Crochet Morning Glory Flower Applique Free Pattern
There is something quietly magical about the morning glory. It opens its face to the sun at dawn, blazing in shades of violet, blue, magenta, and white, then closes again as the day wanes. It is a flower that rewards the early riser, and capturing that fleeting beauty in crochet feels like a small act of devotion. Whether you want to embellish a tote bag, brighten up a hat, decorate a baby blanket, or create a wall hanging full of cascading blooms, this crochet morning glory flower applique is exactly what you need. Best of all, this is a completely free pattern you can use again and again.
This guide will walk you through every single step, from choosing your yarn and hook to shaping the petals, adding the center, and attaching your finished bloom to any project you like. Even if you are a beginner who has only just learned how to make a slip knot, you will find this pattern approachable and fun. And if you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a quick, satisfying project, you will love how quickly these little flowers come together.
Let’s start at the beginning.
What You Will Need
Before you pick up your hook, gather your supplies. Having everything within reach before you start makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable.
For yarn, you will want a light worsted weight or DK weight yarn in two or three colors. The main color will form the petals of the flower. Traditional morning glory colors include deep violet, periwinkle blue, soft lavender, magenta, and bright white. Choose whatever speaks to you. The second color will be used for the center, and a bright yellow, cream, or pale green works beautifully here. If you want to add a bit of depth, a third color can be used to highlight the throat of the flower or add a contrasting ring around the center.
For the hook, a 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm crochet hook pairs well with DK or light worsted weight yarn. If you are using a thicker worsted weight, step up to a 4.5 mm hook. The exact gauge does not matter much for an applique since you are not making something that needs to fit a body, but consistent tension will make your finished flower look neat and even.
You will also need a yarn needle for weaving in ends and attaching the applique, a pair of scissors, and stitch markers if you find them helpful. Pins are useful for blocking or positioning your flower before you sew it down.
Understanding the Abbreviations
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. Here is a quick reference so you are never left guessing.
Magic ring (also called magic circle or adjustable ring) — a technique for starting rounds that closes to leave no hole in the center.
Ch — chain
Sl st — slip stitch
Sc — single crochet
Hdc — half double crochet
Dc — double crochet
Tr — treble crochet
Sp — space
Rep — repeat
St — stitch
Rnd — round
If you have never worked in the round before, do not worry. The pattern below explains everything as you go. Once you finish your first flower, the second will feel completely natural.
Skill Level
This pattern is rated as easy to intermediate. You should be comfortable with the magic ring technique, working in joined rounds, and basic increases. If any of these feel unfamiliar, it is worth taking ten or fifteen minutes to practice them on a small swatch before you begin. You will be amazed at how quickly it clicks.
Finished Size
When made with DK weight yarn and a 3.75 mm hook, the finished applique measures approximately 3.5 inches across from petal tip to petal tip. Using a heavier yarn and larger hook will yield a bigger flower, and a finer yarn with a smaller hook will produce a delicate, miniature bloom. Do not be afraid to experiment with scale.
The Free Pattern
Starting With the Center
Begin with your center color yarn. You will start with a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the tail to close the ring snugly. Sl st to the first sc to join. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat this pattern around — sc in one, 2 sc in next — until you have worked all 12 stitches. Sl st to join. (18 sc)
You now have a small, flat disc. This is the center of your morning glory. Fasten off the center color, leaving a short tail to weave in later.
Joining the Petal Color
Join your main petal color yarn into any stitch of the center disc with a slip stitch. You are going to build the petals directly off this foundation.
Working the Petals
The morning glory has five petals that are fused together into a funnel shape. In crochet, we replicate this by working each petal section in sequence around the center, using taller stitches in the middle of each petal to create that lovely rounded silhouette.
Rnd 4 (Petal Round):
For each petal, you will work the following sequence into the stitches of Rnd 3. Each petal uses 3 stitches from the foundation round as its base.
Petal 1: Ch 1, sc in same st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, ch 3, sl st in top of last dc made (this creates a small picot point at the tip of the petal), dc in same st where you just made the dc, hdc in next st, sc in next st.
Wait — let’s slow that down even further so you can follow along stitch by stitch.
Work 1 sc in the joining stitch. Work 1 hdc in the next stitch. Work 1 dc in the next stitch. Now chain 3, and slip stitch back into the top of that same dc. This little chain-3 loop forms the rounded tip of the petal. Work 1 dc into the same stitch. Work 1 hdc in the next stitch. Work 1 sc in the next stitch.
At this point you have completed one petal. You will now sl st into the next stitch to move to the base of the second petal, then repeat the entire sequence four more times to create five petals total.
Petal 2: Sl st into next st. Sc in same st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, ch 3, sl st in top of dc, dc in same dc st, hdc in next st, sc in next st.
Repeat for Petals 3, 4, and 5 in exactly the same way.
After your fifth petal, sl st to the base of the first petal to join the round. Fasten off your petal color.
You now have five softly rounded petals radiating from the center, and your flower already looks unmistakably like a morning glory.
Shaping the Throat
The morning glory’s most distinctive feature is its star-shaped throat — that starburst of white or pale color that radiates from the very center outward along each petal. We can add this detail with a few simple surface slip stitches or by embroidering thin lines with a yarn needle once the flower is complete.
If you want to crochet the detail: Join a contrasting color (white, pale yellow, or very pale lavender) into the center of the flower at the base of one petal. Ch 4, sl st into the base of the picot at the tip of that petal. Repeat this from the center out along each of the five petals. Fasten off and weave in ends.
If you prefer to embroider: Thread a yarn needle with your contrast color. Working from the center, take small straight stitches out along the middle of each petal toward the tip. Keep your tension relaxed so the stitches lie flat against the surface. This produces a delicate, painterly effect.
Either approach will add realism and dimension to your flower.
Finishing the Center
If you want a textured, raised center that mimics the stamens of a real morning glory, add a few French knots or small bobble stitches in bright yellow or white to the center disc before you weave in all your ends. This is an optional step, but it elevates the finished applique from pretty to stunning.
To make a simple bobble in the center: Join yellow yarn to the center of the disc, ch 1, make 3 or 4 single crochet stitches very close together in the same center space, and fasten off. This creates a small, round button of texture right in the heart of your flower.
Weaving In Ends
Before you attach your flower to anything, weave in all your yarn tails securely. Thread each tail onto your yarn needle and work it back and forth through the stitches on the wrong side of the flower, changing direction at least once to lock it in place. Trim close to the fabric.
Blocking Your Flower
Blocking makes an enormous difference to the finished appearance of any crochet applique. Even a gentle blocking will open up the petals, flatten the disc, and make the whole flower look polished and professional.
For a simple wet block, simply dampen your flower under cool water, squeeze out the excess gently, and pin it into shape on a foam mat or folded towel. Use rust-proof pins to hold each petal at its natural position. Allow it to dry completely before removing the pins.
If your yarn is heat-safe (always check the label), you can also use a steam iron held a few inches above the flower to set the shape without pressing down directly on the stitches.
How to Attach the Applique
Attaching your morning glory to a project is simple and satisfying. Pin the flower in position on your base fabric or crochet item and use a yarn needle threaded with matching yarn to whip stitch around the outer edge of the flower, catching the back of each petal as you go. Work all the way around until the flower is secure on all sides.
For a more dimensional look, you can leave the outer petal tips unattached and only secure the center disc and inner portions of the petals. This lets the petal tips stand slightly away from the surface, creating a three-dimensional quality that looks absolutely beautiful on garments and bags.
If you are applying the flower to woven fabric, use a sewing needle and coordinating thread instead of yarn. A whip stitch or a small running stitch around the perimeter will hold the flower securely without distorting the petals.
Ideas for Using Your Morning Glory Applique
The best thing about a versatile applique like this is that it can go almost anywhere. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination.
Scatter several morning glory flowers in graduating sizes across the front of a crocheted market tote for a garden-inspired accessory that will draw compliments everywhere you take it.
Use a cluster of blooms to decorate a baby shower gift — a soft blanket, a little hat, or a pair of booties becomes something special with a few hand-made flowers attached.
Frame a group of morning glories with a few crocheted leaves (simple leaf patterns are widely available) and mount them in an embroidery hoop for instant fiber art that looks beautiful on any wall.
Attach a single flower to the brim of a wide sun hat for a summer-ready accessory that has a romantic, cottagecore aesthetic.
Embellish a cardigan or sweater by stitching several flowers along the neckline, cuffs, or buttonband.
Dress up a plain canvas sneaker by securing a morning glory to the tongue with a few hand stitches.
Create a garland by making many flowers and connecting them with lengths of chain before draping across a mantle, headboard, or porch rail.
Making Multiple Flowers
Once you have made your first morning glory, you will find that each subsequent one takes less and less time. Working in batches is a great way to build up a collection of blooms for a larger project. Try making flowers in several different shades of purple and blue, then mixing them together for a garden that looks natural and lush rather than perfectly matched.
You can also play with the pattern to create variation. Working the petals in a slightly different way — using dc and tr instead of hdc and dc, for example — will produce a longer, more trumpet-like petal. Using a slip stitch at the tip instead of a picot gives a simpler, more stylized look. Every small adjustment produces a different personality of flower, and before long you will have your own signature version of this classic bloom.
Tips for Success
Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round, especially when you are first learning. It saves a great deal of confusion and prevents you from losing your place.
Keep your tension consistent. If you crochet tightly, your petals may curl; if you crochet loosely, they may lie too flat. A hook one size larger or smaller can fix this immediately.
When working the magic ring, leave a reasonably long tail — at least six inches — so you have enough yarn to pull tight and weave in securely. A center that pops open is the most common problem with flower motifs, and a tight, well-woven tail is the solution.
Don’t be discouraged if your first flower looks a little uneven. Blocking corrects a surprising amount, and after two or three repetitions your tension will naturally even out.
Why You Will Love This Pattern
Crochet flower appliques are one of those delightful corners of the craft where even a small amount of time and a tiny bit of yarn produces something genuinely beautiful. The morning glory is particularly rewarding because its five-petaled, funnel-shaped bloom is both elegant and recognizable — people will know exactly what they are looking at, and they will ask you where you found the pattern.
The answer, of course, is right here.
Whether you crochet one flower as an accent or a hundred to cover an entire shawl, the morning glory applique brings a sense of the garden into whatever project you choose. It celebrates the quiet artistry of handmade things, the way a small loop of yarn and a simple hook can become a flower that looks like it was growing just this morning in someone’s backyard.
Save this pattern, share it with your crafting friends, and come back to it every time a project needs a little something extra. Happy crocheting, and may your morning glories bloom beautifully.
