Anemone Flower Granny Square – Free Crochet Pattern + Video Tutorial
If you’ve been searching for a granny square that feels a little more special than the classic version, the Anemone Flower Granny Square might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. With its layered petals, striking center, and bold graphic appeal, this square brings the beauty of the anemone flower straight into your crochet work. Whether you’re making a cozy blanket, a boho tote bag, or a patchwork throw pillow, this motif is endlessly versatile and surprisingly satisfying to stitch.
In this post, you’ll find the complete free pattern, step-by-step written instructions, helpful tips for beginners and experienced crocheters alike, and a link to the video tutorial so you can follow along at your own pace. Let’s dive in.
Why the Anemone Flower Granny Square?
Granny squares have been a beloved staple in crochet for generations, and with good reason. They’re portable, they use up yarn scraps beautifully, and when you connect them, they create something truly stunning. But the Anemone Flower Granny Square takes that classic format and elevates it with a floral motif that mimics the real-life anemone — a flower known for its delicate, overlapping petals and deep, dark center.
What makes this particular square so appealing is the dimensional quality of the petals. Unlike flat floral squares, the anemone design creates petals that seem to lift off the surface slightly, giving your finished project a textured, almost three-dimensional look. The contrast between the dark center and bright petals makes it visually dynamic, and the clean geometric border grounds the design and makes joining multiple squares together a breeze.
This square works beautifully as a standalone piece too. Framed and hung on the wall, stitched into a pillow cover, or made oversized as a pot holder — the options are truly limitless.
Materials You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather everything together so your crochet session flows smoothly from start to finish.
Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (Category 4) works best for this pattern. You’ll need three colors — one for the center (Color A), one for the petals (Color B), and one for the outer border (Color C). The color combination you choose will dramatically change the mood of the finished square. Classic black center with white petals on a green border gives you a true anemone look. But pastels on a neutral background create something soft and cottagecore, while bold jewel tones on black make a striking, modern statement.
Hook: A 5mm (H/8) crochet hook is recommended for worsted weight yarn, but always check your gauge and adjust as needed.
Other supplies: Scissors, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and stitch markers if you find them helpful.
Gauge: Each finished square should measure approximately 6 inches by 6 inches when blocked. Gauge isn’t critical here unless you’re matching squares to a specific project size, but consistent tension will make joining easier.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.
ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
tr – treble crochet
sp – space
st(s) – stitch(es)
rep – repeat
beg – beginning
MR – magic ring (also called a magic circle)
BLO – back loop only
FLO – front loop only
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
The Free Pattern: Anemone Flower Granny Square
Round 1 – The Center (Color A)
Make a magic ring. Into the ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc. Join with sl st to the top of the beg ch-3. You should have 12 dc total. Pull the magic ring closed snugly.
Fasten off Color A and weave in the end, or leave a tail to weave in later.
Tip: If you’re not comfortable with a magic ring, you can chain 4 and join to form a ring instead. Just slip stitch into the first chain, then work your stitches into the center of the ring.
Round 2 – The Inner Petals (Color B)
Join Color B with a standing sc in any stitch of Round 1.
Working in the front loops only (FLO) of Round 1:
Ch 3, sc in next st — repeat from to around all 12 stitches. You will end with ch 3 and a sl st into the first sc to join. You should have 12 ch-3 loops forming the base of the inner petals.
Now work the petals themselves. Into each ch-3 loop, work: sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc. Join with sl st. You now have 12 small petals radiating from the center.
Tip: This petal technique is what gives the Anemone Flower Granny Square its characteristic look. The petals are worked in the front loops so that the back loops remain free for the next round — this is essential for creating the layered petal effect.
Round 3 – The Outer Petals (Color B, continued)
Turn your work to the wrong side so you’re looking at the back of the piece.
Working in the back loops of Round 1 that are still free, join yarn with a sc in the first free back loop. Work: ch 5, sc in next back loop around, repeating 12 times total. Join with sl st. You should have 12 ch-5 loops.
Now, still on the wrong side (or you can flip back to the right side — your preference), work the larger outer petals into each ch-5 loop: sc, hdc, 2 dc, tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc. Join with sl st.
These outer petals are larger than the inner ones and will fan out beautifully around the center flower when the piece is flipped back to the right side.
Round 4 – The Petal Stabilizing Round (Color B)
With the right side facing you, the inner and outer petals should now be clearly visible. To stabilize the outer petals and prepare for the border rounds, work a sc around the base of each outer petal through the back of the work. This round is worked loosely so it doesn’t pucker.
Work 1 sc between each outer petal point (at the base, where the petals meet the center rounds). You should have 12 sc evenly spaced. Join with sl st.
Fasten off Color B.
Round 5 – Transition to the Square (Color C)
This is where the flower transforms into a granny square. Join Color C with a sl st in any sc from Round 4.
Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 2 dc in same st. Ch 2 (corner), 3 dc in same st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, skip 2 sts — continuing in this rhythm, you will create 4 corner ch-2 spaces and clusters of dc between them to form the square shape.
Work your way around: at each of the four corners, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into one stitch or space. Along each side, work clusters of 3 dc separated by ch-1 spaces to fill in the sides evenly.
The exact stitch count between corners may vary slightly depending on your tension, but aim for 2 clusters of 3 dc on each side between corners. Join with sl st to the top of the beg ch-3.
Round 6 – Border Round (Color C)
Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work dc across, following the structure of the square: 3 dc in each ch-1 space along the sides, and at each corner space, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc).
Join with sl st to the top of beg ch-3. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Round 7 – Final Border (Optional, Color C or contrasting color)
For a slightly larger, more finished square with a clean edge, add one final round:
Join with sc in any corner ch-2 sp. Work 3 sc in corner sp, sc across the side all the way around, working 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch-1 sp. At each corner, work 3 sc.
Join with sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Block your finished square for best results.
Video Tutorial
If written instructions aren’t quite clicking for you — and honestly, for a motif with layered petals, that is completely understandable — the video tutorial is an invaluable companion to this pattern. Watching the petals come together in real time makes the technique much clearer, especially the front-loop and back-loop rounds that create the dimensional floral effect.
In the video, you’ll see the entire square made from beginning to end, with close-ups on the trickier steps like the petal rounds and the transition from the circle flower into the square border. The tutorial is suitable for intermediate beginners — if you know how to do a magic ring, single crochet, and double crochet, you have everything you need to follow along.
Search for the video tutorial on YouTube using the title of this post, or find it linked directly on this page. Watching even just the petal rounds before attempting them will make a significant difference.
Tips for a Beautiful Finished Square
Block your squares. This one tip will transform the look of your finished project more than almost anything else. Wet blocking or steam blocking evens out the stitches, opens up the lace-like spaces in the border, and gives the petals a neat, uniform shape. Pin the square to a foam blocking mat while it’s still damp and let it dry completely before using or joining.
Keep your tension consistent. The petal rounds in particular can get tight if you’re a naturally tight crocheter. Try going up half a hook size for those rounds if you find the petals are puckering or pulling toward the center.
Use high-contrast colors. The detail in this square really sings when there’s a clear difference between the center, petals, and border. A dark center against light petals, or bright petals against a deep-toned border, will make the anemone motif pop. If all three colors are similar in value (lightness or darkness), the layers can get lost.
Weave in ends as you go. With three colors and multiple join points, this square generates a fair number of yarn tails. Weaving them in at the end of each round rather than saving them all for the end of the project makes the finishing stage much less overwhelming, especially if you’re making a large number of squares for a blanket.
Practice the petal technique on a small swatch first. If you’ve never worked into front loops only and back loops only in separate rounds, take a few minutes to try it on a practice piece before starting your actual square. It’s a simple technique once you see it in action, but understanding which loops you’re working into makes all the difference.
Project Ideas Using the Anemone Flower Granny Square
Once you have the pattern down, you’ll find yourself wanting to make these squares in every colorway imaginable. Here are some project ideas to inspire you.
A Patchwork Blanket: This is perhaps the most popular use for granny squares of any kind. Arrange your Anemone squares in a grid, alternating colorways for a quilt-like effect, or keep all the squares identical for a bold, repeating pattern. A lap blanket might need anywhere from 25 to 36 squares depending on the finished size of each one, while a full throw could use 60 or more.
A Boho Tote Bag: Join 12 to 16 squares into two flat panels and seam them together on three sides, then add handles. This makes a sturdy, eye-catching bag that’s perfect for the farmers market or beach. Line it with cotton fabric to keep small items from falling through the openings in the border.
A Pillow Cover: Make two squares each measuring around 18 inches (you can either make oversized squares or join several together) and seam three sides. Add a zipper or button closure along the fourth side and stuff with a pillow insert. The textured petals look especially beautiful against a simple sofa.
A Framed Wall Hanging: Make one large statement square in rich, jewel-toned yarn and have it professionally framed or stretched over a canvas frame. It becomes wearable art — or in this case, hangable art.
A Table Runner: Join squares end to end in a long strip for a stunning table runner that works for everyday use or as a holiday decoration depending on your color choices.
Coasters: Worked at a smaller gauge with fingering weight yarn and a 2.5mm hook, each square becomes a delicate coaster. A set of six in coordinating colors makes a gorgeous handmade gift.
Joining Multiple Squares
When you’re ready to join your squares into a larger project, there are several methods to choose from. The join-as-you-go method is popular because it eliminates the need for a separate seaming step — you connect each new square to the previous one during the final border round. The flat slip stitch join creates a subtle, neat seam on the back of the work. The zipper join or flat sc join worked through both squares creates a visible ridge on the right side that can become a design element in itself.
Whatever method you choose, blocking all your squares before joining will make the process much smoother. Squares that are the same size and shape join cleanly and lie flat once connected.
Yarn Suggestions
Because color and texture are so important in this pattern, yarn choice matters more than usual. Here are a few recommendations.
For a classic look, a smooth worsted weight cotton like Paintbox Simply DK (held double) or Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton gives you crisp stitch definition that really shows off the petal detail. Cotton also blocks beautifully and has a nice drape for bags and home décor items.
For a cozy blanket, a superwash merino wool or wool blend like Cascade 220 or Paintbox Simply Chunky (adjusted to a larger hook) gives warmth and gorgeous stitch definition. Wool takes blocking especially well.
For a more economical option, acrylic yarns like Caron Simply Soft, Red Heart With Love, or Lion Brand Yarn Pound of Love work perfectly and come in a huge range of colors. They’re machine washable and durable, making them ideal for baby blankets or items that will see frequent use.
Skill Level and Learning Opportunity
This pattern is rated as intermediate, but confident beginners who are comfortable with the magic ring, basic stitches, and changing colors should absolutely give it a try. The techniques used — working into front loops only, building dimensional petals, and transitioning from a circular motif into a square border — are all fundamental skills that will serve you in countless other patterns. Think of this square as both a beautiful project and a crochet lesson.
If any part of the pattern feels confusing, turn to the video tutorial. Visual learners especially will find that watching each step in motion makes the whole thing come together quickly.
Share Your Makes
There is something genuinely wonderful about seeing how different crocheters interpret the same pattern. If you make the Anemone Flower Granny Square, please share your finished squares in a crochet community online — whether that’s on Instagram, Pinterest, Ravelry, or a Facebook crochet group. Seeing your color choices, your projects, and your creative applications of the motif is one of the great joys of sharing a free pattern.
Tag your photos so others can find inspiration in your work. Your version of this square might be exactly what another crafter needs to see to finally take the plunge and try it themselves.
Happy crocheting — and may your petals always lay flat on the first try.
