Knitted Daffodil Free Pattern: Bring the Beauty of Spring to Your Needles

There is something undeniably cheerful about a daffodil. That bold yellow trumpet surrounded by pale petals, nodding gently in an early spring breeze, carries with it the promise that winter is finally over. Now imagine being able to recreate that beauty in yarn — a knitted daffodil that never wilts, never needs water, and brings a permanent splash of sunshine to your home, your gifts, and your creative projects. Whether you want to decorate a wreath, top a handknitted hat, embellish a bag, or simply make a small bouquet for a friend who needs cheering up, a knitted daffodil is one of those small, satisfying projects that delivers enormous reward for a modest investment of time and materials.

This free knitted daffodil pattern is written for knitters who have a basic understanding of knitting fundamentals — you should be comfortable with casting on, knitting, purling, and simple shaping techniques like increases and decreases. If you are a confident beginner, you will find this achievable with a little patience. If you are an intermediate or advanced knitter, you will fly through it and probably want to make a whole bunch of them before the afternoon is over.

Let’s get into everything you need to know.

What You Will Need

Before you cast on a single stitch, it helps to gather your materials. The beauty of a flower project like this is that it uses very small amounts of yarn, making it a wonderful stash buster. If you have been collecting those leftover balls and partial skeins from larger projects, this is exactly the kind of craft that puts them to good use.

Yarn: You will need a small amount of yellow yarn for the petals and a slightly different shade or the same yellow for the trumpet. Many knitters like to use a slightly deeper or more golden yellow for the trumpet to give the flower some realistic contrast. You will also need a small amount of green yarn for the stem and leaves. A light worsted weight or DK weight yarn works beautifully for this pattern. Avoid anything too bulky, as the finished flower can look chunky and lose its delicate shape.

Needles: A set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) in a size appropriate for your yarn weight works best, typically US size 3 to US size 5 (3.25 mm to 3.75 mm). You can also use a short circular needle if you prefer, but DPNs give you the most flexibility for working small pieces in the round.

Additional supplies: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming, a small amount of polyester fiberfill or cotton stuffing if you want to add dimension to the trumpet, scissors, and stitch markers.

Optional: Floral wire or pipe cleaners for making the stem poseable, which is wonderful if you are arranging your daffodil in a vase or wreath.

Understanding the Anatomy of a Knitted Daffodil

A real daffodil has two distinct parts that you will be recreating in yarn. The first is the corona — that distinctive central trumpet or cup that sticks out from the center of the flower. The second is the ring of six outer petals, called the perianth, that frames the trumpet. Your knitted daffodil will be constructed in separate pieces and then assembled, which gives you the most realistic and three-dimensional result.

The pattern below creates a flower that is approximately three inches across when worked in DK weight yarn on the recommended needle size. If you use a lighter yarn and smaller needles, you will get a more delicate, miniature flower. If you go up in weight and needle size, you will get a larger, bolder bloom.

The Free Knitted Daffodil Pattern

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

Throughout this pattern, the following standard knitting abbreviations apply. CO means cast on. K means knit. P means purl. K2tog means knit two stitches together, which is a right-leaning decrease. SSK means slip, slip, knit, which is a left-leaning decrease. KFB means knit into the front and back of a stitch, which creates an increase. PM means place marker. SM means slip marker. BO means bind off. RS means right side. WS means wrong side. St and sts mean stitch and stitches respectively.

Part One: The Petals

The six petals of this daffodil are worked individually and then joined. Each petal is worked flat and shaped with simple increases and decreases to create a gently pointed oval shape.

Make six petals in yellow or cream yarn.

CO 3 sts.

Row 1 (RS): KFB, K1, KFB. (5 sts)

Row 2 (WS): Purl across.

Row 3: KFB, K3, KFB. (7 sts)

Row 4: Purl across.

Row 5: KFB, K5, KFB. (9 sts)

Row 6: Purl across.

Row 7: Knit across.

Row 8: Purl across.

Row 9: Knit across.

Row 10: Purl across.

Row 11: K1, SSK, K3, K2tog, K1. (7 sts)

Row 12: Purl across.

Row 13: K1, SSK, K1, K2tog, K1. (5 sts)

Row 14: Purl across.

Row 15: K1, SSK, K2tog. (3 sts) — Note: you can also work this as SSK, K1, K2tog if you prefer a more centered decrease. (3 sts)

Row 16: Purl across.

Row 17: SSK, K1. (2 sts)

Row 18: P2tog. (1 st)

Break yarn and pull through remaining stitch to fasten off. Weave in ends. Make five more petals in the same manner so you have six total.

Part Two: The Trumpet (Corona)

The trumpet is worked in the round using DPNs. It begins at the base with a smaller circumference and gently flares outward toward the open end, mimicking the shape of a real daffodil corona.

Work in golden yellow or deep yellow yarn.

CO 20 sts and distribute evenly across three or four DPNs. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

PM to mark the beginning of the round.

Rounds 1–3: Knit all stitches.

Round 4: K1, KFB; repeat from to end of round. (30 sts)

Rounds 5–6: Knit all stitches.

Round 7: K2, KFB; repeat from to end of round. (40 sts)

Round 8: Knit.

Round 9: K1, P1; repeat from to end of round. (This creates a gentle picot-like edge that mimics the ruffled rim of a real daffodil trumpet.)

Round 10: Knit.

BO loosely. The bound-off edge should have a slight ruffle or flare. If your bind-off is too tight and the edge puckers, try binding off with a needle one size larger.

If you would like to add a little stuffing to the trumpet to help it hold its shape and stand up from the center of the flower, push a small amount of fiberfill into the tube before assembling the flower.

Part Three: The Stem and Leaves

The stem is worked as a simple i-cord, which is one of the most useful techniques in a knitter’s repertoire. An i-cord creates a neat, round tube of knitting that looks tidy from all sides.

Work in green yarn.

Using two DPNs, CO 4 sts.

Knit all 4 sts. Do not turn your work. Slide the stitches to the right end of the needle. Pull the yarn across the back. Repeat from * until the i-cord measures approximately 6 inches, or your desired stem length.

Break yarn, leaving a tail, and use a tapestry needle to pull the tail through the remaining 4 sts and cinch closed.

If you want a poseable stem, insert a piece of floral wire or a pipe cleaner into the center of the i-cord before you close it off. Leave a small length of wire protruding from the base end so you can anchor it into a foam base, pot of soil, or wreath form.

For the leaf: The classic daffodil leaf is long, narrow, and slightly curved. Cast on 5 sts using green yarn.

Row 1: K2, P1, K2.

Row 2: P2, K1, P2.

Repeat these two rows until the leaf measures 4 to 5 inches, then begin decreasing.

Next row: K1, SSK, K2. (4 sts)

Next row: P2, K1, P1.

Next row: SSK, K2tog. (2 sts)

Next row: P2tog. (1 st)

Fasten off. Make one or two leaves per flower.

Assembling Your Knitted Daffodil

Assembly is where the magic happens, and it is also where a little patience pays off enormously. Lay your six petals out on a flat surface, arranging them in a circle with the pointed tips facing outward and the cast-on tails meeting in the center. Use your tapestry needle and a length of yellow yarn to sew the base of each petal to the bases of its two neighbors, working around the circle until all six petals are joined into a flat flower shape.

Once your petal ring is complete, position the trumpet in the center with its cast-on (base) end facing down into the flower. The flared, bound-off end should face upward and outward. Use yellow yarn and your tapestry needle to sew the base of the trumpet firmly to the center of the petal ring, catching a few stitches from each petal to hold it in place. Make sure the trumpet stands upright and is centered.

Turn the flower over so you are looking at the back. Position the top of your i-cord stem at the center back of the flower and sew it securely in place. Sew the leaves to the stem at the base or slightly partway up the stem, just as real daffodil leaves emerge from the base of the plant.

Weave in all remaining ends very thoroughly. Knitted flowers have a lot of small pieces and therefore a lot of ends, so do not rush this step.

Tips for a More Beautiful Finished Flower

One of the most common questions knitters have about small projects like this is how to make the finished piece look neat and professional rather than handmade in the slightly-awkward-looking sense. Here are a few things that make a real difference.

Block your petals before assembly. Even a light steam block or a quick damp block laid flat will smooth out any uneven stitches and help the petals hold their oval shape beautifully. Pin them out to size while they dry and you will be amazed at the difference.

Choose your yarn carefully. Acrylic yarns are perfectly fine for this project if that is what you have on hand, but a yarn with a little natural fiber content — a wool-acrylic blend, pure wool, or cotton — will block more easily and give you a softer, more organic look. For a shiny, silkier flower, consider a bamboo or silk blend.

Pay attention to tension when joining the petals. If you sew them together too tightly, the petal ring will cup inward and lose its flat, open appearance. Work with a slightly loose hand and check frequently that the ring is lying flat.

If your trumpet is not staying upright after assembly, a tiny bit of craft glue applied with a toothpick between the trumpet and the petal ring can help stabilize it without being visible from the front.

Creative Ways to Use Your Knitted Daffodils

Once you have made one daffodil, you will almost certainly want to make more. They are quick enough to complete in an evening and satisfying enough that the urge to keep going is strong. Here are some wonderful ways to put them to use.

A small bouquet of three to five knitted daffodils arranged in a simple jar or vase makes an incredibly thoughtful and lasting gift. Unlike real flowers, they will brighten someone’s windowsill for years. Pair them with a few knitted snowdrops or crocus flowers for a full early-spring arrangement.

Attach a finished daffodil to the brim of a knitted or crocheted hat for an instant seasonal accessory. Children especially love this treatment on beanies and sun hats.

Sew a small daffodil to the corner of a knitted dishcloth or hand towel, or use it as an embellishment on a knitted tote bag. A single flower placed on a plain item gives it a handmade, artisanal quality that is immediately charming.

Create a spring wreath by making a larger number of daffodils and attaching them alongside knitted or artificial leaves to a foam or wire wreath base. Add a few ribbon bows and you have a door decoration that will bring smiles to everyone who passes by.

Knitted daffodils also make wonderful package toppers for handmade gifts. Simply attach one to the ribbon or twine on a wrapped gift in place of a traditional bow.

Modifying the Pattern for Different Skill Levels

If you are a beginner who finds the petal shaping a little challenging, you can simplify each petal by casting on five stitches and working straight in stockinette for ten rows before decreasing back down. The result will be a slightly less tapered petal but still a charming flower overall.

If you are a more experienced knitter looking for additional challenge, consider working the entire flower in one piece using short-row shaping for the petals and picking up stitches for the trumpet rather than making them separately. You might also experiment with stranded colorwork on the petals to suggest the subtle color variation that appears in certain daffodil varieties, such as the peach-and-white or white-and-orange combinations you see in flower shops each spring.

Caring for Your Knitted Daffodils

Knitted flowers are generally very easy to care for, though the specific instructions will depend on the fiber content of your yarn. Wool flowers should be hand washed gently in cool water and laid flat to dry. Acrylic flowers can generally be machine washed on a gentle cycle and tumble dried on low. Cotton flowers wash beautifully and are quite durable.

If a flower becomes misshapen after washing, a light re-blocking while damp will restore it. Keep this in mind if you are making knitted daffodils as gifts — a quick note about care instructions is always appreciated.

A Note on Yarn Substitutions

This pattern is very forgiving when it comes to yarn substitutions. The most important thing is to keep your yarn weight consistent within the flower — if you mix a heavy worsted trumpet with a fingering-weight petal ring, the proportions will look off. Beyond that, you have tremendous freedom. Try orange for the trumpet with pale cream petals for a classic King Alfred daffodil look. Try white petals with a soft peach trumpet for a delicate, romantic version. Try miniature versions in fingering weight for a fairy garden or a framed fiber art piece.

Spring will always come back around, but with a collection of knitted daffodils, you can carry a little of it with you all year long. This free pattern gives you everything you need to get started, and the rest is just the pleasant, rhythmic pleasure of needles and yarn working together toward something genuinely beautiful. Cast on, enjoy the process, and before long you will have a bloom worth sharing.