purlJam

# Blooming Flower Crochet Pattern

A cheerful 3D blooming flower plush with a round center and six soft petals. Perfect for beginners — uses only basic stitches and simple shaping. Great as a desk decoration, photo prop, or cute keepsake.

**Difficulty:** Easy
**Finished Size:** Approximately 4.5 in (11.5 cm) across the bloom
**Designer Notes:** Worked in continuous spirals (amigurumi style). Use a stitch marker to track the start of each round.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (#4) acrylic or cotton, small amounts of:
  - Color A (Petals): ~30 yd / 27 m — soft pink, red, lavender, or your favorite flower color
  - Color B (Center): ~10 yd / 9 m — yellow or gold
  - Color C (Leaf, optional): ~10 yd / 9 m — green
- **Hook:** US E-4 (3.5 mm) or F-5 (3.75 mm)
- **Stuffing:** Polyester fiberfill (small handful)
- **Stitch marker** (or scrap yarn)
- **Yarn needle** for sewing and weaving in ends
- **Scissors**

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## Gauge

4 sc x 4 rounds = 1 in (2.5 cm) in the round.
Exact gauge is not critical for this project — work tightly so stuffing does not show through.

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## Abbreviations (US Terms)

- **ch** — chain
- **sl st** — slip stitch
- **sc** — single crochet
- **hdc** — half double crochet
- **dc** — double crochet
- **tr** — treble crochet
- **inc** — 2 sc in same stitch (increase)
- **dec** — invisible decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **rnd(s)** — round(s)
- **MR** — magic ring
- **[ ]** — total stitch count at end of round

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## Construction Overview

1. Crochet the **Center Sphere** (Color B).
2. Crochet **6 Petals** (Color A), each made flat and joined.
3. Optional: Crochet **1 Leaf** (Color C).
4. Sew petals around the base of the center sphere.
5. Attach leaf behind petals (optional).

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## Pattern Instructions

### Center Sphere (Make 1, in Color B – Yellow)

- **Rnd 1:** 6 sc in MR. **[6 sts]**
- **Rnd 2:** inc in each st around. **[12 sts]** *(6 × 2 = 12 ✓)*
- **Rnd 3:** (sc, inc) around. **[18 sts]** *(6 reps × 3 = 18 ✓)*
- **Rnds 4–5:** sc in each st around. **[18 sts]**
- **Rnd 6:** (sc, dec) around. **[12 sts]** *(6 reps × 2 = 12 ✓)*

Begin stuffing the sphere firmly with fiberfill.

- **Rnd 7:** dec around. **[6 sts]** *(6 ÷ 2 = 3 reps × 2 = 6 ✓ — wait: 6 sts ÷ 2 per dec = 3 dec, ending in 3 sts. Correction below.)*

> ✏️ **Corrected Rnd 7:** dec 3 times around. **[3 sts]**

Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20 cm) tail. Use yarn needle to weave through remaining 3 sts and pull tight to close. Weave tail to the **flat bottom** of the sphere — this is where petals will attach.

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### Petals (Make 6, in Color A)

Each petal is worked flat in rows around a starting chain, creating a teardrop shape.

- **Ch 8.**
- **Row 1:** Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 3, hdc 1, sc 1. Do **not** turn — continue around to the opposite side of the chain. Working along the bottom of the chain: sc 1, hdc 1, dc 3, hdc 1, sc 1. Sl st to the first sc to join. **[14 sts total]** *(7 + 7 = 14 ✓)*
- **Row 2 (border):** Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, hdc in next, 2 dc in next, (dc, ch 1, dc) in tip st, 2 dc in next, hdc in next, sc in next 2, sl st to end. **[~16 sts]**

Fasten off, leaving a **10 in (25 cm) tail** for sewing.

**Repeat to make 6 petals total.**

> 💡 *Tip:* Block petals lightly by pressing flat under a damp cloth for crisp shape.

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### Leaf (Optional, Make 1, in Color C – Green)

- **Ch 10.**
- **Row 1:** Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sl st 1, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 3, hdc 1, sc 1, sl st 1. Working around tip and along opposite side of chain: sl st 1, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 3, hdc 1, sc 1, sl st 1. Join with sl st. **[18 sts]** *(9 + 9 = 18 ✓)*

Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25 cm) tail.

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## Assembly

1. **Place the center sphere** flat-side down on your work surface.
2. **Arrange 6 petals** evenly around the bottom edge of the sphere, overlapping slightly so they fan out like a real bloom. Pin in place.
   - Spacing tip: imagine a clock face — place petals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 o'clock positions.
3. **Sew each petal** to the base of the sphere using its tail and a yarn needle. Stitch through the back-bottom of the petal and into the sphere, making 4–5 secure stitches per petal. Knot and weave in tail.
4. **Attach the leaf** (optional): position behind the petals, peeking out from one side. Sew in place using the leaf tail.
5. **Weave in all remaining ends** with the yarn needle.

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## Finishing

- Gently shape the petals by curling them slightly outward with your fingers.
- For extra dimension, lightly steam-block the petals (hold an iron 1 in above; do not press if using acrylic).
- Optional embellishments:
  - **French knots** in a contrasting color around the center for "pollen" detail.
  - **Surface slip stitch** veining down the leaf center.
  - **Sew a felt circle** under the bloom to neaten the back, or attach a pin back / magnet / keychain finding.

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## Stitch Count Verification Summary

| Piece | Final Count | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Center Sphere – Rnd 1 | 6 | ✓ |
| Center Sphere – Rnd 3 | 18 | ✓ (6×3) |
| Center Sphere – Rnd 6 | 12 | ✓ (6×2) |
| Center Sphere – Rnd 7 | 3 | ✓ (closing) |
| Petal Row 1 | 14 | ✓ (7+7 around chain) |
| Leaf Row 1 | 18 | ✓ (9+9 around chain) |
| Total Petals | 6 | ✓ |

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## Customization Ideas

- **Mini keychain bloom:** Use DK yarn and 3.0 mm hook — finished size ~3 in.
- **Bouquet:** Make 5–7 blooms in different colors and attach to floral wire wrapped in green yarn.
- **Sunflower:** Use brown for the center, deep yellow petals, and add 8 petals instead of 6 for a fuller bloom.
- **Cherry blossom:** Use pale pink petals, yellow center, and shorten petals (ch 6 instead of ch 8).

Enjoy your blooming flower! 🌸