Crochet the Cutest Eyeball Rose: A Free 10-Minute Pattern by Hooked by Kati
If you have ever wanted to make a crochet project that is equal parts spooky and adorable, you are in exactly the right place. The Eyeball Rose by Hooked by Kati is one of those rare patterns that manages to be whimsical, quick, and surprisingly easy to stitch up — even if you are brand new to crochet. In just about ten minutes, you can have a finished piece that looks like it took hours of planning and skill. Whether you are making Halloween decorations, gothic bouquets, spooky hair accessories, or just a fun little gift for the friend who loves all things creepy-cute, this pattern delivers every single time.
In this post, we are going to walk through the complete Eyeball Rose pattern, talk about the materials you will need, share tips for getting the best results, and explore all the ways you can use and display your finished roses. By the time you reach the end, you will have everything you need to pick up your hook and get started.
What Is the Eyeball Rose Pattern?
The Eyeball Rose is a crochet pattern originally created by the designer known as Hooked by Kati. It is a small, decorative rose that features a crocheted eyeball at its center, giving it that signature horror-meets-craft-fair look that has become incredibly popular in the spooky crafting community. The pattern is beginner-friendly, works up in roughly ten minutes once you have the steps memorized, and uses only a small amount of yarn and a few basic supplies.
What makes this pattern so special is the way the eyeball sits inside the rose petals. From a distance, it looks like a perfectly normal, slightly abstract crochet flower. But once you get a closer look, you realize there is an eye staring right back at you. That little moment of surprise is exactly what makes it so fun to give as a gift or use in a spooky display.
Materials You Will Need
Before you dive into the pattern, gather everything on this list. One of the best things about this project is that it uses very little yarn, so it is a perfect stash-buster. You can use scraps you already have at home.
For the rose itself, you will need a small amount of worsted weight yarn in whatever color strikes your fancy. Deep red is the most classic choice and gives the most dramatic, gothic rose effect. But black roses, purple roses, dusty mauve roses, and even pale pink or white roses are all stunning depending on your aesthetic. For the eyeball center, you will need white yarn and a tiny bit of a color for the iris — think green, blue, brown, hazel, or even red for a truly unsettling look.
You will also need a size 5.0mm crochet hook, though you can go up or down half a size depending on your tension and the specific yarn you choose. A yarn needle for weaving in ends is essential, and a small amount of polyfill stuffing or a cotton ball will help the eyeball hold its round shape.
For the eyeball detail, many crafters use a bit of black felt or a small black button for the pupil, or you can embroider it directly onto your crocheted eyeball with black yarn. Some people even use safety eyes, which gives a wonderfully realistic look. A dab of fabric glue can help secure the felt or button if you go that route.
If you plan to use your Eyeball Rose as a brooch, hair clip, headband embellishment, or bag charm, you will want a pin back, alligator clip, or keyring hardware as well. These are all inexpensive and easy to find at any craft store.
Abbreviations and Stitch Guide
If you are fairly new to crochet, here is a quick refresher on the stitches used in this pattern. All instructions are written in US crochet terminology.
Magic ring (MR): A method of starting a round that creates a tight, adjustable center with no hole. If you are not comfortable with the magic ring yet, you can chain 2 and work your stitches into the second chain from the hook as an alternative.
Chain (ch): The most basic crochet stitch, used to start rows and create turning chains.
Single crochet (sc): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Half double crochet (hdc): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.
Double crochet (dc): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.
Slip stitch (sl st): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop on hook simultaneously.
Invisible decrease (inv dec): Insert hook through the front loop of the next stitch and the front loop of the stitch after that simultaneously, yarn over and pull through both front loops, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops. This creates a neater decrease than the standard sc2tog.
The Eyeball Rose Pattern
Part One: The Eyeball
Start by making the eyeball center. This is worked in continuous rounds. Use white yarn and a 5.0mm hook.
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed tight. You will have 6 stitches.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around. You will have 12 stitches.
Round 3: Work (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around. You will have 18 stitches.
Round 4: Work (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. You will have 24 stitches.
At this point, switch to your iris color. Work one round of sc in each stitch in your iris color. Fasten off the iris color and rejoin white.
Round 6: Work (sc in next 2 sts, inv dec) around. You will have 18 stitches.
Before continuing, add your pupil. If you are using a black button or felt circle, set it aside until after stuffing. If you are embroidering, now is a good time to use black yarn and a yarn needle to stitch a French knot or satin stitch pupil directly onto the iris you just completed.
Round 7: Work (sc in next st, inv dec) around. You will have 12 stitches.
Stuff lightly with polyfill or a small cotton ball. You want the eyeball to be round and slightly firm, but not overstuffed.
Round 8: Work (inv dec) around. You will have 6 stitches.
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew the eyeball onto the rose later. Use your yarn needle to close the remaining stitches by running the tail through the front loops and pulling tight.
If you are using a button or felt circle for the pupil, glue or sew it onto the front of the eyeball now before attaching it to the rose.
Part Two: The Rose
The rose is worked in a single flat strip that you then curl and sew together to form the flower shape. Use your rose color yarn.
Chain 36.
Row 1: Starting in the 2nd chain from hook, work 1 hdc in each of the next 2 chains, then work (1 dc, 2 dc, 1 dc) in the next chain to create a petal point, then 1 hdc in each of the next 2 chains, then 1 sl st in the next chain. Repeat this sequence — (2 hdc, petal cluster, 2 hdc, sl st) — across the entire chain. You should end up with approximately 5 petals, depending on how your tension falls.
If you prefer a fuller rose with more petals, you can chain 48 or even 60 to begin with and simply continue the petal pattern across the longer chain.
Once you have finished Row 1, do not fasten off. Flip your work and join with a slip stitch to the beginning of the chain to create a second row of petals on the opposite side, working into the bottom loops of your starting chain. Repeat the same petal pattern across. This gives your rose a beautifully layered look.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for assembly.
Part Three: Assembly
Now comes the most satisfying part — putting it all together.
Take your rose strip and begin rolling it from one end, with the petal side facing outward. As you roll, you will see the flower shape beginning to form. Roll it loosely enough that the petals fan out naturally, but tightly enough that it holds a round shape. Use your yarn needle and the long tail to stitch through the base of the rose as you go, securing each layer as you add it.
Once you have rolled the entire strip, sew through the base a few more times to make sure everything is secure. The base of your rose should be relatively flat so it can sit against a surface or be attached to a backing.
Now take your finished eyeball and position it in the center of the rose. Sew it in place using the long tail you left on the eyeball, stitching through the base of the eyeball and into the center of the rose. Make sure the eye is facing forward and the pupil is centered. Secure it well, then weave in all remaining ends.
Tips for the Best Results
One of the most common questions people have about this pattern is how to get the petals to look full and even. The key is consistency in your tension. If you tend to crochet tightly, try going up half a hook size. If your petals are collapsing inward rather than fanning out, try using a slightly stiffer yarn or blocking the finished piece.
Blocking can make a significant difference in how your rose looks. After finishing, lightly dampen the rose with water, shape the petals gently with your fingers, and let it dry flat. This is especially helpful if you used an acrylic yarn that tends to curl.
For the eyeball, the rounder and smoother you can get the shape, the more realistic and striking the final result will be. Take your time with the stuffing step — a little goes a long way. Too much stuffing will distort the shape and make it hard to close the final rounds neatly.
If you want to speed up your stitch time even further, consider using two strands of yarn held together. This thickens the fabric, speeds up your work, and gives the rose a chunkier, more dramatic look that works beautifully for larger decorations or bouquets.
Color Combinations to Try
While the deep red rose with a white eyeball is the most iconic version of this pattern, there are so many color directions you can take it.
A black rose with a bloodshot red eyeball gives an intensely dramatic, horror-movie vibe that is perfect for Halloween.
A dusty lavender or mauve rose with a pale blue or silver iris is ethereal and ghostly — ideal for gothic romance aesthetics.
A deep forest green rose with a golden iris looks almost like something out of a dark fairy tale.
A white or cream rose with a deep purple or violet iris has a beautiful, otherworldly quality that works surprisingly well for bridal or witchy aesthetics.
Do not be afraid to experiment with variegated yarn for the rose petals either. A yarn that shifts between dark red and burgundy or between black and deep purple can give your rose tremendous depth without any extra effort on your part.
Ways to Use Your Eyeball Rose
One of the best things about this pattern is how versatile the finished piece is. Here are some of the most popular ways people use their Eyeball Roses.
As a Halloween decoration, a small bouquet of three to five Eyeball Roses in a dark vase makes a stunning centerpiece. Add some black fabric, a few plastic spiders, or some small skeleton hands, and you have a display that will get compliments all season.
As a wearable accessory, stitch a pin back to the base of your rose and you have an instant brooch that works beautifully on a jacket lapel, a tote bag, or a knit cardigan. Hair clip bases work just as well if you prefer a hair accessory.
Glued or sewn onto a headband, an Eyeball Rose becomes a whimsical, wearable statement piece that is especially popular for costume events, Renaissance fairs, and Halloween parties.
Several Eyeball Roses stitched together into a crown or halo make a show-stopping costume accessory.
As a gift, a single Eyeball Rose tucked into a small box with some tissue paper is a thoughtful, handmade present for anyone who loves spooky crafts, alternative aesthetics, or simply appreciates something that is clearly made with care.
They also work beautifully as bag charms when attached to a keyring or lobster clasp, and they make delightful stocking stuffers and party favors for Halloween-themed gatherings.
Why This Pattern Is Perfect for Beginners
If you are just getting started with crochet and looking for your first successful project, the Eyeball Rose is an excellent choice. It uses only a handful of basic stitches, the finished piece is small enough that any mistakes are barely noticeable, and there is almost no finishing work beyond weaving in a few ends.
The pattern also teaches you a lot of fundamental skills in a very short amount of time. You practice the magic ring, working in rounds, increasing and decreasing, working in rows, and basic assembly — all in a single project. By the time you have made two or three of these, those techniques will feel second nature.
The ten-minute timeframe is also genuinely achievable for most crafters once they have done the pattern once or twice. Your first attempt may take closer to twenty or thirty minutes as you get familiar with the steps, but the second one tends to go much faster, and by your third or fourth rose, you will be flying through them.
Sharing Your Makes
If you crochet your own Eyeball Rose using this pattern, the spooky crochet community would love to see it. Sharing your finished projects on Instagram or Pinterest with tags related to spooky crochet, Halloween crafts, and amigurumi is a great way to connect with other crafters and find inspiration for your next project. It is also a wonderful way to show appreciation for designers like Hooked by Kati whose creative patterns make projects like this possible.
Whether you stick to the classic red rose or branch out into an entire rainbow of eerie colors, the Eyeball Rose is one of those patterns you will come back to again and again. It is fast, it is fun, it is genuinely impressive to anyone who sees it, and it costs almost nothing to make. That combination is pretty hard to beat.
Pick up your hook, pull out your yarn scraps, and give this pattern a try. You might just find yourself making an entire bouquet before the afternoon is over.
