Crochet Pansy Flower | Free Crochet Pattern
There is something quietly wonderful about a pansy. Unlike roses or sunflowers, which announce themselves with bold architecture and towering presence, pansies sit close to the ground and let their faces do the talking. Those velvety petals, the dark streaks radiating from the center, the gentle overlap of the upper and lower lobes — they are one of nature’s most painterly creations. It is no surprise that crocheters have long been drawn to recreating them in yarn.
This free crochet pansy flower pattern walks you through every step of making a realistic, textured pansy that can be used on its own as a brooch, clustered into a wreath, stitched onto a hat or cardigan, or arranged into a full floral bouquet. Whether you are an intermediate crocheter looking for a satisfying afternoon project or a beginner who has mastered the basics and wants to try something a little more dimensional, this pattern is written to be clear, approachable, and rewarding.
Let’s dig into everything you need to know before you pick up your hook.
Why Crochet Pansies?
Before we get to the stitches, it is worth pausing to appreciate why the pansy is such an enduring subject for fiber artists. The flower has five petals arranged in two distinct layers: two smaller petals at the top and three larger petals fanning out across the bottom. This asymmetrical design makes it visually interesting without being architecturally complicated. In crochet terms, it means you are working two slightly different petal shapes — a pleasant variety that keeps the project engaging from start to finish.
Crochet pansies also hold their shape beautifully. Because the petals are worked with increases and decreases rather than relying on stiffening sprays or wire, they have a natural body and a gentle ruffled edge that mimics the real flower. You can make them as simple or as detailed as you like. A single-color pansy in deep purple is stunning. A variegated pansy that shades from pale lavender to warm gold captures something genuinely magical. And once you master the basic construction, you can mix and match colors freely, giving each flower its own personality.
Materials You Will Need
One of the great things about this project is how little you need to get started. Pansies are small flowers, so even partial skeins of yarn from other projects work perfectly here.
Yarn: Any weight of yarn will work, though the finished size will vary accordingly. Worsted weight yarn produces a pansy that is roughly three to four inches across, which is a good size for brooches, headbands, and bag embellishments. Fingering or sport weight yarn creates smaller, more delicate flowers that work beautifully for jewelry and children’s accessories. DK weight sits nicely in the middle and is a great choice if you want flowers for a wreath or garland.
For a traditional pansy look, you will want at least two colors: one for the lower petals (the three larger ones) and one for the upper petals (the two smaller ones). Many pansies in the garden combine deep jewel tones with softer pastels, so do not be afraid to experiment. Classic combinations include deep purple with pale lavender, golden yellow with ivory, burgundy with soft pink, or deep violet with a creamy white center.
If you want to add the characteristic dark “face” markings that make a pansy instantly recognizable, a small amount of dark brown, near-black, or deep navy yarn worked in surface slip stitches or embroidered backstitch is all you need.
Hook: Match your hook to your yarn weight. For worsted weight, a 4.0mm or 4.5mm hook works well. For DK weight, try a 3.5mm. For fingering or sport weight, a 2.5mm or 3.0mm hook gives a nice firm fabric that holds its petal shape.
Other supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends and attaching flowers to your project, scissors, and stitch markers if you find them helpful when working in the round.
Optional but useful: a button or small bead for the center, a brooch pin if you want to wear your pansy, and a little piece of floral wire if you plan to arrange your flowers in a vase.
Abbreviations and Stitch Guide
This pattern uses US crochet terminology.
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble (triple) crochet
dtr — double treble crochet
inc — increase (two stitches in one)
MR — magic ring (also called magic loop or adjustable ring)
If you are not familiar with the magic ring technique, you can substitute a chain-2 ring: chain 2, then work your stitches into the first chain made. The magic ring tends to leave a tidier center hole, but both methods produce good results.
Pattern Notes
Each pansy is made in three separate pieces: the two upper petals worked as one joined unit, and then the three lower petals worked as one joined unit. The two pieces are then stacked and sewn together through their centers, which gives the flower its layered, three-dimensional look.
You will work a foundation ring and then work petal sections directly from it, joining as you go with slip stitches. Take care not to crochet too tightly, especially when working the chains that form the petal bases — loose, relaxed tension gives the petals their natural, open appearance.
At the end of each petal, you will work a slip stitch back to the base ring before beginning the next petal. This is what creates the separation between petals and gives each one its distinct shape.
The Pattern
Part One: Upper Petals (make one)
The two upper petals of a pansy are slightly smaller and more rounded than the lower three. They sit at the back of the flower, giving it depth.
Round 1 — Foundation: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 7 dc into the ring, sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. Pull the tail end to close the ring. You should have 8 dc around the ring plus your joining chain. (8 sts)
Petal 1:
Sl st into the first dc of round 1.
Ch 4, then work the following into the chain space (not into the ring): 2 dc, ch 2, sl st to top of the same chain-4 to create a picot at the petal tip.
Work back down the other side: 2 dc, ch 4.
Sl st into the next dc of the foundation ring. You have now created one small arching petal.
Petal 2:
Sl st into the next dc of the foundation ring.
Repeat the petal instructions above: Ch 4, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st (picot), 2 dc, ch 4.
Sl st into the next dc of the foundation ring.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for assembly. You should have two rounded petals side by side, slightly ruffled at their edges.
Part Two: Lower Petals (make one)
The three lower petals are larger and have a broader, more spreading shape. The very bottom petal (the one at the six o’clock position on the flower) is usually the widest of all, with the two side petals flanking it at slight angles.
Round 1 — Foundation: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc into the ring, sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. Pull the tail to close. (12 sts)
Petal 1 (side petal — left):
Sl st into the first dc.
Ch 5, hdc in the third ch from hook, dc in the next ch, tr in the next ch. (This begins to shape the inner edge of the petal.)
Work into the foundation ring: 2 tr, 1 dtr, ch 2, sl st (picot at petal tip), 1 dtr, 2 tr.
Work back down the outer edge: tr in next ch of original ch-5, dc in next, hdc in next, ch 5.
Sl st back into the next dc of the foundation ring.
Petal 2 (bottom petal — center):
Sl st into the next two dc of the ring (skip one stitch to position this petal at the bottom center).
Ch 6, hdc in third ch from hook, dc in next, tr in next, dtr in next.
Work into the foundation ring: 3 dtr, ch 3, sl st (picot), 3 dtr.
Work back: dtr in next ch, tr in next, dc in next, hdc in next, ch 6.
Sl st back into the next dc of the foundation ring. This petal should be your widest and most dramatic.
Petal 3 (side petal — right):
Sl st into the next two dc (skip one to mirror the placement of the left petal).
Repeat the instructions for Petal 1 exactly.
Sl st back to the foundation ring. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Assembly
Place the upper petal piece on top of the lower petal piece, aligning their centers. The two small upper petals should fan outward at the top, and the three larger lower petals should fan outward and downward beneath them, filling in the spaces the upper petals leave behind.
Thread your yarn needle with one of the long tails. Stitch through both center rings several times, pulling the two layers close together. Knot securely and weave in all ends.
The Center
The center of a pansy is one of its most charming features — a small, bright eye from which darker veining radiates outward. You can suggest this in several ways.
The simplest approach is to sew a small button, bead, or yellow pompom to the center of the assembled flower. A 10mm button in bright yellow or golden orange works beautifully and takes just a minute to attach.
If you prefer a fully crocheted center, work a small piece in yellow or gold: make a magic ring, ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring, sl st to join, and fasten off. This creates a tiny flat disc that sits perfectly in the center of the assembled flower.
For the veining that gives pansies their distinctive “face,” thread a length of very dark yarn (near-black or deep navy) onto your needle and work a few short backstitch lines radiating outward from the center into the upper and lower petals. These do not need to be perfectly uniform — in fact, slightly irregular lines look more natural and true to life.
How to Use Your Crochet Pansies
Once you have made your first pansy (and very likely your second and third and fourth, because they are addictive), the question becomes: what do you do with them?
As a brooch or pin: Sew a brooch pin to the back of your pansy and wear it on a coat lapel, a scarf, or a bag strap. A cluster of three pansies in graduating sizes and different colorways makes a particularly elegant brooch.
On a hat or beret: A single large pansy stitched to the brim of a simple crocheted or knitted hat transforms it from plain to polished. Place it slightly off-center for a more relaxed, artistic look.
On a cardigan or sweater: Stitch pansies along the neckline, cuffs, or button band of a handmade or even a store-bought cardigan. This kind of embellishment is a wonderful way to breathe new life into a plain garment.
In a wreath or garland: Make a dozen or more pansies in a range of coordinating colors and attach them to a wire wreath form, a vine wreath, or a simple crocheted chain. Tuck in some crocheted leaves (a simple elongated oval shape worked in green) between the flowers for a lush, garden-inspired look. These make beautiful seasonal decorations for spring and early summer.
As gift wrap embellishments: A few small pansies tucked into a bow on a wrapped gift instantly elevate the presentation. They are especially lovely on gifts for gardeners, nature lovers, and anyone who appreciates handmade touches.
For hair accessories: Glue or sew a pansy onto a plain hair clip, headband, or elastic. Children especially love these, and they can be made to match specific outfits when you choose your yarn colors carefully.
As part of a crochet bouquet: Combine your pansies with other crocheted flowers — perhaps some small daisies, a few roses, or some simple five-petal flowers — to create a lasting bouquet. Attach each flower to a length of green floral wire, wrap the wire in green floral tape, and arrange them in a small vase. These make thoughtful, lasting gifts for people who love flowers but cannot keep them alive.
Tips for Perfect Pansies
A few small habits make a big difference in how your finished flowers look.
Block your petals. Even a light blocking — just pinning the wet flower to a foam mat and letting it dry — opens up the petals, evens out the stitches, and gives the flower a much more polished, professional look. It takes very little time and is absolutely worth doing.
Don’t pull your yarn too tight. Tension matters enormously with floral crochet. Tight stitches create stiff, cramped petals that curl inward. A slightly looser tension lets the petals breathe and curve naturally.
Try different yarn textures. Cotton yarn gives pansies a clean, crisp look with excellent stitch definition. Bamboo-blend yarn adds a subtle sheen that is lovely for jewelry and accessories. Wool or wool-blend yarn has a soft, painterly quality that looks especially good for decorative bouquets. Experiment and see which you prefer.
Make many at once. Once you have the pattern memorized — which happens faster than you might expect — set up an assembly line. Make all your upper petal pieces in one sitting, all your lower petal pieces in another, then assemble and finish them in a third session. This rhythm makes the process very efficient and is especially helpful if you are making pansies in quantity for a wreath or garland.
Keep a color journal. If you are mixing colors and creating your own pansy colorways, note down which yarn colors you used for each flower. Nothing is more frustrating than making a beautiful combination and then not being able to replicate it.
Yarn Color Inspiration
For those who love specific guidance, here are a few particularly beautiful pansy color combinations to consider:
Deep violet with soft cream upper petals and a bright yellow center is the most classic garden pansy look. Dark aubergine with dusty rose gives something more romantic and vintage in feeling. Golden yellow with ivory and a rust-brown center captures the warmth of late summer pansies. Pale blue with white and a golden center has an almost watercolor quality. Hot pink with a deep magenta center is bold, joyful, and perfect for spring accessories.
Do not be afraid to look at actual pansy photographs for inspiration. A simple image search will reveal an extraordinary range of color combinations — nearly infinite, in fact — and real pansies will give you color ideas that no yarn catalog could.
A Note on Sizing
The finished size of your pansy depends almost entirely on your yarn weight and hook size. As a general guide: fingering weight yarn with a 2.5mm hook produces a pansy roughly 1.5 to 2 inches across. DK weight with a 3.5mm hook produces one roughly 2.5 to 3 inches. Worsted weight with a 4.5mm hook produces one roughly 3.5 to 4 inches. Bulky weight with a 6mm hook produces a dramatic 5 to 6-inch pansy that makes a striking statement piece.
You can also scale the pattern up within a single yarn weight by simply adding more chains and stitches to your petal foundations. Each additional chain stitch in the petal base adds a small amount of curve and length. Play around with it and see what shapes you discover.
Sharing Your Makes
If you use this pattern to make your own crochet pansies, please share your photos — there is a wonderful community of fiber artists online who find enormous joy in seeing how others interpret a pattern. Your color choices, your yarn selection, the way you arrange your flowers: these decisions make each pansy uniquely yours, and that is one of the things that makes handmade crafts so endlessly interesting.
Whether your pansies end up on a winter hat, in a spring wreath, stitched to a child’s cardigan, or arranged in a little ceramic vase on your windowsill, they carry with them all the care and attention you put into making them. That is something no store-bought flower can offer.
Happy crocheting, and enjoy every single stitch
