Crochet Sunflower Bouquet Pattern (Free + Never Wilts)
There is something about a jar of sunflowers on a windowsill that makes a whole room feel warmer.
The only problem is real ones droop in a week.
So I had the crocheter I work with make me a version that never wilts, and I am sharing the full pattern here for free.
This is the same chunky 3-inch sunflower from my crochet sunflower keychain, but instead of a hanging cord I give each flower a real stem and bunch three of them into a little bouquet.
You can stand them in a vase, tie them with ribbon as a gift, or prop one in a bud jar on your desk.
Quick Info
- Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
- Finished size: About a 3 inch flower, with a stem as long as you like
- Time: Around 1 hour per flower
- Stitches used: magic ring, ch, sc, hdc, dc, tr, sl st, inc
You only need to know how to work in a magic ring and through two layers at once. Everything else is just repeating.
Materials
- Milk cotton yarn (4-ply) in dark brown (centers), yellow (petals), and green (leaves and stems)
- 3 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle and scissors
- Fiberfill stuffing (a small pinch per flower)
- Floral wire, the green paper-wrapped kind, one length per stem
- Ribbon or twine for tying the bunch
The floral wire is the one new thing here. It is what turns a soft cord into a stem that actually stands up.
Abbreviations
- MR = magic ring
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- sl st = slip stitch
- R = round
How Many Flowers to Make
A bouquet wants odd numbers, so it looks full instead of paired off.
Three is the sweet spot for a bud jar. Five to seven fills a proper vase.
The pattern below makes one flower. Repeat it for as many as you want, then group them at the end.
Flower Center (Make 2 per flower)
Work both discs in dark brown. They sit back to back to form the seeded middle of the sunflower.
- R1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
- R2: inc in each stitch around. [12]
- R3: (1 sc, 1 inc) repeated 6 times. [18]
- R4: (2 sc, 1 inc) repeated 6 times. [24]
- R5: sc in each stitch around. [24]
Fasten off and make a second disc exactly the same.
Tip: pull the magic ring tail tight before you join Round 2, or the brown center gaps open in the middle.
Tip: both discs must land on 24. Count 6, 12, 18, 24, 24 as you go. If they do not match, the petals will not line up.
Petals (Yellow)
Hold both center discs with wrong sides together and work the petals through both layers at once. This seals the edge and gives you a little dome to stuff.
- Attach yellow yarn in any stitch, working through both discs together.
- Repeat this petal all the way around: ch 2, (dc, tr) in the next stitch, ch 2, sl st, (tr, dc) in the same stitch, ch 2, sl st in the next stitch.
- Before you close the last few petals, stuff the center lightly with fiberfill.
- Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Tip: every petal stitch goes through both discs. It feels stiff at first, that is normal, it is what builds the firm edge.
Tip: stuff lightly. A pinch is plenty. Overstuffing flattens the petals back out.
Leaves (Make 2 per flower)
Each flower gets two leaves in green.
- ch 16. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc, sl st, sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, then (sc, ch 1, sc) in the last stitch.
- Turn and work back along the other side of the chain: hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc, sl st, sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc, sl st in the first stitch.
- Fasten off, leaving a tail to attach later.
Tip: work into the chain gaps on the return pass. That is what gives the leaf its rounded, double-sided shape instead of a flat strip.
The Stem (this is the bouquet part)
This is where a bouquet flower differs from the keychain. Instead of a soft hanging cord, you build a stem that holds itself upright.
You have two ways to do it. Pick whichever matches what you have.
Option 1: Wired stem (recommended, stands up)
Cut a length of floral wire to the stem length you want, plus 2 inches.
Fold the top inch of the wire over so there is no sharp end, and poke it up into the back of the flower center. Anchor it with a few stitches or a dab of glue.
Now wrap green yarn down the wire from top to bottom, overlapping as you go so no wire shows. Wrap back up partway to add the leaves, then tie off at the top and hide the tail.
This is the stem that lets the bouquet stand in a vase on its own.
Option 2: Crochet cord stem (softer, for tied bunches)
If you do not have floral wire, make a chain stem instead.
Attach green yarn to the back of the flower, ch 30 to 40 for a stem, then sl st back up the chain to the flower to give it body.
This stem is soft, so it works best for a hand-tied bunch you lay flat or hang, not one that stands on its own.
Attaching the Leaves
Slide each leaf onto the stem and position it a little below the flower head.
Stitch or knot the leaf tail to the stem so it stays put. Two leaves per stem, sitting at slightly different heights, looks the most natural.
Grouping the Bouquet
Once your flowers are done, gather the stems in one hand and fan the heads so they are not all facing the same way.
Wrap ribbon or twine around the stems a few times, just under the flowers, and tie a bow.
For a vase arrangement, skip the ribbon, bend the wired stems to different heights, and let them lean naturally.
A small jar, a tin can, or a bud vase all work. The flowers are light, so weight the bottom with a few pebbles if your container is tall.
Tips for a Fuller Bouquet
- Vary the heights. Cut the wires to slightly different lengths so the heads sit at different levels. A flat-topped bunch looks stiff.
- Mix the yellows. A couple of buttery flowers next to brighter golden ones reads more like a real bunch picked at different times.
- Odd numbers only. Three, five, or seven. Even numbers pair off visually and look planned.
- Add a bud or two. Make a flower without opening the petals fully for a closed-bud look tucked at the back.
- Bend, do not crease. Curve the wired stems in a gentle arc. A hard kink shows through the yarn wrap.
FAQ
How many flowers do I need for a bouquet?
Three for a small bud jar, five to seven for a vase. Always an odd number so the bunch looks full.
Can I make this without floral wire?
Yes. Use the crochet chain stem instead. It will be soft, so it suits a hand-tied bunch or a flower laid flat rather than one that stands on its own.
What yarn works best?
Milk cotton (4-ply) holds the petal shape and keeps the colors bright. Any worsted-weight cotton works if you match the hook to it.
How long should the stems be?
Whatever fits your container. Cut the floral wire to the height you want plus 2 inches so you have room to fold the top and anchor it in the flower.
Will the flowers stay clean?
Cotton picks up dust over time. A gentle shake or a quick go-over with a lint roller keeps them looking fresh, and they never wilt.
Can I make a single stem flower instead of a bouquet?
Absolutely. One wired sunflower in a bud vase is one of my favorite desk pieces. The pattern is the same, you just make one.
Make a Whole Bunch
The best part of this make is that you can keep adding to it.
Start with three, and next time you have a free evening, add two more.
Before long you have a full jar of sunflowers that brightens a corner all year and never needs water.
If you make a bunch, save this pattern on Pinterest so you can find it again, and have a look at the matching sunflower keychain if you want a little one to clip onto your bag.
