A brown center, golden petals, and a green leaf give this sunflower crochet applique pattern its familiar floral outline. The separate leaf lets you choose the final arrangement before sewing the pieces together, whether the flower is intended for a bag, a cushion cover, or decorative gift wrapping.
The sunflower is built in three sections: a circular center, 12 petals worked directly onto its edge, and a leaf crocheted around a foundation chain. The petal placement follows a repeating two-stitch spacing, making the count easier to check as you work.
Read the joining instructions before starting. Keeping beginning chains and joining slip stitches out of the stitch count is especially important on a small circular motif.
Materials for the Sunflower Crochet Applique Pattern
- Worsted-weight yarn, Category 4, in brown, yellow, and green.
- A 3.5 mm crochet hook as a starting option.
- A yarn needle.
- Scissors.
- Stitch markers, if helpful for counting.
Choose yarns of a similar thickness for all three colors. Cotton or acrylic can be considered, but the fabric and care requirements will depend on the particular yarn.
Check that the proposed hook produces stitches you can work into comfortably. Finished size and yarn consumption depend on the materials and tension used; measure your completed flower before choosing its final placement.
Skills and Construction
You will need to work a magic ring, joined single crochet rounds, chains, slip stitches, half double crochet, and double crochet.
The center is worked without turning. Each petal is worked out along a chain and back toward the center. The leaf is made separately by working along both sides of a foundation chain.
For the center:
- Beginning ch-1 does not count as a stitch.
- Work the first sc into the stitch at the base of the beginning chain.
- Join to the first actual sc.
- Do not work into the joining slip stitch.
Crochet Abbreviations — US Terms
- ch: chain.
- sl st: slip stitch.
- sc: single crochet.
- hdc: half double crochet.
- dc: double crochet.
- st / sts: stitch / stitches.
- MR: magic ring.
An increase means working 2 sc into one stitch.
If you normally follow British crochet terminology, check the Craft Yarn Council’s abbreviation list and US–UK comparison. This sunflower crochet applique pattern uses US terms throughout.
Sunflower Crochet Applique Pattern: Brown Center
Round 1 — 6 Stitches
With brown, make a magic ring.
Ch 1, then work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed and join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 6 sc.
Round 2 — 12 Stitches
Ch 1.
Starting in the stitch at the base of the chain, work 2 sc into each stitch around.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 12 sc.
Round 3 — 18 Stitches
Ch 1.
Starting in the stitch at the base of the chain, repeat the following sequence six times:
- Work 1 sc into the next stitch.
- Work 2 sc into the following stitch.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 18 sc.
Round 4 — 24 Stitches
Ch 1.
Starting in the stitch at the base of the chain, repeat the following sequence six times:
- Work 1 sc into each of the next two stitches.
- Work 2 sc into the following stitch.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 24 sc.
Round 5 — 24 Stitches
Ch 1.
Starting in the stitch at the base of the chain, work 1 sc into each stitch around.
Join with a sl st to the first sc and fasten off brown.
Count: 24 sc.
This final round adds depth without increasing the circumference. Check the center before adding petals. If it cups more than you want for the intended attachment, assess it now rather than expecting the petal round to flatten it.
Yellow Petals — Make 12
Establish the Attachment Points
Join yellow with a sl st in any stitch of Round 5. Mark this stitch as the first petal base.
Each petal begins and ends in the same base stitch. Between petals, skip one stitch of the brown center and move to the following stitch.
This places petals on alternate stitches: 12 petal bases around a 24-stitch center.
Work the First Petal
Ch 7.
Starting in the second chain from the hook, work:
- 1 sc.
- 1 hdc into the next chain.
- 1 dc into each of the next two chains.
- 1 hdc into the next chain.
- 1 sc into the final chain.
You have worked six stitches along the six available chains.
Sl st into the same brown stitch where this petal began.
One petal is complete.
Move to the Next Petal Base
Skip the next brown stitch.
Sl st into the following brown stitch. This is the base of the next petal.
Repeat the complete petal instructions: ch 7, work back along the chain, and sl st into the same base stitch.
Finish the Petal Round
Continue until you have made 12 petals.
After completing the twelfth petal and securing it to its own base, skip the final unused brown stitch and sl st into the marked first base.
Do not make another petal in that stitch.
Fasten off yellow and weave in the ends.
Final count: 12 petals, with one unused brown stitch between neighboring petal bases.
Visual Guide: Petal Chain and Alternate Bases
Use this guide to check the six return stitches in each ch-7 petal and the twelve alternate attachment points on the brown center.
Open this guide at a larger size.
Green Leaf
The leaf for this sunflower crochet applique pattern is worked around a chain. Rotate the work at the far end rather than turning it over.
Foundation
With green, ch 9.
First Side
Starting in the second chain from the hook, work:
- 1 sc.
- 1 hdc into each of the next two chains.
- 1 dc into each of the next two chains.
- 1 hdc into each of the next two chains.
- 3 sc into the final chain.
Place a marker in the middle stitch of that final 3-sc group. This marks the far tip of the leaf.
Opposite Side
Rotate the work so you can crochet into the unused loops on the opposite side of the foundation chain.
Do not work again into the chain containing the far-end 3-sc group.
Working back toward the starting end:
- Work 1 hdc into each of the next two chains.
- Work 1 dc into each of the next two chains.
- Work 1 hdc into each of the next two chains.
- Work 2 sc into the final chain, which also contains the first sc of the leaf.
Mark the first of these final two sc. Together with the initial sc, these stitches form a three-stitch group around the starting end; the marked stitch is its middle.
Join with a sl st to the first sc of the leaf.
Count: 18 stitches.
There are six stitches along each side and three stitches around each end.
Visual Guide: Leaf Ends and Edging Markers
Identify the middle stitch at each three-stitch end group before working the two different chain-space points in the leaf edging.
Open this guide at a larger size.
Leaf Edging
Ch 1.
Starting in the stitch at the base of the chain, work 1 sc into each stitch around, with these two exceptions:
- In the marked far-tip stitch, work sc, ch 2, sc.
- In the marked starting-end stitch, work sc, ch 1, sc.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 20 sc, one ch-2 space, and one ch-1 space.
Fasten off, leaving a tail long enough to sew the leaf to the flower.
Assembly
Place the sunflower with its back facing you.
Position the leaf behind the brown center, with the ch-2 tip extending beyond the petals. Adjust the angle before sewing.
Using the green tail, stitch the starting end of the leaf to the back of the center. Catch the back of the brown stitches where possible so the sewing does not show prominently on the front.
Secure the leaf across several stitches rather than attaching it at only one point.
Weave in the remaining ends without pulling the center or petal bases out of shape.
Practical Tips for the Sunflower Crochet Applique Pattern
Count the Center Before Adding Yellow
There must be 24 stitches in the final brown round. The 12-petal arrangement depends on placing a petal in every other stitch.
If the count is wrong, correct the center before continuing.
Return to the Same Petal Base
After working back down a petal chain, secure it to the stitch where it began. Only then skip one brown stitch and move to the next base.
Joining directly to the next base before securing the petal changes its attachment.
Keep the Petal Chains Workable
Chains that are difficult to insert the hook into make the return stitches harder to control. Aim for a consistent chain size, and compare each petal with the previous one before moving on.
Identify Both Ends of the Leaf
Marking the middle stitch at each end makes the edging explicit. It prevents accidentally placing the pointed tip along one of the long sides.
Match Care Requirements
If the flower will be sewn onto a washable item, choose yarn with compatible care instructions. Check both the appliqué yarn and the fabric or crochet piece receiving it.
Finishing and Placement
Arrange the petals with your fingers and check that their attachment points are evenly spaced.
If blocking is appropriate for your yarn, follow the manufacturer’s care guidance. Do not apply steam or direct heat automatically, particularly when the fiber’s heat tolerance is unknown.
Before sewing the flower onto another item, place it where you want it and check the arrangement from the front. Attach it through several points around the brown center. You can leave the petals free or secure selected petals if the intended use calls for a flatter finish.
More Floral Crochet Ideas
For a different way to arrange individual flowers, explore our Daisy Garland Crochet Pattern. It brings floral motifs into a hanging decoration rather than a sewn-on embellishment.
If you prefer a freestanding flower, the Tulip Flower in Pot Amigurumi Crochet Pattern offers a different construction to explore, combining a flower with a small crocheted pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Petals Does This Sunflower Have?
This sunflower crochet applique pattern has 12 petals. Each uses one base stitch, followed by one skipped stitch, around the 24-stitch brown center.
Do the Beginning Chains Count as Stitches?
No. The beginning ch-1 in the center and leaf edging does not count as a stitch. Join to the first actual sc.
The ch-7 for each petal is different: it forms the foundation into which the six petal stitches are worked.
Can I Use a Different Yarn Weight?
Changing yarn weight and hook size changes the dimensions and fabric. Keep the three colors similar in thickness, and make one flower to assess its size before planning placement on another item.
Why Are My Petals Unevenly Spaced?
Check that each petal returns to its own base stitch and that exactly one brown stitch is skipped between bases. Also check that the center has 24 stitches and that the joining slip stitch was not counted as an extra stitch.
How Do I Attach the Sunflower to a Bag?
Sew through several points around the brown center using a suitable yarn or thread. Check that the attachment does not pull the bag fabric into folds, and secure the leaf separately if its position needs additional support.
Share Your Sunflower
Keep a note of the yarn, hook, and finished measurements when you make this sunflower crochet applique pattern. Those details are useful when making another flower or planning several matching embellishments.
Share your color choices and how you used the finished flower in the comments. If a particular instruction needs clarification, include the round or step so it is easier to identify.
