Crochet Pansy Viola Tricolor Pattern: Step-by-Step Guide to Making Beautiful Floral Motifs

Few flowers capture the imagination quite like the pansy. With its velvety petals, delicate veining, and that unmistakable “face” peering out from the center, the Viola tricolor has inspired artists, poets, and crafters for centuries. Today, we’re bringing this beloved bloom to life in yarn, giving you a complete crochet pansy Viola tricolor pattern that you can use to make standalone motifs, embellishments, appliqués, hair accessories, blanket squares, and so much more.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to practice your stitches or an experienced crocheter ready for a new floral challenge, this guide walks you through everything you need to know — from choosing your yarn colors to finishing the last thread end with confidence.

Why Crochet a Pansy?

The pansy is one of nature’s most expressive flowers. Its wide, overlapping petals and contrasting color markings make it a natural fit for crochet, where you can layer stitches to build dimension and use color changes to capture that distinctive tricolor pattern. The name Viola tricolor reflects the flower’s traditional three-color appearance: typically a deep purple or violet, a lighter lavender or white, and a sunny yellow center.

Crocheted pansies are endlessly versatile. Once you master the basic motif, you can apply it to so many projects. Sew them onto hats, scarves, and sweaters. String them together into a floral garland. Glue them onto hairpins and brooches. Add them as corner embellishments to blankets or dishcloths. Use them to top gift packages or decorate a fabric wreath. The possibilities are genuinely limitless.

Materials You Will Need

Before diving into the pattern, let’s talk about what you’ll need to gather. The beauty of this crochet pansy pattern is that it’s a small motif, so you don’t need large quantities of yarn. This makes it a perfect stash-buster project, great for using up yarn scraps from other projects.

Yarn: You’ll want three colors to capture the authentic Viola tricolor look. Choose a deep purple or violet for the two upper petals (Color A), a medium lavender or white for the two side petals (Color B), and a bright yellow or golden yellow for the center lower petal and the inner ring (Color C). DK weight or worsted weight yarn works beautifully for this pattern, though sport weight will give you a more delicate, refined flower.

Hook: Use a hook appropriate for your yarn weight. For DK weight, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook works well. For worsted weight, try a 4.5mm or 5mm hook. If you want a tighter, denser fabric (which works well for appliqués), go down a hook size from your yarn’s recommendation.

Additional supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers (optional but helpful), and a small amount of fiberfill or cardboard if you want to block your finished pansy.

Understanding the Stitch Abbreviations

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. Here’s a quick reference guide before you begin.

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet (also called triple crochet)
dtr — double treble crochet
sp — space
st — stitch
rep — repeat
yo — yarn over
MR — magic ring (also called magic circle or adjustable ring)

How to Read This Pattern

Each petal in this crochet pansy is worked individually and either joined as you go or seamed together at the end. The flower has five petals total: two larger upper petals, two medium side petals, and one slightly curved lower center petal. This three-group structure is what gives the Viola tricolor its distinctive tricolor appearance.

The center of the flower features a small raised ring worked in yellow, which mimics the golden eye visible in real pansy flowers. The contrast between the deep petal colors and the bright center is what gives this motif so much character.

The Crochet Pansy Pattern

Center Ring (Color C — Yellow)

Start with a magic ring or chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1: Chain 1, work 10 single crochets into the ring, join with a slip stitch to the first sc. (10 sc)

Round 2: Chain 1, work 2 sc in each stitch around, join with a slip stitch to the first sc. (20 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. This is your center medallion.

Upper Petals (Color A — Deep Purple or Violet)

Make 2 of these petals.

Foundation: Chain 11.

Row 1: Starting in the 2nd chain from hook, sc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next 2 ch, dc in the next 2 ch, tr in the next 2 ch, dtr in the last ch. Do not turn. (9 sts)

Row 2 (working back along the opposite side of the foundation chain): Working into the bottom loops of your foundation chain, dtr in the first ch, tr in the next 2 ch, dc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next 2 ch, sc in the next 2 ch. (9 sts)

Join both sides at the base with a slip stitch to close the bottom of the petal.

Row 3 (adding the petal border): Chain 1, work sc evenly around the entire edge of the petal. When you reach the top (the dtr point), work 3 sc into the tip stitch to create a rounded top. Join with a slip stitch.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for assembly.

These two upper petals are wider and more dramatic. In real pansies, they tend to face slightly backward and have the deepest color, which is why they’re worked in your darkest color.

Side Petals (Color B — Lavender or White)

Make 2 of these petals.

Foundation: Chain 9.

Row 1: Starting in the 2nd chain from hook, sc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next 2 ch, tr in the next ch, dtr in the last ch. Do not turn. (8 sts)

Row 2 (working back along the opposite side of the foundation chain): dtr in the first ch, tr in the next ch, dc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next ch, sc in the next 2 ch. (8 sts)

Join both sides at the base with a slip stitch.

Row 3: Chain 1, sc evenly around the petal edge. Work 3 sc into the tip to round the top. Join with a slip stitch.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

These side petals sit just below the upper pair, fanning out to either side of the center. They’re slightly smaller, which is true to the actual flower’s anatomy.

Lower Center Petal (Color C — Yellow, or Color B — Lavender/White with yellow veining)

Make 1 of this petal.

Foundation: Chain 10.

Row 1: Starting in the 2nd chain from hook, sc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next 2 ch, dc in the next 2 ch, tr in the next ch, dtr in the last ch. Do not turn. (9 sts)

Row 2 (working back along the opposite side of the foundation chain): dtr in the first ch, tr in the next ch, dc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next 2 ch, sc in the next 2 ch. (9 sts)

Join both sides at the base with a slip stitch.

Row 3: Chain 1, sc evenly around the petal edge. Work 3 sc into the dtr tip. Join with a slip stitch.

For the traditional Viola tricolor look, this bottom petal is often made with the same light color as your side petals, but with lines of embroidery or surface slip stitches added in a contrasting deep purple or black to mimic the characteristic “whisker” markings of the real flower.

To add the whisker markings: Thread a yarn needle with a small length of dark purple or black yarn. Work 3 to 4 straight stitches radiating outward from the base of the petal toward the rounded top, spacing them evenly. These stitches replicate the natural veining that gives pansies their characteristic “face.”

Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Assembling Your Crochet Pansy

Now comes the fun part — putting everything together. Lay your petals out on a flat surface first to get a sense of the arrangement before committing to sewing.

Position the two upper petals at the top, overlapping very slightly at the center. Place the two side petals just below them, angled outward. Position the lower petal at the bottom center, pointing downward.

Using your yarn needle and the long tails you left on each piece, sew the petals to one another at the base, stitching through the base stitches of adjacent petals to hold them together. Take your time here; the neatness of this seam determines how polished your finished flower looks.

Once all five petals are joined, center the yellow medallion over the middle of the flower and sew it down firmly. The medallion will hide the join points where the petals meet and give you that gorgeous yellow eye at the heart of the pansy.

Weave in all your remaining ends securely. If your pansy feels a little floppy, a light blocking with steam or a spritz of water and pinning flat will work wonders.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Tension matters: Crochet petals have a natural tendency to curl. If your petals are curling excessively, try going up one hook size or loosening your tension slightly. Blocking will also help significantly.

Color choices: Don’t feel bound by the traditional purple and yellow combination. Pansies grow in nearly every color imaginable — deep burgundy, bright orange, creamy white, rich blue-black, soft pink. Play with your stash and make a rainbow collection.

Yarn type: Smooth yarns will show your stitch definition most clearly, which is ideal if you want the texture of each petal to really stand out. Slightly fuzzy or brushed yarns can give a softer, more painterly look that’s equally beautiful but hides the individual stitches more.

Adding a backing: For brooches or hair clips, cut a small circle of felt in a coordinating color and hand-sew it to the back of your finished pansy before attaching the hardware. This gives the piece a professional finish and protects the join seams.

Scale adjustments: To make a larger pansy, simply use bulkier yarn and a bigger hook, or add additional rows to each petal. To make a tiny, delicate version, use fingering weight yarn and a 2mm or 2.5mm hook.

Project Ideas Using Your Crocheted Pansies

Once you’ve made your first pansy (or your first dozen), the ideas for using them are practically endless.

A pansy hair clip is one of the quickest, most satisfying applications. Sew your finished motif onto a plain alligator clip or barrette base with a few hand stitches and a felt backing, and you have a charming hair accessory in under an hour.

A pansy brooch requires a pin back from any craft store. Again, back your flower with felt, attach the pin bar, and you have a wearable piece of floral art that’s completely handmade.

Pansy appliqués on clothing are incredibly popular. Sew a cluster of three or five pansies onto the collar of a sweater, the pocket of a cardigan, or the cuff of a denim jacket for a whimsical botanical look. Use a matching thread and a whipstitch or an invisible appliqué stitch to attach them securely.

A pansy garland or bunting makes a wonderful home decoration. Make 15 to 20 pansies in coordinating colors, thread them onto a length of twine spaced several inches apart, and hang the garland across a mantle, bookshelf, or window.

Pansy embellished blanket squares are beautiful in an heirloom-style throw or baby blanket. Crochet plain granny squares in cream or white and sew a finished pansy motif to the center of each square before joining them.

Pansy gift toppers are a lovely, eco-friendly alternative to bows. Tuck one behind the ribbon on a wrapped gift, and the recipient can keep the little flower long after the wrapping is recycled.

Caring for Your Crocheted Pansies

If you’ve made your pansies from acrylic yarn, they’re machine washable on a gentle cycle in a laundry mesh bag and can be laid flat to dry. Cotton yarn pieces can also generally be machine washed gently. For wool or delicate yarn blends, hand wash in cool water with a gentle soap, squeeze (don’t wring) out excess water, and reshape while damp before drying flat.

If your pansy is attached to a garment, follow the most conservative care instructions — usually hand wash and lay flat to dry. Brooches and hair accessories with metal findings should be spot cleaned rather than submerged to prevent rust.

Stiffening Your Crochet Pansies

If you want your pansies to hold a particular shape — especially useful for gift toppers, decorations, or display pieces — you can stiffen them easily at home.

Mix equal parts white craft glue and water in a small bowl. Submerge your finished pansy briefly, squeeze out the excess gently, and use pins on a foam blocking mat to shape each petal exactly as you want it. Allow to dry completely, which usually takes 12 to 24 hours. The result is a firm, shape-retaining flower that holds its form beautifully.

Liquid starch from the laundry aisle works similarly and gives a slightly crisper finish. A commercial fabric stiffener spray is another option and is especially convenient for pieces you don’t want to wet thoroughly.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Pattern

Can a beginner make this pansy? The individual petals use basic stitches, and while there are several pieces to assemble, each component is small and manageable. A confident beginner who is comfortable with dc and tr stitches can absolutely make this pattern. The assembly step takes a little patience, but the result is very rewarding.

How long does one pansy take to make? Once you’re comfortable with the pattern, a single pansy takes roughly one to two hours from start to finish, including weaving in ends. Your first one might take a little longer as you work through the steps, but subsequent pansies go much faster.

Can I sell items made from this pattern? Yes. If you use this pattern to make finished items, you are welcome to sell those finished products. Attribution is always appreciated.

What is the approximate finished size? Using DK weight yarn and a 4mm hook, the finished pansy measures approximately 3 to 3.5 inches across. Using worsted weight, it comes out closer to 4 to 4.5 inches. Adjusting your yarn weight and hook size will change the final dimensions proportionally.

Final Thoughts

The crochet pansy Viola tricolor pattern is one of those projects that rewards you immediately. From the moment you hold that first completed motif in your hand, you’ll understand why floral crochet has captivated crafters for generations. There’s something genuinely satisfying about translating a living flower into yarn — capturing its shape, its color, its personality — and producing something beautiful and lasting.

Make one pansy, and you’ll likely find yourself making twenty. They’re small enough to be portable, fast enough to be satisfying, and beautiful enough to use in almost every creative context you can imagine. Once you have the basic pattern memorized, you can crochet pansies while watching a film, waiting in a queue, or sitting in the garden surrounded by the very flowers that inspired them.

Happy crocheting, and may your yarn stash always hold exactly the shade of purple you need.