Small designs for in between: three flower shapes, two leaf variations and a spiral. Perfect for using up scraps, decorating bags or filling a wreath.
Flowers and leaves are my favorite quick crochet projects. They need hardly any material, are done in fifteen minutes and can be combined endlessly – as a wreath on the wall, as an appliqué on a bag or simply as a little gift.
All six designs on this page start with a magic ring or a chain and only use basic stitches. If you know single crochet and double crochet, you can start right away. If not, take a quick look at the Crochet Basics first.
The designs are deliberately built on each other: Flower 1 is a single flat layer, Flower 2 gets a second layer of petals underneath, and Flower 3 is rolled instead of worked in rounds. Crochet them in this order and you'll have learned three different techniques by the end.
Note: This pattern uses US crochet terms (sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet).
| ch | Chain |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| sc | Single crochet |
| hdc | Half double crochet |
| dc | Double crochet |
| tr | Treble crochet |
| MR | Magic ring |
| [ ] | Work contents into the same stitch |
| * … * | Repeat |
Almost every flower starts with a ring you can pull tight at the end – this creates a closed flower center without a hole. There are two ways to get there.
For beginners, option B is more relaxed. Once you feel more confident, the magic ring is worth it – the flower center looks much neater.
The beginner design: a flat flower with five round petals, made in one go. Ideal as an appliqué on bags or hats.
For the flower center you can sew on a small button or bead. Or crochet the first round in a second color – then the center shines all on its own.
Here a second, larger layer of petals sits behind the first – making the flower three-dimensional instead of flat. The trick: the bottom layer is worked into chain loops that you attach behind your work.
For a color gradient, change colors after round 3 – a darker shade for the bottom layer makes the flower look much deeper.
This flower isn't crocheted in rounds but as a long strip that you roll up into a rose afterwards. It looks elaborate, but it's the quickest flower on this page.
The more double crochets you work into each chain, the fuller the rose. With 3 dc per ch you get a lush bloom, with just 1 dc a slender bud.
A slim leaf worked all around a foundation chain. The tip forms all by itself when you work several stitches into the same chain at the end.
Want a wider leaf? Replace the 5 dc with 3 dc and 2 tr – this makes the middle noticeably fuller.
The same basic shape as leaf 1, just bigger and with a stem crocheted right on. This lets you attach the leaf to a wreath or branch later without a visible seam.
For a pair of leaves, simply crochet the second leaf onto the stem of the first instead of cutting the yarn – this creates a natural-looking little branch.
The vine curls into a spiral all by itself as you crochet – because you work several stitches into each chain, so the fabric needs more length than the chain provides.
Want more twist? Work 4 sc instead of 3 into each chain – the vine will curl much tighter. With 2 sc it stays almost straight and works better as a cord.
Arrange flowers, leaves and vines on a metal ring and sew them on – lay out first, then secure.
Sewing a single flower onto a crocheted bag turns a simple piece into a one-of-a-kind.
Tie a small flower to the bow with a piece of yarn – prettier than any store-bought card.
Thread flowers onto floral wire, wrap with floral tape and tie them into a bouquet that never wilts.
Loose stitches make flowers look limp. Use a hook one size smaller than the yarn label suggests, and the petals will keep their shape.
For wreaths and appliqués, lay everything out first and take a photo. The second arrangement often looks better than the first.
Three or five flowers per group look livelier than four. The same goes for leaves – asymmetrical is better than perfectly spaced.