Crochet Flame Flower Pattern: Free PDF Pattern with Video Tutorial

If you’ve been searching for a crochet motif that captures movement, warmth, and bold visual energy all at once, the crochet flame flower is exactly what you’ve been looking for. This stunning motif blends the organic curve of floral petals with the wild, reaching shape of a flame, creating a design that looks incredibly complex but is surprisingly approachable once you understand the structure. Whether you’re a beginner who has mastered the basics or an intermediate crocheter looking for your next obsession, this free PDF pattern and video tutorial will walk you through every single step.

In this post, you’ll find a complete written pattern, materials list, helpful tips for getting your tension right, and a link to the full video tutorial so you can follow along in real time. I’ve also included some ideas for how to use this motif in larger projects, because once you make one flame flower, I promise you won’t be able to stop.

What Is a Crochet Flame Flower?

The flame flower is a decorative crochet motif that combines the classic construction of a layered floral motif with elongated, pointed petals designed to mimic the shape of fire. The result is a piece that looks almost like a stylized chrysanthemum or dahlia, but with an edgier, more dynamic silhouette. The petals vary in height, creating a sense of movement and dimension that makes the finished motif look like it’s actually flickering.

This motif has become incredibly popular in the crochet community over the past few years, and for good reason. It photographs beautifully, works well in bold solid colors as well as gradient and ombre yarn, and can be used in an enormous variety of projects. Many crafters are using it for wall hangings, coasters, bag decorations, appliqués on garments, and even as part of large granny-square-style blankets.

Materials You Will Need

Before you dive into the pattern, gather your supplies. This pattern works at a standard worsted weight gauge, but you can easily size it up or down by changing your yarn weight and hook size.

For the standard size flame flower motif, you will need a size 5mm (US H/8) crochet hook, approximately 50 to 80 meters of worsted weight yarn in your main color, a smaller amount of a contrasting color if you want a two-tone center, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and scissors. You can work the entire motif in a single color for a bold, graphic look, or use two or three colors to separate the center from the petals and create more visual depth.

If you want a miniature version, drop to a 3.5mm hook with DK or fingering weight yarn. For an oversized statement piece, go up to a 6mm or 6.5mm hook with bulky yarn.

A yarn with good stitch definition works best for this pattern since the pointed petals rely on clean, crisp stitches to achieve their flame-like silhouette. Cotton yarn, cotton-acrylic blends, and smooth wool blends all perform beautifully. Fuzzy or fluffy yarns tend to obscure the petal detail, so save those for other projects.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern uses US crochet terminology. Here is a quick reference for the abbreviations used throughout:

ch means chain. sl st means slip stitch. sc means single crochet. hdc means half double crochet. dc means double crochet. tr means treble crochet. dtr means double treble crochet. sp means space. rep means repeat. st means stitch. rnd means round. BLO means back loop only. FLO means front loop only.

Understanding the Structure Before You Begin

The flame flower is built in concentric rounds, much like a traditional flower motif, but with a twist. Each layer of petals is worked into a separate round of the foundation, and the petals in each layer vary in height across their width. This is what creates the pointed flame effect. Some petals use a combination of sc, hdc, dc, tr, and dtr stitches all within a single petal, climbing up to a peak and then descending back down, which creates that gorgeous tapering point.

The center of the motif is a simple magic ring with a few rounds of single crochet or half double crochet, which gives the flower a solid, stable base. From there, you’ll work outward in rounds, adding layers of petals. Most versions of this motif have two to three layers, though you can keep adding layers to create a larger, more dramatic flower.

The key technique to understand before you begin is how to skip rounds. After you complete the center and the first petal layer, you’ll be working the second layer of petals into the rounds below, not into the most recent round. This keeps your layers distinct and prevents them from stacking on top of each other.

The Pattern: Step by Step

Center Ring

Begin with a magic ring. You can also use the chain-4 join method if you prefer — simply chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1: Chain 1, work 8 sc into the ring, join with a sl st to the first sc. You will have 8 stitches.

Round 2: Chain 1, work 2 sc in each stitch around, join with a sl st. You will have 16 stitches.

Round 3: Chain 1, work 1 sc in the first st, 2 sc in the next st, repeat around, join with a sl st. You will have 24 stitches.

If you are changing color for the inner petal layer, do so now by joining your new color with a sl st.

First Layer of Petals (Inner Flame Petals)

These are the smallest and most compact petals, sitting close to the center of the motif.

Round 4: Chain 1. For each petal, work the following into the next 4 stitches: sc in the first st, hdc in the second st, dc in the third st, hdc in the fourth st, sl st in the next st. This creates one small pointed petal. Repeat this sequence all the way around. You will end up with 6 petals. Join with a sl st.

The exact number of petals in each layer will depend on how many stitches you have in your foundation, so adjust as needed. What matters most is the shape of each individual petal — the climb and descent of stitch height is what creates the flame effect.

Second Layer of Petals (Mid Flame Petals)

For the second layer, you will be working into the round that sits two rows below your current position. This is what gives the petals their dimensional, overlapping quality.

Round 5: Working into Round 3 (or the round two rows below your current hook position), join your yarn with a sl st in the first available stitch. For each petal, work sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc in consecutive stitches, then sl st into the next stitch. This creates a taller, more pointed petal. Repeat around to create your second layer. You should have 6 to 8 petals depending on the spacing you used.

If you want the petals to be especially flame-like and elongated, you can modify the peak of each petal to use a dtr stitch instead of tr. This adds extra height and makes the tip of the petal even more pronounced.

Third Layer of Petals (Outer Flame Petals)

Before working the third layer, you may want to add one or two more foundation rounds to give yourself enough stitches to work into.

Round 6: Working back in the main color if you changed, work a round of sc around the entire motif, increasing evenly to accommodate the larger circumference. A standard increase formula is to work 2 sc in every fourth stitch.

Round 7: Chain 1. Now work your outermost petals. These are the largest and most dramatic petals of the motif. For each petal, work sc, hdc, dc, tr, dtr, tr, dc, hdc, sc in nine consecutive stitches, then sl st in the next stitch. This creates a tall, flame-like petal with a sharp central peak. Repeat around, spacing your petals evenly across the round.

For a fuller, more layered flame flower, you can work a half-height petal between each full petal by working sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc in five stitches and then sl st. This alternating tall-and-short rhythm is what gives the motif its name — it mimics the uneven, dancing tops of an open flame.

Finishing Round

Work a final round of sl st around the entire outer edge of the motif to neaten the silhouette and define the petal edges. Fasten off and weave in all ends with your yarn needle.

Video Tutorial

If any of these steps are feeling a little abstract on the page, don’t worry — that is exactly why the video tutorial exists. Watching the hook move through the stitches in real time makes the whole thing click in a way that written instructions alone can’t always achieve.

The video tutorial for this flame flower pattern walks through every round from the magic ring all the way to the finishing slip stitch. It includes close-up footage of the dimensional petal technique so you can clearly see how to insert your hook into the lower foundation round for the layered effect. The video also shows you how to join new colors cleanly so your color changes look polished on the finished motif.

You can download the free PDF version of this pattern using the link below the video. The PDF includes all the written instructions, abbreviation key, a full materials list, and a simple schematic diagram showing the structure of the motif. Print it out, save it to your device, or pin it to your craft room board — whatever works best for your creative process.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Tension is everything with this pattern. If your tension is too tight, the petals will curl inward and lose their open, airy quality. If it’s too loose, the center of the motif will gap and the petal bases will look sloppy. Aim for a relaxed, even tension throughout. If you tend to crochet tightly, try going up half a hook size from what your yarn recommends.

Blocking makes a significant difference with the flame flower. After finishing, wet block your motif by soaking it briefly in cool water, gently pressing out the excess moisture in a towel, and then pinning it flat to a foam blocking mat. Pin each petal point outward so the tips stay sharp as the motif dries. Once it’s dry and unpinned, your flame flower will hold its shape beautifully and the petal definition will be noticeably crisper.

Color choice has a huge impact on the final look. For a realistic flame effect, work outward from deep red or burgundy at the center through orange in the middle layer to bright yellow at the outer tips. This gradient mimics actual fire and the result is absolutely stunning. For a more abstract or decorative look, try jewel tones like teal, magenta, and violet, or use a self-striping yarn and let the color changes happen naturally.

If you’re joining multiple motifs into a larger piece like a blanket or wall hanging, work the finishing round in a consistent joining color to visually unify the piece and make the seaming process much easier.

Project Ideas Using the Flame Flower Motif

The flame flower works as a standalone decorative piece, but it really shines when used as part of a larger project. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity.

A statement wall hanging made from five to nine flame flowers arranged in a cluster and mounted on a driftwood rod makes a breathtaking piece of textile art. Work each flower in a slightly different colorway to create a cohesive but varied composition.

Coasters are a great quick project for using up yarn scraps. Make your flame flowers at a smaller gauge and they become perfectly sized drink coasters with a lot more personality than the standard round.

Appliqués for bags, hats, and garments are another wonderful use of this motif. Stitch a single flame flower to the front of a tote bag or the brim of a beanie for an instant custom touch that looks far more complicated than the time it took to make.

For adventurous crocheters, an entire throw blanket made from joined flame flower motifs is a long-term project that results in something genuinely breathtaking. Use a coordinating color for the joining rounds and fill in any gaps between motifs with a simple granny-square-inspired filler motif.

Skill Level and Who This Pattern Is For

This pattern is rated as intermediate, which means it assumes comfort with the basic crochet stitches — chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet — as well as working in the round and the magic ring. The trickiest part for most beginners is the technique of inserting the hook into a lower round for the second and third petal layers, but the video tutorial makes this very manageable.

If you are newer to crochet and want to tackle this pattern, I would recommend practicing your basic stitch heights first and making sure you feel comfortable with treble and double treble crochet before starting. Once you have those stitches down, the logic of the pattern is actually quite intuitive.

Free PDF Download

The free PDF pattern is available for personal use and is formatted for easy printing on standard letter or A4 paper. It includes the full pattern, abbreviation reference, materials list, and a basic structural diagram. Download it, save it, share it with your crochet friends. The only thing I ask is that you do not sell the pattern itself or claim it as your own. Items made from this pattern are absolutely fine to sell — go ahead and stock those market tables.

If you make a flame flower using this pattern and tutorial, I would love to see your finished project. Tag your photos so the whole community can admire your work and get inspired.

Happy crocheting, and may your tension always be even and your petals always stand tall.