Work six matching petals around a six-stitch centre to make this small purple-and-yellow practice motif. Each petal uses the same sequence, so the round can be checked one base stitch at a time. This is a practice version rather than a verified size-for-size reproduction of the pictured flower.
Materials for a small practice flower
- Small amounts of smooth yarn in two colours: one for the centre and one for the petals. Use the same yarn weight for both.
- A crochet hook suited to your yarn. Start with the yarn label’s recommendation, then assess the fabric rather than relying on a fixed finished diameter.
- A yarn needle and scissors.
- A removable marker, if useful for keeping track of the six centre stitches.
A smooth, light-coloured yarn makes the centre stitches easier to see during the first attempt. Make one flower before committing to a batch or matching it to an item you want to decorate.
Stitches and counting rules
This version uses US crochet terms: ch = chain, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, and sl st = slip stitch. In UK terms, US single crochet is called double crochet, and US double crochet is called treble crochet. The Craft Yarn Council abbreviation guide is a useful reference when comparing patterns.
The chains beside a petal provide height and shape. They do not count as additional double crochets. Work into the six single-crochet stitches of the centre, not into its joining slip stitch.
Round 1: make a six-stitch centre
- With the centre colour, make an adjustable ring.
- Chain 1; this chain does not count as a stitch.
- Work 6 sc into the ring.
- Pull the ring closed, then join with a sl st into the first sc.
- Fasten off the centre colour, leaving a tail to secure with a yarn needle.
Checkpoint: identify all 6 sc before adding petals. A joining slip stitch can look like an extra stitch; leave it out of your count.
Round 2: repeat one petal six times
Join the petal colour with a sl st in any centre sc. In that same sc, work ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st. That is the first petal.
Move to the next centre sc with a sl st. In that stitch, work ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st. Repeat in each remaining centre sc until all six have one petal. After the sixth petal, fasten off and secure the yarn tail.
Checkpoint: 6 petals, with 3 dc in each, give 18 dc in the petal round. Do not count the two chains on either side as double crochets. Each petal uses one centre stitch; no centre stitch is skipped.
Finish without changing the petal spacing
Weave the centre tail through the back of the centre stitches so the adjustable ring stays closed. Secure the petal-colour ends through the backs of nearby stitches, keeping the front free of visible tails.
Lay the flower down and arrange the six petals around the centre. If you block it, follow the fibre’s care instructions. Pin gently rather than stretching one petal farther than the others. Do not apply direct iron heat as a universal finishing method.
Work out size and yarn use from one sample
Measure across the finished flower after it has relaxed or dried. Changing yarn weight or hook size changes the diameter and the firmness of the petals, so a fixed “3-inch flower” should not be assumed from these instructions.
For a set of matching flowers, use the same yarn, hook, and petal repeat. If you want to estimate yarn for a larger batch, weigh a completed sample and use its actual yarn consumption as your starting point. Leave an allowance for tails and variation between flowers.
Attach the motif for its intended use
For a sewn-on embellishment, position the flower on the item before stitching. Sew through suitable backing stitches rather than pulling on the tips of the petals. Check the reverse side so the attachment does not draw the base fabric into a pucker.
If the flower will be removed for washing, choose an attachment method appropriate to that item. A sewn embellishment and a removable brooch have different requirements; do not add a sharp pin to an item intended for a young child.
Troubleshooting the six-petal repeat
I finished with five petals
Return to the centre and identify its six sc. Check whether one was hidden behind the yarn tail or missed when moving to the next stitch. Each centre sc needs its own complete repeat.
One petal looks larger than the others
Count its double crochets and check its side chains. Every petal needs 3 dc and two chains on each side. Keep the first petal identical to the other five rather than treating its starting chain as an extra dc.
The centre reopens when I handle the flower
Pull the centre closed again, then secure its tail through the backs of the centre stitches. A tail that is cut very short before being woven in is harder to secure.
Can I add more petals?
That creates a different version. Adding petals requires a suitable number of centre stitches and a check of the spacing; simply squeezing an extra repeat into the existing six-stitch centre may crowd the flower. Finish this version before experimenting.
See more crochet flower projects. If a written step is unclear, contact us with the round and stitch you are working on.
Related projects and crochet references
- Six Lily Petals: Align the Chain Spine and Stagger Two Sets of Three
- Six Separate Tulip Petals: Overlap the Two Layers at the Base
- Craft Yarn Council: Standard yarn weights and hook-size ranges — Compare yarn categories; the chart gives general ranges, so use the project’s stated gauge where provided.
