Free Amigurumi Crochet Patterns: Chrysanthemum Beginner Tutorial (With PDF Guide)
If you’ve been scrolling through crochet communities lately, you’ve probably noticed how wildly popular amigurumi flowers have become. Among all the floral designs out there, the chrysanthemum stands out as one of the most rewarding projects for beginners — it’s structured enough to look impressive, but approachable enough that you won’t spend three evenings pulling out your stitches in frustration. This tutorial walks you through a free amigurumi crochet pattern for a chrysanthemum from start to finish, including everything you need to know to download or print your own PDF guide and keep it close while you work.
Whether you’re new to amigurumi or just new to floral crochet, you’re in exactly the right place.
What Is Amigurumi, and Why Flowers?
Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed animals and figures. The word itself combines the Japanese words for “knitted” and “stuffed doll,” and while the tradition originally focused on cute animals and characters, the techniques translate beautifully to botanical subjects like flowers, succulents, and mushrooms.
The chrysanthemum is a particularly meaningful choice. In Japanese culture, the chrysanthemum — or kiku — is a symbol of longevity, rejuvenation, and the Imperial family. In Chinese tradition, it represents autumn and resilience. No matter where you come from, crocheting a chrysanthemum is a small act of making something enduring with your hands.
Amigurumi flowers also have incredibly practical appeal. They never wilt, they can be made in any color imaginable, they’re perfect for gift toppers, home décor, hair accessories, and baby mobiles. Once you learn this chrysanthemum pattern, you’ll find yourself crocheting a whole bouquet before you know it.
What You’ll Need Before You Begin
Before diving into the pattern itself, let’s make sure you have the right materials gathered. One of the best things about amigurumi projects is that they require very little in terms of supplies, which makes them budget-friendly and great for small spaces.
Yarn: For a beginner-friendly chrysanthemum, choose a worsted weight yarn (size 4) in your preferred flower color. Yellow, white, pink, lavender, and burnt orange are all gorgeous options. You’ll also want a small amount of green yarn for the base and leaves if you want to add them.
Hook: A 3.5mm or 4.0mm crochet hook pairs well with worsted weight yarn for amigurumi, giving you a tighter stitch that holds its shape. If you’re using lighter yarn, size down your hook accordingly.
Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill stuffing is the standard for amigurumi. For a flower like the chrysanthemum, you’ll only need a small amount — just enough to give the center a slight dimensional curve.
Yarn needle: You’ll use this to weave in ends and assemble the layers of your chrysanthemum.
Scissors: A small, sharp pair works best for clean cuts close to your work.
Stitch markers: Optional but genuinely helpful, especially if you’re a beginner. Placing a marker at the start of each round saves you from having to count backward when you lose track.
Optional extras: A button or safety eyes for the flower center, floral wire if you want to make your chrysanthemum into a stem, and a small piece of cardboard if you want to stiffen the base.
Understanding the Basic Stitches Used
This pattern uses a handful of foundational crochet stitches. If you’re completely new to crochet, spend a little time practicing these before you start the chrysanthemum. Even thirty minutes of practice swatching will make the actual project go much more smoothly.
Magic ring (also called magic circle): This is the standard amigurumi starting technique. It lets you create a tight center with no hole, which is important for a flower that you want to look polished.
Single crochet (sc): The workhorse stitch of amigurumi. Almost everything in this pattern is built on single crochet.
Slip stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds and to create some of the petal effects.
Chain stitch (ch): Used to form the base of petal loops.
Half double crochet (hdc) and double crochet (dc): These taller stitches help create the layered petal effect that gives the chrysanthemum its characteristic full, rounded look.
Increase (inc): Two single crochets worked into the same stitch. This is how you expand your circle as you build out the flower base.
Decrease (dec) or invisible decrease: Bringing two stitches together to reduce stitch count. Used primarily in the base.
Free Amigurumi Chrysanthemum Crochet Pattern
The following pattern creates a chrysanthemum approximately 3 to 4 inches in diameter when worked in worsted weight yarn. The finished flower consists of a central disk, two layers of inner petals, and one layer of outer petals, all assembled at the end.
Abbreviations used:
MR = magic ring, ch = chain, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, sl st = slip stitch, inc = increase (2 sc in same st), dec = invisible decrease, st = stitch, rnd = round, rep = repeat
Part One: The Flower Center (Central Disk)
The center of the chrysanthemum is a simple flat circle that gives all the petals something to anchor onto.
Round 1: Start with a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring, pull tight to close. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc — repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc 2, inc — repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: Sc 3, inc — repeat around. (30 sts)
Sl st to join, leave a long tail for sewing. Your flower center should be a flat, even circle with no curling or cupping. If it’s curling upward, your tension may be too tight — try loosening your grip slightly. If it’s ruffling, your tension is too loose — try gripping the yarn a bit more firmly.
At this point, you can add a small button or safety eye to the very center of this disk for a decorative touch, though this is entirely optional.
Part Two: Inner Petals (Make Two Layers)
The chrysanthemum’s beauty comes from its layered petals. You’ll crochet two sets of inner petals separately and then attach them to the disk.
Foundation: Ch 2.
Row 1: Work 5 sc into the second chain from hook. (5 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Inc in each st across. (10 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Sc 1, inc across. (15 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all 15 sts. Fasten off, leave a tail.
This creates one flat petal piece. Make 10 of these for your first inner petal layer, and 10 more for the second inner petal layer.
To shape the petals, you’ll fold each piece lengthwise so the two short edges meet, and use your yarn needle to sew the bottom edge together, creating a slightly cupped, elongated petal shape. Don’t worry about making them perfectly uniform — the slight variations are part of what gives the chrysanthemum its natural, organic look.
Part Three: Outer Petals
The outer petals are slightly longer than the inner petals, which helps give the finished flower its characteristic domed, layered silhouette.
Foundation: Ch 2.
Row 1: Work 5 sc into the second chain from hook. (5 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Inc in each st across. (10 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Sc 1, inc across. (15 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all 15 sts.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Sc 2, inc across. (20 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all 20 sts. Fasten off, leave a tail.
Fold and sew the same way you did with the inner petals. Make 12 of these outer petals.
Part Four: The Green Base
The base gives your chrysanthemum a finished, three-dimensional look and is what you’d attach to a stem if you want to turn this into a corsage or floral arrangement.
Round 1: Using green yarn, start with a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc — repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc 2, inc — repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: Sc 3, inc — repeat around. (30 sts)
Rounds 6–8: Sc around in each st. (30 sts per round)
Before closing, add a small amount of fiberfill stuffing. Then work a round of decreases:
Round 9: Sc 3, dec — repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 10: Sc 2, dec — repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 11: Sc 1, dec — repeat around. (12 sts)
Round 12: Dec around. (6 sts)
Fasten off and sew the remaining hole closed.
Assembly Instructions
Assembling the chrysanthemum is the most satisfying part of the process. It’s the moment your pile of little crocheted pieces transforms into something recognizably beautiful.
Start by laying out all your pieces: the central disk, the 20 inner petals (two layers of 10), the 12 outer petals, and the green base.
Step 1 — Attach outer petals to the disk. Using your yarn needle and a length of matching yarn, sew the 12 outer petals evenly around the outer edge of the central disk. Space them so that each petal is roughly equidistant from its neighbors. The petals should angle slightly outward.
Step 2 — Attach the first inner petal layer. Sew the first set of 10 inner petals in a ring just inside the outer petals. Position them so they sit between and slightly above the outer petals, creating a layered effect.
Step 3 — Attach the second inner petal layer. Sew the second set of 10 inner petals in a ring just inside the first inner petal layer. These should angle upward more steeply, continuing to build the dome shape.
Step 4 — Attach the base. Center the green base behind the assembled flower and sew it on, hiding all the petal attachment points and giving the back of your chrysanthemum a clean, professional finish.
Step 5 — Weave in all ends. Use your yarn needle to weave in any remaining yarn tails so nothing unravels over time.
Give your finished chrysanthemum a gentle squeeze and adjust any petals that have shifted during assembly. A few light folds with your fingers can help train the petals into their final positions.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
A few small habits will make a noticeable difference in how polished your finished chrysanthemum looks.
Consistent tension is probably the single most important factor in amigurumi. If your tension varies a lot from stitch to stitch, your pieces will be uneven and won’t fit together smoothly during assembly. If this is something you struggle with, try practicing the stitch pattern on a separate piece of yarn before starting the actual project.
Blocking your finished petals before assembly can help them lie flat and behave more predictably. Simply dampen them lightly and pin them to a foam mat or towel in the shape you want, then let them dry completely. Even a few hours of blocking makes a real difference.
Color choice matters more than you might think. While a single-color chrysanthemum is classic and beautiful, using a slightly darker shade for the inner petals and a lighter shade for the outer petals creates a natural-looking gradient that really pops. Variegated yarns can also produce stunning effects.
Don’t rush the assembly. It’s tempting to just sew everything together as quickly as possible, but taking a few extra minutes to pin your petals in place before sewing them permanently saves you from having to redo uneven sections.
How to Download Your Free PDF
To keep this pattern handy while you work, you’ll want a printed or saved copy. The PDF version of this chrysanthemum amigurumi pattern includes all the instructions from this post formatted for easy reading, along with a materials checklist, a full abbreviations key, and a stitch count summary so you can double-check your work at each stage without scrolling through the full tutorial.
To download the free PDF, look for the download button or link at the bottom of this post. The file is formatted to print cleanly on standard letter or A4 paper. If you prefer to save it to your phone or tablet, it’s sized to be readable on a small screen as well.
If you share your finished chrysanthemum on Instagram or Pinterest, feel free to tag your post with amigurumi crochet so others in the community can find you — it’s always wonderful to see the different colors and variations people create from the same base pattern.
Ideas for Using Your Finished Chrysanthemum
Once you’ve finished one chrysanthemum, the ideas for what to do with it are genuinely endless. Here are a few favorites from the amigurumi community.
A single large chrysanthemum on a wrapped floral wire stem makes a stunning individual bloom. Group several together in a vase with some crocheted leaves and you have a permanent floral arrangement that requires zero maintenance.
Chrysanthemums made with a smaller hook and lighter yarn make beautiful hair clips or brooch pins. Just sew or hot-glue a hair clip or brooch back onto the green base before attaching it to the flower.
A cluster of small chrysanthemums stitched together creates a gorgeous headband or flower crown, perfect for photos and special occasions.
If you’re making gifts, a crocheted chrysanthemum attached to a wrapped present is far more special than a standard bow, and the recipient can keep it long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Finally, chrysanthemums in warm autumnal colors — burnt orange, deep red, mustard yellow — make wonderful seasonal decorations. A small wreath of crocheted chrysanthemums is a project that will have people stopping to ask where you bought it.
Growing Your Amigurumi Skills
This chrysanthemum is a wonderful launching point for exploring more complex amigurumi floral patterns. Once you’re comfortable with the basic construction here — working in the round, shaping petals, and assembling layered pieces — you’ll find that roses, sunflowers, dahlias, and peonies all use very similar underlying logic.
If you want to go deeper into amigurumi technique, there are some excellent books dedicated specifically to the craft. Ami Ami Animals by Mitsuki Hoshi and the work of designers like Lan Anh Nguyen are particularly well-regarded starting points. YouTube also has a rich library of video tutorials for anyone who finds it easier to watch a stitch being worked than to read a description of it.
Most importantly, don’t be discouraged if your first chrysanthemum doesn’t look exactly like the photos. The nature of handmade work is that it carries the mark of the person who made it, and that’s not a flaw — it’s the whole point. Every piece you finish teaches you something that makes the next one better.
Keep your yarn close, your hook handy, and enjoy the process.
