The Cornflower Blossom is a single flower motif with a bold, graphic look. A royal blue six-petal flower forms the base. A small cream five-petal flower sits on top as a layered center, and two green leaves extend from the top and bottom on short stems. The result is a vertical, symmetrical motif that reads clearly from across a room.
The palette is simple: royal blue, cream, and leaf green. The style is classic cottage-floral, with rounded open petals, a crisp single crochet outline, and a natural center vein on each leaf.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished blue flower measures 4 in (10.2 cm) across from petal tip to petal tip. With both leaves attached, the full motif measures 4 in (10.2 cm) wide by 8.3 in (21.1 cm) tall.
Construction is straightforward. First you crochet the blue flower in the round and add a single crochet edging. Next you make a separate cream flower and sew it to the center. Finally you crochet two leaves and join each one to a valley between petals with a short chain stem.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide x 8.3 in (21.1 cm) tall, including leaves
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 finished motif, built from 4 components (blue flower, cream center, 2 leaves)
- Layout: Vertical: leaf, stem, flower, stem, leaf
- Blue flower size: 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip
- Size before edging: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tip to tip
- Edging depth: about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) all around
- Cream center: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
- Each leaf: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long x 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide
- Each stem: 0.4 in (1.0 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight cotton, either mercerized or matte. Cotton gives crisp stitch definition and holds the petal shape well after blocking. Avoid fuzzy or very loosely plied yarns, because they blur the edging.
- Royal blue: 10 g, about 15 m
- Cream: 3 g, about 5 m
- Green: 4 g, about 6 m
All quantities include a margin of roughly 20 percent for checking gauge and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- 6 locking stitch markers
- Ruler or tape measure
- Rustproof pins and a blocking mat
- Spray bottle with water
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
- ( ) – work all stitches in the same stitch or space
- * * – repeat the section between asterisks
Special stitch – Spike slip stitch: Insert the hook into the stitch two rounds below, as indicated. Yarn over and draw up a loop to the height of the current round, then pull it through the loop on the hook. This pulls the edging down into the valley between petals and defines each petal.
Gauge and Checkpoints
You check gauge for this motif by measuring as you go, not with a swatch. Make one blue flower first and measure at each stage before you continue.
- Round 1 (blue): 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Round 2 (blue): 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across, measured across the chain loops
- Round 3 (blue): 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tip to tip
- Round 4 (blue edging): 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip
- Cream center: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
- Leaf: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long
For reference, the base gauge is 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) with this yarn and hook.
If your flower is too big: Go down a hook size to 3.75 mm (US F-5) and recheck Round 1.
If your flower is too small: Go up to a 4.5 mm (US 7) hook and recheck Round 1.
Differences of 0.125 in (0.3 cm) or less are fine for a single motif. Larger differences change how the leaves and center sit, so correct them early.
Blue Flower
With royal blue.
Round 1: Make a MR, ch 1, and work 12 sc into the ring. Pull the ring tightly closed. Sl st to the first sc to join. (12 sts)
Checkpoint: 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st as the join, ch 4, skip next st. *Sc in next st, ch 4, skip next st*; repeat from * to * 4 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join. (6 sc and 6 ch-4 sps)
Place a marker in each of the 6 sc. These stitches mark the valleys between petals, and you will use them in Round 4.
Checkpoint: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across.
Round 3 (petals): Sl st into the first ch-4 sp. *In the ch-4 sp work (sc, hdc, 2 dc, 3 tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc)*; repeat in each of the remaining 5 ch-4 sps. Sl st to the first sc to join. (66 sts: 11 sts per petal x 6 petals)
Each ch-4 loop leaves a small open gap at the base of its petal, which gives the petals their airy, rounded look. The petals sit side by side with no stitches between them. The last sc of one petal and the first sc of the next form each valley.
Checkpoint: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tip to tip.
Round 4 (edging): See the Border section below.
Cream Center
With cream.
Round 1: Make a MR, ch 1, and work 10 sc into the ring. Pull the ring nearly closed, leaving a small center hole about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) wide. Sl st to the first sc to join. (10 sts)
Checkpoint: 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across.
Round 2: *(Hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in next st, sl st in next st*; repeat from * to * 4 more times. Work the last sl st into the joining sl st. (25 sts: 5 petals of 4 sts each, plus 5 sl sts)
Checkpoint: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail for sewing.
Leaves (Make 2)
With green.
Foundation: Ch 10.
Side 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 4 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. (8 sts)
Tip: (Sc, ch 2, sc) in the last ch. (2 sc and 1 ch-2 sp)
Side 2: Rotate the work so you are working along the opposite side of the foundation chain. Sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 4 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. (8 sts)
Sl st to the first sc of Side 1 to close the base. (18 sts and 1 ch-2 tip in total)
Working on both sides of the same foundation chain leaves a raised line down the middle, which forms the visible center vein.
Checkpoint: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long, 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide.
Do not fasten off. You will work the stem in the Assembly section.
Border
The border is Round 4 of the blue flower: a single crochet edging that outlines every petal.
Border gauge: 14 sc per petal across about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) of petal edge. This matches the base gauge of 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm).
With royal blue still attached after Round 3:
Round 4: Ch 1. *Sc in each of next 4 sts (sc, hdc, dc, dc), 2 sc in each of next 3 tr, sc in each of next 4 sts (dc, dc, hdc, sc), then work a spike sl st into the marked Round 2 sc below the valley*; repeat from * to * 5 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Count per petal: 11 sts worked 1 per existing st + 3 extra sc = 14 sc, plus 1 spike sl st.
Round total: 66 sts worked 1 per existing st + 18 extra sc (3 per petal) + 6 spike sl sts = 90 sts (84 sc and 6 spike sl sts)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: The 3 tr at each petal tip have the widest tops in the round, so they cover the longest stretch of the outer curve. Working 2 sc into each tr adds just enough length to follow that curve without ruffling. The sides of each petal are straighter, so 1 sc per stitch keeps them flat. The spike sl st pulls the edging into each valley, so the petals stay distinct instead of merging into a circle.
Checkpoint: 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip.
Assembly
Attach the cream center: Center the cream flower over Rounds 1 and 2 of the blue flower. Rotate it so one cream petal points straight up. Using the cream tail, whipstitch around the base of the cream Round 1, sewing through the blue Round 1 stitches. Leave the cream petals free so they sit slightly raised. Weave in the tail on the back.
Orient the blue flower: Lay the flower so one valley sits at 12 o’clock and the opposite valley sits at 6 o’clock. Because the flower has 6 petals, these two valleys are directly across from each other.
Attach the top leaf: With the green yarn still on the hook, ch 3 for the stem. Insert the hook from front to back through the spike sl st at the 12 o’clock valley, and sl st. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Weave the tail back through the stem chains to firm them up.
Attach the bottom leaf: Repeat with the second leaf at the 6 o’clock valley.
Checkpoint: The total length from leaf tip to leaf tip is 8.3 in (21.1 cm). That is 4 in (10.2 cm) for the flower, plus 2 x 0.4 in (1.0 cm) for the stems, plus 2 x 1.75 in (4.4 cm) for the leaves.
Final Blocking
- Weave in every remaining tail before blocking.
- Lay the motif face up on a blocking mat.
- Spray it evenly with water until it is damp but not dripping.
- Pin the 6 petal tips so the flower measures 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip.
- Pin each valley lightly so the spike sl sts sit evenly.
- Pin each leaf tip so it lines up vertically with the flower and the full motif measures 8.3 in (21.1 cm).
- Shape the sides of each leaf with your fingers so the center vein runs straight.
- Gently lift the cream petals with a fingertip so they sit slightly raised.
- Let the motif dry completely, about 6 to 12 hours, before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The blue flower has 6 petals, each with 14 sc in the edging.
- The edging totals 90 sts (84 sc and 6 spike sl sts).
- The flower measures 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip.
- The cream center has 5 even petals and a small open center hole.
- The cream center is sewn on securely, in the middle of the blue flower.
- Both leaves measure 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long and show a clear center vein.
- The leaves sit at opposite valleys, in a straight vertical line.
- The full motif measures 8.3 in (21.1 cm) tall.
- All tails are woven in on the back.
Troubleshooting
Petals cup or curl up: Your tension in Round 3 may be too tight. Go up a hook size for Round 3 only. Also check that you worked into the ch-4 sp and not into the chains themselves.
Edging ruffles: You may have added extra increases. Recount to 14 sc per petal.
Edging pulls in and petals pucker: Check that you worked 2 sc into each of the 3 tr.
Petals look merged: The spike sl st was probably worked into the Round 3 sc instead of the marked Round 2 sc. Rework it so it reaches down two rounds.
Cream center looks too large: Pull the magic ring tighter, or use a 3.75 mm (US F-5) hook for the center only.
Leaves twist: Block them flat and pin both the tip and the base. Make sure Side 2 has the same 8 sts as Side 1.
Stem looks floppy: Weave the tail back through the 3 chains to stiffen it.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Press the water out in a towel and dry flat. If the petals lose their outline, reshape and pin them again.
Final Notes
The Cornflower Blossom motif follows a clear chain of measurements. Round 1 is 1 in (2.5 cm), Round 2 is 1.75 in (4.4 cm), Round 3 is 3.75 in (9.5 cm), and the edging brings the blue flower to 4 in (10.2 cm). The cream center adds a raised layer 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across. Two 1.75 in (4.4 cm) leaves on 0.4 in (1.0 cm) stems bring the full motif to 4 in (10.2 cm) wide by 8.3 in (21.1 cm) tall.
If every checkpoint matches, the finished motif will too. Measure early, change your hook when needed, and block with care.
Happy crocheting!