Easy Crochet Pattern: Black-Eyed Susan Flower

There is something about a Black-Eyed Susan that feels like the very definition of summer. Those bright golden petals fanning out around a dark, velvety center have been brightening meadows and gardens across North America for centuries, and now you can bring that same cheerful energy right into your home — no soil required. This easy crochet flower pattern will walk you through creating your own Black-Eyed Susan, whether you are a beginner looking for a confidence-building project or an experienced crocheter wanting a quick, satisfying make.

Black-Eyed Susans are one of the most iconic wildflowers in the world, and it is no wonder they translate so beautifully into yarn. The bold contrast between the warm yellow petals and the deep brown center practically begs to be recreated in fiber. Once you have made one, you will want to make a dozen — for garlands, hair accessories, wall hangings, pillow embellishments, greeting card toppers, and so much more.

Let us get into it.

What You Will Need

Before you cast on (or, in crochet terms, make your magic ring), gather your materials. This pattern uses basic supplies you may already have in your stash.

Yarn: You will need a small amount of yellow or golden yellow yarn for the petals, and a small amount of dark brown or black yarn for the center. Worsted weight yarn (size 4) works beautifully for a flower that is roughly 3 to 4 inches in diameter, but you can absolutely use lighter or heavier yarn depending on how large or small you want your finished flower to be. Cotton yarn gives a lovely crisp finish, while acrylic yarn is wonderfully durable and comes in a huge range of shades.

Hook: A 5mm (US H/8) crochet hook pairs well with worsted weight yarn. Adjust your hook size to match whatever yarn you are using.

Yarn needle: For weaving in ends and, if desired, attaching your flower to a backing or another project.

Scissors: Any pair will do.

Optional extras: A pin back or hair clip if you want to wear your flower, a piece of felt for backing, fiberfill if you want to stuff the center for extra dimension, or floral wire if you want to mount your flower on a stem.

That is truly all you need. This is the kind of project you can work on during a lunch break or while watching your favorite show in the evening.

Understanding the Stitches

This pattern is genuinely beginner-friendly, but let us quickly go over the stitches involved so you feel fully prepared.

Magic ring (also called magic circle): This is a technique that allows you to start crocheting in the round without leaving a hole in the center. If you are not familiar with it yet, simply search for a quick video tutorial — once you see it in action, it clicks immediately. As an alternative, you can always chain 4 and slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Chain stitch (ch): The foundation of nearly everything in crochet. You pull a loop through a loop.

Slip stitch (sl st): A joining stitch that does not add height. Used here to join rounds.

Single crochet (sc): A short, tight stitch. Perfect for the dense, compact center of the flower.

Half double crochet (hdc): A stitch with a little more height than single crochet. Used in the petals to help them form their natural shape.

Double crochet (dc): A taller stitch that gives the petals their length and graceful appearance.

Treble crochet (tr): The tallest stitch in this pattern, used at the tips of the petals to give them that pointed, realistic look.

If you can do all of these stitches, you are ready. If you are still working on some of them, that is fine too — this pattern is a fantastic opportunity to practice.

The Pattern

Part One: The Center (Brown or Black Yarn)

The center of a Black-Eyed Susan is its most distinctive feature — that deep, dark button in the middle of the golden petals. You will crochet this first, and it works up very quickly.

Round 1: Make a magic ring. Chain 1. Work 6 single crochet into the ring. Pull the tail to close the ring. Slip stitch to the first sc to join. (6 stitches)

Round 2: Chain 1. Work 2 single crochet into each stitch around. Slip stitch to join. (12 stitches)

Round 3: Chain 1. Work 1 sc in the first stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch. Repeat around. Slip stitch to join. (18 stitches)

Round 4: Chain 1. Work 1 sc in each of the first 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next. Repeat around. Slip stitch to join. (24 stitches)

At this point, you can stop for a smaller, flatter center, or continue one more round if you want a slightly larger, more raised button.

Round 5 (optional): Chain 1. Work 1 sc in each of the first 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next. Repeat around. Slip stitch to join. (30 stitches)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing if needed, though you will be joining the petals directly to this piece in the next section.

The center should look like a small, tight disc — firm and round. If it is curling up at the edges, that is completely normal and will actually help give the finished flower a lovely three-dimensional look.

Part Two: The Petals (Yellow or Golden Yellow Yarn)

Now for the fun part. The petals are worked in a chain of joined units that wrap around the outside of the center. There are two ways to approach this: you can attach the petals directly to the outer round of the center as you go, or you can crochet the petals separately and sew them on. For beginners, sewing them on is often easier to visualize. For those who are comfortable working in the round, attaching as you go creates a very clean, polished result.

The instructions below describe a petal strip that you then join to the center.

Foundation: With yellow yarn, chain 4. Slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring, OR join your yellow yarn to any stitch on the outermost round of the center with a slip stitch.

For each petal, work the following:

Chain 3. In the same stitch or space: work 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc. Chain 3. Slip stitch into the same base stitch or the next stitch of the center round to anchor the petal.

Move to the next stitch and repeat for the next petal.

A typical Black-Eyed Susan has 8 to 13 petals. For a classic look with 10 petals, you will work 10 petal repeats around the outside of the center. If your center has 24 stitches on the final round, you can space petals evenly by working one petal every 2 to 3 stitches, skipping some stitches between petals to keep the spacing natural and the flower from becoming too ruffled or too sparse.

Here is a simple way to think about it: 10 petals on a 24-stitch round means you will work a petal into approximately every second or third stitch, distributing them evenly. Do not worry too much about being perfectly symmetrical — real flowers are not perfectly symmetrical either, and that asymmetry is part of their charm.

After working all petals, slip stitch to close and fasten off. Weave in your ends using the yarn needle.

Part Three: Finishing Touches

Your Black-Eyed Susan is essentially complete at this point, but a few finishing details can really elevate the final result.

Weave in all ends carefully. This is the least glamorous part of crochet, but it makes such a difference in the appearance and durability of your flower. Thread each yarn tail onto your needle and weave it in multiple directions through the back of the stitches to secure it. Trim any excess close to the work.

Block your flower if desired. Blocking is the process of dampening your crocheted piece and shaping it while it dries. For a flat flower, lay it on a blocking mat, shape the petals evenly, pin them in place, and let it dry completely. This is especially helpful if your petals are curling more than you would like, or if you want to ensure they are spaced perfectly evenly.

Add a backing. Cut a circle of felt in a coordinating color and stitch or glue it to the back of the flower. This gives the flower structure, covers any messy yarn ends, and makes it much easier to attach a pin back, clip, or other hardware.

Experiment with dimension. For a slightly raised center (which looks very realistic), stuff a tiny wisp of fiberfill under the center disc before attaching the felt backing. This gives the dark button that characteristic dome shape.

Ways to Use Your Crochet Black-Eyed Susans

One of the best things about this pattern is how versatile it is. Once you have the basic technique down, you will start seeing possibilities everywhere.

Hair accessories are a classic use for crochet flowers. Stitch your Black-Eyed Susan to a hair clip, bobby pin, or elastic headband for a charming accessory that works for both casual and dressed-up occasions. Children especially love wearing flowers in their hair, and a handmade flower is far more durable than most store-bought alternatives.

Brooches and pins make wonderful gifts. Back your flower with felt and attach a pin finding from a craft store for a piece of wearable art that costs very little to make but looks thoughtful and beautiful. A bouquet of these pins arranged on a cardigan or jacket lapel is a style statement that always draws compliments.

Garlands and bunting for home décor are another wonderful application. Make a dozen or two flowers in slightly varying shades of yellow and gold, then string them along a length of twine or ribbon. Hung above a mantel, along a staircase railing, or across a child’s bedroom wall, a flower garland brings warmth and handmade coziness to any room.

Bag and tote embellishments are quick and easy. Simply stitch a flower or two onto the front of a plain tote bag for an instant upgrade. The flowers are flat enough to sit nicely on fabric surfaces and sturdy enough to hold up to regular use.

Greeting cards and gift toppers give a paper card or wrapped gift a three-dimensional flourish. A single Black-Eyed Susan stitched or glued to a card makes a beautiful keepsake that the recipient can snip off and keep long after the card itself has been set aside.

Bouquets and floral arrangements are perhaps the most striking use of all. Crochet your flowers in multiple sizes and mount them on floral wire stems. Wrap the stems in green floral tape, add some crocheted leaves if you like, and arrange them in a vase. A crochet wildflower bouquet never wilts, never drops petals, and looks absolutely stunning on a desk, windowsill, or kitchen table.

Appliqués for clothing and accessories work beautifully with knit or crochet projects. Stitch a cluster of Black-Eyed Susans onto a crocheted blanket, a knit hat, a pillow cover, or a baby sweater for a charming botanical motif.

Tips for Success

A few notes that will help your flowers turn out beautifully every time.

Work your center circle tightly. The denser and firmer the center disc, the better it will anchor the petals and hold its shape over time. If you find your circle is loose or floppy, try going down one hook size for the center portion.

Do not be afraid to adjust petal length. If you want longer, more dramatic petals, simply add an extra treble crochet or two at the tip of each petal. For shorter, rounder petals, skip the treble altogether and use double crochets as your tallest stitch.

Play with color. While yellow and brown is the iconic Black-Eyed Susan palette, there is no reason you cannot branch out. Burnt orange petals with a dark center look stunning in autumn arrangements. White petals with a golden center evoke a daisy. Deep burgundy petals with a chocolate center feel lush and romantic. Use whatever colors speak to you.

Make a few practice flowers before you commit to a larger project. The pattern is quick enough that even a practice run takes only a short time, and working through it once or twice will help you find your rhythm and preferred tension before you need consistent results.

Keep a consistent tension throughout each flower. Tension in crochet refers to how tightly or loosely you hold your yarn as you work. Consistent tension means your stitches will be even and your finished piece will lie flat and look polished. If you notice your petals are pulling in different directions or your center is buckling, try consciously relaxing your grip on the yarn and hook.

Making It Your Own

The Black-Eyed Susan pattern is an excellent foundation for developing your own crochet style. As you grow more comfortable with the basic construction, you will naturally start finding ways to make each flower uniquely yours.

You might experiment with textured yarns — a fuzzy or bouclé yarn in the center gives a wonderfully realistic, seed-like texture that looks remarkably like the real flower’s center. A shimmery or metallic yarn worked through the petals catches light beautifully and turns a simple flower into something that looks almost jewel-like.

You might explore different sizes by changing your yarn weight and hook. A bulky yarn on a 6mm or 7mm hook produces a generous, show-stopping bloom. A fingering weight yarn on a 2.5mm hook produces a tiny, delicate flower that is almost impossibly sweet and works perfectly for jewelry, including earrings or pendants.

You might combine your Black-Eyed Susans with other flowers — crocheted daisies, lavender sprigs, and small roses all pair beautifully with these wildflowers — to create mixed bouquets and arrangements that look like something from a professional floral studio.

A Few Final Thoughts

There is a particular satisfaction in crocheting flowers. Perhaps it is the way a small amount of yarn transforms so quickly into something recognizable and beautiful. Perhaps it is the fact that crocheted flowers can go anywhere, last indefinitely, and brighten a space or a person’s day every time someone sees them.

The Black-Eyed Susan is a perfect flower to learn with and a perfect flower to return to again and again. Its construction is logical and clear, its materials are minimal, its result is reliably lovely, and its uses are genuinely endless. Whether you are making one for yourself or dozens as gifts, you will find this pattern rewards you every single time you pick up your hook.

So gather your yarn, settle into your favorite chair, and make a little patch of summer meadow all your own. Your Black-Eyed Susans are waiting.