Rose Gajra Crochet Pattern (Free + Wedding-Ready)

I commissioned this rose gajra from the crocheter I work with after a friend asked if I knew anyone who could make wrist flowers for her sister’s mehndi. I didn’t. So I asked my crocheter to design one. A real rose, the kind you’d actually want to wear, with a tie string instead of an awkward elastic.

She delivered. The petals curl in on themselves the way real rose petals do. The green star base hides every messy stitch from the rolled flower. The tie string is firm enough to bow-knot but soft enough to wear all day.

I’m publishing the full pattern free because gajra-style wrist flowers are stupidly expensive at boutiques and almost nobody sells the crochet version. If you’ve held a 3 mm hook and made a granny square, you can make this in an afternoon.

And if gajras aren’t part of your world, think of this as a crochet wrist corsage instead. Same rose, same tie string, and it won’t wilt by the end of the night. Or skip the tie string entirely and turn the same rose into a crochet rose keychain.

Quick Info

• Skill level: Beginner (familiarity with ch, sc, hdc, dc, tr).
• Finished size: ~6-7 cm wide rose, plus a 30+ cm tie string.
• Time: ~2-3 hours including assembly.
• Stitches used: ch, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr, MR, inc.

Materials

• 4-ply milk cotton yarn in red (rose) and green (base, leaf, tie string).
• 3 mm crochet hook.
• Tapestry needle for assembly.
• Sharp scissors.
• Craft glue (B-7000 or similar). Optional but it locks the rose in shape while you stitch.

A few yarn notes from the crocheter and from me:

• Milk cotton holds the petal curl better than acrylic. If you sub acrylic, expect a softer, droopier rose.
• You don’t need full skeins. Half a 50 g ball of red and a quarter ball of green covers one gajra easily.
• For a deeper red, hold a strand of dark red and bright red together. The rose reads more dimensional.

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet
• MR = magic ring
• st = stitch
• inc = increase (2 sts in 1 st)
• rep = repeat

The Rose (Petal Strip)

1. Row 1: Ch 53. Work 1 dc in the 4th ch from the hook. (Ch 3, skip next 3 ch, 2 dc in next ch), repeat across. Ch 1 and turn.
2. Row 2: (1 sc, 8 dc, 1 sc all in the same 3-ch gap), repeat across. You’ll get approximately 12 petals.
3. Fasten off, leaving a long tail (at least 30-40 cm) for assembly.

Tip: Counting the starting chain: Ch 53 sounds like a lot. Lay it flat and count in groups of 5 before you start row 1, otherwise you spend ten minutes recounting halfway through.

Tip: The 4th ch from hook: Skip the first 3 chains. They count as your turning chain. Beginners often skip 4 by mistake and the strip comes out short by one repeat.

Tip: The petal cluster: The full (1 sc, 8 dc, 1 sc) goes into the same 3-ch gap. The 8 dc spread out and curve into a petal naturally as you work them. Don’t try to space them out across multiple gaps.

Tip: Long tail for assembly: Cut your yarn at 30-40 cm. You need that length later to sew through all the rolled petal layers. Cutting short here means re-threading new yarn during assembly, which is a pain.

The Green Star Base

1. Round 1: 5 sc in MR. [5]
2. Round 2: Inc in each st around. [10]
3. Round 3: (1 sc, inc) × 5. [15]
4. Star points: (Ch 6, turn, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 1 tr, skip 2 ch and sl st in the 3rd ch on the round 3 circle), repeat 4 more times for 5 points total.
5. Sl st and cut yarn. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Tip: Magic ring center: Pull the loop tight before joining round 2. If you leave it loose, the center hole shows through the back of the finished gajra.

Tip: Reading the point instructions: Each (ch 6, turn, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 1 tr) builds one star point. You work back along the chain you just made (sc nearest the hook, then climbing taller stitches), then sl st into the next stitch on the round 3 circle to anchor the point. Repeat 4 more times.

Knot at the back, weave the tail through the seam, and trim. The star side is the front.

The Leaf

1. Ch 10.
2. Starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 3 sc in the last ch.
3. Turn your work and continue on the other side of the chain: 2 hdc, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, sl st in the next st.
4. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Tip: The pointy tip: Working 3 sc into the very last chain is what shapes the leaf tip. Skip it and the leaf comes out blunt and round instead of leaf-shaped.

The Tie String

1. Ch 75.
2. Starting from the 2nd ch from the hook, sl st in each ch across.
3. Fasten off, cut yarn, and hide the ends.

Tip: Why slip stitch back: A plain chain alone curls and twists. Slip stitching across all 75 chains gives the string a firm, ribbon-like body that ties cleanly and holds its shape on the wrist.

Assembly: Rolling and Securing the Rose

1. Hold the rose strip with petals facing upward and outward.
2. Start rolling from one end. Roll loosely so the petals fan around the spiral instead of stacking flat.
3. Adjust petals between layers with your fingers as you go. The center should be tight, the outer petals should open outward.
4. Once rolled, thread the long tail onto a tapestry needle. Sew through the base of the rose, catching all layers, knotting at the back. Repeat 2-3 times until the rose feels solid.

Tip: Glue + thread together: A drop of B-7000 glue at the base before sewing makes the rose hold its shape while you stitch through it. Glue alone isn’t enough; the stitches do the long-term work.

Assembly: Attaching the Base, Leaf, and Tie String

1. Place the green star base flat against the back of the rose, star points facing outward like a calyx. Sew or glue it down.
2. Tuck the midpoint of the tie string between the rose and the base before fully attaching. Sew through both layers to lock it in place. This is what lets the gajra hang from the wrist evenly.
3. Sew the leaf onto the side of the base, between two star points. One leaf is enough for a clean asymmetric look; add a second on the opposite side if you want symmetry.
4. Knot all yarn ends at the back, hide them inside the base, and trim flush.

Tie around your wrist with a bow. The string is long enough to fit any adult wrist with room to spare. Trim if you want a shorter dangle.

Worn this way, it doubles as a crochet wrist corsage. Prom, homecoming, bridesmaids, any formal where a fresh corsage would brown before the photos.

Tips for Success

• Tension matters more than gauge. Loose tension makes a floppy rose. Hold the yarn slightly tighter than usual, especially through row 1 of the rose strip.
• Roll loose, not tight. A tight roll squashes the petals into a hard knot. A loose roll lets each petal layer breathe and curl outward.
• Two-tone roses look richer. Holding a strand of dark red + bright red together gives the rose visible depth without changing the pattern.
• Make a pair, gift one. One gajra takes 2-3 hours; making a second one back-to-back goes faster because your hands remember the petal cluster.
• Block the leaf flat. A quick spritz of water and pin-flat overnight gives the leaf crisp pointy edges.

Wearing It for Haldi, Mehndi, and Weddings

This little rose is really a crochet gajra, and it earns its keep at every function in the calendar. A fresh-flower gajra browns by the end of the night. This one keeps its shape for years and becomes a keepsake instead of next-morning trash.

The trick to matching the event is the colorway. The pattern does not change at all, only the yarn:

• Haldi: marigold yellow rose with an orange-tinted outer petal, keeping the base and leaf green. It reads exactly like the fresh marigold strings used on the day.
• Mehndi: deep orange or bright fuchsia to sit against green and henna tones.
• Wedding and reception: classic deep red, or maroon for traditional South Asian palettes. Shift the base and leaf to gold or cream for a dressier set.
• Bridal: white or ivory rose with a soft green leaf.

Make them in matching pairs. One for the bride, one each for the bridesmaids, all from the same free pattern. Because each gajra is only 2 to 3 hours, a set of five for a bridal party is a weekend of relaxed crochet, not a marathon.

Store them flat in a drawer between events and they hold their curl indefinitely. No wilting, no last-minute florist run, and everyone in the party matches.

Make It a Wrist Corsage for Weddings and Prom

This is the part I love. The exact same rose doubles as a wrist corsage, and unlike the fresh-flower kind it never wilts. No browned petals in the car on the way home. It becomes a keepsake from the night instead.

It works for a bridal party, prom and homecoming, the mother of the bride, or a quinceanera. Nothing about the crochet changes. You are just wearing the gajra as a corsage.

For a dressier corsage look, swap the tie string for a satin ribbon or a length of elastic in the dress color, and add a small pearl or bead cluster at the base of the rose. To tie it on, the string version works exactly as written in the pattern.

Classic corsage colors: white or ivory rose for a wedding, blush pink for prom, or match the dress directly. Keep the leaf green or shift it to match the bouquet.

A set of three to five for a bridal party is one relaxed weekend of crochet. Tuck each one in a small gift box as a favor. It costs a fraction of florist corsages, and because it never expires you can make the whole set weeks ahead with zero last-minute stress.

FAQ

Can I make this with worsted weight yarn instead of milk cotton?

Yes, but it’ll come out larger and softer. Worsted weight on a 3.5-4 mm hook gives a roughly 9-10 cm rose that reads more “brooch” than “delicate wrist flower.” Milk cotton on a 3 mm hook is what gives this version its tight curl.

What other colors work for this pattern?

Pretty much any flower color. White roses with green leaves for bridal looks. Yellow + orange for haldi. Blush pink for everyday wear. Deep maroon for traditional South Asian wedding palettes. The base + leaf + tie string can stay green or shift to gold/cream for fancier sets.

How do I tie it on my wrist?

Drape the rose on the top of your wrist. Bring both ends of the tie string under your wrist, cross them, bring them back up, and tie a bow on top, the same way you’d tie a shoelace. Adjust the rose so it sits centered.

Do I have to use glue?

No. The pattern works with sewing alone. Glue is just a temporary helper that holds the rolled rose in shape while you sew through it. If you don’t have B-7000 or fabric glue, pinch firmly with one hand and sew with the other.

Can I sell what I make from this pattern?

Yes. Sell finished gajras at craft fairs, on Etsy, or to friends. The free pattern is what’s free. What you make with your hands is yours to sell. Please don’t republish or resell the pattern itself.

Make One. Tag Crochee.

If you make one, save the pattern on Pinterest so other crocheters can find it, and browse the rest of the Hair Accessories patterns on Crochee for matching pieces.

And if you tag your finished gajra, I’ll see it. Every one I see is the reason I publish these free.

If the rose has you wanting more petals, the rest are gathered in my roundup of free crochet flower patterns, from lily of the valley to cherry blossom.