How to Crochet Puff Stitch Flowers

By
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional needlecrafter with over 10 years of hands-on embroidery, sewing, and knitting experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small." Mollie also designs and sells stitching projects, co-hosts a crafting podcast, and has taught online embroidery courses.
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Updated on 10/12/20
How to Make Puff Stitch Crochet Flowers

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

How does your garden grow? With colorful yarn and a crochet hook! Make these fun puff stitch flowers with leftover bits of yarn and a few simple crochet stitches. Use the finished flowers to decorate your crochet projects, craft other types of projects, or even stitch them together to make a thick, puffy floral fabric.

For this project, we used Lion Brand Yarn Bonbons, which are a DK weight yarn. We paired it with a size H (5mm) hook. This yarn shows the definition of each loop in the puff stitches. Try working with different types of yarn and hook sizes for different looks. You can even mix your yarn types, as long as the weight remains the same.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Crochet hook
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle

Materials

  • Multiple colors of yarn

Instructions

  1. Make a Magic Circle Center

    Choose a color for the center of your flower and make a magic circle. After you complete the first chain stitch to start the circle, work five single crochet stitches. Slip stitch to the first stitch and pull the end to tighten the ring. You should have six stitch loops you can work with around the ring. End off the first color and trim the yarn, leaving a tail.

    Tip

    If you don't want to use a magic circle, you can start with a ring of chain stitches and work single crochet stitches into the center. 

    Make a Magic Circle for the Center
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  2. Attach the Main Petal Color

    Choose a second color and draw the yarn through one of the single crochet stitches. Tie the yarn to secure it, then draw up a loop.

    A yellow crochet magic circle with pink being looped in to create a petal
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  3. The First Petal

    Chain 3. This chain starts each petal on the flower and determines the height of the puff stitch.

    Chain 3 to start a puff stitch petal
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  4. Work a Puff Stitch

    Work a puff stitch into the same stitch as the chain 3. You can make puff stitches in different sizes. For the flower petals, yarn over, insert the hook, yarn over to draw up a loop five times. Each time you draw up a loop, be sure to draw it up to the height of the chain 3. You should have 11 loops on your hook.

    Crochet loops on a hook making a puff stitch petal
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  5. End the Puff Stitch

    Chain 1 to secure the puff stitch, then chain 2 more. These three chain stitches finish the stitch and will connect back to the center.

    Close the Puff Stitch With a Chain and Chain 2 More
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  6. Slip Stitch to Finish the Petal

    Slip stitch in the next single crochet stitch. This completes the first petal and sets you up to start the next. As you work your way around the flower, you can work over the ends of the yarn to secure them.

    Slip Stitch in the Next Single Crochet
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  7. Chain 3 to Make the Next Petal

    Chain 3 and work a puff stitch into the same stitch.

    Chain 3 to start the next puff stitch petal
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  8. Make More Puff Stitch Petals

    Chain 3 to secure the puff stitch and extend the chain, then slip stitch into the next stitch. Continue following this pattern around the flower. 

    Add More Puff Stitch Petals
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  9. End the Flower With a Slip Stitch

    When you finish the sixth flower petal, slip stitch into the first single crochet. End off the yarn.

    Slip Stitch in the First Petal to End
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  10. Weave the Ends and Secure the Center

    As you work your way around the flower, the center of the magic circle may start to loosen. Pull the end to tighten it again, then weave in the end to secure it. You can also gently pull the yarn ends you worked over to draw everything in, then weave in the remaining ends. Trim the remaining yarn.

    Weave in the Ends
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

Ways to Use Puff Stitch Flowers

An assortment of colorful puff stitch crochet flowers
The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

With practice, you can make these flowers quickly, and you'll want to make them by the dozen! Try these ideas for using your flowers:

  • Attach them to hats.
  • Sew a pin to the back for a fun brooch.
  • Hang them as a garland.
  • Attach them together to form a scarf or even a blanket.