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| Photo above © piaherno |
Butterfly Heart Top / DROPS 170-4 is a beautiful sleeveless women's top featuring an eye-catching lace design around the V-neckline.
Designed by DROPS Design and worked from the top down, this summer knitting project is available in six sizes from S through XXXL. Best of all, the complete original pattern is still available free directly from DROPS Design.
✓ Free Pattern Availability
Butterfly Heart Top / DROPS 170-4 remains available as a free official DROPS knitting pattern. The complete current instructions, diagrams and measurements are available directly from DROPS Design.
Butterfly Heart Top at a Glance
Pattern: Butterfly Heart Top / DROPS 170-4
DROPS Pattern No.: vs-011
Designer: DROPS Design
Collection: DROPS 170
First Published: February 2016
Craft: Knitting
Category: Women's Sleeveless Top
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
Suggested Yarn: DROPS Belle
Yarn Weight: DK / Yarn Group B
Main Needles: US 6 / 4 mm
Edge Needle: US 4 / 3.5 mm
Gauge: 21 stitches × 28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette
Construction: Top-down
Features: Lace, V-neck, sleeveless construction
Current Availability: Free official pattern
About the Butterfly Heart Top
Butterfly Heart Top is a feminine summer knitting design from DROPS Design.
Its most distinctive feature is the decorative lace around the deep V-neckline. The lace creates the visual focus of the garment while the sleeveless shape keeps the overall silhouette light and suitable for warmer weather.
The design can be worn as a summer top on its own or layered over another garment when the weather is cooler.
Sizes S to XXXL
DROPS provides the pattern in six sizes:
- S
- M
- L
- XL
- XXL
- XXXL
Because the pattern includes a schematic with finished measurements, compare those measurements with a garment that fits you comfortably before deciding which size to knit.
DROPS Belle Yarn
The original Butterfly Heart Top was designed in DROPS Belle.
DROPS Belle is a DK-weight summer yarn made from a blend of cotton, viscose and linen. This combination gives the finished fabric a lightweight character that suits a sleeveless lace top particularly well.
The official yarn requirements are:
- S: 250 g
- M: 300 g
- L: 300 g
- XL: 350 g
- XXL: 400 g
- XXXL: 400 g
The original sample is shown in DROPS Belle color Old Pink No. 11.
Needles and Gauge
For the main fabric, DROPS specifies:
US 6 / 4 mm double-pointed and circular needles
The pattern uses 40 cm / 16-inch and 80 cm / 32-inch circular needles as required during construction.
A smaller:
US 4 / 3.5 mm circular needle
is specified for the garter-stitch edges.
The published gauge is:
21 stitches × 28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette stitch
Use whichever needle size allows you to obtain the designer's gauge.
Worked from the Top Down
Butterfly Heart Top is a top-down knitting project.
This means construction begins around the upper part of the garment rather than at the lower hem.
The neckline and lace structure are established early in the project, with the garment developing downward from there.
Follow the official DROPS instructions carefully because different stages of the project are worked both back and forth and in the round.
The Butterfly Heart Lace
The lace pattern is what gives this top its distinctive identity.
Decorative openings radiate around the V-neck and create a strong geometric motif that can resemble a combination of butterfly wings and a heart shape.
Because the lace is positioned so prominently, accurate stitch counts are especially important.
Charts A.1 to A.13
DROPS provides a series of diagrams for the patterned sections, identified as A.1 through A.13.
Different sizes may use different diagram combinations, so identify the instructions for your selected size before beginning each patterned section.
Amazing Knitting does not reproduce these copyrighted diagrams. They are available directly on the official DROPS pattern page.
Short Rows
The pattern also uses short rows during construction.
Short-row knitting allows selected sections to gain additional rows without working all the way across the complete piece.
If you are unfamiliar with this technique, review how the pattern asks you to turn the work before beginning that section.
Garter-Stitch Edges
Garter stitch provides a simple textural contrast to the decorative lace.
The smaller US 4 / 3.5 mm needle is used for these edge sections, helping them maintain a neat appearance around the garment.
Skills That Help
Butterfly Heart Top is most comfortable for knitters who already have some experience beyond basic knit and purl stitches.
Helpful skills include:
- Casting on and binding off
- Knitting and purling
- Working stockinette stitch
- Working garter stitch
- Yarn overs
- Increasing and decreasing
- Reading lace charts
- Working short rows
- Working back and forth
- Knitting in the round
- Keeping accurate stitch counts
- Blocking lace
Reading the Lace Charts
Before starting the lace section, spend a few minutes studying the symbols and identifying the correct diagram for your size.
Lace mistakes are often easier to prevent than to repair several rows later.
Stitch markers can be helpful where appropriate, and checking your stitch count after important increase or decrease rows can prevent a small mistake from spreading through the motif.
Consider Using a Lifeline
If you are less experienced with lace knitting, a lifeline can provide useful insurance.
Thread a smooth contrasting strand through the live stitches after a correctly completed section. If a later mistake requires unraveling, the lifeline gives you a safe row to return to.
Choosing a Substitute Yarn
If DROPS Belle is not available, choose a substitute based on gauge, fiber behavior and the type of fabric you want to create.
A summer top benefits from a yarn that produces comfortable drape without hiding the lace definition.
Cotton, linen and viscose blends can behave differently from wool, particularly in elasticity and how they change after washing, so a generous gauge swatch is worthwhile.
Make and Wash Your Gauge Swatch
Gauge matters in any fitted garment, but it is particularly important when working with plant-fiber blends.
Make a swatch large enough to measure accurately and treat it the way you intend to wash the finished top.
Measure again after the swatch has dried. This can reveal whether your chosen yarn grows or changes significantly after washing.
Blocking the Lace
Lace often appears more compressed while it is still on the needles. Appropriate blocking can help the openings and decorative lines settle into their intended shape.
Follow the care instructions for your yarn and avoid overstretching the garment beyond its intended measurements.
Is Butterfly Heart Top Still Free?
Yes. Butterfly Heart Top / DROPS 170-4 remains available as a completely free knitting pattern from DROPS Design.
The official page provides the complete instructions, size-specific information, diagrams, schematic and current pattern tools.
Amazing Knitting does not reproduce DROPS Design's complete row-by-row instructions or charts. This page provides an independent project guide and directs knitters to the legitimate original source.
Get the Free Butterfly Heart Top Pattern
Use the official DROPS Design page for the complete current pattern.
Get the Free Butterfly Heart Top Pattern →
More Free Women's Knitting Patterns
If you enjoy Butterfly Heart Top, explore more free summer tops and lace knitting projects from the Amazing Knitting archive.
Explore Free Knitted Top Patterns →
You can also browse free lace tops, sleeveless tops, and DROPS knitting patterns.
Before You Start
Open the current DROPS pattern and select your size before purchasing yarn. Check the schematic and finished measurements rather than choosing solely by the S–XXXL labels.
Make and wash a gauge swatch, then familiarize yourself with the size-specific lace diagrams and short-row instructions before casting on the full garment.
Pattern credit: Butterfly Heart Top / DROPS 170-4 was designed and published by DROPS Design. The existing photograph on this Amazing Knitting page is credited to piaherno. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce DROPS Design's copyrighted charts or complete row-by-row knitting instructions.