Crumpled Up: How to Make Paper Flowers  

Back to List

Sun-Printed Wedding Invitations

How to Crochet a Flower (Part 1)

Linda Permann, contributor

39 users recommend

Here's the finished crochet flower. Leave a 6-inch tail and fasten off.

Linda Permann

Start by working round 1 into the magic ring. Here I've chained 2 and am about to hdc into the ring.

Linda Permann

To make the first layer of "petals," work the stitches of round 2 into the ch-2 spaces.

Linda Permann

Here's the finished crochet flower. Leave a 6-inch tail and fasten off.

Photo: Linda Permann

Add Comment
Print

One of the most common questions I get from new crocheters is "How do I make those cute layered flowers?" In this two-part tutorial, I'll show you how to work in the round in layers to make the flower and (next week) how to embellish the flowers to really make them yours.

Please note: This pattern  uses standard crochet abbreviations. You can find a list of all standard abbreviations here.

To begin, wrap the yarn around your finger once and make a magic ring. If you're not familiar with the magic ring, you can also just work into the first slipknot—I do this quite often.

Start by working round 1 into the magic ring. Here I've chained 2 and am about to hdc into the ring.

Work the first round into the ring.

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as hdc, ch 2), (hdc, ch 2) in ring 5 more times, sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch to join—6 ch-2 sps.

To make the first layer of "petals," work the stitches of round 2 into the ch-2 spaces.

Next, you'll work the same stitches into each ch-2 space around to form the petals. Generally, when I am designing flowers, I like to go from a short stitch (like a sl st, sc, or hdc) to tall stitch (dc, tr) and back to short again in the same space.

Round 2: (Sl st, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sl st) in each ch-2 sp around, sl st in first sl st to join—6 petals.

Turn to work on the back side of the flower for the next step.

This next step is where it can get a little tricky. You're going to work the next round on the back side of the flower. Ch 1 to prepare. If you like, you can also fasten off the yarn from the first set of petals and change colors, which I did to more clearly illustrate the next steps. If changing colors, join the new color around any dc post from round 1.

On the back side of the flower, make a single crochet around the first double crochet from round 1.

Begin by bringing the hook under the post of the dc, yarn over, and draw a loop to the side of the post closest to you. Bring the hook over the dc post, yarn over, and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on your hook. Work round 3 into the dc posts of the first round.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc around first dc from round 1, ch 5, (sc around next dc from round 1, ch 5) 5 times, sl st in first sc to join—6 ch-6 loops.

Here I have completed one sc around the first dc from round 1, chained 5, and am about to complete the second sc (around the 2nd dc from round 1).

Once you've completed round 3, this is what the back of your flower will look like.

Turn back to the right side of the flower and work round 4 into the ch-5 loops you just created on the back side of the flower.

To make the second layer of petals, you'll work into the ch-5 loops you just created on the back side of the flower. Work round 4 with the right side of the flower facing you, as shown above.

Round 4: (Sl st, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sl st) in each ch-2 sp around, sl st in first sl st to join—6 petals.

Here's the finished crochet flower. Leave a 6-inch tail and fasten off.

And there you have it—a simple crocheted flower! I left a long yarn tail because I will use it to attach some embellishments in next week's tutorial. If you like your flower just the way it is, use the tail to sew on a pin back before weaving it in.

You can add more layers to your flower by working a 5th round of scs and ch-5s (or ch-6s, or higher) around the same dc posts from round 1, and working a 6th round of petals into those ch-spaces. Experiment with the number of stitches in the petals of the later rounds to see what kind of effects they give your flower.

Here are three different ways to embellish this flower. If you end up making one, please leave a comment and a link (or post your photo in the gallery)—I'd love to see it!

See more of my projects on my personal blog, and look for my new book, Crochet Adorned, in stores August 11, 2009.

Add Comment Print

Comments (14)

emmytoo writes: How do you make a magic ring ?
Posted: 10:27 pm on October 6th

LindaPermann writes: Kevynmadison- this means that the first ch-5 (chain 5) counts as a hdc (half double crochet) and ch-2 (chain 2). Then you are to (hdc, ch 2) five times into the ring. That will give you a total of 6 hdc (including that first chain that counted) and 6 ch-2 spaces. hope that helps!
Posted: 2:12 am on September 10th

kevynmadison writes: I'm still somewhat new to crocheting and how to accurately read the patterns. When you say "Ch 5 (counts as hdc, ch 2), (hdc, ch 2)", what does that mean? I'm confused as to what it is asking me to do. Thanks!
Posted: 12:57 am on September 1st

DrQuilter writes: Love it Linda! I've been looking for flowers to make my 5 year old a bolero or wrap with some yummy cotton yarn I bought a while ago.. how would you attach the flowers and shape them into something resembling a simple top for a girl?
Posted: 2:02 pm on July 21st

MOOONA writes: Thanks
The dream of my life..........Make the same

Posted: 7:38 am on May 31st

Carmen2 writes: Great project for beginers like myself, can't wait to make some pretty flowers :)
Posted: 3:39 am on May 21st

pef1996 writes: These flowers are cute! I made two of them.
http://crafting101.today.com/2009/04/29/crocheted-flowers/

Thanks for the tutorial, loved it!
Posted: 2:21 pm on April 29th

vicky_north writes: Really nice job HoneyandDaisy. You should post your flower in the gallery as well so everyone can also see it here attached to the original project. Hopefully when I learn to crochet my flower will be here as well.
Posted: 10:26 pm on October 7th

LindaPermann writes: Thanks for posting your results, HoneyandDaisy--your flower looks great!
Posted: 11:42 am on October 7th

HoneyAndDaisy writes: Thank you so much for this great pattern! I love how it turned out. Mine doesn't look half as good as yours, but here's the link to it:
http://honeyanddaisy.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/twice-the-sweetness/
Thank you again!
Posted: 5:22 am on October 7th

ShiningStar writes: I have finally learn to crochet. I finished my first project a couple of weeks ago. Now I'm working on a basic flower. I can't wait to try this one.
Posted: 2:20 pm on September 17th

TwilaO writes: Thanks for the wonderful detailed instructions! I just recently started crocheting, and I successfully made a flower on only my second try! :)
Posted: 5:36 pm on August 4th

LindaPermann writes: Woolldayfelter--
Sure- hdc is a half double crochet. Ch-2 sp is the chain 2 space (from the previous round), and sl st is slip stitch.

Here is a link to standard crochet abbreviations, which I guess I should have posted sooner!:
http://www.yarnstandards.com/crochet.html
Posted: 7:44 pm on July 25th

Woolladyfelter writes: I'm just learning and can you please tell me what "hdc" is? Also ch-2 sp (chain 2 ?)... sl st (? Stitch)... too much abbreviation for beginners. Thanks
Posted: 9:09 am on July 25th

You must be logged in to post comments. Click here to login.