Free Pattern: Snowdrop Selma — A Delicate Crochet Flower Brooch You’ll Love to Make
There’s something quietly magical about snowdrops. Those small, nodding white flowers that push through frozen ground in late winter have inspired poets, painters, and textile artists for centuries. They carry a promise — that warmth is coming, that beauty endures even in the coldest months, that something tender and fragile can still be remarkably strong. So when I first designed the Snowdrop Selma brooch, I wanted to capture exactly that feeling: something dainty and elegant, soft in color but full of character, the kind of thing you’d pin to a coat lapel or a knitted hat and feel a little lifted every time you caught a glimpse of it.
This free crochet pattern for the Snowdrop Selma is suitable for confident beginners and intermediate crocheters. It uses basic stitches in a slightly detailed construction, so if you know how to work into a magic ring, chain, slip stitch, and work basic clusters, you’ll be just fine. The finished brooch measures approximately 6 to 7 centimeters across, making it a sweet, subtle accessory rather than an overwhelming statement piece. It works beautifully as a brooch, a hair clip, a bag charm, or even a decorative embellishment on a handmade gift.
I’ve named this design Selma because, to me, the name has that same old-fashioned gentleness as the flower itself — understated, lovely, and timeless.
What You’ll Need
Before we dive in, let’s gather everything together. One of the things I love most about small crochet projects like this one is that they’re incredibly affordable to make. You may already have most of what you need in your yarn stash.
Yarn: A small amount of fingering weight or lace weight yarn in white or cream for the petals. For the center, you’ll want a tiny amount of yellow or pale gold. Approximately 10 to 15 meters of white and just 2 to 3 meters of yellow will be more than enough.
Hook: A 2.0 mm or 2.5 mm crochet hook works well with fingering weight yarn. If you’re using a slightly thicker cotton yarn, a 3.0 mm hook is fine. The exact size matters less than achieving a fabric that holds its shape — you want the petals to have a little body without being stiff.
Other supplies: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a pair of scissors, a brooch pin back (available from most craft stores and online), fabric glue or a needle and thread to attach the pin back, and a small piece of felt in white or cream to back the finished flower. A stitch marker can also be helpful.
Yarn note: This pattern works especially well with a smooth mercerized cotton yarn, which gives the petals a lovely sheen reminiscent of real snowdrop petals. However, a fine wool or wool-blend works beautifully too, particularly if you want to felt the finished piece slightly to give it more stability and a softer appearance. If you plan to give this as a gift, mercerized cotton is the more practical choice since it’s washable and holds its shape well over time.
Abbreviations and Stitch Guide
Throughout this pattern I use standard US crochet terminology. Here’s a quick reference guide.
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
MR — magic ring
ch-sp — chain space
rep — repeat
st(s) — stitch(es)
Petal cluster: For the Snowdrop Selma, each petal is constructed with a cluster of stitches that gives it a slightly rounded, natural shape. To make the petal cluster: (dc, ch 1, tr, ch 1, dc) all into the same stitch or space. This creates one petal unit.
Pattern Notes
This brooch is worked in multiple separate pieces that are then assembled. You’ll make an outer ring of long drooping petals (the outer whorl), an inner ring of shorter upright petals (the inner whorl), and a small textured center. Assembly is straightforward — just a matter of layering and stitching.
Snowdrops have a distinctive two-layer structure. The outer three petals are long and spreading, almost like wings, while the inner three petals are shorter and form a tube or cup around the stamens. I’ve tried to replicate this in miniature, which is what gives Selma her realistic, botanical feel. Don’t rush the assembly — taking a few extra minutes to position the layers carefully makes an enormous difference to the final result.
The pattern is worked with a tension that keeps the stitches fairly firm. If your finished petals are floppy, try going down a hook size. If they feel stiff and won’t lie flat, try going up a hook size.
The Pattern
Part One: Outer Petals (Make 1 piece with 3 petals)
The outer petals of a snowdrop are its most recognizable feature — those three long, pure white tepals that hang downward like tiny bells. In Selma, these form the base layer of the brooch.
Begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 5 dc into the MR, pull ring closed, sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. You now have 6 dc in a ring.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 12, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 chs, hdc in next 2 chs, sc in next 2 chs, sl st in last ch (this forms one outer petal), sc in next 2 sts of Round 1. Repeat from to twice more, ending with a sl st in first sc to join. You will have 3 long outer petals.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. Set aside.
Petal tip: When you’re working down the chain to form each outer petal, keep your tension relaxed. The petal wants to curve gently — if you crochet too tightly, it will twist rather than drape. If your petal curls, a light mist of water and a pin blocking for a few hours will coax it into shape perfectly.
Part Two: Inner Petals (Make 1 piece with 3 petals)
The inner petals are shorter and slightly cupped, which creates the characteristic heart of the snowdrop. They will sit on top of the outer petals when assembled.
Begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 5 dc into the MR, pull ring closed, sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. You now have 6 dc in a ring.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 8, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch (this forms one inner petal), sc in next 2 sts of Round 1. Repeat from to twice more, ending with sl st in first sc to join. You will have 3 shorter inner petals.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. Set aside.
Part Three: The Center
The center of the snowdrop — those delicate stamens tipped with pale gold — is what gives the flower its delicate, otherworldly quality. In Selma, it’s rendered as a small textured button in yellow or gold.
Using yellow yarn and your hook, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into the MR, pull ring closed, sl st to join. (6 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each st around, sl st to join. (12 sts)
Round 3: Ch 3, sl st in same st (this makes a small picot), sl st in next st, ch 3, sl st in same st. Repeat from to around all 12 sts. Sl st to base of first picot to join.
Fasten off and leave a tail. You now have a small, textured golden center piece.
Part Four: The Green Stem Cap (Optional but Recommended)
Real snowdrops emerge from a papery green bract, and adding a tiny green element behind your brooch lifts the whole design, making it look more complete and botanical. This step is optional but truly worth the extra few minutes.
Using green yarn (any green you have — even a small scrap will do):
Begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into the MR, pull ring closed. Do not join; work in a continuous spiral.
Rounds 2–3: Sc in each st around. (6 sts per round)
Round 4: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat around. (9 sts)
Round 5: Ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 2 chs, sl st in next st of Round 4 (this makes one small leaf point). Sl st in next 3 sts, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 2 chs, sl st in next st of Round 4. Repeat once more. Sl st to join.
Fasten off and leave a tail. You’ll have a small rounded base with three tiny pointed leaf tips.
Assembly
Now comes the most satisfying part — bringing Selma together. Lay all your pieces out on a flat surface before you start stitching so you can see how they’ll layer.
Start with the outer petals piece. Take your small circle of felt and, using a needle and thread or fabric glue, attach it to the back of the outer petals piece. This gives your brooch a firm backing and protects the stitching from wear. Cut the felt into a rough circle about 2 centimeters in diameter — you don’t need it to be perfect; it just needs to cover the center of the outer petal piece.
Next, take the optional green stem cap and place it behind the outer petals piece, slightly offset toward what will be the bottom of the brooch. Stitch it loosely in place using your tapestry needle and a strand of green yarn or neutral sewing thread.
Place the inner petals piece on top of the outer petals piece, rotating it so that the inner petals sit in between the outer petals (rather than directly on top of them). This staggered positioning is key to achieving that full, realistic snowdrop look. Use your tapestry needle to stitch through the center rings of both pieces, securing them together firmly.
Finally, place the golden center on top of everything, right in the middle of the inner petals. Stitch it down securely through all layers. Give the center a gentle press with your fingers to make sure it’s flat and even.
Flip the whole assembly over and attach your brooch pin back to the felt backing. If you’re using fabric glue, give it at least an hour to dry fully before wearing. If you’re hand-stitching the pin back, a simple running stitch around the edges of the pin back clasp is sufficient.
Blocking and Finishing
Blocking makes a remarkable difference to small crochet pieces like Selma. Even if your petals look fine off the hook, a quick block will make them look polished and professional.
Fill a small bowl with cool water and submerge your finished brooch (before attaching the pin back) for about 30 seconds. Gently squeeze out the excess water — don’t wring. Lay it flat on a clean towel, shape the petals carefully with your fingers, and pin each petal tip to your blocking mat or a folded towel using rust-proof pins. Let it dry completely, ideally overnight.
Once dry, the petals will hold their shape beautifully. If you want the outer petals to droop slightly forward as real snowdrop petals do, you can shape them slightly downward while they’re damp and prop them with a folded piece of card until dry.
Variations and Ideas
One of the joys of a small project like this is how easily you can experiment. Here are a few variations I’ve tried and loved.
Snowdrop Selma in blue: Worked in pale ice blue, Selma becomes something more fantastical — like a frost flower or a tiny winter fairy’s accessory. The golden center is especially striking against blue.
Miniature bouquet brooch: Make three or five Selma flowers in slightly different sizes and cluster them together on a single felt backing, adding a few tiny crochet leaves (ch 8, sc back down the chain, sl st to join) to fill the gaps. It makes a gorgeous coat pin for the winter months.
Gift topper: Skip the brooch pin entirely and use Selma as a decorative topper on a wrapped gift. A small crochet flower beats a paper bow any day, and the recipient gets a little wearable keepsake along with their present.
Color play: While white is the classic snowdrop color, this pattern also lends itself beautifully to other palettes. Try pale yellow for a primrose feel, soft lilac for a springtime violet, or even deep burgundy and gold for a rich autumnal version.
A Few Words About Tension and Yarn Substitutions
Because Selma is so small, yarn and hook choices have a bigger impact on the finished result than they would in a larger project. A finer yarn gives a more delicate, lacy look; a slightly thicker yarn gives more structure and makes the petals stand out boldly.
If you’re using a fingering weight wool yarn and you’d like to stabilize the flower, you can lightly felt it by hand (using warm water and a small amount of wool wash, gently agitating the wet piece between your palms for 30 to 60 seconds). This tightens the stitches slightly and gives the petals a lovely, softly felted texture. Don’t over-felt — you want the stitches to be visible, just slightly bloomed.
Cotton yarn, as mentioned earlier, gives the crispest result and is ideal for brooches that will be worn regularly, since cotton is easy to spot-clean. A bamboo-blend yarn gives the most beautiful sheen if you want Selma to look genuinely luxurious.
Sharing Your Snowdrop Selma
If you make this brooch, I’d truly love to see it. There’s something so wonderful about seeing how different yarn choices and individual crocheters’ tensions transform the same pattern into something uniquely their own. Please feel free to tag your makes and share them with other crafters — small handmade accessories like this deserve to be celebrated.
This pattern is free for personal use. You’re also welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern, provided you credit the original design. Please don’t redistribute or sell the pattern itself.
Final Thoughts
The Snowdrop Selma is the kind of project that slips into the in-between moments of life — worked on a train journey, during a quiet evening, in the last half hour before bed when you want to make something but don’t want to think too hard. It’s small and forgiving, and it finishes quickly enough to feel satisfying even on a busy day.
But don’t let its modest size fool you. Pinned to a dark winter coat or nestled in a knitted hat brim, Selma has real presence. She’s the kind of piece that people notice and ask about, the kind that prompts the best kind of conversation: “Did you make that yourself?”
Yes. Yes, you did.
Happy crocheting, and may your stitches always be even and your yarn never tangle.
