How to Crochet Sunflower Placemats – FREE Pattern!

There is something undeniably cheerful about a sunflower. Whether you’re growing them in your garden, painting them on a canvas, or stitching them into your home décor, sunflowers have this remarkable ability to make any space feel warm and alive. That’s exactly why these crocheted sunflower placemats have become one of my favorite projects to return to every summer — and honestly, they’re so pretty I leave them out year-round.

In this post, I’m sharing a completely free crochet pattern for sunflower placemats that are beginner-friendly, quick to work up, and absolutely stunning on a kitchen or dining table. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or someone who just learned their basic stitches, this pattern will walk you through every step. By the end, you’ll have a set of bright, textured sunflower placemats that look like they came straight from a boutique home goods store.

Let’s get into it!

Why You’ll Love This Sunflower Placemat Pattern

Before we dive into the materials and instructions, let me tell you a little about why this specific pattern works so well.

First, it’s worked in the round from the center out, which means there’s no seaming required. The petal shaping happens naturally through the stitch pattern, and you don’t need any special knowledge of colorwork techniques to make it look beautiful. The color changes are simple and involve only two or three colors depending on how realistic you want your sunflower to look.

Second, these placemats are made with cotton yarn, which is the ideal fiber choice for anything that goes on a table. Cotton is durable, washable, and has a lovely drape that lies flat without curling. It also comes in a fantastic range of colors, so you can easily customize your sunflowers beyond the classic yellow-and-brown palette.

Third, the finished size of each placemat is approximately 13 to 14 inches in diameter, which is the perfect size to comfortably fit a dinner plate with room to spare. If you want something smaller, you can stop a round or two early for a coaster-sized version, or continue a few more rounds for a larger charger.

And finally — this pattern is free! No email sign-up required, no PDF to purchase. Just scroll down and follow along.

Materials You’ll Need

Here’s everything you’ll need to make one sunflower placemat. For a set of four, simply multiply accordingly.

Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn in three colors. You’ll need approximately 80 yards of deep brown or dark golden brown (Color A), 120 yards of bright golden yellow (Color B), and 30 yards of sage green or olive green (Color C). Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton and Paintbox Simply DK Cotton are popular choices, though any worsted weight cotton will work beautifully. Some crafters also use Paintbox Simply Chunky for a thicker, more textured result — just be aware the sizing will change slightly.

Hook: US size H-5.0mm crochet hook. If you tend to crochet tightly, size up to a J-5.5mm or even a K-6.5mm to ensure your placemat lies flat and achieves the correct diameter.

Other supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and stitch markers (optional but helpful for tracking round beginnings).

Gauge: 14 stitches and 16 rows in single crochet = 4 inches. For this project, gauge matters more for sizing than for any structural reason, so don’t stress too much if you’re slightly off. Just check your diameter after completing the center section and adjust your hook size if needed.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble (triple) crochet
st(s) — stitch(es)
sp — space
MR — magic ring
rep — repeat
pm — place marker
BLO — back loop only

Special Stitch: The Petal Stitch

The petals in this placemat are created using a modified shell stitch technique that produces a pointed, elongated petal shape. Here’s how to work the petal stitch:

Petal Stitch: In the same stitch or space, work 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc. This creates a small shell that, when worked side by side across a round with chain spaces, gives the appearance of individual petals. For longer petals, you can substitute the treble crochet with a double treble for extra height.

Take a moment to practice this stitch a few times before you begin the pattern. Once it clicks, it’s very intuitive and works up quickly.

Pattern Instructions

The Center (Color A – Dark Brown)

Round 1: Using Color A, make a magic ring. Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed. Sl st to first sc to join. (6 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (12 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join. (18 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join. (24 sts)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join. (30 sts)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join. (36 sts)

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join. (42 sts)

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join. (48 sts)

At the end of Round 8, you should have a flat, smooth circle of dark brown that measures approximately 4.5 to 5 inches in diameter. This is your sunflower center, sometimes called the “disk.” Fasten off Color A, leaving a short tail to weave in. Do not cut yet if you prefer to carry yarn, but given the color difference, it’s neater to fasten off and rejoin.

The Inner Petals – First Layer (Color B – Golden Yellow)

Round 9: Join Color B in any st with a sl st. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 1 tr, 1 dc in the same st (first petal made). Skip 2 sts, sl st in next st, skip 2 sts, work (1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc) in next st; rep from around, ending with sl st in next st. Sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. (8 petals)

Round 10: Sl st down the side of the current petal and into the sl st at its base between petals. Ch 3, work 1 tr, 1 dc in the same sl st. Sl st in top of next tr (petal tip), work (1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc) in the next sl st at base between petals; rep from around. Sl st to join. (8 petals, now offset from Round 9)

These two petal rounds create a gorgeous layered effect that mimics the way real sunflower petals overlap. You should now see a clear sunflower shape emerging.

The Outer Petals – Second Layer (Color B – Golden Yellow)

For the outer ring of petals, we’ll work into the back loops of the center section to create a foundation round before launching into the longer petals.

Round 11: Working in BLO of the stitches from Round 8 (the last brown round), join Color B with a sl st in any stitch. Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (48 sts)

This foundation round anchors the outer petals without adding to the diameter of the brown center.

Round 12: Ch 4 (counts as tr), work 1 tr, 1 dc in same st. Skip 2 sts, sl st in next st, skip 2 sts, work (1 dc, 2 tr, 1 dc) in next st; rep from around, ending with sl st in next st. Sl st to top of beginning ch-4 to join. (8 large petals)

Round 13: Sl st into sl st at base between petals. Ch 4, work 1 tr, 1 dc in same sl st. Sl st in top of middle tr, work (1 dc, 2 tr, 1 dc) in next base sl st; rep from around. Sl st to join. (8 large offset petals)

Round 14: Rep Round 13 one more time. (8 large offset petals, third layer)

By now, your sunflower should have a full, fluffy halo of petals surrounding the dark center. It’s incredibly satisfying to see this take shape — one of those crochet moments where the whole project suddenly clicks and you understand exactly where you’re headed.

The Border / Background Round (Color B – Golden Yellow)

To fill in the space between the petals and give the placemat a flatter, more functional edge, we’ll work a fill round.

Round 15: Sl st to the sl st at the base between any two petals. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in the base sl st, sc in the sl st at the tip of the adjacent petal, 2 sc in the next base sl st; rep from around. Sl st to join. You will have approximately 48 to 56 sts at this point depending on how you tensioned your petals. Don’t worry about an exact count here — just make sure your work lies flat.

Round 16: Ch 1, sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join.

Round 17: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join.

Round 18: Ch 1, sc in each of next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from around. Sl st to join.

These fill rounds expand the placemat to its full diameter and create a firm, even edge. If your placemat is ruffling or cupping, adjust by adding or removing increases in these border rounds accordingly.

The Stem and Leaf Accent (Color C – Sage or Olive Green) – Optional

This section is optional but adds a charming, botanical touch. Instead of surrounding the entire placemat with a green border, we’re going to add a small stem and leaf detail at one side.

Fasten off Color B. Count out approximately 12 stitches from any point along the outer edge and join Color C with a sl st.

Leaf 1: Ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in last 2 chs. Sl st back along the base of the leaf to return to the main circle. Sl st in next 4 sts along the edge.

Leaf 2: Ch 12, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 5 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in last 2 chs. Sl st back along the base of the leaf.

Fasten off Color C and weave in all ends.

Finishing the Placemat

Once you’ve completed all rounds and leaves, weave in every tail end carefully with your yarn needle. Take your time with this step — it makes the difference between a placemat that looks handmade in a beautiful way and one that looks unfinished.

If your placemat has any cupping or ruffling, wet blocking is your best friend. Soak the placemat in cool water for about 10 to 15 minutes, gently squeeze out the excess water (don’t wring it), lay it flat on a blocking mat or clean towel, and use rust-proof pins to stretch it to its full circular shape. Let it dry completely before removing the pins. Cotton responds beautifully to wet blocking and you’ll be amazed at how polished and professional your placemat looks once it’s dry.

Tips for Crocheting a Perfect Set

Making a single placemat is satisfying, but making a matched set is even more rewarding. Here are a few tips to help your set come out consistent and beautiful.

Keep your hook the same throughout the set. If you switch hooks mid-project — even within the same labeled size — small manufacturing differences can affect your gauge.

Write down which round you’re on if you set a project down. Sunflower placemats have enough rounds that it’s easy to lose track, and miscounting by even one round can affect the symmetry of your petals.

Use the same dye lot for each color across all your placemats. Cotton yarn can vary slightly between lots, and the difference becomes noticeable when placemats are laid side by side on a table.

Consider making a test swatch before committing to a full set. Crochet a center circle through Round 8 and check that it measures close to the target diameter. This saves a lot of frogging later.

Customization Ideas

The sunflower placemat pattern is a fantastic base for personalization. Here are a few ways to make it your own.

Color swaps: Try burgundy and terracotta for a rustic autumn version, or lilac and pale yellow for a whimsical spring garden feel. Deep coral with a brown center looks gorgeous on a coastal-themed table.

Size adjustments: Work extra fill rounds to make a larger charger-style placemat, or stop after the inner petals for a coaster. A set of coordinating coasters and placemats makes a wonderful handmade gift.

Yarn weight: Try this pattern with a sport or DK weight cotton and a smaller hook for a more delicate, lace-like result. Bulky cotton will give you a thick, sturdy placemat that has some real heft to it.

Edging variations: Replace the plain sc fill rounds with a picot edging, a shell stitch border, or even a row of reverse sc (crab stitch) for a polished rope-like finish.

Caring for Your Sunflower Placemats

Cotton placemats are wonderfully practical. Machine wash them on a gentle cycle in cool water and tumble dry on low, or lay flat to dry. If they lose their shape after several washes, a quick wet block will bring them right back. Avoid hot water and high dryer heat, which can cause cotton to shrink and fade over time.

For storage, stack them flat rather than folding if possible to keep the petals from developing creases. A light cedar sachet nearby will help with any musty odors if you’re storing them for a season.

Share Your Makes!

If you crochet these sunflower placemats, I would absolutely love to see them. Tag your photos on Instagram or Pinterest — there is nothing that brings a crafter more joy than seeing a pattern brought to life in someone else’s home, in their colors, on their table.

Whether you make a single placemat to brighten up a breakfast nook or a full set of eight for a summer dinner party, these sunflowers are sure to become a perennial favorite in your crochet repertoire. They make beautiful gifts, work up surprisingly fast once you get into the rhythm, and never fail to draw compliments from guests.

Happy crocheting — and may your table always have flowers on it, in one form or another.