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Crochet Sunflower Hair Clip Pattern (Free + Claw Clip Tutorial)

ByMuntaseer Rahman
Crocheted yellow sunflower with a brown center clipped into long dark wavy hair, worn at the side of the head

I have a soft spot for accessories that turn a five dollar plastic claw clip into something people actually compliment. This crochet sunflower clip does exactly that.

It is a free, beginner-to-intermediate pattern. You make two small brown center discs, join them, edge the whole thing in yellow petals, stuff it lightly, and sew it onto any claw clip you already own.

The crocheter I commission worked the sample in milk cotton, dark brown for the seed center and bright yellow for the petals. Below is the full pattern with step photos for the center, the petals, and the assembly.

Three finished crochet sunflower claw clips arranged on a white marble surface, each with a brown center and yellow petals

Quick Info

  • Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
  • Finished size: 1.5 to 2 inches across (varies with yarn and hook)
  • Time: About 1 hour per clip
  • Stitches used: magic ring, ch, sc, dc, sl st, inc
  • Best for: Claw clips, snap clips, bag charms, handmade gifts

Materials

Flat lay of materials for the sunflower hair clip: yellow and dark brown milk cotton yarn, a black claw clip, a 2.5 mm crochet hook, scissors, a tapestry needle, and fiberfill stuffing
  • Milk cotton yarn (4-ply) in dark brown (center) and yellow (petals)
  • 2.5 mm crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scissors
  • A hair clip (claw clip or snap clip)
  • Fiberfill stuffing

Milk cotton is the right pick here. It holds a crisp petal edge, the colors stay saturated, and it does not fuzz up after a few wears in your hair.

Abbreviations

  • MR = magic ring
  • ch = chain
  • sc = single crochet
  • dc = double crochet
  • inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • R = round

Flower Center (Make 2)

Step photo showing two dark brown crocheted center discs, one with a long yarn tail left for sewing, plus working both pieces together on the hook

Using dark brown yarn, make two identical discs.

  1. R1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
  2. R2: inc in each stitch around. [12]
  3. R3: (1 sc, 1 inc) repeated 6 times. [18]
  4. R4: (2 sc, 1 inc) repeated 6 times. [24]

On the first disc, leave a long yarn tail for sewing later. On the second disc, fasten off and weave in the ends.

Tip: Close the magic ring tight. All 6 first-round stitches sit in the magic ring. Pull the tail firmly before you join round 2, or the brown center will gap open and the clip hardware will show through.

Tip: Land both discs at 24. Both centers need to match so the petal round lines up. Count at the end of every round: 6, 12, 18, 24. Fix any miscount before you start the second disc, not after.

Tip: Keep the tail long. The long tail on disc one is what sews the finished flower to the clip. Leave at least 30 cm so you are not rejoining yarn during assembly.

Petals (Yellow)

Step photo of the yellow petal round being worked around the joined brown centers, with progress shots showing the petals forming and two finished mini sunflowers

Hold both center discs together with the wrong sides facing in, so the two neat fronts face out. You will crochet through both layers at once, which is what gives the flower its puffy body.

  1. Attach yellow yarn in any stitch, working through both discs together.
  2. Repeat around: ch 2, (dc, ch 2, dc) in the next stitch, ch 2, sl st in the next stitch.
  3. Before you close the last few petals, stuff the center lightly with fiberfill.
  4. Fasten off and weave in all yarn ends neatly. You will end up with about 12 petals.

Tip: Work through both layers. Pushing the hook through both discs on every stitch is the whole trick. It seals the edge and builds a little dome you can stuff, instead of a flat coaster.

Tip: Learn the petal beat. Each petal is ch 2, then a dc-ch2-dc cluster into one stitch, then ch 2 and a sl st to anchor into the next stitch. Say “two, cluster, two, anchor” out loud the first time around.

Tip: Stuff lightly, not full. A small pinch of fiberfill is enough to round out the center. Overstuff it and the petals pull back and the flower turns into a ball.

Assembly

Four-panel assembly photo: the finished sunflower next to an open black claw clip, then the flower being sewn onto one paddle of the clip with brown yarn, and the finished clip
  1. Open the claw clip and sit the flower centered on the front paddle.
  2. Using the long brown tail and your tapestry needle, sew the flower onto the clip.
  3. Pass the needle around the clip bar and back through the flower a few times so it is anchored on both sides.
  4. Check that it sits centered and firm, then weave the tail in and trim.

Tip: Sew around the bar, not just the surface. Looping the yarn around the clip’s metal bar is what keeps the flower from peeling off after a week of daily use. Surface stitches alone will work loose.

Tip: Claw clip or snap clip. A medium claw clip holds a half-up section beautifully. For fine hair or a toddler, a small snap or alligator clip is lighter and grips better.

Hand holding a single sunflower clip attached to a large black claw clip, showing the real size of the finished piece

Styling It

Crochet sunflower claw clip worn from behind in long dark hair, holding a half-up section

A medium claw clip with a sunflower on it is the easiest way to make a plain half-up look intentional. It reads as handmade in the best way.

The same flower works on more than hair. Clip it to a bag strap, a tote, or a backpack zipper and it becomes a charm.

Sunflower clip attached to the strap of a tan shoulder bag in front of a bookshelf

If you want the bag-charm version, follow the dedicated crochet sunflower keychain and bag charm pattern, which adds leaves and a hanging cord. Or just swap the claw clip on this one for a lobster clasp and a short length of chain.

Tips for Success

  • Yarn substitution. Milk cotton 4-ply with a 2.5 mm hook gives the tight, crisp petals in the photos. Any light worsted cotton works; move up to a 3 mm hook and the flower just runs slightly larger.
  • Make a matched pair. Two clips on either side of a half-up is a popular look. A 50g ball of each color makes several flowers, so batch them.
  • Color it your way. Yellow and brown is the classic sunflower. Try burnt orange petals for fall, or white petals with a yellow center for a daisy spin on the same pattern.
  • Hide the hardware. Sit the flower high enough on the paddle that it covers the clip hinge from the front. It looks far more finished in photos and in your hair.
  • Block if needed. If the petals curl, a quick steam hover relaxes them flat. Hold the steam ten seconds and let it cool before wearing.

FAQ

What size claw clip works best?

A small to medium claw clip, roughly 2.5 to 3.5 inches, balances best with a 2-inch flower. A jumbo clip needs two flowers or one oversized one so the hardware does not swallow the sunflower.

Can I use a different yarn?

Yes. Any light worsted or DK cotton works. Cotton holds the petal shape better than acrylic, which tends to go soft and floppy on a piece this small.

How do I turn it into a bag charm or keychain instead?

Make the flower exactly the same, then skip the clip. Sew or glue the back to a lobster clasp with a short chain for a bag charm, or to a keyring for a keychain. The front of the flower is identical.

Why crochet through both center discs together?

Working the petal round through two layers builds a puffy, stuffable dome instead of a flat circle. It also doubles the body so the finished clip feels sturdy, not floppy.

Can I sell clips made from this pattern?

Yes, you can sell finished clips you make from this pattern. Please do not repost or resell the written pattern itself. A link back to Crochee is appreciated if you credit the source online.

Will the flower hold up to daily wear?

It does, as long as you anchored it around the clip bar during assembly. Milk cotton resists fuzzing, and the stuffed center keeps its shape through normal everyday use.

Make One. Tag Crochee.

Three finished sunflower claw clips on a white marble surface, two upright and one face up showing the petal detail

If you make this clip, I would love to see it. Tag @crochee on Pinterest or Instagram with your finished sunflower and I will add it to the pattern feedback file.

This pattern and the sample photos come from Knot Just Yarn, the maker I buy these original designs from. Crochee shares them free with permission.

Want more small makes like this? Browse the rest of the Hair Accessories patterns, or try the matching sunflower coaster and the puffy bow hair tie, all free and original.

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