How to Crochet a Simple Sunflower

Crochet a version of the classic, cheerful sunflower.

Crocheting and floral designs go hand in hand. With the versatility of crocheting, you can create a variety of shapes for petals, leaves and other flower attributes. Make a basic crochet sunflower and use it to embellish your outfits, a bag or even a pillow. A colorful crochet sunflower won't wilt after a few days and will brighten the room for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Worsted weight yarn, brown and gold
• Crochet hook, size US H
• Scissors
• Embroidery needle

Instructions

Crochet the Center of the Sunflower

1. Make four chain stitches with your crochet hook and brown yarn. Join the last stitch to the first with a slip stitch to form a circle.

2. Make one chain, then make five half double crochet stitches inside the circle. Join the last stitch to the first one with a slip stitch.

3. Make one chain, then make two half double crochet stitches in every stitch around for a total of 10 half double crochet stitches. Join the last stitch to the first with a slip stitch.

4. Make one chain, then repeat the following pattern around: two half double crochet stitches in the first stitch, one half double crochet in the next stitch. This will give you a total of 15 half double crochet stitches; join the circle with a slip stitch.

5. Cut the brown yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Yarn over and pull this tail all of the way through the last stitch to finish the center of the sunflower.

Crochet the Petals

1. Join the gold yarn in one stitch on the outer edge of the brown circle. Insert your hook into the stitch, then yarn over with the gold yarn and draw up a loop. Yarn over again and draw through the loop on your hook.

2. Make a single crochet stitch in the stitch where you joined your yarn and in the next two stitches.

3. Make one chain and turn your work. Single crochet in each stitch across the row. Repeat this for eight rows.

4. Make one chain and turn. Single crochet three together for the last stitch.

5. Cut the gold yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Yarn over with this tail and draw it all the way through the last stitch to finish the petal.

6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 until you have made five petals on your sunflower. Each time, join your yarn into the next available stitch in the original brown circle so that each stitch is part of a petal by the end of the flower.

7. Use an embroidery needle to weave in any loose yarn tails. Simply thread the tail onto the needle and then weave it in and out of the stitches on the back of the sunflower. Cut off the excess yarn when you finish.

Tips & Warnings

• To make a chain stitch, bring the yarn up and over the crochet hook from back to front (yarn over); draw that yarn through the loop on your hook.

• To make a slip stitch, insert your hook into the stitch indicated. Yarn over and draw through the stitch and the loop on your hook simultaneously.

• To make a half double crochet stitch, yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch indicated. Yarn over and draw up a loop; then yarn over and draw through all of the loops on the hook.

• To make a single crochet stitch, insert your hook into the stitch indicated. Yarn over and draw up a loop, then yarn over and draw through both loops on the hook.