Day 13: Gardenia aka Jasmine 🤍 — Crochet Tutorial Pattern for the Most Iconic Flower in Indian Culture

There is something quietly magical about a gardenia. Before you even see one, you smell it — that heavy, sweet, almost milky fragrance that seems to fill an entire room with just a single bloom. In India, this flower is woven into the fabric of everyday life in a way that few other flowers are. It adorns hair braids on summer mornings, floats in copper bowls of water near temple altarpieces, gets threaded into garlands sold outside train stations, and perfumes the air at weddings so thoroughly that decades later, a single whiff can send you right back to the moment.

When we talk about jasmine and gardenia in the Indian context, we are talking about more than a plant. We are talking about memory, ritual, femininity, devotion, and beauty all rolled into small white petals. So when Prerna Kataria introduced Day 13 of her Crochet Flower Series challenge with this exact flower — and captioned it with the now-legendary line “You know you can even smell the picture” — she captured something that goes far beyond the craft. She captured a feeling.

And if you have been following along with this crochet flower series, you already know how special each installment has been. But this one? This one hits different.

Why the Gardenia and Jasmine Hold Such a Special Place in Indian Aesthetics

Before we get into the crochet pattern and tutorial, let us take a moment to understand why this flower deserves its own dedicated day in the series — and why Prerna chose to pair the names gardenia and jasmine together as if they are the same flower.

In botanical terms, gardenias and jasmines are actually different plants. Gardenias belong to the Rubiaceae family, while jasmine belongs to the Oleaceae family. But in common Indian usage, especially across Hindi-speaking regions, the line between what gets called “mogra,” “chameli,” “juhi,” and “gardenia” often blurs beautifully. What matters culturally is not the taxonomy. What matters is the white petalled, intensely fragrant flower that Indian women have been tucking into their hair for centuries.

Mogra, which is the most beloved form of jasmine in India, is practically synonymous with Indian summer. Street vendors start selling strings of it by April, and the scent lingers everywhere — on clothes, in hair, in the folds of dupattas. It is the flower Satyajit Ray made iconic in his films. It is the flower that classical dancers wear in elaborate hair arrangements. It is the flower offered to Ganesha, to Vishnu, to Lakshmi.

The gardenia, with its thicker, creamier petals and similarly intoxicating scent, occupies a slightly more elevated aesthetic space — often found in flower arrangements meant to evoke sophistication and grace. Together, these two flowers represent a certain kind of Indian beauty ideal: pure, fragrant, effortlessly elegant, and deeply rooted in tradition.

When you crochet a gardenia or jasmine, you are not just making a decorative object. You are recreating something that carries centuries of cultural meaning. That is no small thing.

Prerna Kataria’s Crochet Flower Series: What It Is and Why You Should Be Following It

If you are new to this series, here is a quick introduction. Prerna Kataria has been running a Crochet Flower Series challenge that takes a new flower each day and walks followers through how to recreate it in yarn. The series is a celebration of both craftsmanship and the natural world, and each entry is thoughtfully curated to reflect not just the aesthetics of the flower but also its cultural significance.

Day 13 is dedicated to the Gardenia, also referred to as Jasmine, and it is the flower that perhaps resonates most deeply with the Indian audience following the challenge. The post has already gathered 22 comments and counting — a testament to how much this particular entry has moved people.

What makes Prerna’s approach so effective is that she does not just show you the finished product and leave you guessing. She provides a tutorial pattern — actual crochet instructions — so that you can make this flower yourself. This is the kind of generous, community-minded sharing that makes the fiber arts world so genuinely wonderful.

Understanding the Aesthetic of the Crochet Gardenia

Before you pick up your hook and yarn, it helps to look closely at what makes a gardenia or jasmine bloom so distinctive, because replicating it in crochet requires you to understand its structure.

A gardenia has multiple layers of petals arranged in a spiral formation. The innermost petals are tightly wound, creating a pointed center, while the outer petals open wide and have a slightly cupped, rounded shape. The whole flower is brilliantly white — not a stark, cold white, but a warm, almost creamy white that seems to glow softly from within.

Jasmine flowers, by contrast, are smaller and simpler, typically with five to eight narrow petals radiating from a central tube. They cluster in groups, which is what makes them ideal for garland-making. Their beauty is in their abundance — one flower is lovely, a hundred flowers together are intoxicating.

In Prerna’s crochet pattern, these characteristics are translated into yarn with remarkable fidelity. The dimensional layering of petals, the cupped shape, the central detail — all of it is captured in a way that makes the finished crochet flower genuinely evocative of the real thing. People are not exaggerating when they say they can almost smell it.

Materials You Will Need for the Crochet Gardenia or Jasmine

To make your own crochet gardenia or jasmine following Prerna’s tutorial approach, you will want to gather the following supplies before you begin.

For yarn, you will want a cotton yarn in white or cream. Cotton is ideal for this project because it gives the petals a slightly crisp structure that mimics the waxy texture of real gardenia petals. A DK weight or light worsted weight works well. If you want a softer, more romantic look, a slightly fuzzy yarn can add a beautiful ethereal quality to the finished flower.

For your hook, choose a size that pairs well with your yarn weight. For DK cotton, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook is typically a good match. The key is to crochet the petals with moderate tension — not so tight that they curl in rigidly, and not so loose that they droop without shape.

You will also want a yarn needle for weaving in ends and assembling the flower layers, a pair of scissors, and optionally some stitch markers to help you keep track of rounds if you are a beginner. If you intend to use your finished flower as a brooch, hair accessory, or embellishment on a bag, you may also want a pin back or hair clip and some fabric glue or a needle and thread for attachment.

The Tutorial Pattern: Step by Step

The following is a detailed crochet pattern for making a layered gardenia or jasmine flower in the style of Prerna’s Day 13 design. This pattern is written for those with basic to intermediate crochet experience, though beginners who are comfortable working in the round should be able to follow along with a little patience.

Abbreviations used: ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, tr = treble crochet, hdc = half double crochet, MR = magic ring, sp = space, rep = repeat.

Layer One — The Center:

Start with a magic ring. Chain 1, then work 6 single crochets into the ring. Pull the ring closed and slip stitch to the first single crochet to join. You now have a small tight circle of 6 stitches. This forms the tight inner bud at the center of the flower.

Layer Two — Inner Petals:

Chain 1, then work 2 single crochets into each stitch around. You will have 12 stitches. Now work the first round of petals: for each of the 12 stitches, work a petal as follows — slip stitch into the stitch, chain 4, work 3 double crochets into the same stitch, chain 4, slip stitch into the same stitch. This creates a small pointed petal. Repeat around all 12 stitches. Slip stitch to close the round and fasten off, leaving a tail for assembly.

Layer Three — Middle Petals:

Make a new magic ring. Chain 1, work 8 single crochets into the ring. Join with a slip stitch. Now work a round of increases: chain 1, work 2 single crochets into each stitch around. You will have 16 stitches. For the petal round, work as follows for each stitch: slip stitch into stitch, chain 5, work 1 treble crochet and 2 double crochets into the same stitch, chain 5, slip stitch back into the stitch. This creates a slightly wider, more open petal. Repeat around all 16 stitches. Fasten off with a tail.

Layer Four — Outer Petals:

This is the largest and most dramatic layer, creating the wide, cupped outer petals that give the gardenia its characteristic full appearance. Make a magic ring. Chain 1, work 10 single crochets into the ring. Join. Round of increases: work 2 stitches into each stitch for a total of 20 stitches. Petal round: for each group of 4 stitches, work one large petal as follows — slip stitch into the first stitch, chain 6, work 2 treble crochets and 3 double crochets and 2 treble crochets into the space, chain 6, slip stitch into the fourth stitch. Repeat this 5 times around to create 5 large outer petals. Fasten off with a tail.

Assembly:

Stack your three layers with the smallest circle on top. Use your yarn needle and tail to stitch through all three layers at the center, pulling them together snugly. Adjust the petals of each layer so they are offset — that is, the petals of each layer fill in the gaps between the petals of the layer above, creating that beautifully full, multi-directional gardenia look. Secure everything with a few anchor stitches at the back and weave in all ends.

Optionally, you can use a small yellow or gold yarn to add a few French knots or chain stitches at the very center to mimic the stamens, adding a lifelike finishing detail.

Ways to Use Your Crochet Gardenia or Jasmine

One of the most delightful things about this particular crochet flower is how many ways it can be used. Unlike some decorative crochet projects that are beautiful but impractical, the crochet gardenia is remarkably versatile.

The most culturally resonant use, given the flower’s Indian heritage, is as a hair accessory. Pin one onto a bobby pin or hair clip and wear it tucked into a braid or bun. It creates a look that is simultaneously traditional and modern — a nod to the mogra flowers that generations of Indian women have worn in their hair, but rendered in a medium that will not wilt by afternoon.

You can also use your crochet gardenias as embellishments on garments. Sewing one onto the collar of a white kurta, the hem of a dupatta, or the front of a denim jacket gives any piece a handmade, artisanal quality that feels genuinely special. A cluster of small jasmine-style flowers along a neckline can look absolutely stunning.

For home décor, these flowers look beautiful gathered in a small basket or pinned to a wreath. A garland of crochet jasmines strung together with a white or green thread makes an elegant wall hanging or a frame decoration that evokes festive Indian aesthetics without any of the perishability of the real thing.

They also make beautiful gifts. A handmade crochet gardenia brooch tucked into a gift box alongside a handwritten note is the kind of gesture that people keep and treasure. Given how much meaning this flower carries in Indian culture, gifting one in crochet form is a way of honoring that tradition while adding a personal, crafted dimension.

Why Crochet Flowers Like This Matter

There is a broader conversation worth having here about why projects like Prerna’s Crochet Flower Series matter beyond their obvious aesthetic appeal.

Crochet, like many fiber arts, has historically been dismissed as a domestic hobby — the kind of thing grandmothers do to pass the time. But in recent years, there has been a powerful cultural reappraisal of these crafts, led largely by creators who refuse to accept the hierarchy that places gallery art above handmade textile work. Prerna Kataria’s series is part of this movement.

By taking flowers from Indian cultural traditions — flowers that carry real historical and ritual significance — and recreating them in crochet, she is doing something quite profound. She is insisting that craft can be a vehicle for cultural memory, that a ball of white cotton yarn in the right hands can carry the same weight as a temple painting or a classical raga. She is also making that tradition accessible to people who want to engage with it but perhaps do not have access to the real flowers, or who simply want to preserve the beauty of something that would otherwise fade.

The 22 comments on Day 13’s post are filled with people who felt that. You can sense in the responses the particular quality of recognition that comes when someone names something you have always felt but never quite articulated. “You know you can even smell the picture” is a caption that became a small piece of poetry.

Tips for Getting Your Crochet Gardenia Just Right

If you try this pattern and want to make sure your finished flower looks as polished as Prerna’s, here are a few suggestions worth keeping in mind.

Block your finished layers lightly before assembly. A quick spritz with water and gentle reshaping while wet will help the petals open up naturally and hold their cupped shape much more elegantly than unblocked petals.

Do not be afraid to use starch spray for a little extra structure, especially on the outer petal layer. A very light application of fabric starch can give the petals that slightly waxy, substantial look that real gardenia petals have.

Pay attention to your tension on the petal chains. The chain lengths at the base of each petal determine how much the petal fans out. If your chains are too tight, the petals will pinch rather than open. Work them with a slightly relaxed hand.

Finally, when assembling the layers, take your time. The difference between a flower that looks a bit flat and shapeless and one that looks fully dimensional often comes down to how carefully you have offset and adjusted the layers during assembly. Spend five extra minutes here and the result will be noticeably more beautiful.

Join the Crochet Flower Series

If Day 13’s Gardenia aka Jasmine has drawn you in, you will want to follow along with the full Crochet Flower Series challenge. Each day brings a new flower, a new pattern, and a new cultural and aesthetic story. Whether you are an experienced crocheter looking for your next project or a beginner who has been wanting a reason to pick up a hook, this series has something to offer you.

Follow Prerna Kataria on Facebook to stay up to date with new daily releases, join the conversation in the comments, and share your own makes when you complete them. There is a whole community of makers working through these patterns together, and seeing others’ interpretations of the same flower is endlessly inspiring.

The gardenia — that impossibly fragrant, impossibly beautiful bloom — deserves to be made by as many hands as possible. So pick up your white yarn, take a breath (yes, you really almost can smell the picture), and make something lovely.