop or that it would make the band 3D. Thank you so much for sharing
What a beautiful pretty little hat. Children will especially love to receive such a beautiful gift. Thank you for sharing the pattern.
This is a wonderful pattern, thank you so much for sharing. #cc2019
I have shared a photo of the one I made for my pledge, and will definitely be making more, will certainly brighten a girls journey.