The African Flower crochet motif is a beautiful six-petal design that can be used to create blankets, coverlets, pillows, bags, and other colorful crochet projects. This free African Flower crochet pattern shows you how to make the motif in just three rounds, with instructions for continuing to create the traditional six-sided African Flower hexagon.
I’ve gotten so many compliments and pattern requests for this design over the years. Some people even told me the motifs look like Jammie Dodgers—and I have to admit, I can see the resemblance!
For this particular project, I stopped after Round 3 rather than completing the traditional hexagon. I had recently made a hexagon blanket and wanted to try something a little different. If you enjoy working with crochet hexagons, you may also like my Crochet Hexagon Pattern and Photo Tutorial. Since I was making these motifs into a bed coverlet rather than a traditional afghan, I also liked the lighter coverage of the three-round version.
Want to make your own African Flower motifs? Let’s get started!
African Flower Crochet Pattern Instructions
What You’ll Need
- 3 colors of worsted-weight yarn, such as Lion Brand Yarn Vanna’s Choice
- H / 5.0 mm crochet hook
- tapestry needle, scissors
This pattern is written in U.S. crochet terms. Refer to the U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart to convert. You can also refer to my Crochet Abbreviations resource.
❤️ this African Flower pattern on Ravelry.
Abbreviations
- CA – color A
- CB – color B
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- beg – beginning
- sps – spaces
- st – stitch
- Lsc – long single crochet (see below for instructions)
Special Stitch: Long Single Crochet
Long single crochet (Lsc): Insert hook in designated space and pull up a loop to the height of the row being worked; complete as a single crochet.
Rounds 1–3: Three-Round African Flower Motif
Choose your version:
- 3-round African Flower motif: Stop after Round 3 for the flower-shaped motif used in my coverlet.
- Traditional African Flower hexagon: Continue through Rounds 4 and 5 to create the classic six-sided motif.
With CA, make a magic ring (as an alternative to the magic ring, you can also chain 4 and join in the furthest ch from hook to form a ring).
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 1 dc in ring, ch 1, *2 dc in ring, ch 1, rep from * 4 more times, join in top of beg ch 3, fasten off — 12 dc and 6 ch-1 sps.
Round 2: Join CB in any ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work [1 dc, ch 5, 2 dc] in same ch-sp as color was joined, *ch 1, [2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc] in next ch-1 sp, rep from * 4 more times, ch 1, join with a slip stitch in top of beg ch 3 — 24 dc and 6 ch-5 sps.
Round 3: Sl st in next dc and in next ch-5 sp, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 6 dc in same ch-sp, *ch 1, work 7 dc in next ch-5 sp, rep from * 4 more times, ch 1, join with a slip stitch in top of beg ch 3, fasten off — 42 dc and 6 ch-1 sps.
If you’re making the three-round flower as a standalone motif, you can stop here or continue with the border round below. If you’re planning to join your motifs, skip to the How to Join African Flower Motifs section. To turn the flower into the traditional African Flower hexagon, continue to the Traditional African Flower Hexagon Pattern section.
Border Round for the Three-Round Motif: Join CC in the first dc of any 7 dc-grouping from the previous row, ch 1 (does not count as st), work 1 sc in same st as color was joined and in next 6 sts, *work 1 Lsc over the ch-1 sp from Round 3 and into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, work 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * 4 more times, work 1 Lsc into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, join with a slip stitch in first st of round, fasten off — 48 sts.
How to Join African Flower Motifs
Once you’ve made your motifs, you can use the Join As You Go Method (JAYGO) to connect them without sewing them together afterward. For my coverlet, I used the JAYGO as follows:
For the first motif only, join CC in the first dc of any 7 dc-grouping from the previous row, ch 1 (does not count as st), work 1 sc in same st as color was joined and in next 6 sts, *work 1 Lsc over the ch-1 sp from Round 3 and into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, work 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * 4 more times, work 1 Lsc into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, join with a slip stitch in first st of round, fasten off — 48 sts.
For subsequent motifs, follow the same pattern, but when you reach the side to join, after working your Lsc, work 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, ch 1, then drop the loop from your hook and insert it into the 4th sc of the motif you want to join it to, put the loop back on your hook and pull it through, now continuing to work back in your current motif, work 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat this for the next petal of your motif.
Each motif should join to another at 2 points. See the diagram below for placement of the motifs. Joining points are indicated by the red diamonds.
African Flower Crochet Diagram for Joining
Traditional African Flower Hexagon Pattern
To make the traditional hexagon African Flower motif, follow Rounds 1 through 3 above and then continue on as follows:
Round 4: Join CC in the first dc of any 7 dc-grouping from the previous row, ch 1 (does not count as st), work 1 sc in same st as color was joined and in next 6 sts, *work 1 Lsc over the ch-1 sp from Round 3 and into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, work 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * 4 more times, work 1 Lsc into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, join with a slip stitch in first st of round, fasten off — 48 sts.
Round 5: Join CD in same st, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, *[1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc] in next st, 1 dc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * 4 more times, [1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc] in next st, 1 dc in each of the next 4 sts, join with a slip stitch in top of beg ch-3, fasten off — 54 sts.
Ideas for African Flower crochet motifs
- Blankets and afghans
- Bedspreads and coverlets
- Pillows
- Bags and purses
- Scarves
- Baby blankets
- Home decor
See African Flower Crochet Projects
Want to see what other crocheters have made? Check out the African Flower projects on Ravelry for color inspiration and ideas for putting your motifs together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rounds are in the African Flower crochet pattern?
This flower-shaped version includes three rounds for the flower-shaped motif. You can continue with two additional rounds to create the traditional six-sided African Flower hexagon.
What can I make with African Flower crochet motifs?
African Flower motifs can be joined to make blankets, coverlets, pillows, bags, scarves, and other crochet projects.
How do you join African Flower crochet motifs?
These motifs can be joined using a join-as-you-go method, which allows you to connect them while working the final round rather than sewing them together afterward.
Find Community
I would love to see your finished African Flower projects; share them with me on Instagram, Facebook, or the Petals to Picots Community.
More Crochet Motif & Hexagon Patterns
hello. thank u. it is grate. what if you had the acrobat reader download link, for your beutiful free patterns!
good luck
I too would love to make this but unfortunately you lost me in round 2. Is there an easier way to explain this?
Sure, Heather 🙂 I will try to spell it out with no abbreviations. Maybe that will help. Join your next color in any of the spaces left by the chain 1s from the previous round and chain 3 (the chain 3 counts as your first double crochet), work 1 more double crochet into the same chain space as you joined the yarn, chain 5 and work 2 more double crochets into the same chain space again (this gives you the [2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc] cluster). *Now chain 1 and work 2 double crochets, into the next chain 1 space, ch 5 and work 2 more double crochets into that same chain space again. Now repeat from the * 4 more times, chain 1 and join with a slip stitch in top of beginning chain 3. Make sense?
Hello! I love the pattern it’s gorgeous!! But I would like to do the same color story you did. What is the brand name and name of color yarn your used?
I used Knit Picks Brava worsted in Wine, Cream, and Camel Heather 🙂
Do you know how big in diameter each flower is? I’m think about making this into a crowl (:
would like to be on youre mailing list the African Flower Mofit is beautiful would like to make one
Absolutely love this pattern and the colors that you used. Can you please tell me what these colors are and the name of the yarn please!! Thanks for always keeping it free and real!!
Brenda
HI Brenda 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment! I used Knit Picks Brava worsted in Wine, Cream, and Camel Heather.
I love this pattern but started crocheting late in life and on my own. I can’t seem to follow the written instructions so should you ever do a video on this pattern I would love to try it. Your work is beautiful.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 1 dc in ring, ch 1, *2 dc in ring, ch 1, rep from * 4 more times, join in top of beg ch 3, fasten off — 12 dc and 12 ch-1 sps.
12 dc and 6 ch-1 sps.
Good catch! I updated the pattern 🙂
Hello
I have talked my mother-in-law into teaching me to crochet because of this beautiful pattern. You mentioned that you left the last round off that made it a hexagon. Could you please share the original pattern directions as I’d like to make it as a throw and think I will need the extra “coverage”. Thank you!
Yay! I am so happy to hear that. I hope you love it as much as I do. You can fi the 4th and final round of the traditional African Flower motif at the very bottom of this post.
I too think thisis beautiful…I love looking at the things you make. I think this would also make beautiful placemats, a square bag, ifvyou did it with thread it would make a beautiful tablecloth ….thanks for sharing, I look toward to seeing your next project.
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