Learn how to make this African flower granny square pattern with my easy tutorial! The African flower square is perfect for making pillows, blankets and cardigans!
The crochet African flower square is one of the most recognizable crochet granny square motifs. It’s been around for almost 2 decades and has taken the crochet world by storm. There's even people who make crochet plushies with it! The most I've done to make an animal out of the African flower motif is my crochet turtle coaster pattern, and that's with the 6 petal version.
This tutorial is for the 8 petal African flower granny square pattern, which you can turn into any design that you want. In fact, I use this crochet square to make my crochet African flower bag pattern. I plan on making a blanket soon with it too! But I might add a slight variation to the design.
Now let’s get started on how to crochet the African flower granny square!
Jump to:
✏️ Things To Note:
- Size: Each African flower square is roughly 6 inches, keep that in mind as you make a larger pattern, like a blanket or bag.
- Weaving in the ends: The granny square African flower pattern has a lot of ends due to all the color changes, make sure you secure your tails well. My trick is that after weaving them in I use a needle felting needle a few times where I placed the tail end. This crosses the fibers from the yarn and makes it extra secure.
- Beginner-Friendly: If you're new to crochet, don't worry — the African flower granny square crochet pattern is very approachable for beginners! You just need to know the crochet foundational stitches.
🪡 Materials Needed
- Yarn of any kind and color, preferably 4 different colors.
- 5mm Hook
- Tapestry needle
💭Abbreviations to Remember (US terms)
- Chains (ch)
- Slip stitches (sl st)
- Single crochet (sc)
- Half double crochet (hdc)
- Double crochet (dc)
- Triple crochet (tr)
🧋Variations
Try using scrap yarn to make a colorful square or try to keep it more subdue and try making the square with only 1-2 colors.
🍵Instructions for African Flower Granny Square Pattern
For this African Flower Square crochet pattern, we will be working in rounds.
With color A: Ch x5 and join with a sl st to form a closed circle.
Round 1: Ch x3 (counts as a dc), dc, ch x1. *Dc x2, ch x1* and then repeat 6 more times. Then join with a sl st to top of the beginning ch x3 (16 dc + 8 ch spaces).
Round 2: Join color B to any ch x1 space. Ch x3 and dc, ch x1, dc x2 in the same ch x1 space from the round below.
*Then dc x2, ch x1, and dc x2 into the next ch x1 space*. Repeat from * for the rest of the round and make a sl st to the top of the beginning ch x3 (32 dc + 8 ch spaces).
Round 3: Sl st into the next stitch. Then sl st into the ch x1 space.
Ch x3 and dc x4 into the ch x1 space.
Then *in the next ch x1 space dc x5*, repeat from * for the rest of the round (8 shells). Next, fasten off the yarn.
Round 4: Join color C into any flower petal top. Make a sc into every stitch you made in the last round, but make a long sc in between petals.
A long sc is made by going down an extra row and then pulling up the yarn to be even with your current round and making a sc like normal. You want to pull the yarn up to your current round so that your flower doesn’t curl and lays flat better.
After completing the round, then make a sl st to the first sc (5 sc on top of each petal + a long sc in between petals). Then fasten off the yarn.
Round 5: Join color D to the top of any long sc from round 4. Make a sc into the same stitch, then sc into the next 2 stitches. Hdc, dc, and then dc again in the following stitches. Tr, ch x2, tr in the next stitch, this is your first corner and should be made into one of the long sc stitches from round 4. * Dc in the next 2 stitches, hdc, 1 sc in the next 5 stitches, hdc, dc in the next 2 stitches. Then make a corner: tr, ch x2, tr.* Repeat from * 2 more times.
Dc in the next 2 stitches, hdc, and 1 sc in the final 2 stitches. Then join with a sl st to the 1st sc
Round 6: Ch x2, then dc in the next stitch and the following stitches until you reach a corner. When you get to the chain space in the corner make a dc x2 + ch x2 + dc x2. Then continue making dc stitches into the next side of the square. Repeat 3 more times for the rest of the round. Then sl st to the first dc in the round. Finally, fasten off the yarn. Weave in any ends.
And now you have a finished crochet African flower square! I hope you enjoyed learning how to make 8 petal African flower crochet motif!
If you enjoyed the crochet African flower pattern and want to crochet more floral themed patterns check out my crochet coin purse pattern. You can probably use this pattern as a base and roughly follow the sewing to make the 8 petal flower granny square into the coin purse's design, it’ll just be slightly bigger.
Other alternative floral things you can make with scrap yarn are my crochet flower keychain pattern and my simple crochet flower applique pattern.
If you are looking for other crochet granny square patterns, check out my crochet lemon granny square, or my granny square coaster pattern!
Until next time, happy crocheting!
🐌Expert Tips
- Consistent Tension: Maintaining a consistent tension is crucial for neat crochet squares. If your squares are too tight, they can become stiff and difficult to join, while loose squares might not hold their shape properly.
- Even Petals: When working the 8 petal African flower crochet pattern, make sure the petals are evenly spaced. This ensures that the flower maintains a smooth, symmetrical look. Use stitch markers if needed to keep track of the stitch count for each petal.
- Blocking: Before you start assembling your squares, consider blocking them to ensure they are the correct size and shape. This step can help to even out any minor imperfections and gives your squares a polished, professional finish.
🧵Pattern FAQs
Absolutely! I use scrap yarn for this project and so can you! You can also make the colors very intentional and use new yarn. Mix vibrant colors, pastels, or even monochromatic shades for a unique look.
The pattern is based off of “V” stitches for 1-2 rounds before moving onto shells to create the upper portion of the petals.
You can join them how you normally do for any granny square. I prefer to sew mine together, but occasionally I will single crochet them using the front loops on both squares.
🧶More Crochet Flower Patterns
If you tried this African Flower Granny Square Pattern (or any other pattern on my website), please let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
African Flower Granny Square Pattern
Materials
- Yarn of any kind and color preferably 4 different colors.
- 5 mm Hook
- Tapestry needle
Abbreviations (US terms)
- Chains - ch
- Slip stitches (sl st)
- Single crochet - sc
- Half double crochet - hdc
- Double crochet - dc
- Triple crochet - tr
Notes
- Size: Each African flower square is roughly 6 inches, keep that in mind as you make a larger pattern, like a blanket or bag.
- Weaving in the ends: The granny square African flower pattern has a lot of ends due to all the color changes, make sure you secure your tails well. My trick is that after weaving them in I use a needle felting needle a few times where I placed the tail end. This crosses the fibers from the yarn and makes it extra secure.
- Beginner-Friendly: If you're new to crochet, don't worry — the African flower granny square crochet pattern is very approachable for beginners! You just need to know the crochet foundational stitches.
Instructions
- For this African Flower Granny Square crochet pattern, we will be working in rounds.
- With color A: Ch x5 and join with a sl st to form a closed circle.
- Round 1: Ch x3 (counts as a dc), dc, ch x1. *Dc x2, ch x1* and then repeat 6 more times. Then join with a sl st to top of the beginning ch x3 (16 dc + 8 ch spaces).
- Round 2: Join color B to any ch x1 space. Ch x3 and dc, ch x1, dc x2 in the same ch x1 space from the round below. *Then dc x2, ch x1, and dc x2 into the next ch x1 space*. Repeat from * for the rest of the round and make a sl st to the top of the beginning ch x3 (32 dc + 8 ch spaces).
- Round 3: Sl st into the next stitch. Then sl st into the ch x1 space. Ch x3 and dc x4 into the ch x1 space. Then *in the next ch x1 space dc x5*, repeat from * for the rest of the round (8 shells). Next, fasten off the yarn.
- Round 4: Join color C into any flower petal top. Make a sc into every stitch you made in the last round, but make a long sc in between petals.
- A long sc is made by going down an extra row and then pulling up the yarn to be even with your current round and making a sc like normal. You want to pull the yarn up to your current round so that your flower doesn’t curl and lays flat better. After completing the round, then make a sl st to the first sc (5 sc on top of each petal + a long sc in between petals). Then fasten off the yarn.
- Round 5: Join color D to the top of any long sc from round 4. Make a sc into the same stitch, then sc into the next 2 stitches. Hdc, dc, and then dc again in the following stitches. Tr, ch x2, tr in the next stitch, this is your first corner and should be made into one of the long sc stitches from round 4. * Dc in the next 2 stitches, hdc, 1 sc in the next 5 stitches, hdc, dc in the next 2 stitches. Then make a corner: tr, ch x2, tr.* Repeat from * 2 more times.
- Dc in the next 2 stitches, hdc, and 1 sc in the final 2 stitches. Then join with a sl st to the 1st sc.
- Round 6: Ch x2, then dc in the next stitch and the following stitches until you reach a corner. When you get to the chain space in the corner make a dc x2 + ch x2 + dc x2. Then continue making dc stitches into the next side of the square. Repeat 3 more times for the rest of the round. Then sl st to the first dc in the round. Finally, fasten off the yarn. Weave in any ends.
- And now you have a finished crochet African flower square! I hope you enjoyed learning how to make 8 petal African flower crochet motif!
Leave a Reply