Sunflowers: Free Crochet Pattern

Sunflowers!!  Upon seeing the pattern I was working on, my mother informed me that sunflowers are "all the rage" this year!  I'm not sure about the legitimacy of this claim, seeing as it comes from a woman who just last year purchased a brand-new 1980's floral print sofa for her shag carpeted living room.  But hey - I agree that sunflowers are gorgeous . . . and they totally should be this years vogue!

Speaking of throwbacks, this pattern was originally inspired by the early 2000's hit TV show "Smallville."  What do sunflowers have to do with a Superman coming of age, adolescent television show? I was watching reruns while finishing up last months custom orders and, have you ever noticed, just how many gorgeous sunflowers Martha Kent had in her kitchen and garden?   They are everywhere!!  And they were beautiful

This post is rather photo-heavy.  I do apologize but I felt it was necessary in order to convey what was happening . . .

skill level
intermediate


size
flower is approximately 5 inches
height (including stem) approx. 9 inches


needles & notions
4 mm crochet hook
tapestry needle
stitch marker

wire snips
jute wrapped wire

suggested yarn

Hayfield Bonus DK, russet, approx. 50 yards
Stylecraft Special DK, Sunshine, approx. 75 yards
Stylecraft Special DK, Green Grass, approx. 75 yards

gauge

22sc sts = 4 inch

note

it is recommended to weave in ends as you go along in order to prevent tangling.  The flower is intricate enough without the added bother

pattern

starting with the back of the sunflower, using "Green Grass" begin as follows:

Rnd 1:  working in a magic loop.  Ch2 (does not count as a stitch).  9DC into loop.  Slip stitch into top of first DC (9)

Rnd 2:  Ch1 (does not count as a stitch).  2sc in same stitch as Ch1.  *2sc in each stitch around.  slip stitch into the top of first sc (18)

Rnd 3:  working in back loops only Ch2 (does not count as a stitch).  2DC in same stitch as Ch2.  DC in next.  *2DC in next.  DC in next.  repeat around.  Slip stitch to first DC (27)

Rnd 4:  working in both loops Ch1 (does not count as a stitch).  2sc in same stitch as Ch1.  sc in each of next 2 sts.  *2sc in next.  sc in each of next 2 stitches.  repeat around.  slip stitch to first sc (36)

Bind off & set aside

front
Now, working on the front of the sunflower, using "Russet" proceed as follows:

Rnd 1:  working in a  magic loop.  Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch).  9DC into loop.  Slip stitch in top of first DC (9)

Rnd 2:  Ch2 (does not coint as a stitch).  2DC in same stitch as Ch2.  *2 DC in each stitch around.  Join with a slip stitch (18)

Rnd 3:  Ch1 (does not count as a stitch).  2sc loop stitch in same stitch as Ch1.  sc loop stitch in next stitch.  *2sc loop stitch in next st.  sc loop stitch in next.  repeat around.  Join with a slip stitch to the top of the first sc loop stitch  (27)

Rnd 4:  Ch1 (does not count as a stitch).  2sc loop stitch in same st as Ch1.  sc loop stitch in each of the next 2 sts.  *2sc loop stitch in next stitch.  sc loop stitch in each of the next 2 stitches.  repeat around.  Join with a slip stitch to the top of the first sc loop stitch (36)

Bind off "Russet" change to "Sunshine" and proceed as follows:

Rnd 5:  Hold the Back & Front pieces together with wrong sides facing in (make sure the loops on the Front are facing out, toward you.  Working in both loops of "Russet" Front and front loops only of "Green Grass" Back work around as follows.  Ch1 (does not count as a stitch).  sc in same stitch as ch1.  sc around.  Slip stitch into top of first sc (36)

Rnd 6:  *Ch2 (counts as first HDC).  in the same stitch as Ch2 work as follows [DC.  2TRDC.  Ch3.  Slip stitch into top of last TRDC.  2TRDC.  DC.  HDC].  Slip stitch in each of the next 4 sts.  repeat from * around to last 3 sts.  Slip stitch in the 3 remaining stitches of the round.  Slip stitch into the top of the first Ch2.  (9 petals total)

Rnd 7:  Ch 4.  Carry the chain around the back of the first petal.  Slip stitch into previous rounds center slip stitch between the petals.  Repeat around.  (9 Ch spaces behind each of the petals)

Rnd 8:  *Slip stitch into the ch4 space.  Ch 2 (counts as the first HDC.  in the chain space, work as follows [2DC.  3TRDC.  Ch3.  Slip stitch into the top of the last TRDC.  3TRDC.  2DC.  HDC].  repeat around (9 larger petals behind the front 9 petals)

Bind off.  Weave in any remaining tails.  Turn over to work the green leaves on the back







green leaves
with the back of the flower facing, using "Green Grass" proceed as follows:

Rnd 1:  Join "Green Grass" to any one of the loops left from joining front and back pieces.  Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch).  sc in same stitch as ch1.  sc in each stitch around (36)

Rnd 2:  *Ch2 (counts as first HDC).  in the same stitch as Ch2 work as follows [DC.  2TRDC.  Ch3.  Slip stitch into top of last TRDC.  2TRDC.  DC.  HDC].  Slip stitch in each of the next 4 sts.  repeat from * around to last 3 sts.  Slip stitch in the 3 remaining stitches of the round.  Slip stitch into the top of the first Ch2.  (9 green leaves total)

stem
working with "Green Grass," proceed as follows:

note: the stem is worked in a continuous spiral without joins

Rnd 1:  in a magic loop, Ch1 (does not count as a stitch).  6 sc into magic loop (6)

Rnd 2:  *2sc in first st.  sc in next st.  repeat around (9)

Rnd 3:  sc around

Repeat round 3 until piece is approximately 6 inches long (or desired length).

top of stem
short rows
Rnd 1:  sc in first st.  HDC in next.  DC in next.  HDC in next.  sc in next.  slip stitch in next.  Turn.

Rnd 2:  sc in top of previous rows sc.  HDC in next.  DC in next.  HDC in next.  sc in next.  slip stitch in next.  turn. 

Rnd 3 & 4:  sc around (9)

Rnd 5:  *2sc in first st.  sc in next 2 sts.  repeat around (12)

Rnd 6:  *2sc in first st.  sc in each of next 3 sts.  repeat around (15)

Rnd 7:  sc around (15)

Rnd 8:  *2 sc in first st.  sc in each of the next 4 sts.  repeat around (18)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Using the jute wrapped wire, cut a length of wire slightly longer than the stem.  Make sure to twist the cut ends of the wire around itself to keep it from poking through the fabric.  I folded the jute wire in half in order to make the stem a little bit stronger and twisted a bow shape in the top of the wire to go up against the flower (I found this helped to hold the sunflower head in a better position).  Add a small amount of stuffing to the top of the stem in order to give it a little more bulk (optional).

Sew the stem to the back of the flower, using the back loop only circle as a location guide for sewing (alternately, slip stitch the stem to the flower).

Weave in any remaining ends.

Voila!!  Done!  Your sunflower is pose-able and will look delightful in a vase, perhaps even mixed in with other crochet flowers or faux-flowers.  ENJOY!!

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All photos copyright Jocelyn Windover and Red Mitten Designs (do not use without permission).  

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