Sunny Meadow Sunflower Amigurumi: A Free Beginner-Friendly Crochet Pattern

Bring a burst of spring indoors with this charming crocheted sunflower, complete with a sturdy stem and delicate leaves. This pattern is perfect for adding a handmade touch to your decor or gifting a little sunshine to someone special. Whether you're a seasoned crocheter or just starting your amigurumi journey, this project is designed to be approachable, rewarding, and utterly delightful. The finished piece is soft, huggable, and radiates a cheerful, handmade aesthetic that will brighten any room.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. Using the specified materials will ensure your sunflower has the best structure and appearance.

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn in four colors:
  • Golden yellow (for petals)
  • Warm brown (for the flower center)
  • Leaf green (for leaves)
  • Stem green (for the stem)
• Hook: 3.5mm (E) crochet hook
• Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill stuffing
• Notions: Yarn needle, stitch marker, scissors
• Optional: Pipe cleaner or floral wire (for a bendable stem), pink yarn or fabric paint (for blush)

Gauge: Not critical for this project; aim for a tight stitch to prevent stuffing showing. If your stitches are loose, consider using a smaller hook.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• mr: magic ring
• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• inc: increase (2 sc in same stitch)
• dec: decrease (sc 2 together)
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• Rnd: round

Step-by-Step Instructions

Part 1: Sunflower Center (Make 2 Pieces)

You will create two identical center pieces. One will be the front (where petals are attached), and the other will be the back. Use warm brown yarn for both.

Front Center Piece:

1. Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring. Pull tight to close. (6 sts)
2. Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
3. Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, inc) around. (18 sts)
4. Rnd 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) around. (24 sts)
5. Rnd 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) around. (30 sts)
6. Rnd 6: (Sc in next 4 sts, inc) around. (36 sts)
7. Rnd 7: (Sc in next 5 sts, inc) around. (42 sts)
8. Rnd 8: (Sc in next 6 sts, inc) around. (48 sts)
9. Rnd 9: (Sc in next 7 sts, inc) around. (54 sts)
10. Rnd 10: (Sc in next 8 sts, inc) around. (60 sts)
11. Rnd 11-12: Sc in each st around. (60 sts)
12. Fasten off, leaving a long tail (approx. 18 inches) for sewing. Set aside.

Back Center Piece:

1. Repeat Rnds 1-12 exactly as above.
2. Do not fasten off. You will continue directly to the petals using this piece as the base.

Part 2: Petals (Worked Around the Front Center Piece)

Now, we will attach the golden yellow yarn to the front center piece (the one with the long tail). This creates the beautiful, full ring of petals.

1. Attach yarn: Insert your hook into any stitch on the edge of the front center piece. Pull up a loop of golden yellow yarn and ch 1 to secure.
2. Rnd 1 (Foundation for petals): *Ch 10, skip 2 sts, sl st in the next st.* Repeat from * to * around the entire circumference. You should create 20 ch-10 loops (petal bases). Sl st to the first ch to join the round.
3. Rnd 2 (Working the petals): In each ch-10 space, work the following sequence:
   • Sc in the next 2 ch
   • Hdc in the next 2 ch
   • Dc in the next 2 ch
   • Tr in the next 2 ch
   • Dc in the next 2 ch
   • Hdc in the next 2 ch
   • Sc in the next 2 ch
   • Sl st in the sl st between petals (the sl st from Rnd 1)
   Repeat this for all 20 petals. This creates a lovely teardrop shape with a gentle point.
4. Finish: After the last petal, fasten off and weave in the yarn end securely.

Part 3: Assembling the Flower Head

1. Place the back center piece behind the front center piece (the one with petals), with the wrong sides together. The right sides (the nicer-looking sides) should be facing out.
2. Thread the long tail from the back piece onto your yarn needle.
3. Sew the two center pieces together using a whip stitch or mattress stitch, going through the outer loops of both pieces. Leave a small opening (about 2 inches) for stuffing.
4. Stuff the center lightly with polyester fiberfill. Do not overstuff; you want it to be firm but not bulging.
5. Continue sewing the opening closed. Weave in the end securely.

Part 4: The Stem

Using stem green yarn, create a sturdy, slender stem.

1. Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring. (6 sts)
2. Rnd 2-20: Sc in each st around. (6 sts) Tip: Work in a continuous spiral without joining. Use a stitch marker to keep track of your rounds.
3. Optional: Before closing, insert a pipe cleaner or a piece of floral wire into the stem. This allows you to bend and pose the stem. Ensure the wire is fully covered by yarn.
4. Fasten off, leaving a long tail (approx. 12 inches) for sewing.
5. Sew the stem securely to the bottom of the sunflower center, positioning it centrally. Weave in the end.

Part 5: Leaves (Make 2)

Using leaf green yarn, create two oval-shaped leaves.

1. Foundation: Ch 10.
2. Rnd 1: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: Sc in the next 8 ch, 3 sc in the last ch (this turns the corner). Now working on the other side of the chain: Sc in the next 8 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. (20 sts)
3. Rnd 2: Sc in the next 8 sts, inc in the next 3 sts, sc in the next 8 sts, inc in the next 2 sts. (25 sts)
4. Rnd 3: Sc in the next 9 sts, inc in the next 3 sts, sc in the next 9 sts, inc in the next 2 sts. (30 sts)
5. Fasten off, leaving a long tail (approx. 10 inches) for sewing.
6. Sew the leaves to the stem, positioning them near the top of the stem, just below the flower head. Attach them at a slight angle for a natural look.

Part 6: Finishing Touches

1. Weave in all ends securely using your yarn needle. Ensure no loose ends are visible.
2. Optional - Add a face: To give your sunflower extra charm, add a small amount of blush to the center using pink yarn or fabric paint. You can also embroider a simple smile or closed eyes with a small piece of dark brown or black yarn.
3. Gently shape the petals and leaves to your liking.

Your Sunny Meadow Sunflower is complete! Display it in a vase, attach it to a bag, or gift it to someone who needs a little sunshine. This pattern is a wonderful way to practice working in the round, creating petals, and assembling amigurumi pieces. Happy crocheting!