5 Easy Free Knitted Sunflower Patterns | The Knit Crew
Sunflowers are sunny, cheerful, and endlessly versatile. They brighten up a coffee mug, a tote bag, a nursery wall, or a cozy winter scarf. If you’re looking for quick, beginner-friendly projects that introduce you to a few classic knitting techniques while creating something you’ll be excited to use or gift, sunflowers are a perfect fit. In this post from The Knit Crew, you’ll find five easy, free knitted sunflower patterns that are simple to customize and satisfying to finish. Each pattern focuses on accessible techniques like garter stitch, simple increases and decreases, and basic seaming, so you can work through them in an afternoon or over a weekend.
Before we dive into the patterns, a quick note on yarn and gauges. Sunflowers come alive with bright, saturated colors, and a little contrast goes a long way. You’ll typically see yellow petals with a dark brown center, though you can swap in oranges, golds, and greens for variety or to suit a project. For consistency across projects, I recommend worsted weight yarn (often labeled 4 medium) in colors you love, with a pair of the same-sized needles (usually US size 7 to 8 for worsted weight). If you prefer sport weight or DK, you’ll need to adjust needle size and stitch counts accordingly to maintain the same finished size.
You’ll also find a short glossary of common stitches and abbreviations at the end of the post. If you’re new to knitting, don’t worry—each pattern includes notes to help you adapt if your gauge differs or if you want to adjust the finished size.
Pattern 1: Sunflower Coaster – A Quick, Playful Start to Your Sunflower Collection
Finished size: about 4 inches across
Materials:
– Worsted weight yarn in yellow (petals) and brown (center)
– US size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles
– 6- to 8-inch circular needle or double-point needles for the center if you prefer knitting in the round
– Tapestry needle for sewing
– Small amount of stuffing optional for a padded center
Gauge:
– Not critical for this quick coaster, but aim for about 4 stitches per row in stockinette on 4.5 mm needles.
Pattern notes:
– The coaster is built as a central brown disk with yellow petals attached around the edge. The petals are simple elongated shapes that are easy to knit and sew on.
– If you’d like to avoid sewing, you can knit the petals directly onto the disk by attaching them as you go, but for beginner ease, sewing on petals works well.
Instructions:
1) Brown center: Cast on 10 stitches in brown. Work in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next) for about 16 rows. Bind off leaving a long tail for sewing.
2) Petals (make 8): With yellow, cast on 3 stitches. Knit 2 rounds. Increase to 4 stitches on the next row (increase by knitting in the front and back of the first stitch and then the last stitch). Continue increasing on every other row until you have 7 stitches across. Work even in garter stitch (knit every row) for about 8 more rows to create a little teardrop/oval shape. Bind off loosely and leave a long tail for sewing.
3) Assembly: Center the brown circle on your work surface. Place eight yellow petals around the edge, evenly spaced. Sew each petal to the brown center and to the edges, taking care to distribute the petals evenly to form a circular shape.
4) Finishing: Weave in ends. If you want a sturdier coaster, you can add a light felt backing or a rubberized coaster backing to prevent slipping.
Pattern 2: Sunflower Applique for Bags, Hats, and Plushies – A Simple 3-D Accent
Finished size:
– Center circle about 1 inch across
– Petals about 1.25–1.5 inches long from tip to base
Materials:
– Worsted weight yarn in yellow and brown
– US size 6 or 6.5 (4.0–4.25 mm) needles
– Tapestry needle
– Optional: light stuffing for a plumper center
Pattern notes:
– This applique is ideal for adding a bright motif to tote bags or kid’s hats. The petals are simple elongated ovals that you sew around a small center disc. The method keeps edges neat and avoids curling.
Instructions:
1) Center: Cast on 6 stitches in brown. Knit in the round on a 6-inch diameter circular needle or DPNs for about 14 rounds. Bind off.
2) Petals (make 10): With yellow, cast on 4 stitches. Knit 2 rounds. On the next row, increase at both ends to 6 stitches, then again to 8 stitches on the next increase row. Continue knitting in garter stitch for about 9 more rows, gradually shaping into a petal. Bind off leaving a long tail.
3) Assembly: Place the brown center in the middle and arrange petals around, spacing them evenly. Sew petals to the center, then to the center circle. Secure with a few stitches behind and tie off ends.
4) Finishing: Weave in ends. If you want to add a leaf, you can knit a small green triangle and sew it to the back for a pop of color.
Pattern 3: Sunflower Headband Decoration – A Cozy, Wearable Bloom
Finished size:
– Flower portion about 4 inches across
– Entire headband stretches to fit an average adult head (adjust by recasting). If the headband is too wide or narrow, adjust by adding or reducing the number of petals you attach.
Materials:
– Worsted weight yellow, brown, and a small amount of green for a leaf if you want one
– US size 7 needles
– Scissors and tapestry needle
Pattern notes:
– This pattern creates a flower that can be attached to a simple knitted headband. The headband itself can be a simple stockinette rectangle with a 9–10 inch circumference (or adapt to your head size by measuring around your head and ensuring it has a little stretch).
Instructions:
1) Make the headband base: Cast on a number of stitches that corresponds to your head’s circumference in inches times your gauge. For example, if your gauge is 4 stitches per inch and you need a 20-inch circumference, cast on 80 stitches and knit in stockinette until the piece reaches the desired width (about 3–3.5 inches). Bind off loosely.
2) Flower: Use Pattern 2 to create a large sunflower centerpiece (center + petals). You can attach the flower anywhere along the headband or at one end for a playful asymmetric look.
3) Assembly: Sew the flower to the headband using brown center to hold it secure and ensure the petals lay flat. If you add a green leaf, sew it just under the flower on one side for a natural look.
4) Finishing: Weave in ends. If you want a stretchier headband, use a rib stitch (for example, a 1×1 rib) for the base instead of stockinette.
Pattern 4: Sunflower Plush Toy – A Plushie That Brings Sunshine to Playtime
Finished size:
– Approximately 6–7 inches in diameter for the flower head
– Body height depends on your stuffing and the length of the stalk you add
Materials:
– Worsted weight yellow and brown
– US size 7 needles
– Fiberfill stuffing
– Tapestry needle
– Small green yarn or felt for leaves (optional)
Pattern notes:
– This is a cuddly, soft sunflower that’s perfect for a child’s toy or a decorative piece in a nursery. It uses a round sun-flower shape with a slightly raised center to mimic a real sunflower. The center is a small brown circle, and the petals are the same basic petal shapes used in the applique but stuffed lightly for dimension.
Instructions:
1) Flower head: Using yellow, cast on 30 stitches and knit in stockinette until you get a slightly curved round. Decrease gradually to form a round disc (you can do standard crown decreases around the edge). Bind off and leave a long tail.
2) Center: Knit a small brown circle (about 1 inch in diameter) using the same method as Pattern 1’s center but with fewer rounds. Attach to the center of the yellow disc with a few stitches and secure.
3) Petals: Make 8–10 petals as in Pattern 2, but add a touch more length to give the flower a fuller look. Attach petals evenly around the center.
4) Stalk and leaves: Knit a simple green stem by casting on a few stitches and knitting a narrow tube to your preferred length. Add a couple of small leaves by knitting simple green triangular shapes and attaching them to the stem.
5) Assembly: Sew all pieces together and stuff lightly if you want more sculptural feel. Secure all edges and weave in the yarn ends.
Pattern 5: Sunflower Garlands or Wall Hanging – A Bright, Long-Lasting Decoration
Finished size:
– Individual sunflowers around 4–5 inches across
– Garland length depends on how many sunflowers you choose to connect
Materials:
– Worsted weight yarn in yellow and brown
– US size 7 needles
– Tapestry needle
– Optional: light interfacing or a thin rope/string for hanging
Pattern notes:
– A sunflower garland is an easy way to use several sunflowers in one project. You’ll knit several sunflowers (as in Pattern 1 or Pattern 2), then connect them with i-cord or with short lengths of yarn. You can space them out along a length of cord or ribbon for a bright room accent, doorway, or backyard porch décor.
Instructions:
1) Make 4–6 sunflowers using Pattern 1 or Pattern 2. Don’t sew the garland ends yet.
2) Create a simple i-cord to connect each sunflower: Cast on 3 stitches, knit for about 12 inches, binding off loosely.
3) Attach sunflowers to the i-cord: Use the tail from your petals or create holes in the garland ends for the i-cord to thread through. If you prefer a looser look, you can simply tie a small yarn loop to the back of each sunflower and knot the i-cord through it.
4) Finish: Once all sunflowers are attached, space them evenly and trim tails. If you’d like a sturdier garland, you can machine sew a thin canvas backing to hold everything in place, but a simple knotted cord is often enough for indoor décor.
Tips for Success and Customization
– Color play: The classic sunflower uses yellow petals with a brown center, but you can experiment with orange petals and a darker orange-brown center for a warmer, sunset-inspired look. You can also try green leaves for a more natural, garden-inspired style.
– Size adjustments: The finished size is easy to adjust by changing the number of petals or by increasing or decreasing the center size. If you want a larger flower for a tote bag or a wall hanging, increase the number of petals to 12 or 14 and knit a slightly larger center.
– Blending with other textures: If you want a more tactile finish, consider using a slightly fluffy worsted yarn in the petals for a velvety look. For the center, a worsted-weight brown with a touch of alpaca can create a soft, textured appearance.
– Finishing touches: Weaving in ends cleanly is essential for a neat look. Take a small blunt tapestry needle and weave tails into the back of each petal and center, making sure to secure the edges so everything stays in place.
– Blocking and shaping: These patterns are forgiving. If your petals curl a little or don’t lay completely flat, you can lightly block them with a small amount of water and a tidy pin layout until they dry flat. Blocking helps especially when you’re combining multiple sunflowers into a garland.
– Reuse and repurpose: Knitted sunflowers are wonderfully versatile. Use them as appliqués on bags, jackets, hats, or blankets. Add a safety pin or brooch back to a sunflower and create a wearable accessory. A sunflower stuffed with stuffing can be a unique toy or pillow accent in a child’s room.
– Caring for knitted items: Sunflower items should be hand washed in cold water with mild detergent and laid flat to dry. This helps prevent shrinking or warping the flower shapes.
– Personalization: Customize petals by adding a few rows of a contrasting color before the final bind-off to create a gradation effect (for example, a light orange edge to the yellow petals). This can give your sunflowers a more unique, hand-dyed look without needing complex colorwork.
A note on techniques and abbreviations
– K = knit
– P = purl
– St(s) = stitch(es)
– Kfb = knit front and back to increase by one stitch
– Garter stitch = knit every row
– Stockinette stitch = alternate knit and purl rows
– I-cord = a narrow, knitted cord typically formed by knitting with the working yarn at the edge and using a cable cast-on method or by knitting a long, narrow tube
– Bind off (BO) = finish and secure stitches
– Cast on (CO) = start the project
If you’re new to knitting, start with Pattern 1 (the Sunflower Coaster) to get comfortable with two colors and simple shape assembly. Once you’ve built confidence, Pattern 2 (Applique), Pattern 3 (Headband Decoration), Pattern 4 (Plush Toy), and Pattern 5 (Garland) will feel like a natural progression. Each pattern is designed to be approachable for beginners and flexible enough to let you experiment with color, size, and placement on your projects.
How to present your sunflowers in style
– On a tote bag: Sew several sunflowers around the bottom edge of a tote in a generous arc for a bright, garden-inspired look.
– On a cardigan or sweater: Attach a few sunflowers along the yoke or cuffs for a playful, whimsical touch.
– In a nursery: Create a sunflowers wall hanging or a mobile by threading several dried or knitted sunflowers along a line, with light-weight wooden dowels between them.
– In a party or wedding setting: Use a combination of sunflowers and greenery as a garland to drape across a doorway or table, bringing warmth to any celebration.
Carefully consider the placement of sunflowers so they don’t snag on other fabrics or become inadvertently pulled when worn or displayed. A consistent method—such as using safety pins for attached sunflowers on fabrics or sewing sunflowers onto a soft backing—helps ensure a neat, durable finish.
Why sunflowers work so well in knitting
– They’re forgiving: The circular and petal shapes can be adapted to many sizes, so even new knitters can make a big impact quickly.
– They pair with many other projects: Sunflower motifs work well on bags, hats, scarves, blankets, nursery decor, and toys, which makes them a versatile motif to learn.
– They’re satisfying: They give you a tangible, cheerful result after a short knitting session, which is ideal for people who want to complete projects in a short time.
– They encourage color exploration: With just two main colors (yellow and brown, typically), you can try many colorways by swapping in oranges, golds, greens, or even blue centers for a modern twist.
A quick planning checklist
– Decide the project type: coaster, applique, headband, plush, garland.
– Pick your colors: traditional yellow and brown, or a modern palette.
– Gather your materials: worsted weight yarn is the easiest starting point; ensure you have needles that match the yarn weight and your selected technique.
– Prepare your workspace: keep a small sewing kit handy for the finishing touches, along with a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
– Allow time for finishing: some patterns benefit from a gentle blocking or pressing, especially when you’re attaching petals to a center or joining multiple sunflowers into a garland.
In conclusion
Five easy free knitted sunflower patterns from The Knit Crew offer a path to bright, handmade joy in your home and wardrobe. Each pattern emphasizes approachable techniques, short time frames, and versatile use, so you can enjoy a quick creative win and then move on to more elaborate sunflower projects if you’d like. Whether you’re a seasoned knitter or just starting out, these patterns give you the satisfaction of making something warm, sunny, and uniquely yours.
If you try any of these patterns, I’d love to hear how they turned out. Share photos of your sunflowers in the comments or on social media, and tell us which colorways you chose and how you used them. The Knit Crew is always excited to see your adaptations and your own spin on classic motifs.
Glossary and quick technique refresh
– Garter stitch: Knit every row creates a textured, bumpy fabric that doesn’t curl.
– Stockinette stitch: Knit one row, purl the next; typically has a smooth right side and a leggy wrong side.
– Increase (kfb or M1): Adds stitches to widen your fabric.
– Decrease (k2tog, ssk): Reduces stitches to shape your piece.
– Cast on: The method you use to start your knitting.
– Bind off: Closing the edge so stitches won’t unravel.
– I-cord: A thin knitted cord used for ties or decorative edges.
A note about pattern availability and adaptations
All five patterns presented here are beginner-friendly and designed to be easily customized. If you’d like to modify for size, simply adjust the number of petals or the size of the center by adding or removing rows of the center circle or petals. If you’re preparing a set for a gift, consider pairing a sunflower garland with a small set of sunflower coasters for a cheerful, cohesive gift package.
We hope you enjoy knitting these sunny sunflowers as much as we do. They’re a favorite project at The Knit Crew because they combine instant gratification with lasting charm. Whether you’re crafting for yourself or making a thoughtful gift, a handmade sunflower pattern is a bright choice that’s sure to be appreciated.
Would you like more sunflower patterns or a downloadable printable PDF of these five patterns? Tell us what you’d like to see next, and we’ll tailor new free patterns to your preferences.
