Crochet African Flower
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The Crochet African Flower is one of my favorites. I love that bit of femininity of the petals contrasting with the lines of the hexagon.
Plus an African Flower crochet block just lends itself to so many uses from purses and bags to afghans and pillows.
There’s so much to love about the crochet african flower. I love how simple stitches are put together in a way that forms something beautiful. The only fancy thing going on is a long single crochet.
If you haven’t tried a long single crochet stitch before, it is so easy. Simply work a regular single crochet, but instead of inserting your hook into the next stitch, you insert your hook into a spot in a previous row (as indicated in the pattern).
Today we’re going to learn 2 amazing bits of goodness with this versatile crochet african flower beauty: The traditional crochet african flower hexagon and a petal variation on a crochet african flower motif!
Crochet African Flower
Here is what you will need:
- US H8/5.00 mm (here are my favorite crochet hooks)
- Worsted Weight Yarn, I used scraps including some of the leftovers from the Sedge Stitch Baby Blanket
- Tapestry needle and scissors
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart. Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.
The Crochet African Flower Hexagon is approximately 6″ across from one point to the other .
The Hexagon uses 4 colors.
Using color 1, Ch 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring
R1: Work all stitches in this round in the ring. Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc),dc, ch 1 *2dc ch1*, repeat from * to * 5 more times. Sl st to top of starting ch 3. (At end of the round there are 6 groups of 2 dc each). Fasten off Color 1.
R2: Join color 2 in ch-1 space from previous round. Working in same space as joining, ch3 (counts as 1st dc), dc, ch 2, 2dc, ch 1. *In next space work (2dc, ch 2, 2dc, ch 1). Repeat from * 4 more times. Join with sl stitch to top of starting ch 3.
R3: Sl stitch to 1st space. Ch3, work 6dc in same space, ch 1. *in next space work (dc 7, ch 1). Repeat from * 4 more times. Join with sl stitch to top of starting ch 3. Fasten off color 2.
NOTE: Round 4 is worked in single crochet with a long single crochet in between each petal as follows:
R4: With color 3 and starting on the side of any petal, work sc around. Work a long sc in between each petal, by inserting hook into the middle of the dc sets from round 2 and pulling up a loose loop. Then yarn over and pull through both loops to complete the long single crochet. Continue working sc in every petal stitch and a long sc in between each petal. sc to top of starting sc. Fasten off color 3.
R5: Attach color 4 to a single crochet above the start of a dc petal from round 3. Ch 3 (1st dc), dc in next 2 st, in next stitch work (dc, ch 2, dc) (1st corner of hexagon worked), *dc in next 7 st, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st (corner worked). Repeat from * around, ending with a dc in final 4 st after 6th corner worked. Fasten off color 4.
Weave in ends.
Crochet African Flower Variation
Here is a simple variation on the African Flower Hexagon you might like to try. Note that the orange African Flower does not have the final round, but you certainly could work it, if desired, to get a hexagon shaped motif.
The long single crochet in row 4 is worked differently in the orange flower. Instead of working the long single crochet into the into the middle of the dc sets from round 2, I worked in between the stitches in row 1. Just go right between the petals in between the 2 dc stitches.
Which way do you prefer to work the long single crochet for your next Crochet African Flower? Tell me in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
How About A Crochet Hexagon Flower Motif?
Have you ever heard of the crochet movement to spread crochet joy around your community by leaving cute crochet items for others to find in public places? Some people make little amigurumi, but many love basic flowers for this purpose as well!
Starting on the top left and rotating clockwise we have: the Crochet African Flower, the Black Eyed Susan, the Flower Mandala and the Loopy Flower
I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making the Crochet African Flower, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo. If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing!
Is there a way to continue this to make an Afghan?
You could join the hexagons together to make an afghan if you’d like. You’d have to decide if straight edges are important to you, however, because the shape of the hexagon would cause a scallop sort of shape on each end.
Cheryl, you are amazing, your work is amazing. Bravo!
I made these and followed the directions to the tee but they are puckering. None of the patterns I’ve seen says to block them. I will have too. Just didn’t know if you had seen this before. Same hook and worsted weight yarn. Thanks for any input. Love your work!
I did not have trouble with puckering and I did not block. We do all crochet a bit differently, though and it’s possible that your tension is just a bit different than mine. In that case, your idea to block is a good one.
I would love to make coasters with this pattern. Are we allowed to sell finished products as long as we give credit for the pattern?
As long as you don’t sell or reproduce the written pattern, you are welcome to use any of the free or paid Crochet 365 Knit Too patterns to make items to sell. Please include a link to the free pattern with credit for the design on any online listing. If you are selling at a fair or retail shop, just note this information on the tag. Thank you for asking!
How do I compute the yardage of yarn needed to make the African flower “square” as an afghan? It will be used on the back of a couch?
Thanks for sharing the motif.
I haven’t used the square to make an afghan so I can’t give you specifics, but here’s my process: What I typically do is make one square, without weaving in ends. Then I rip it out and measure each yarn section and do math to get the total amount needed for the squares for the size afghan I want to make. If you’re doing a border you would need to make an educated guess or work a sample and do math for that part. Once I have the yarn calculated I usually add about 10% or so in case I made a math error somewhere and then I’ll use that information and the information on the skein to figure out how much I need. Hope that helps!