This beautiful pattern suits both beginners and more experienced crocheters who want to create eye-catching designs.
The free crochet pattern below includes a helpful photo tutorial and ideas for how to use your granny flower square. I used these squares in this stunning African flower crochet bag!
Grab your crochet hook and yarn, and read on for all the info you need!
Yarn
I used a dk weight cotton yarn to make my squares but any yarn is suitable for this pattern. Just make sure to match your hook to your yarn.
The African Flower Square is an easy pattern to modify with different yarn weights. You can make the squares larger or smaller depending on the project you are working on, and depending where you change color, you can create different effects.
You can see some samples of color placements in the picture below.
Construction of the African Flower Square
You are probably familiar with the crochet hexagon motif that is a popular african flower design. The squared version in this post has 8 petals, while the hexagon flower has 6. My granny hexagon has six sides and is an easy motif to crochet!
You will need to know how to make several basic stitches, including chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and treble crochet.
Tips for Crocheting Your African Flower Square
If this is your first time making an African flower square, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, be sure to choose a yarn and hook size that work well together – too small of a hook can make the square difficult to work, while too large of a hook can result in a loose and floppy square.
Be sure to pay attention to the placement of your stitches, especially in round 4 where you will be making a long stitch, called a long single crochet.
African Flower Granny Square Project Ideas
If you’re looking for creative ways to use the African Flower crochet pattern, here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Make a Blanket – Use the African Flower Square is to make a crochet square blanket. You can use a single color for each square or use your colors of choice. Anything works really! Once you’ve made enough squares, attach them together to create a cozy and colorful blanket.
- Make a Pillow – Combine several squares to create a pillow using about 16 squares in total
- Make a Bag – The African Flower Square can also be used to create amazing colorful bags! You can use a few squares to make a small clutch or combine many squares to make a larger tote. Add some straps and a lining, and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind bag that’s perfect for carrying your essentials.
- Embellish a Scarf – Another way to use the African Flower Square is to embellish a scarf. You can sew a few squares onto the ends of a plain scarf to add some color and texture. Or, you can make a scarf entirely out of African Flower Squares using a soft yarn, for a truly eye-catching accessory.
- Make a Coaster – If you’re looking for a quick and easy project, the african flower square would be perfect for coasters. You can use a single square or combine several to create a larger placemat. Check out the picture below for an Easter Crochet placemat I made!
Tips for Joining Crochet Squares
There are many creative ways of joining crochet squares but I always prefer to keep it simple! If you like to sew, a whip stitch join is a fast and easy technique to make crochet seams.
For blankets, a crochet slip stitch join or a single crochet join are also popular methods and can add a nice detail to your crochet blanket. I used the slip stitch join in my Daisy Granny Baby Blanket.
You can find some sample joining instructions in this post for my Carousel Baby Blanket or you may like to check out my Granny Square Pillow on how to turn your squares into a cushion.
Materials
- I used Hobbii Yarn – Friends DK Cotton 8/6
- 4 mm hook
- Tapestry needle
- You can use any yarn weight and matching hook
Notes
- This pattern is worked in the round
- Ch 3 at beginning of a row counts as 1 dc
- Ch 1 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch
- Pattern written in US terms
- I recommend you block your crochet squares when finished. It will make joining them together much easier
Measurements
Each square is 4 x 4in [10 x 10cm] made using dk weight yarn
Gauge is not important
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- Beg beginning
- Ch chain
- Sl st slip stitch
- St stitch
- Sc single crochet
- Hdc half double crochet
- Dc double crochet
- Tr treble crochet
- Rep repeat
- Sp space
Special Stitches
Shell – (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in space indicated
Long single crochet (long sc) – Work a long single crochet between each petal (make your stitch loose) by inserting your hook into the space between each shell from round 2 and pulling up a loose loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops.
Using 1st color chain 5 and join with a sl st to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc, ch 1 in ring, ( 2 dc, ch 1) 7 times into ring, join with a sl st to top of beg ch 3. Fasten off yarn – 16 dc, 8 x ch-1 sps
Round 2: Join new color in any ch-1 sp, ch 3, (1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same ch-1 sp, [shell in next ch-1 sp] 7 times, join with a sl st to top of beg ch 3. Fasten off yarn – 8 x shells
Round 3: Join new color in any ch-1 sp in centre of a shell, ch 3, 4 dc in same ch-1 sp, [5 dc in next ch-1 sp] 7 times, join with a sl st to top of beg ch 3. Fasten off yarn – 8 petals
You will work a single crochet into each stitch on round 4, with a long sc (see special stitches) between each petal
Round 4: Join new color in any st, ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 1 sc in each st around, making a long sc between each petal, into the space between each shell from round 2, join with a sl st to first sc. Fasten off yarn – 40 sc, 8 x long sc
Round 5 will square off your flower
Round 5: Join new color in top of any long sc from round 4, ch 1, 1 sc in same st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 hdc in next st, 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, (1 tr, ch 2, 1 tr) in next st (long sc from round 4),
[1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 hdc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, 1 hdc in the next st, 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, (1 tr, ch 2, 1 tr) in next st] 3 times,1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 hdc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, join with a sl st to first sc. Fasten off yarn.
Optional Row 6: Work a round of double crochet or single crochet stitches. If making a coaster, you could work a round of crab stitch to give you a neat border.
