39 Knitted Flowers Patterns: The Ultimate Guide to Floral Knitting Projects

Few things in the crafting world carry the charm of a handmade flower. Whether you’re looking to embellish a hat, decorate a bag, brighten up a plain sweater, or simply create a bouquet that never wilts, knitted flowers offer endless possibilities for crafters of every skill level. From the tiniest five-petal daisy to the most elaborate layered rose, the variety available in knitted flower patterns is genuinely staggering.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up 39 knitted flowers patterns that span skill levels, styles, and purposes. Whether you’re a complete beginner picking up needles for the first time or an experienced knitter looking for your next satisfying project, there’s something here that will inspire you to cast on and bloom.

Why Knitted Flowers Are Worth Your Time

Before diving into the patterns themselves, it’s worth talking about why knitted flowers have remained so popular among crafters for decades. The answer is simple: versatility. A knitted flower is rarely just a flower. It becomes a brooch, a hair clip, a gift topper, a baby headband embellishment, a scarf accent, or a whimsical decoration for your home. Because they use small amounts of yarn, they’re also a perfect stash-busting project. That leftover skein from a larger project doesn’t need to sit in a bin — it can bloom into something beautiful.

Knitted flowers are also excellent practice pieces. Techniques like short rows, increases, decreases, picking up stitches, and working in the round all appear regularly in flower patterns. A beginner who works through a handful of simple flower patterns will come out the other side a significantly more confident knitter.

Let’s get into the patterns.

Beginner-Friendly Knitted Flower Patterns

1. Simple Flat Daisy

The classic daisy is the gateway flower for most knitters. Worked flat in garter stitch, each petal is created as a separate rectangle before being gathered together at the base. A French knot or a small button at the center completes the look. This pattern requires only knit stitches, making it the perfect first flower for absolute beginners.

2. Basic Five-Petal Flower

This small, cheerful flower is worked by casting on a few stitches, knitting a short strip for each petal, and then joining them in a circle. The result is a sweet, slightly ruffly bloom that works beautifully as an embellishment on children’s clothing. Try it in a bright cotton yarn for a crisp, clean finish.

3. Easy Garter Stitch Rose

The garter stitch rose is one of those patterns that looks far more complicated than it actually is. You simply knit a long strip with increasing and decreasing rows to create a petal-like scalloped edge, then roll it tightly and stitch the base to hold the shape. The result is a surprisingly realistic rose that works well in both yarn and ribbon yarn.

4. Knitted Sunflower

Sunflowers translate beautifully into knitting. A knitted sunflower typically features a dark brown or black circular center worked in seed stitch or stockinette, surrounded by long, pointed yellow petals worked individually and sewn on. The petals benefit from a bit of stuffing or wire insertion if you want them to stand upright.

5. Flat Forget-Me-Not

Perfect for boutonnieres or as tiny accents on a larger project, the forget-me-not is a small five-petal flower worked quickly in sock-weight yarn. The tiny scale makes it ideal for decorating stuffed animals, baby shoes, or fine jewelry-style brooches.

6. Simple Poppy

The poppy’s bold, open face makes it a natural choice for knitters. A basic poppy pattern uses just a few stitches and works in red or orange yarn with a black center. The slightly crinkled texture of stockinette fabric actually mimics the papery quality of real poppy petals beautifully.

7. Knitted Tulip

Tulips are wonderfully geometric, which makes them well-suited to knitting. A simple tulip pattern typically uses short rows to create the cupped shape of the bloom. These look striking when knitted in bold, solid colors — deep purple, vivid red, or sunshine yellow.

Intermediate Knitted Flower Patterns

8. Layered Cabbage Rose

The layered rose steps up in complexity by working multiple rings of petals at different sizes and layering them on top of one another. The result is lush and dimensional, almost sculptural. This pattern uses increases and decreases to shape each petal layer, and the finished flower is impressive enough to serve as a standalone brooch.

9. Chrysanthemum

A knitted chrysanthemum features dozens of narrow, pointed petals radiating from a central disc. The trick to making a realistic chrysanthemum is working many petals — often 20 to 30 or more — and allowing them to curl naturally. Using a DK or worsted weight yarn and working into the back loop gives the petals a satisfying curl.

10. Cosmos Flower

The cosmos, with its delicate, slightly translucent petals and feathery appearance, is a lovely subject for a knitted pattern. Most cosmos patterns are worked in lace-weight or fingering yarn to capture that airiness. The petals often feature a simple lace stitch to mimic the delicate veining of the real flower.

11. Peony Blossom

Peonies are the showstoppers of the flower world, and their knitted counterparts don’t disappoint. A knitted peony uses a combination of short rows and wrapped stitches to create the full, ruffled appearance of the bloom. This pattern typically requires more time than simpler flowers but delivers a result that’s genuinely stunning when finished in a soft, blush-toned yarn.

12. Lotus Flower

The lotus holds cultural significance in many traditions, and its clean geometric form translates elegantly into knitting. Lotus patterns often work outward from a tight center, with each row of petals becoming larger and more open. Worked in a light aqua or white yarn, a knitted lotus makes a meaningful and beautiful gift.

13. Daffodil

The daffodil is distinctive because of its central trumpet surrounded by backward-swept petals. Knitting a daffodil requires working these two elements separately — the petals as a flat piece with a gathered center, and the trumpet as a small knitted tube — before joining them. The trumpet is often worked in a slightly deeper shade of yellow for a realistic two-tone effect.

14. Lavender Sprig

Rather than a single bloom, this pattern creates a small sprig of lavender with multiple tiny purple flowers along a stem. It’s worked primarily in seed stitch with small bobbles representing the individual florets. A lavender sprig makes a particularly lovely corsage or lapel pin.

15. Water Lily

The water lily sits flat and open, making it perfect for decorating the brim of a hat or the surface of a tote bag. Its broad, pointed petals fan out from a central cluster of stamens represented by small French knots or beads. Working in a variegated white-to-blush yarn creates a naturally shaded effect that adds depth and realism.

16. Passionflower

The passionflower is one of the more complex blooms in nature, with its elaborate corona of filaments, and it makes for a genuinely interesting knitting challenge. A knitted passionflower typically incorporates fringe or cut loops to represent the corona, with a set of standard petals behind. It’s unusual, exotic-looking, and a wonderful conversation piece.

17. Wild Rose

The wild rose has five broad, slightly overlapping petals and a dense central cluster of stamens. Worked in any shade from pale blush to deep magenta, this pattern benefits from a light blocking to open up the petals and let the shape settle. A simple chain stitch embroidery adds the characteristic veining.

18. Coneflower (Echinacea)

The coneflower’s drooping, elongated petals and prominent central dome make it immediately recognizable. Knitting a coneflower involves working a small stuffed bobble for the center and attaching long, slightly floppy petals around it. In purple or pink yarn, this is one of the most charming flowers in a knitted garden.

19. Protea

The protea is dramatic and architectural, with layered bracts that look almost like a crown. A knitted protea is a striking statement piece, typically worked in deep pinks, burgundy, or cream. Each bract is worked individually and attached in overlapping layers around a central cone.

20. Aster

The aster’s many thin petals surrounding a bright yellow center make for a lovely knitting subject. Working an aster requires patience — the petals are narrow and numerous — but the result is a flower with real botanical accuracy and charm. Try working it in a deep purple or lavender yarn to echo the wildflower meadow feel of the real plant.

Advanced Knitted Flower Patterns

21. Lace Rose

For knitters comfortable with lace techniques, the lace rose is a breathtaking project. Worked in fine lace-weight yarn with yarn-over increases and k2tog decreases to create the lacy openwork, this pattern produces a flower with a gossamer quality. Block it carefully over a form to allow the shape to open fully.

22. Dimensional Orchid

Orchids are complex flowers with an unusual lip petal and delicate spotting, and a knitted dimensional orchid does them justice. This advanced pattern works each petal separately with careful short-row shaping and then assembles them with embroidered details. Worked in a variegated silk blend yarn, the result is spectacular.

23. Double-Layered Magnolia

The magnolia’s large, waxy petals and dramatic form make it a project for experienced knitters. A double-layered magnolia pattern works two complete sets of petals and layers them offset from one another to create depth. Working in cream or white with pink-tipped petals (achieved through duplicate stitch or careful color placement) is particularly effective.

24. Fringed Dahlia

Dahlias come in so many forms, but the fringed or cactus dahlia — with its pointed, quilled petals — is one of the most dramatic. This advanced pattern works each petal with i-cord or rolled stockinette to create the tubular quill effect. Assembled together, these form a flower that looks almost like a fiber art sculpture.

25. Hellebore

The hellebore, or Lenten rose, has a subtle beauty with its downward-facing blooms and distinctive markings. A knitted hellebore captures the slightly waxy, cupped petal shape through careful short-row shaping. The dark central markings are added with duplicate stitch after the petals are finished.

26. Bird of Paradise

If you want a knitted flower that makes a statement, the bird of paradise is it. This extraordinary pattern works the orange petals and deep blue tongue separately before assembling them into the recognizable flame-like form. It requires good spatial reasoning and careful construction, but the finished flower is unlike anything else in a knitter’s repertoire.

27. Wisteria Cluster

Rather than a single flower, the wisteria pattern creates a hanging cluster of tiny purple blooms. Each individual floret is tiny, worked in just a few rows, and the cluster contains dozens of them. The long, cascading form of wisteria is captured by attaching the florets to a central cord in graduated lengths. This is time-consuming but the payoff is extraordinary.

Specialty and Novelty Knitted Flower Patterns

28. Tiny Bouquet Set

This pattern set includes five miniature flowers — a rose, a daisy, a tulip, a sunflower, and a bluebell — all sized to create a small coordinated bouquet. Worked on small needles in fingering yarn, the set is perfect as a gift topper or table decoration.

29. Flower Headband

Rather than a standalone flower, this pattern integrates blooms directly into a knitted headband. The flowers grow organically out of the band, creating a seamless floral crown effect. It’s perfect for spring weddings, flower girl accessories, or simply brightening up an everyday outfit.

30. Knitted Flower Garland

This pattern creates a long string of small flowers in alternating colors, perfect for party decorations, mantelpiece displays, or nursery decor. The flowers are worked individually and joined with a short length of I-cord between each one. Choose a rainbow of colors for a festive garland or soft neutrals for something more elegant.

31. Floral Dishcloth

Function meets beauty in this knitted dishcloth featuring a bold flower design worked in contrasting colors. The pattern uses simple colorwork to create a bold floral motif across a square cotton cloth. It makes a lovely housewarming gift and is surprisingly quick to knit.

32. Flower Basket

This three-dimensional pattern knits a small open basket and fills it with a collection of mixed knitted flowers. The basket itself is worked in the round with simple decreases for shaping, and the flowers pop up over the rim. Displayed on a shelf or side table, it looks like a permanent fresh arrangement.

33. Flower Crown Beanie

The flower crown beanie incorporates a band of small knitted flowers around the brim of a simple hat. Worked in the round in stockinette, the hat itself is straightforward, but the knitted flowers stitched around the brim elevate it into something truly special. It’s a beloved pattern for children’s hats especially.

34. Corsage Set

This elegant set creates a pair of roses and a few leaves designed to be assembled into a wearable corsage. A safety pin or brooch backing attached to the assembled piece makes it easy to pin to a lapel, dress strap, or bag. It’s a classic pattern that never goes out of style.

35. Floral Wall Art

Taking knitted flowers off the body and onto the wall, this pattern creates a framed arrangement of knitted flowers mounted on a fabric-covered backing board. Think of it as a botanical print, but made entirely of yarn. The mix of textures — fluffy mohair roses alongside crisp cotton daisies — creates a richly layered visual effect.

36. Amigurumi Flower Fairy

Combining knitted flowers with amigurumi toy-making techniques, this whimsical pattern creates a small fairy figure whose dress, wings, and hair ornaments are all made from knitted blooms. It’s a delightful project for crafters who love both floral knitting and making cute soft toys.

37. Flower Press Bookmark

This clever pattern creates a flat, pressed-flower-style bookmark worked in fine yarn. The flowers are embossed into the flat fabric through a combination of increases and twisted stitches that create a low-relief texture. Worked in a natural linen yarn, it genuinely resembles a traditional pressed botanical specimen.

38. Giant Statement Flower

Sometimes you want to go big. This oversized flower pattern — designed to be roughly the size of a dinner plate — is worked in chunky or super chunky yarn on large needles. A giant knitted flower makes a bold wall decoration, a photo prop, or a dramatic backdrop accent for events and parties.

39. Endless Garden Sampler

The ultimate knitted flower project is this comprehensive sampler, which works through twelve different flower designs — a rose, a pansy, a sunflower, a lily, a violet, a foxglove, a chrysanthemum, a peony, a dahlia, an iris, a cornflower, and a wild meadow flower — and assembles them into a decorative panel. It’s part skill-builder, part keepsake, and finishing it feels like a genuine achievement.

Tips for Knitting Beautiful Flowers

Getting the best results from any of these patterns comes down to a few key principles. Yarn choice matters enormously. Flowers generally benefit from yarns with good stitch definition — smooth, plied yarns show the shaping more clearly than fluffy or textured ones. For flowers that need to hold a three-dimensional shape, a yarn with some firmness and body is preferable to a drapey, flowy fiber.

Needle size has a real impact on how a flower looks and feels. Going down a needle size from the yarn’s recommended gauge produces a firmer fabric that holds shape better, which is ideal for flowers that need to stand upright or keep a defined form.

Blocking transforms knitted flowers. Even a simple flat daisy benefits from a light steam block that evens out the stitches and opens up the shape. For lace flowers especially, blocking is non-negotiable.

Finally, don’t underestimate the finishing. The way a flower is assembled — how the petals are joined, whether the center is a button or a French knot, how neatly the ends are woven in — makes the difference between something that looks handmade in the best sense and something that looks unfinished. Take your time with