The Lavender Bloom is an 8-petal flower motif with a soft, raised puff-stitch center and open teardrop petals. Each cream petal surrounds a teardrop-shaped hole and has a crisp lavender outline. The result looks light and lacy but still holds its shape well.
The palette is two colors: lavender for the center and the outline, and cream for the petals. The style is cottage-romantic. It works as a coaster, an appliqué, an ornament, or a standalone decoration.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished motif measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across from petal tip to petal tip after blocking.
Construction is worked in the round as one piece. You make a lavender puff center, then add cream chain loops that become the petal frames. Next you fill each loop with graduated stitches. Finally, you outline every petal in lavender.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) diameter, tip to tip
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single round flower, 8 petals radiating from a center disc
- Center disc size: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) diameter
- Size before border: 5 in (12.7 cm) diameter after Rnd 5
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of lavender edging on each petal
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or combed cotton in worsted weight. Cotton gives good stitch definition, keeps the petal holes open, and blocks crisply. Acrylic also works, but the motif will be slightly softer and puffier.
Yarn:
- Color A, Lavender: 12 g, about 23 m (center and petal edging)
- Color B, Cream: 10 g, about 19 m (petals)
These quantities include a margin of about 25% for swatching, tails, and tension differences.
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
- Rustproof pins and a blocking mat or folded towel
- Spray bottle with water
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- rnd – round
- yo – yarn over
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Puff stitch (puff): [Yo, insert hook in the indicated st, yo, pull up a loop to about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall] 3 times (7 loops on hook). Yo and pull through all 7 loops. The ch 1 that follows each puff is written separately in the instructions.
Gauge and Checkpoints
This is a single motif, so the motif itself is your gauge swatch. Work Rnds 1–3 and measure before going on to the cream rounds.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 2: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across
- After Rnd 3: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
- After Rnd 5: 5 in (12.7 cm) tip to tip; each petal about 1.6 in (4.1 cm) long and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide
- After Rnd 6: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tip to tip; each petal about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide
A tolerance of ±0.25 in (0.6 cm) at any checkpoint is fine.
If your center is too big: go down to a 3.75 mm hook, or keep your puff loops shorter.
If your center is too small or cups upward: go up to a 4.5 mm hook, or pull the puff loops up a little taller.
Keep the same hook through all rounds. If you change hooks partway through, the petals will not sit flat around the center.
Pattern
Rnd 1 – Center Core (Color A, Lavender)
Make a magic ring. Ch 1 (does not count as a st), work 8 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed tightly. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Stitch count: 8 sc.
Rnd 2 – Puff Ring (Color A)
Ch 2 (does not count as a st). Puff in next sc, ch 1; rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the top of the first puff to join.
Stitch count: 8 puffs + 8 ch-1 sps (16 sts).
The puffs should crowd together and stand up slightly, making the raised, bumpy center. Check your size: 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Rnd 3 – Smoothing Round (Color A)
This is a conversion round. It turns the puffs and spaces into a smooth, even base for the petals.
Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Sc in top of next puff, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Stitch count: 24 sc (16 sts worked 1-per-existing-stitch + 8 extra sc in the ch-1 sps).
That gives 3 sc per petal for the 8 petals. Fasten off Color A, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Check your size: 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
Rnd 4 – Petal Loops (Color B, Cream)
Each petal begins as a chain loop anchored to a single stitch. Because the loop is anchored at one point, it folds into a teardrop: narrow at the base and wide at the tip. The open center of each petal comes from this loop.
Join Color B with a sl st in any sc of Rnd 3. This stitch is the first anchor st.
Ch 16, sl st in the same anchor st (petal loop made). Sl st in each of the next 3 sc. The 3rd sl st is the new anchor st.
Rep from * 7 more times. On the last repeat, work the 3rd sl st into the original joining sl st.
Stitch count: 8 ch-16 loops, with each loop’s anchor 3 sts from the next.
Do not fasten off. Your hook is now at the base of the first loop.
Rnd 5 – Petal Fill (Color B)
You will now work into the chains of each loop, not around the loop, so the stitches land in exact positions. Insert the hook under the top loop and back bump of each ch. The chain stays as the inner edge of the petal and keeps the teardrop hole open.
Work in this order along each loop, from the base on one side to the base on the other:
Sc in first 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 3 ch, 2 dc in each of next 2 ch (tip), dc in next 3 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last 2 ch. Sl st in the anchor st at the base of the loop. Sl st in each of the next 3 sl sts of Rnd 4 to reach the next anchor.
Rep from * 7 more times. On the last repeat, end with the final sl st in the first anchor st.
Per petal: 18 sts (2 sc + 2 hdc + 3 dc + 4 dc at tip + 3 dc + 2 hdc + 2 sc). These are worked into 16 ch, because the 2 tip ch each get 2 dc.
Stitch count: 144 petal sts (8 × 18), plus the joining sl sts.
The short stitches at the base keep the petal narrow near the center. The dc and the tip increases make the rounded tip. Each petal should look like a solid cream teardrop band around an open teardrop hole.
Fasten off Color B, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Check your size: 5 in (12.7 cm) tip to tip.
Border
The border is the lavender outline that frames each petal. It is one round of sc with increases at each tip, so the outline follows the curve.
Border gauge: 22 sc along the outer edge of each petal makes an outline about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) deep that lies flat without ruffling or cupping.
Rnd 6 – Petal Edging (Color A, Lavender)
Number the 18 sts of each petal 1–18, starting at the base on the right-hand side. The 4 tip dc are sts 8–11.
Join Color A with a standing sc in st 1 of any petal (or sl st to join, ch 1, and sc in the same st).
Sc in each of sts 2–7 (7 sc total, counting the first), 2 sc in each of sts 8–11 (8 sc), sc in each of sts 12–18 (7 sc). Sl st in the middle Rnd 4 sl st between this petal and the next, pulling snugly to form the valley. Begin the next petal with sc in its st 1.
Rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Per petal: 22 sc (7 + 8 + 7) + 1 valley sl st.
Stitch count: 176 sc + 8 sl sts (184 sts).
Why the math works: The outer edge of each petal is longer than the cream edge underneath it, mostly at the curved tip. The 18 cream sts already include 2 increases at the tip (Rnd 5). The 4 extra increases in Rnd 6 add just enough length for the outline to follow the rounded curve. The sides get 1 sc per st because they are nearly straight. The valley sl st keeps the gap between petals tight, which gives the outline its scalloped dip.
Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Check your size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tip to tip.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all tails along matching-color stitches on the wrong side. Bury the cream tails inside the cream petals and the lavender tails inside the lavender edging. Do not trim them yet.
- Lay the motif face down on a blocking mat or folded towel.
- Spray it evenly with water until it is damp, not dripping.
- Turn it face up. Press the puff center gently with your fingertips so it sits evenly.
- Pin each petal tip so the motif measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tip to tip. Check opposite pairs of tips so the flower is symmetrical.
- Use your finger to open each petal hole into a neat teardrop. If a hole closes up, slide a pin through the center of the hole to hold it open.
- Pin each valley lightly so all 8 dips sit at the same depth.
- Let it dry completely, about 6–12 hours.
- Unpin, then trim the woven-in tails close to the fabric.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Rnd 3 has exactly 24 sc.
- There are 8 petal loops, evenly spaced 3 sts apart.
- Each petal has 18 cream sts with 4 dc at the tip.
- Each petal outline has 22 lavender sc, plus 1 valley sl st between petals.
- All 8 petal holes are open, teardrop-shaped, and about the same size.
- The puff center is raised but not cupped.
- The motif lies flat, with no ruffling at the tips.
- Diameter is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) ±0.25 in (0.6 cm).
- All tails are woven in invisibly.
Troubleshooting
The center cups or bowls. Your puffs are too tight or too short. Redo Rnd 2 with taller loops, or go up one hook size for Rnds 1–3.
The center ruffles. Your puffs are too loose. Shorten the loops, or work the ch 1 between puffs more tightly.
The petal holes close up. Your chain loops are too tight. Chain more loosely for Rnd 4, or chain with a hook one size larger, then switch back.
The petals look round instead of teardrop-shaped. Check that the loop’s start and end are both anchored in the same stitch. Two anchor points make an oval instead of a teardrop.
The edging ruffles at the tips. Your sc are loose. Work the 4 tip increases more tightly, or replace the 2 sc in sts 8 and 11 with a single sc each (20 sc per petal).
The edging pulls and cups the petals. Your sc are tight. Loosen your tension, or go up a half hook size for Rnd 6 only.
The petals are uneven. Recount the 18 sts on each petal. Missed or extra chains in Rnd 4 are the usual cause.
Care
Hand wash cold with mild soap, press out water in a towel, and lay flat to dry, re-pinning the tips if needed. Do not tumble dry, since heat can distort the petals.
Final Notes
The Lavender Bloom builds up in four measured stages. The 8-sc core becomes 8 puffs at 1.25 in (3.2 cm). Rnd 3 smooths these into 24 sc at 1.75 in (4.4 cm). That gives 3 sts per petal and anchors for 8 chain loops. Each loop is filled with 18 graduated cream sts, bringing the flower to 5 in (12.7 cm). The final round of 22 lavender sc per petal finishes it at 5.5 in (14.0 cm).
If you check your size at each of those checkpoints, the motif should come out the same every time. The collage also shows many identical motifs joined into a bedspread. This pattern covers the single flower only.
Happy crocheting!