Crochet Sunflower Pattern: Easy Free Tutorial in 3 Simple Parts
An easy crochet sunflower with a flat brown centre, two layers of pointed petals and a leaf. Includes a wire stem, a sunflower coaster version, size changes and tips for neat petals.
By AlixaPublished 11 min read
A crochet sunflower is a small, cheerful project that never wilts. It has only three parts: a flat brown centre, a ring of pointed yellow petals and a green leaf. You can finish one in under an hour, and then decide what it becomes: a flower on a stem, a coaster, an appliqué on a bag or one bloom in a bouquet.
This pattern gives every round with its stitch count, explains the two techniques that make the petals look real, and shows how to add a stem, turn the flower into a coaster and change the size.
Terms used here: US crochet terms. Single crochet (sc) is called double crochet (dc) in UK terms, half double crochet (hdc) is half treble, and double crochet (dc) is treble.
About this pattern: it's a simple design written for this guide. Each round's stitch count has been checked so the numbers add up. The finished size is approximate and depends on your yarn and hook.
At a glance
| Skill level | Beginner (comfortable with single and double crochet) |
| Stitches | Magic ring, sc, hdc, dc, slip stitch, picot, front and back loops |
| Yarn | DK cotton (weight 3) in brown, yellow and green |
| Hook | 3.5 mm (US E-4) |
| Finished size | About 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 4 in) across |
| Construction | Centre worked in a spiral, petals worked around it, leaf separate |
What you need
- DK cotton yarn in three colours: dark brown, sunflower yellow and leaf green. You need only a few metres of each, so this is a good use for leftovers. One flower takes roughly 5 m of brown, 15 m of yellow and 4 m of green for a leaf.
- A 3.5 mm (US E-4) hook.
- A locking stitch marker.
- Scissors and a tapestry needle.
For flowers on stems you also need:
- Floral wire, 18 gauge, about 25 cm (10 in) per stem. A wooden skewer works too.
- Green floral tape, or green yarn and a little craft glue.
- Small pliers.
Cotton gives crisp petals that hold their shape. Acrylic works and is softer, so the petals will be floppier. Use the hook size your yarn needs for a firm fabric.
Techniques used
- Magic ring. An adjustable loop that closes the centre. See how to crochet a magic ring.
- Increase (inc). Two single crochets in the same stitch.
- Front loop only (FLO) and back loop only (BLO). The top of every stitch is a V made of two loops. The one nearer to you is the front loop. The one further away is the back loop. Working into only one of them leaves the other free, so you can crochet into it later. That's how this flower gets two layers of petals from one round.
- Picot. Chain 2, then slip stitch into the second chain from the hook, the first chain you made. It makes the point at the tip of each petal.
If you'd like to practise the basic stitches first, see easy crochet stitches for beginners.
Sunflower pattern
The centre
Use brown. Work in a continuous spiral and move your stitch marker up at the start of each round.
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc in each stitch around (12)
- R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
- R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
Slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off. Weave the brown ends in on the back.
The disc should lie flat and measure about 5 cm (2 in) across. If it curls into a bowl, your stitches are very tight. Go up half a hook size.
For a seeded look, work rounds 2 to 4 in the back loop only. The unused front loops make spiral ridges, like the seed head of a real sunflower.
First layer of petals
Join yellow with a slip stitch in the front loop of any stitch of round 4. Work this whole round in the front loops only.
Each petal sits on two stitches:
- Petal: (sc, hdc, dc) in the next stitch, make a picot, (dc, hdc, sc) in the next stitch.
Work the petal 12 times around the centre. You'll use all 24 stitches. Slip stitch into the first single crochet to join. Don't fasten off.
Second layer of petals
The second layer sits behind the first, with its petals showing in the gaps. Fold the first layer of petals forward. Behind them is the row of back loops you left unused.
Slip stitch into the back loop of the next stitch, so that this round starts one stitch over from the first layer. That offset is what makes the petals alternate.
Work the petal 12 times around, in the back loops only. Slip stitch into the first single crochet, fasten off and weave in the ends.
You now have 24 petals in two layers. Pinch each tip between your fingers to sharpen the point.
For a simpler flower, skip the second layer. Work the first layer through both loops for a flat, single-layer sunflower, which is best for appliqués.
The leaf
Use green. The leaf is worked down one side of a chain and back up the other.
- Chain 10.
- Side 1: starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work sc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, sc into the next 8 chains. Work 3 sc in the last chain to turn the corner.
- Side 2: working along the other side of the chain, work sc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, sc.
- Slip stitch into the first single crochet.
Fasten off, leaving a 20 cm (8 in) tail for sewing or for attaching to a stem. Make one or two leaves per flower.
A back for the flower (optional)
A small green circle tidies up the back and hides the top of a wire stem.
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc in each stitch around (12)
- R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
Slip stitch, and fasten off with a long tail for sewing.
How to add a stem
- Prepare the wire. With pliers, bend the top 1.5 cm of the wire into a small flat loop, like a tiny lollipop. The loop stops the wire from pulling through and covers the sharp end.
- Attach it. Push the straight end of the wire down through the centre of the green back circle, until the loop sits flat against it. Add a dot of glue under the loop if you like.
- Sew on the back. Hold the green circle against the back of the flower, with the wire loop sandwiched between them. Whip stitch around the edge of the circle, catching the back loops of the flower's centre.
- Wrap the stem. Starting right under the flower, wrap floral tape tightly down the wire at an angle, stretching it slightly as you go so it sticks to itself. To use yarn instead, run a thin line of glue down the wire and wind green yarn around it closely.
- Add the leaf. About a third of the way down, lay the base of a leaf against the wire and wrap over its tail to hold it.
Wire ends are sharp. Stemmed flowers are decorations for adults and older children, not toys.
For more on stems, wrapping and arranging, see the crochet flower bouquet guide.
Sunflower coaster
A flat sunflower in cotton makes a bright coaster that stands up to hot mugs.
Work the centre as above, then add two more rounds in brown:
- R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
- R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
Join yellow and work one layer of petals through both loops: 18 petals around the 36 stitches. Skip the second layer so the coaster sits flat. Fasten off and weave in the ends very securely.
The coaster will measure roughly 12 cm (4.75 in) across. Press it flat under a book overnight, or pin it out and spray it lightly with water.
Use 100% cotton for coasters. Acrylic can soften and distort under a very hot mug. More coaster shapes are in easy crochet coasters.
More ways to use crochet sunflowers
- Appliqués. Sew a flat sunflower to a tote bag, a denim jacket, a cushion or a child's cardigan. The easy crochet tote bag is a good plain background.
- A bouquet. Three sunflowers on stems in a jar, or mixed with the crochet rose and other blooms.
- A garland. Chain a long strand in green and catch a flower every 15 cm.
- A granny square centre. Work a round of green chain loops behind the petals and square it off. The basics are in how to crochet a granny square.
- Gift toppers, brooches and hair clips. Sew or glue a brooch pin or clip to the green back circle.
- Autumn decor. Sunflowers sit well beside easy crochet pumpkins on a mantel or table.
Changing the size
- Mini sunflower. Stop the centre after round 3 (18 stitches) and work 9 petals per layer. Good for brooches and gift tags.
- Large sunflower. Take the centre to round 6 (36 stitches), then work 18 petals per layer.
- Longer petals. Make each petal (sc, hdc, dc, tr) in the first stitch, picot, (tr, dc, hdc, sc) in the next. The treble crochet, with two yarn-overs, adds height.
- Different yarn. The same pattern in worsted yarn with a 4.5 mm hook gives a flower about 13 cm across. In fine cotton thread with a 2 mm hook it makes a tiny one.
The number of stitches in the last brown round must be even, because each petal uses two.
Choosing colours
Real sunflowers vary more than you'd think, so you have plenty of freedom. Wikipedia's article on the common sunflower shows how much.
- Classic: golden yellow petals, dark brown centre.
- Two-tone petals: a golden front layer with a deeper orange layer behind.
- Rustic: mustard petals with a black or charcoal centre.
- Red sunflower: rust or burgundy petals with a brown centre.
- Two-tone centre: work rounds 1 and 2 in light green or tan and rounds 3 and 4 in dark brown, like a young seed head.
Tips for neat sunflowers
- Keep the centre firm. A tight, flat disc supports the petals. If it's floppy, use a smaller hook.
- Make the picot snug. Pull the slip stitch tight so the point is sharp.
- Count as you go. Twelve petals per layer. If you finish with one stitch left over or one short, a petal has slipped onto three stitches or only one.
- Weave ends through the back of the centre, where they won't show from the front.
- Shape with your fingers. Cup the back layer of petals outwards and the front layer slightly up.
- Stiffen if needed. For a wreath or a wall hanging, brush the back with a mix of equal parts white glue and water and let it dry flat.
Common problems and fixes
The centre is wavy. There are too many stitches. Check the count after every round. Each round adds exactly six.
The centre curls into a cup. The stitches are too tight, or an increase was missed.
The petals curl forward. That's natural, and it suits the flower. If you want them flat, pin them out, spray with water and leave to dry.
I can't find the back loops for the second layer. Bend the first petals towards you. The back loops form a line running around the edge of the brown disc, just behind them.
The petals look rounded, not pointed. The picot is missing or loose. Pinch and pull each tip, or try a longer picot: chain 3, slip stitch in the third chain from the hook.
The second layer hides the first. It wasn't offset. Start the second layer one stitch along from where the first layer started.
There are gaps between the petals and the centre. Work the first petal stitch of each pair a little more tightly.
Frequently asked questions
Is a crochet sunflower easy for beginners? Yes. If you can single and double crochet and work in a round, you can make it. The pieces are small, so mistakes are quick to undo.
How long does it take? About 45 minutes to an hour for a two-layer flower with a leaf.
How much yarn do I need? Around 25 metres in total for one flower and a leaf. Scraps are ideal.
What yarn is best for crochet sunflowers? Cotton in DK weight. It holds the points of the petals and shows the stitches clearly.
How many petals does it have? Twelve in each layer, so 24 in total. A real sunflower's outer ring often has more, but 24 reads as a sunflower straight away.
Can I make it without a magic ring? Yes. Chain 2 and work 6 single crochets into the second chain from the hook.
Can I sell sunflowers made from this pattern? Yes. You're welcome to sell what you make.
What to make next
- For four more quick blooms, see easy crochet flowers.
- For a rose with a stem and leaves, try the crochet rose pattern.
- To put several flowers together, follow the crochet flower bouquet guide.
There are more patterns in the flowers section.
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