Luna Moth Crochet Pattern

This Luna Moth crochet pattern is a great project for intermediate and seasoned crocheters! It is inspired by the Luna Moth but of course, you could use it to create different kinds of tailed moths or butterflies. 

If using the recommended yarn and hook size, your moth will be about 12.5 cm/5” wide and 7 cm/3” long (excluding tails).

Below are the free written crochet instructions for the Luna Moth amigurumi.

If you prefer an ad-free, downloadable pattern that can be accessed offline or printed, I offer a pdf pattern for the moth that can be purchased for a small fee on Etsy or Ravelry.

There is also a Ribblr version of this pattern available for a small fee.

I would love to see your butterfly amigurumi! Share your creation on Instagram and tag me @stellasyarnuniverse for the monthly chance to win a pdf pattern of your choice from my Etsy shop! Winners are announced on my Instagram page @stellasyarnuniverse every other 1st of the month!

Materials and tools you need for the Luna Moth amigurumi

Cotton yarn in DK/light worsted weight in green, purple, and beige [I used Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK in Spearmint Green (426), Pansy Purple (448), and Vanilla Cream (408)]

Fluffy yarn in white [I used Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake DK in Milky]

Small amount of DK/light worsted or 4-Ply/Sports yarn in orange or yellow

3.5mm crochet hook / Size E

2.5mm / C-2 or B-1 crochet hook depending on how tightly you crochet

Beige, purple, and black embroidery floss

Stitch marker

Yarn needle

Large-eyed sewing needle

Scissors

Craft wire (optional)

Glue (optional)

Small flat pliers (optional)

Abbreviations

Rnd(s) = round(s)

St(s) = stitch(es)

Ch(s) = chain(s)

Sl st = slip stitch

Sc = single crochet

Hdc = half double crochet

Dc = double crochet

Inc = sc increase: sc 2 in same st

Dec = sc invisible decrease

FLO = front loops only

BLO = back loops only

[…] = series of stitches to be repeated

(…) = number of stitches once rnd is completed

*… = amount of times […] needs to be repeated

img = image

Luna Moth crochet pattern: Instructions

Crochet the Body

Use white fluffy DK yarn and a 3.5mm/E hook

If the fluffy yarn is difficult to crochet on its own, you could hold it together with light white cotton yarn.

The body is not filled with fiberfill.

Ch 4 and create a ring by making a sl st in the first ch. If possible with the yarn you are using, you can also make a magic ring.

Rnd 1: Sc 7 into 4-ch ring (7)
Rnd 2 and 3 (2 rnds): Sc 7 (7)
Rnd 4: Sc 1, sk 1, sc 5 (6)
Rnd 5 and 6 (2 rnds): Sc 6 (6)

Fasten off and close the round by inserting the yarn end in the FLO of all 6 sts, using a yarn needle. Then stitch through the center of the last round and weave in the yarn end.

Crochet the Forewings (make 2)

Use light green DK cotton yarn and a 2.5mm/B or C hook

The wings are not filled with fiberfill.

Rnd 1: Sc 6 into magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: [inc 1, sc 1]*3 (9)

Rnd 3: Sc 9 (9)

Rnd 4: [inc 1, sc 2]*3 (12)

Rnd 5: Inc 3, sc 9 (15)

Rnd 6: Sc 15 (15)

Rnd 7: [inc 1, sc 1]*3, sc 9 (18)

Rnd 8: Sc 18 (18)

Rnd 9: [inc 1, sc 2]*3, sc 9 (21)

Rnd 10: [inc 1, sc 3]*3, sc 9 (24)

Rnd 11 and 12 (2 rnds): Sc 24 (24)

Rnd 13: Sc 3, dec, [sc 6, dec]*2, sc 3 (21)

Rnd 14: [sc 5, dec]*3 (18)

Rnd 15: Sc 2, [dec, sc 2]*3, sc 4 (15)

Rnd 16: Sc 2, [dec, sc 1]*3, sc 4 (12)

Rnd 17: Sc 2, dec 3, sc 4 (9)

Rnd 18: [sc 1, dec]*3 (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long yarn end for sewing.

Press the wings flat.

Crochet the Hind Wings (make 2)

I recorded a video tutorial for this part. You can watch it here.

Use light green DK cotton yarn and a 2.5mm/B or C hook

The wings are not filled with fiberfill.

Ch 14

Sl st 1 in 2nd ch from hook, sc 1, hdc 3, sc 6, hdc 1, dc 1

For the right hind wing: From here ch 9

Rnd 1: Sc 8 (starting in 2nd ch) [img 1], sc 2 in side of dc st [img 2 to 4], turn work and sc 2 in dc st from the other side [img 5 to 7], sc in other side of 8 ch sts [img 8 and 9]

Continue crocheting in the round. Please jump to “For both wings”.

For the left hind wing: Sl st 2 in the side of the dc st [img 1 to 4], ch 9 [img 5]

Rnd 1: Sc 8 (starting in 2nd ch), sc 2 in FLO of sl sts [img 6 to 9], turn work and sc 2 in BLO of sl sts from the other side [img 10 to 12], sc in other side of 8 ch sts [img 13 and 14]

Continue crocheting in the round.

For both hind wings:

Rnd 2 and 3 (2 rnds): Sc 20 (20)

Rnd 4: [dec, sc 8]*2 (18)

Rnd 5 and 6 (2 rnds): Sc 18 (18)

Rnd 7: [dec, sc 7]*2 (16)

Rnd 8: Sc 16 (16)

Rnd 9: [dec, sc 6]*2 (14)

Rnd 10: [dec, sc 5]*2 (12)

Rnd 11: [dec, sc 4]*2 (10)

Rnd 12: [sc 3, dec]*2 (8)

Rnd 13: [sc 2, dec]*2 (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long yarn end for sewing.

Press the wings flat.

Embroider the Forewings

Embroider the veins on both sides of the wing, using a 1m/1.1yd long piece of beige embroidery floss and a yarn needle.

The white lines show how the finished stitch you are making will look.

The black lines show specific distances, that you can measure to calculate where to place a stitch. These distances are counted in the number of rounds or stitches.

Tie the ends together, cut them short, and hide them inside the wing. Repeat these steps with the other wing, mirroring the pattern.
Now use a 30cm/12” long piece of purple embroidery floss to embroider the purple markings. You only need to go through the front layer of the wing this time.

Tie the ends together, cut them short and hide them inside the wing. Repeat these steps
with the other wing, mirroring the pattern.

Embroider the Hindwings

Embroider the veins on both sides of the wing, using a 70cm/28” long piece of beige embroidery floss, and a yarn needle.

Tie the ends together, cut them short, and hide them inside the wing. Repeat these steps with the other wing, mirroring the pattern. Now use a 30cm/12” long piece of purple embroidery floss to embroider the purple markings. You only need to go through the front layer of the wing this time.

Tie the ends together, cut them short, and hide them inside the wing. Repeat these steps with the other wing, mirroring the pattern.

Crochet the lower Outline of the Forewings

Right forewing

Join the beige yarn at the lower base of the wing in between the last two rounds.

Simply pick up a loop and pull the beige yarn through. [img 1 and 2]

Sc along the lower outline of the wing by picking up single loops in between rounds. [img 3 to 6]

Crochet as follows [img 8]:

Sc 6, inc 1 (at the curve) [img 5], sc 10 [img 6]

The last sc goes into the magic ring. [img 7]

Fasten off.

Left forewing

Join beige yarn in the magic ring at the tip of the wing. [img 9 and 10]

Ch 1 and make the first sc in the same spot.

Crochet as follows [img 11]:

Sc 10, inc 1 (at the curve), sc 6 [img 11]

Sl st in next spot (between the last two rounds) and fasten off.

Crochet the upper Outline of the Forewings

If you are right-handed begin with the right wing. If you are left-handed start with the left wing.

Join the purple yarn in the magic ring at the tip of the first wing. [img 1]

Ch 1 and continue crocheting in the next spot between rounds. [img 2]

Crochet as follows [img 11]:

Hdc 17 (the last hdc goes in the side of the last round) [img 3], ch 3 [img 4], hdc 17 (the first hdc goes in the side of the last round of the other wing) [img 5 and 6], sl st in magic ring.

Fasten off and make an invisible finish in the first beige stitch.

Weave in all beige and purple yarn ends.

Crochet the Outline of the Hind Wings

Right hind wing

Join beige yarn in the last st of the tail. [img 1]

Crochet as follows [img 7]:

Sl st in next 11 sts [img 2], sc in next 7 base chains [img 3], inc in next base chain (at the corner) [img 4], sc 12 in between rounds [img 5]

Fasten off.

Weave in the beige yarn ends.

Left hind wing

Join beige yarn in the side of the last round at the base of the wing. [img 6]

Ch 1 and start crocheting in the same st.

Crochet as follows [img 11]:

Sc 12 in between rounds, inc in next base chain (at the corner) [img 7], sc in next 7 base chains, sl st in next 12 sts [img 8]

Fasten off.

Weave in the beige yarn ends. [img 9 and 10]

Assembly

Sew the hind wings on

Sew the base of the hind wings on each side of rnd 2 of the body, using the long green yarn ends.

The tails should be facing inward. [img 1 to 7]

Once the base of the wing is firmly attached, stitch through in between rnd 3 and 4 of the body and then

in between rnd 12 and 13 at the inner side of the wing, so that the wing is pointing diagonally downward. [img 8]

Stitch through the body once more, then weave in the yarn end thoroughly. [img 9]

Repeat these steps with the other hind wing. [img 10]

Sew the forewings on

Sew the base of the forewings on each side of rnd 1 of the body, using the long green yarn end.

The lower part of the forewings should overlap with the hindwings. [img 1 to 8]

Weave in the yarn end thoroughly.

Repeat these steps with the other forewing.

Now use a piece of purple yarn to stitch the purple 3 chains on the ‘top of the head’. [img 9 to 14]

Weave in the yarn ends. See result in img 15.

Finishing Touches

Embroider the Eyes

Embroider the eyes using a 40cm/16” long piece of black embroidery floss and a large-eyed sewing needle.

Turn the moth on its back and insert the needle vertically on one side of rnd 1 of the body. [img 1]

Stitch through the same two spots again, then insert the needle below the eye, making a horizontal stitch to where you want the other eye to go. [img 2 and 3]

Make three vertical stitches to embroider the second eye. [img 4 to 6]

Now connect the eyes by inserting the needle under the first eye. Let the needle exit anywhere on the body, in a gap between stitches. [img 7]

Thread the other end on the needle and insert it underneath the second eye, stitching through to the same spot the other thread end comes out of. [img 8]

Tie both ends together, then insert a hook in another place of the body and pull the thread ends through the gap, inside the body. [img 9]

Attach the Antennae

Insert an 8cm/3” long piece of craft wire in the head, above the eyes, and directly below the 3 purple chains. [img 1 and 2]

Both craft wire ends should be about equally long. Bend them up. [img 3]

Now cut 5 x 10cm/4” long pieces of yellow or orange DK or 4-Ply yarn. Separate the fibers. [img 4 and 5]

Tie 20 of these fibers one by one around one of the wire antennae, making a double knot. Then push the knot toward the base of the antenna until you have 20 knots in a row. Now apply a thin layer of glue to the knots and allow them to dry. [img 6 to 8]

Once the glue has dried, cut the wire, leaving a short end. Bend the wire end over the last few knots to further secure them. Then cut the antenna fibers into a leaf shape. [img 9]

Repeat these steps to make the other antenna. [img 10].

Attach the Legs

Insert 2 x 8cm/3” long pieces of craft wire in between rnd 1 and 2 of the body, below the eyes. [img 1 and 2]

Now insert another 8cm/3” long piece of craft wire in between rnd 2 and 3 of the body, below the other two wires. [img 3]

All craft wire ends should be about equally long.

Bend them up and cut them to 2cm/0.8“in length. Slightly bend the wires outward and then inward again to shape the legs.

Finally, bend the tips 90 degrees outward to shape little feet. [img 4 and 5]

Apply a drop of glue to the base of each leg and allow it to dry to secure the position of the legs.

Congratulations! Your Luna Moth is now complete!

You can pin the Luna Moth amigurumi pattern here for later.

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You are welcome to create products to sell on a small scale using this pattern. If you wish to do so, please refer back to my blog stellasyarnuniverse.com for the pattern.

Happy creating!