A crochet flower is one of the quickest and most useful things you can make with a hook: a single flower takes 10 to 20 minutes, uses a few metres of yarn and can decorate hats, bags, cards, blankets and bouquets. Start with any of the three free crochet flower patterns below, all in UK terms, from a tiny one-round flower to a layered six-petal bloom, plus a leaf to go with them.
Quick answer: To crochet a simple flower, make a magic ring, work 10 double crochet into it (UK terms, US single crochet), then make five petals by working (1 half treble, 3 trebles, 1 half treble) into one stitch and a slip stitch into the next, five times. Use DK cotton and a 4mm hook (US G-6); the flower is about 5cm across and takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Every crochet flower pattern below is written with exact stitch counts and US terms in the abbreviations table. They all start with a magic ring and use only basic stitches, so they are perfect if you are new to crochet and want a fast, satisfying make.
Why learn to make a crochet flower?
Flowers are the ultimate scrap project. Once you know a couple of shapes, you can turn leftover yarn into gifts and embellishments in minutes. They are also brilliant practice: each crochet flower teaches you to work into a ring, to count stitches and to combine short and tall stitches to make a shape.
- Fast: most flowers take 10 to 20 minutes.
- Tiny amounts of yarn: 2 to 6 metres per flower.
- Endless uses: brooches, hair clips, bag charms, bunting, cards, bouquets and blanket appliqués.
- Perfect gifts: a crochet bouquet never wilts, so it is lovely for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day or a birthday.
What you need
- Yarn: DK (light worsted) cotton or acrylic. Cotton gives crisp petals that hold their shape; acrylic is softer and comes in more colours.
- Hook: 3.5mm or 4mm (UK 9 or 8, US E-4 or G-6). Use a 3.5mm hook for firmer petals.
- Yarn needle: for weaving in ends.
- Optional: buttons or beads for flower centres, brooch backs, hair clips, florist wire and green tape for stems.
Our crochet yarn guide explains the difference between cotton and acrylic in more detail, and our crochet hooks guide covers hook sizes. Yarn weights in this guide follow the Craft Yarn Council standard.
Abbreviations (UK terms with US equivalents)
| UK term | Abbreviation | US term |
|---|---|---|
| Magic ring | MR | Magic ring |
| Chain | ch | Chain |
| Slip stitch | ss | Slip stitch (sl st) |
| Double crochet | dc | Single crochet (sc) |
| Half treble crochet | htr | Half double crochet (hdc) |
| Treble crochet | tr | Double crochet (dc) |
All three flowers begin with a magic ring, which closes the centre completely. If you have not made one before, follow our magic ring tutorial. Our UK vs US crochet terms guide explains the names if you usually crochet from American patterns.
Pattern 1: tiny crochet flower (one round)
This tiny crochet flower is worked in a single round and measures about 2.5cm across in DK yarn. It is perfect for cards, hair clips, baby blankets and scattering across a garland.
- Make a magic ring.
- Round 1: *2 ch, 1 tr into the ring, 2 ch, ss into the ring* five times. (5 petals)
- Pull the tail firmly to close the centre, then join with a ss to the base of the first petal.
Fasten off and weave in the ends at the back. For a fuller petal, work (1 htr, 1 tr, 1 htr) instead of the single tr in each repeat.
Pattern 2: simple crochet flower with five petals
This simple crochet flower is the classic shape everyone recognises. It is about 5cm across in DK yarn with a 4mm hook, and you can work the centre in a contrast colour.
- Round 1 (centre colour): make a magic ring, 1 ch (does not count as a st), 10 dc into the ring. Pull the ring closed and join with a ss to the first dc. (10) If you want a two-colour flower, fasten off here and join the petal colour in any stitch.
- Round 2 (petals): *(1 htr, 3 tr, 1 htr) in the next st, ss in the next st* five times. (5 petals)
Fasten off with an invisible join for the neatest finish. Each petal uses two stitches of Round 1, so the five petals use all 10 stitches. If you need a refresher on the petal stitches, see our half treble guide and treble crochet guide.
Pattern 3: layered six-petal crochet flower
This crochet flower pattern has a solid centre and six round petals that stand slightly proud, so it looks more three-dimensional. It is about 6.5cm across in DK yarn.
- Round 1: make a magic ring, 6 dc into the ring. Join with a ss to the first dc. (6)
- Round 2: 1 ch, 2 dc in each st around. Join with a ss. (12)
- Round 3: *3 ch, skip the next st, ss in the following st* six times, working the last ss into the joining ss of Round 2. (6 ch-3 loops)
- Round 4: in each ch-3 loop work (1 dc, 1 htr, 3 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc). Join with a ss to the first dc. (6 petals)
For an extra layer, work a second flower one size smaller with a 3mm hook and sew it on top, turning it so the petals sit between the petals underneath.
Bonus: easy ruffle rose
Roses are the most requested flower for bouquets, and this ruffle rose is surprisingly simple. You crochet one strip that twists into a spiral, then roll it up. It is about 5cm across in DK yarn.
- Foundation: 20 ch.
- Row 1: 3 tr in the 4th ch from the hook, then 3 tr in each ch to the end. (51 tr, not counting the turning chain)
Fasten off, leaving a 30cm tail. The strip will twist into a ruffled spiral as you work. Starting from the end with the tail, roll the strip loosely around itself, keeping the bottom edge level. Thread the tail onto a needle and sew back and forth through all the layers at the base to hold the rose together. For a fuller rose, start with 30 ch and work 3 tr in each ch in the same way.
Red and pink roses are perfect for Valentine’s Day, and white roses make a lovely wedding or christening keepsake that will last for years.
Crochet leaf pattern
A green leaf finishes any flower. This leaf is about 4cm long.
- Foundation: 8 ch.
- Row 1: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, ss, 1 dc, 1 htr, 1 tr in each of the next 2 ch, 1 htr, ss in the last ch. (7)
Fasten off. For a larger, two-sided leaf with a stem, use the leaf from our crochet poppy pattern, which is worked along both sides of a chain.
Which flower should you make?
| Flower | Size in DK | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny one-round flower | about 2.5cm | 5 to 10 minutes | cards, hair clips, baby blankets |
| Simple five-petal flower | about 5cm | 10 to 15 minutes | brooches, bags, bunting |
| Layered six-petal flower | about 6.5cm | 15 to 20 minutes | bouquets, cushions, hats |
How to make a crochet bouquet
A bouquet of crochet flowers is one of the most popular handmade gifts, and it lasts forever. You need florist wire, green florist tape and a few flowers and leaves.
- Make five to nine flowers in two or three colours, plus a few leaves.
- Cut a 25cm length of florist wire for each flower. Bend a small loop at the top.
- Push the straight end of the wire through the centre of the flower from the front, so the loop sits hidden in the middle. Add a dab of fabric glue behind the flower.
- Wrap green florist tape down the wire to make a stem, catching in a leaf halfway down.
- Arrange the stems, tie them with ribbon and wrap them in brown paper or tissue.
Tulips, roses and lavender can all be added once you are confident; the layered flower above makes a convincing daisy or anemone.
Ideas for using your crochet flowers
- Brooches and hair clips: sew a brooch back or clip behind a layered flower.
- Blanket appliqué: stitch tiny flowers onto a baby blanket, such as our crochet baby blanket.
- Bag and hat trims: a single flower brightens a plain beanie, like the one in our crochet hat guide.
- Bunting and garlands: thread flowers onto a chain cord for a spring garland.
- Cards and gift tags: glue a tiny flower to a handmade card.
- Coasters: a flat five-petal flower makes a cheerful coaster in cotton; see our crochet coasters for more designs.
How to make flower bunting
Flower bunting is a cheerful way to use a pile of finished blooms, and it looks lovely across a mantelpiece, a nursery window or a spring party table.
- Make 12 to 20 simple five-petal flowers in a mix of colours, plus a few leaves.
- Crochet a long chain in green or cream, about 2 metres long, leaving 30cm at each end for tying.
- Lay the flowers along the chain, spacing them about 10cm apart, and sew each one on through its centre.
- Add a leaf between every second or third flower for a natural look.
For a quicker version, slip stitch through the back of each flower as you make the chain, so you never need to sew.
How many flowers do you need?
| Project | Number of flowers | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Greetings card | 1 to 3 tiny flowers | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Hair clip or brooch | 1 layered flower | 20 minutes |
| Small bouquet | 5 to 9 flowers and 4 leaves | 2 to 3 hours |
| Flower bunting (2m) | 12 to 20 flowers | 3 to 5 hours |
| Cushion cover border | about 24 tiny flowers | 3 to 4 hours |
Flowers through the seasons
Because they are so quick, flowers are a handy make all year round. In spring, try daffodils, tulips and pastel daisies for Easter and Mother’s Day. Summer is perfect for bright bunting and bag charms. In autumn, use rust, mustard and deep red for brooches and hat trims. In winter, white and silver flowers become snowflake-style decorations, and red flowers make a festive wreath trim; our crochet poinsettia is a Christmas favourite.
Colour ideas
Flowers are a great excuse to play with colour. Try a yellow centre with white petals for a daisy, a dark centre with red petals for a poppy-style bloom, or pastel petals with a cream centre for a baby gift. For a spring bouquet, pick three colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel, such as pink, coral and peach, and add two shades of green for the leaves.
Common problems and easy fixes
The petals curl
Curling usually means the stitches are tight. Go up half a hook size, then steam the flower lightly by holding an iron just above it and patting the petals flat.
The centre has a hole
Pull the magic ring tail firmly before joining, then weave the tail around the centre on the back to close any gap.
The petals are uneven
Count the stitches in Round 1 before starting the petals. One extra or missing stitch makes one petal larger than the others.
Tips for neat crochet flowers
- Use cotton for crisp petals: it shows every stitch and keeps its shape.
- Leave long tails: they make sewing your flower onto a project easy.
- Block small batches: pin several flowers to a foam mat, spray with water and leave them to dry.
- Make a stash: keep a jar of finished flowers ready for last-minute gifts and cards.
Once your flowers are done, use the same round-by-round skills for a crochet mandala wall hanging, or add a flower brooch to one of our crochet shawl patterns.
Frequently asked questions about crochet flowers
How long does it take to crochet a flower?
A tiny crochet flower takes 5 to 10 minutes and a layered flower about 15 to 20 minutes, so you can make several in an evening.
What is the easiest crochet flower for beginners?
The tiny one-round flower is the easiest: you work five petals straight into a magic ring, then pull it closed.
What yarn is best for crochet flowers?
DK cotton is best for crisp petals that hold their shape. Acrylic is softer and fine for flowers on blankets and hats.
How much yarn does a crochet flower use?
Between 2 and 6 metres of DK yarn, depending on the size. One 50g ball makes dozens of flowers.
Are these crochet flower patterns in UK or US terms?
They are written in UK terms. In US terms, dc is single crochet, htr is half double crochet and tr is double crochet.
