10+ Knitted Flower Free Patterns to Brighten Your Next Project

There is something undeniably satisfying about knitting a flower. Unlike a sweater or a hat, a flower comes together quickly, rewards even beginners with a charming finished object, and opens up a world of possibilities for embellishment and decoration. Whether you want to dress up a plain tote bag, add a boutonniere to a lapel, create a hair clip for a little girl, or simply make a cheerful garland to hang above a window, knitted flowers are the perfect small project. Best of all, many of the most beautiful patterns are completely free.

This collection brings together more than ten free knitted flower patterns, ranging from simple five-petal blooms that a new knitter can finish in an afternoon to intricate layered roses that will challenge and delight those with more experience. Each pattern section describes the finished look, the skills involved, the materials you will need, and any tips that will help you get the best result. By the end, you will have a full library of floral designs to draw from, plus plenty of ideas for putting your finished flowers to use.

Why Knitted Flowers Are Worth Your Time

Before diving into the patterns themselves, it is worth pausing to consider why knitted flowers have remained popular for generations. The answer lies partly in their versatility. A knitted flower is not a finished object in the traditional sense — it is a building block. You can attach one flower to another project or display it on its own. You can work in any fiber, from rustic wool to silky cotton to shiny metallic yarn, and the same basic pattern will read entirely differently depending on your material choice.

Knitted flowers are also an excellent way to use up yarn scraps. If you have been knitting for any length of time, you almost certainly have a bin or basket of small leftover balls and partial skeins. Flowers rarely require more than a few yards of yarn, which means your scrap pile is essentially a ready-made palette. Combine multiple colors in a single flower for an ombre effect, or work each petal in a contrasting shade for something more graphic and modern.

For newer knitters, flowers offer a low-stakes opportunity to practice techniques that will serve you well in larger projects. You will encounter increases and decreases, basic stitch patterns, and sometimes short rows or picking up stitches, all within the span of a small, forgiving object where a slightly uneven tension is barely noticeable and easily disguised by blocking or shaping.

A Few Things to Know Before You Begin

Most of the patterns in this collection use standard knitting abbreviations. If you are new to knitting or returning after a long break, here is a quick reference to the most common terms you will encounter.

CO means cast on. K means knit, and P means purl. K2tog is knit two stitches together, a basic right-leaning decrease. SSK is slip, slip, knit, a left-leaning decrease. KFB means knit into the front and back of the same stitch, which creates an increase. YO is a yarn over, which creates both a new stitch and an eyelet hole. M1 is make one, another increase method. The abbreviation rep means repeat, and pm means place marker.

Most knitted flowers are worked flat and then shaped three-dimensionally after the fact, either by sewing the cast-on or bind-off tail through the base of the petals to gather them into a circle, or by stuffing and seaming. A few are worked in the round from the beginning. Neither approach is inherently superior; they simply produce slightly different textures and structures.

Pattern 1: Simple Five-Petal Flower

This is the classic starting point for almost every knitter who ventures into floral territory. The five-petal flower is worked flat in a single strip. You cast on a small number of stitches, work a short sequence of increases to create a rounded petal shape, then decrease back down, and repeat five times across the strip. When the strip is complete, you thread the tail through the cast-on stitches and pull to gather everything into a circle, with each segment of your strip forming one petal.

For this pattern you will need roughly 15 to 20 yards of worsted-weight yarn, a pair of US size 7 or 8 needles (4.5 to 5mm), and a tapestry needle for finishing. Use any smooth yarn that will show your stitch definition clearly — a wool or wool-blend in a bright color works beautifully here.

Cast on 3 stitches. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: KFB, knit to last stitch, KFB — you will have 5 stitches. Rows 3 through 7: Knit every row. Row 8: K2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog — back to 3 stitches. Repeat these 8 rows four more times for a total of five petals. Bind off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail onto your tapestry needle, run it through each of the cast-on stitches, and pull tight to form the center of the flower. Secure the tail and use it to sew a button or bead to the center.

This flower takes about twenty minutes once you have the rhythm, and the finished bloom measures roughly 2.5 inches across in worsted weight.

Pattern 2: Layered Rose

A layered rose looks impressively complex but is actually built from the same logic as the simple five-petal flower: you knit a long strip, then coil and stitch it into a spiral. The secret is working the strip on very few stitches and using a combination of increases and decreases to create a gently ruffled edge that mimics the curved surface of a real rose petal.

You will need about 30 yards of DK-weight yarn in a rose color, US size 6 needles (4mm), and a tapestry needle. A slightly lighter yarn and smaller needles give this flower a more delicate, realistic look than bulkier options.

Cast on 5 stitches. Row 1 (RS): K1, KFB, K1, KFB, K1 — 7 stitches. Row 2 (WS): Purl. Row 3: K1, KFB, K3, KFB, K1 — 9 stitches. Row 4: Purl. Row 5: Knit. Row 6: Purl. Row 7: K1, K2tog, K3, SSK, K1 — 7 stitches. Row 8: Purl. Row 9: K1, K2tog, K1, SSK, K1 — 5 stitches. Row 10: Purl. Repeat these 10 rows until your strip measures approximately 12 inches. Bind off and leave a long tail. Coil the strip loosely into a spiral, with the wider central rows on the outside and the narrower sections forming the tight inner bud. Sew through all layers from the bottom to secure the shape.

The finished rose sits about 2 inches across and looks stunning in variegated or hand-dyed yarn where the color changes create the illusion of shading across the petals.

Pattern 3: Daisy with Long Petals

The daisy is the cheerful, sun-loving counterpart to the more formal rose. This version features eight elongated petals worked individually and then joined at the center. Each petal is a simple narrow leaf shape, and the joining process is straightforward: thread a tail through the base of each petal and pull everything together, then add a contrasting yellow center to complete the look.

You will need about 20 yards of white or cream yarn in DK weight, a small amount of yellow yarn for the center, US size 5 needles (3.75mm), and a tapestry needle. You will also want a yellow button or a small pom-pom if you prefer a raised textured center.

For each petal, cast on 3 stitches. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: KFB, K1, KFB — 5 stitches. Rows 3 through 9: Knit. Row 10: K2tog, K1, K2tog — 3 stitches. Row 11: S1, K2tog, PSSO — 1 stitch. Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail. Make 8 petals total. Arrange them in a circle with their base ends meeting at the center and stitch them together using the tails. Sew a yellow button or a small circle of yellow knitting to the center, covering the joining stitches.

This daisy measures about 4 inches from tip to tip and is large enough to use as a brooch, a hair clip accent, or a decorative element on a baby blanket.

Pattern 4: Small Forget-Me-Not Cluster

Forget-me-nots are tiny and delicate, and a single knitted version would look lost on its own — but group three, five, or seven of them together on a short stem of green yarn and you have an arrangement that looks absolutely charming on a wrapped gift or pinned to a hat.

Each individual forget-me-not requires only about 3 yards of yarn, so this is an ideal pattern for using the very smallest scraps. Use fingering-weight yarn and US size 1 or 2 needles (2.25 to 2.75mm) for the most realistic scale.

Cast on 25 stitches. Row 1: K1, bind off 4 stitches; repeat from to end — 5 stitches remain. Cut yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 5 stitches, pull tight to gather, and knot to secure. The five small loops created by the bind-off become the petals, and the gathered center becomes the flower’s heart. Thread a contrasting yellow tail through the center and take a single stitch to suggest a stamen.

Make as many as you like and arrange them in clusters, tucking a few leaves of green felt or knitted i-cord among them for a more naturalistic effect.

Pattern 5: Textured Chrysanthemum

The chrysanthemum pattern relies on a clever use of a loop stitch to create the spiky, layered texture that makes this flower so recognizable. Loop stitch involves wrapping the yarn around your finger during a knit stitch to create a long hanging loop, and while it requires a little practice, the effect is extraordinary.

You will need about 25 yards of worsted-weight yarn, US size 7 needles, a tapestry needle, and a small piece of cardboard for blocking. A yarn with a slight sheen — like an acrylic blend or a mercerized cotton — catches the light beautifully in loop stitch.

Cast on 40 stitches. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: *Loop stitch in each stitch; repeat to end. Row 3: Knit. Row 4: Loop stitch to end. Repeat rows 1 through 4 twice more for a total of 6 rows of loops. Bind off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the cast-on row and pull to gather. Coil the strip into a circle, sewing through the base as you go, and fluff the loops outward to create the full, rounded shape of the bloom.

This chrysanthemum measures about 3 inches across and is impressive enough to wear as a corsage.

Pattern 6: Lily with Pointed Petals

The lily pattern produces a more elegant, elongated bloom with three or six pointed petals and a graceful cup shape. It is worked in the round using a small set of double-pointed needles or a short circular needle, which gives it a natural three-dimensional quality without any additional shaping after the fact.

You will need about 25 yards of DK-weight yarn in white, orange, cream, or any color you associate with lilies, US size 5 double-pointed needles, and a tapestry needle. A few yards of green yarn or wire-reinforced floral stem can be added to create a stem if you wish to use the finished lily in an arrangement.

Cast on 6 stitches and join to work in the round. Round 1: KFB in each stitch — 12 stitches. Round 2: Knit. Round 3: K1, KFB; repeat from — 18 stitches. Rounds 4 through 6: Knit. Round 7: K3, YO; repeat from — 24 stitches. Round 8: Knit. Round 9: K4, K2tog; repeat from — 20 stitches. Round 10: Knit. Round 11: K1, K2tog, K1; repeat from — 15 stitches. Round 12: K2tog, K1; repeat from — 10 stitches. Round 13: K2tog; repeat from — 5 stitches. Thread tail through remaining stitches and pull to close. Tease the petals outward slightly with your fingers and block lightly to encourage the cup shape.

Pattern 7: Sunflower

The sunflower is a showstopper. Worked in golden yellow with a contrasting dark brown or black center, this flower makes an immediate visual impact and looks spectacular on tote bags, cushion covers, or framed as textile art.

You will need approximately 30 yards of golden yellow worsted-weight yarn, 10 yards of dark brown or black yarn, US size 7 needles, a tapestry needle, and a small amount of fiberfill or a button for the center.

Work exactly as you would for the daisy pattern above, but make 12 to 14 petals instead of 8, and work each petal two rows longer before beginning the decreases. For the center, cast on 8 stitches in dark yarn and work in seed stitch (alternating K1, P1 on every row, staggered on alternating rows) for 8 rows. Bind off. Gather the seed stitch square slightly, stuff lightly with fiberfill, and sew it to the center of your petal arrangement. The textured seed stitch mimics the dense, bumpy center of a real sunflower.

Pattern 8: Pansy

Pansies are distinctive because their petals are not all the same size: two smaller upper petals and three larger lower ones, often in two contrasting colors with a darker “face” at the center. This pattern captures that asymmetry beautifully.

You will need about 15 yards each of two contrasting colors in DK weight, US size 5 needles, a tapestry needle, and a small piece of dark yarn for the center detail.

For the two small upper petals, cast on 3 stitches. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: KFB, K1, KFB — 5 stitches. Rows 3 through 5: Knit. Row 6: K2tog, K1, K2tog — 3 stitches. Row 7: S1, K2tog, PSSO — 1 stitch. Fasten off. Make two in your first color.

For the three lower petals, cast on 3 stitches. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: KFB, K1, KFB — 5 stitches. Row 3: KFB, K3, KFB — 7 stitches. Rows 4 through 7: Knit. Row 8: K2tog, K3, K2tog — 5 stitches. Row 9: K2tog, K1, K2tog — 3 stitches. Row 10: S1, K2tog, PSSO — 1 stitch. Fasten off. Make three in your second color.

Arrange the five petals with the two small ones at the top and the three larger ones at the bottom and sides. Stitch them together at their bases. Using your dark yarn and a tapestry needle, embroider three or four radiating lines from the center outward onto the lower petals to suggest the pansy’s characteristic “face.”

Pattern 9: Calla Lily

The calla lily is perhaps the most architecturally dramatic flower in this collection. It consists of a single rolled petal, a long curving spadix, and an elegant simplicity that sets it apart from more fussy designs. It works beautifully in white, cream, or any soft solid color.

You will need about 20 yards of DK or light worsted yarn, US size 5 needles, a tapestry needle, and a short length of stiff wire or a pipe cleaner if you want to create a natural curving shape for the flower.

Cast on 20 stitches. Work in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) for 20