Crochet Daffodil Flower Applique – Free Pattern

There is something quietly magical about a daffodil. It appears every spring with almost stubborn cheerfulness, pushing through cold soil before most other flowers dare to show themselves. That sunny yellow trumpet, those graceful petals fanning outward — the daffodil has inspired artists and makers for centuries. Now it can inspire your crochet hook too. This free pattern will walk you through creating a beautiful crochet daffodil applique that you can use on garments, bags, home décor, greeting cards, and so much more. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter or someone who has only recently discovered the joy of working with yarn and a hook, this pattern is approachable, rewarding, and endlessly versatile.

Why Crochet Flower Appliques Are Worth Making

Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about why crochet appliques — and flower appliques in particular — are such a beloved category in the fiber arts world. An applique is essentially a small crocheted piece designed to be attached to something else. Unlike a full project like a blanket or a sweater, an applique can be finished in a single sitting. That accessibility makes it perfect for beginners who want a sense of completion, and equally satisfying for experienced makers who want to squeeze a creative project into a busy schedule.

Flower appliques carry an extra layer of charm. They transform the ordinary into something special. A plain tote bag becomes a cottage garden accessory with a few stitched-on blossoms. A baby blanket becomes an heirloom. A simple cardigan becomes something you reach for every time you want to feel a little joy. The daffodil is a particularly strong choice among flower designs because its shape is distinctive and instantly recognizable. Unlike a generic round flower, the daffodil has two layers of petals and a central trumpet — a corona — that gives it real visual depth. Translating that into crochet produces a piece with genuine dimensional interest.

Materials You Will Need

Gathering your supplies before you begin is always a good idea. This pattern is written to be flexible, so you can use whatever yarn and hook combination suits your project. Here are the general recommendations:

Yarn: You will need two colors — one for the outer petals and one for the corona (trumpet). Traditional daffodil colors are yellow for the petals and a deeper yellow or soft orange for the corona, but please feel free to make creative choices. White petals with a peachy corona produce a beautiful narcissus effect. Pale lemon petals with a coral trumpet feel very spring-like. Use whatever weight of yarn you prefer, keeping in mind that lighter weights will produce a more delicate applique and heavier weights will produce something more bold and dimensional.

Hook: Choose a hook that matches your yarn. For worsted weight yarn, a 5mm hook is a comfortable standard. For DK or sport weight, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook works well. For fingering or sock weight, drop down to a 2.5mm or 3mm hook.

Yarn needle: You will need this to weave in your ends and, when the time comes, to sew your applique onto its destination project.

Scissors: Nothing fancy needed here.

Stitch marker: Optional but helpful for keeping your place in the round at the start of certain sections.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern is written using US crochet terminology. If you are accustomed to UK terms, please note that what Americans call a single crochet, UK makers call a double crochet — adjustments will be needed throughout.

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
st — stitch
sp — space
MR — magic ring (also called a magic circle or adjustable ring)
BLO — back loop only
FLO — front loop only
rep — repeat
rnd — round
RS — right side

A Note on Gauge

Because this is an applique rather than a garment or a project with sizing requirements, gauge is not critical. What matters is that your stitches are neat and your tension is consistent. If your applique is coming out larger than you expected, try going down a hook size. If it feels too small or tight, go up a size. The beauty of applique crochet is that a little size variation rarely matters.

The Pattern: Crochet Daffodil Flower Applique

This daffodil is worked in two separate sections — the outer petals and the corona — which are then joined together. This two-part construction is what gives the flower its authentic, layered look.

Part One: The Outer Petals

The outer petals are worked in your main color (Color A). The flower has six petals, which you will create in a single continuous round after establishing your base.

Foundation: Using Color A, create a magic ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 12 sc into the magic ring. Pull the tail to close the ring. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (12 sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each st around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (24 sc)

Now you will create the six petals. Each petal is worked separately and sequentially, with a slip stitch between each one to advance to the next starting point.

Petal 1: Sl st into the next st. Ch 1. Working into the next 4 sts, make 1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc. Sl st into the following st. (This is your first petal — you have used 6 stitches from Round 2.)

Petal 2: Sl st into the next st. Ch 1. Working into the next 4 sts, make 1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc. Sl st into the following st.

Repeat this sequence four more times to complete all six petals total. You should end with six evenly spaced petals radiating from the center. Join with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Shaping tip: After fastening off, you can gently finger-block each petal to encourage it to open up flat and fan outward. If you are using a plant-based fiber like cotton, a light misting of water and a gentle press under a damp cloth will help the petals hold their shape beautifully. Acrylic yarns can be steam blocked with care.

Part Two: The Corona (Trumpet)

The corona is the distinctive cup-shaped center of the daffodil. It is worked in your second color (Color B) in the round, with a slightly ruffled top edge to suggest the natural texture of a real daffodil’s trumpet. This section is worked to stand slightly upright rather than lying flat, giving the finished applique its beautiful dimension.

Foundation: Using Color B, create a magic ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into the magic ring. Pull the tail to close the ring. Do not join — continue working in a spiral if you prefer, or join with a sl st and turn for each round. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc) Join with a sl st if joining each round.

Rnd 3: Working in the BLO only, sc in each st around. This creates a slight ridge that helps the corona hold its cylindrical, cup-like shape. (12 sc)

Rnd 4: This round creates the ruffled top edge of the corona. In each st, work (sc, hdc, sc). This triples your stitch count and produces the gently fluted top that is so characteristic of a real daffodil. (36 sts)

Fasten off and leave a long tail (approximately 15–20 cm or 6–8 inches) for attaching the corona to the petals.

Joining the Two Parts

Place the corona in the center of the petal piece, right sides both facing up. Thread your yarn needle with the long tail you left on the corona. Use a whip stitch or a running stitch to sew around the base of the corona, stitching into the stitches of Round 2 on the petal piece. Work all the way around until the corona feels secure. Pull gently to make sure it is well attached before weaving in and trimming your end.

Once joined, take a moment to arrange the petals so they are evenly spaced and the corona sits centered. A light press or block at this stage, if appropriate for your yarn fiber, will set the whole flower into its final shape.

How to Attach Your Daffodil Applique

Once your daffodil is finished, the fun part begins: deciding where to put it. Here are the main options for attaching your applique securely:

Sewing by hand is the most reliable and most commonly used method. Thread your yarn needle with a matching color of sewing thread or a length of yarn in the same shade as your petals. Using a whip stitch or a hidden stitch along the perimeter of the petals, sew the applique flat against its destination fabric or crocheted piece. Working through the outermost loops of the petal stitches makes for a neat, almost invisible attachment.

Fabric glue can work in a pinch, particularly for non-wearable projects like wreaths, picture frames, or decorative baskets. Make sure to use a glue rated for the fiber content of your yarn.

Safety pins or brooch backs allow you to wear your daffodil as a pin, which is a wonderfully flexible approach — you can move it from one garment to another whenever the mood strikes. Hot-glue a brooch back to the reverse side of the petal piece, let it cure fully, and you have a wearable flower you can pin onto a lapel, a hat, a scarf, or a bag.

Creative Ideas for Using Your Crochet Daffodil

Once you have the basic daffodil pattern down, the possibilities expand quickly. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity.

Spring garlands: Make a dozen or more daffodils in varying sizes and string them along a length of twine. Hang across a mantelpiece, a window, or a doorway for a beautiful seasonal decoration that costs very little but looks genuinely lovely.

Embellished hats and beanies: A crochet daffodil pinned or stitched to the side of a simple knit or crochet beanie turns a basic accessory into something charming. This is especially sweet on children’s hats.

Blanket borders: If you are finishing a baby blanket or a lap blanket, consider working several daffodils and spacing them evenly along one or two edges rather than adding a traditional border. The effect is whimsical and very handmade in the best possible way.

Card toppers and gift embellishments: Because this applique is small and flat, it makes a wonderful addition to a handmade greeting card. You can either glue it directly to the card or tuck it underneath a ribbon for a three-dimensional effect the recipient will want to keep.

Wreath decorations: Combine your crochet daffodils with other spring flower appliques — tulips, hyacinths, small blossoms — on a grapevine or wire wreath for a no-shed, no-wilt spring wreath that can be stored and brought out year after year.

Tote bags and market bags: Stitch a cluster of three or five daffodils to the corner of a plain tote bag. Group them at different heights, as if they are growing, and add a few simple chain-loop stems and leaf shapes for extra charm.

Framed fiber art: Arrange several daffodils on a piece of natural linen stretched over an embroidery hoop, then hang it as a piece of textile wall art. This style of fiber art has seen a wonderful revival in recent years, and crochet appliques fit beautifully into it.

Tips for Success

A few small pieces of advice can make a big difference, particularly if this is one of your first experiences with applique crochet.

Work with a yarn needle, not a crochet hook, for joining. While some makers prefer to use a crochet hook to attach appliques through slip stitches, a needle gives you more control over placement and tension when sewing one piece onto another.

Block early and often. Even a quick press with a damp cloth before you attach the applique will help everything lie flat and smooth. This is especially true for cotton yarn, which has less natural elasticity than wool and benefits greatly from moisture blocking.

Don’t skip the magic ring. It is tempting to substitute a simple starting chain loop, but the magic ring gives you a tight, clean center that really shows in a flower motif. The center is the focal point of the whole piece, so it is worth taking the extra few seconds to get it right.

Make a swatch first if you are uncertain about color. Sometimes colors that look great side by side on a skein look very different once worked. A quick test swatch — just the corona, say — lets you check whether your color combination is working before you commit to the whole piece.

Label your color choices if making multiples. If you plan to make a batch of daffodils for a garland or a wreath, jot down your yarn names and color codes before you begin. You may want to replenish supplies mid-project, and having exact references saves a trip back to the craft store guessing.

Variations to Try

Once you are comfortable with the base pattern, here are some variations that can give you beautiful results.

Make it smaller or larger by adjusting yarn weight. The same pattern worked in fingering weight will produce a delicate, fine flower suitable for embellishing a journal cover or a bookmark. Worked in bulky or super-bulky yarn, it becomes a large, bold statement piece for a chunky-knit pillow or a cozy winter wreath.

Try a narcissus variation by working the outer petals in white or cream and the corona in a soft peach or coral. Narcissus and daffodil share the same genus in botany, and this white-and-coral palette captures the narcissus look perfectly.

Add a stem and leaves. If you want your daffodil to look like a cut flower rather than just a flat bloom, work a simple chain stem with a few leaf shapes. A leaf is easy to make: chain 12, then work back along the chain in sc and sl st, decreasing slightly as you go to create a tapered shape. Stitch the stem and leaves behind the petal piece before attaching the whole thing to your project.

Work in variegated yarn. A variegated yellow-to-gold yarn for the outer petals can give your daffodil a lovely gradient effect that looks far more complex than it actually is.

Final Thoughts

The crochet daffodil applique is one of those patterns that gives back far more than it asks of you. It asks for a modest amount of yarn, a hook, an hour or two of your time. In return, it gives you something genuinely beautiful — a small, handmade piece of spring that you can carry through the year on bags and garments and home décor, or give away to someone who needs a little cheering up. Flowers have always been a language of their own, and a crocheted flower carries the additional message of time and care and intention.

If you make this daffodil, please share your finished piece on social media and tag RaffamusaDesigns so we can celebrate your work. Seeing how makers adapt, personalize, and use free patterns is one of the greatest joys of sharing them. Every color choice, every creative use, every little variation tells a story — and your story is always worth seeing.

Happy crocheting, and happy spring, whenever it finds you.