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This beautiful crocodile stitch sunflower square crochet pattern and tutorial is fun to work and can be made for so many things! Make a blanket from them, or a hot pad pot holder, use them to follow my Square Denim Lined Purse Pattern. This fun pattern uses an easy level stitch and includes lots of pictures for you to follow along!
The Crocodile Stitch for This Sunflower Square Crochet Pattern
The crocodile stitch is a versatile stitch that can look like lots of different things! You can use it to make scales on Mermaid blankets, feathers on an owl pattern, or petals on my sunflower pattern! I changed the stitch a bit to make it have the appearance I was looking for.
There are lots of ways to work the crocodile stitch, and I added my own twist on it to create the effect I wanted for the petals of my sunflower.
I added a simple picot to the center of the crocodile stitch to make a little point on the end of my petals. The crocodile stitch normally does not call for this and as a result has a more rounded tip. Since sunflowers have a pointed petal, I felt the picot was a fair addition.
If you are having trouble with the crocodile stitch portion, feel free to google or search on YouTube and check out a few tutorials. Please keep in mind that different tutorials offer a different take on the stitch, so you are unlikely to find one that follows the same design exactly.
Also keep in mind that many people work the crocodile stitch with the “point of the petal” going down, but mine is worked going up. That is why I have you work a couple of chains around the first post before double crocheting your way back up that same post. (This will make more sense as you review the directions below)
About The Yarn
I used an acrylic yarn for this sunflower square crochet pattern – specifically Red Heart Super Saver. If you’d like to use it as a hot pad, I suggest using a cotton yarn as acrylic may melt over time when hot things are placed on top. Here are some other options:
Crocodile Stitch Sunflower Square Crochet Pattern Notes
Skill
Easy/Intermediate
Finished Size
10 inches wide by 10 inches long
Materials Needed
- Worsted weight yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver):
- In Café Latte for the flower center
- In Bright Yellow for the petals
- And in Spring Green, and Bright Blue for the borders
- H8/5 mm hook
- Tapestry or yarn needle
- Scissors
- Tape Measure
Gauge
No specific guage, but the sizes of each section are included. To get the 10 x 10 square make sure your size matches what I’ve specified in the pattern directions. If your piece is too big reduce the size of your hook. If it is too small, go a size larger. Or just work it with whatever sizes you get, but know your finished square might be a little different in size than mine.
Stitches & Abbreviations
- Slip Stitch (SS)
- Chain (CH)
- Single Crochet (SC)
- Half Double Crochet (HDC)
- Double Crochet (DC)
- Treble Crochet (TC)
- Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC) this stitch is part of the crocodile stitch
- Puff Stitch – *Yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop evenly with the top of the puff stitch (or chain 2 if you are just starting out). Repeat from * 3 more times. You should have 4 loops going through the stitch at the base of the puff. Yarn over and draw through all the loops on the hook.
- Simple Picot – CH 2. Turn work and CH 1 in the back of the first chain space just worked.
Notes
- This pattern is worked in three sections; the center, the petals, and the border. The center and petals are worked in the round joining with a SS at the end of each row. The border is worked so the round of the flower becomes a square, which is much easier to work with after it is completed.
- Work your sunflower square crochet pattern in any colors you’d like. As you probably know sunflowers come in several color combos ranging from brown to black and even some yellow centers. The petals can be yellow or light orange, or make them in whatever color you fancy your petals to be! The border row can be made in any color you desire, I like bright colors that complement the tones of the flower.
Crocodile Stitch Sunflower Square Crochet Pattern
Foundation Row. Attach center color yarn (I used cafe latte) to hook, and chain 5. Join with SS to form a ring.
Row 1. CH 2, *Puff st into center of ring, CH 2. Repeat from * 4 more times. Join with SS to top of first puff stitch (not the chain stitch!). (5 puff stitches, 10 CHs).
Row 2. SS to next chain 2 space. CH 2. *[Puff st, CH 2] twice around the chain 2 space. Repeat from * around in each chain 2 space. Skip the tops of the puff stitches from row 1. Join with SS to top of first puff stitch. (10 puff stitches, 20 CHs).
Row 3. SS to next chain 2 space. CH 2. *[Puff st, CH 2] twice around the chain 2 space. Repeat from * around in each chain 2 space. Skip the tops of the puff stitches from row 1. Join with SS to top of first puff stitch. (20 puff stitches, 40 CHs).
Row 4. SS to next chain 2 space. CH 2. *Puff st, CH 2 once around the chain 2 space. Repeat from * around in each chain 2 space. Skip the tops of the puff stitches from row 1. Join with SS to top of first puff stitch. (20 puff stitches, 40 CHs).
Note: Your work should be 4 inches round at this point.
Pattern for Petals of Sunflower Square
Attach petal color yarn (I used Bright Yellow) to hook.
Row 5. Attach with SC to any chain 2 space. 2 SC around chain 2 space. SC into top of puff stitch. *3 SC in each chain 2 space. SC into top of next puff stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with SS to top of first SC. (80 SC).
Row 6. CH 3 (counts as first DC). DC in next st. Skip next 3 st. CH 4. *DC in next 2 st. CH 4. Skip next 3 st. Repeat from * around 14 more times. Join with SS in third chain (top of first “DC”). (32 DC, 64 CH).
A Note about row 6: The 2 DCs worked next to each other are the foundation for the petals. You will first work 4 BPDCs up the first DC in the set, then work 3 DCs and a simple picot in the space between the two DCs, and finally work 4 BPDCs going from the top down the second DC in the set. It is typical of the crocodile stitch to work up and down two side-by-side double crochets. Please see this wonderful tutorial from BluPrint for more information!
Row 7. SS twice down first DC from row 6 to get back to the top of row 5. CH 3 and *[4 BPDC] around first DC in the set of 2. [2 DC. 1 simple picot. 1 DC] in space between set of double crochets. [4 BPDC] worked from top to bottom around second DC in set. Repeat from * 15 more times. Each of these repeats creates 1 petal in the sunflower. Join with SS to top of first double crochet. (16 petals consists of 128 BPDC, 48 DC, and 16 simple picots).
Row 8. Ch 4. Attach with SS to chain 4 space from row 6. Ch 3 (counts as first DC). DC in same chain 4 space. Skip back of previous petal to next chain 4 space. CH 5. *2 DC in next chain 4 space. CH 5. Skip to next space. Repeat from * around 14 more times. Join with SS in third chain (top of first “DC”). (32 DC, 80 CH. This is the foundation for 16 petals).
Row 9. SS twice down first DC from row 8 to get back to the top of row 7. CH 3 and *[4 BPDC] around first DC in the set of 2. [2 DC. 1 simple picot. 1 DC] in space between set of double crochets. [4 BPDC] worked from top to bottom around second DC in set. Repeat from * 15 more times. Each of these repeats creates 1 petal in the sunflower. Join with SS to top of first double crochet. Fasten off and weave in. (16 petals consists of 128 BPDC, 48 DC, and 16 simple picots).
Note: Your work should be 7.5 inches round at this point. You want to measure from the back of your work, and measure the ring created by the foundation row in row 8. Do not measure from the petal tips.
Pattern For Border of Sunflower Square
Attach border color yarn (I used Spring Green or Bright Blue) to hook.
Row 10. SC around any chain 5 space from row 8. 4 SC in same space. Ch 2, skip to next chain space. * 5 SC in chain space. Ch 2, skip to next chain space. Repeat from * around to end. SS in first SC to join. (80 SC, 38 CH).
Row 11. Ch 1 and *SC in first st. SC in each of next 2 st. (3 SC here). HDC in each of next 2 st. 2 HDC in chain 2 space. (4 HDC here). DC in each of next 4 st. (4 DC here). TC in next st. 2 TC in next chain space (3 TC here). Ch 2 (this is the corner of the square). TC in next 3 st (3 TC here). DC in each of next 2 st. 2 DC in next chain space (4 DC here). HDC in each of next 4 st (4 HDC here). SC in next st. 2 SC in next chain space (3 SC here). Repeat from * 3 more times to create 4 corners. Join with SS to first SC. (24 SC, 32 HDC, 32 DC, 24 TC, 4 chain 2 spaces).
Row 12. Ch 1 and *SC in first st. SC in each of next 3 st. (4 SC here). HDC in each of next 4 st. (4 HDC here). DC in each of next 4 st. (4 DC here). TC in each of next 3 st. (3 TC here). Ch 2 (this is the corner of the square). TC in next 3 st (3 TC here). DC in each of next 4 st. (4 DC here). HDC in each of next 4 st (4 HDC here). SC in each of next 4 st. (4 SC here). Repeat from * 3 more times to create 4 corners. Join with SS to first SC. (32 SC, 32 HDC, 32 DC, 24 TC, 4 chain 2 spaces).
Row 13. Ch 2 and DC in same stitch. DC in each of next 15 stitches. Ch 2. *DC in next 32 st. Ch 2. Repeat from * 2 more times. DC in last 16 st. SS to top of first DC. Fasten off and weave in.
Note: Your work should be 10 inches by 10 inches now, and it should be square, no longer round.
You’re Done!
You have completed my crocodile stitch sunflower square crochet pattern, what are you going to do with your square!? Please let me know in the comments. Some of my best inspiration comes from you 🙂
I put a beautiful frilly border on this one and am going to use it as a hot pad pot holder. What do you think?
I LOVE THIS stitch but long time since I have done it,
Dorothy, I do too! I hope you can reconnect with your passion and creativity for it 🙂 Thank you for your comment. ~Caitlin
Hi Caitlin,
I saw many beautiful things on your blog including this Very Pretty sunflower, I know it’s the most Beautiful and Realistic I’ve seen so far. I love this flower and your pattern took my heart! I know that Crocodile stitch is ‘Yarnivore’ but it is so beautiful!
Thank you for sharing!
Amitiés du Québec, Lucie-France 😉
Lucie-France,
I am so glad to hear that you liked my sunflower pattern, I really enjoyed making it! Thank you for your kind words 🙂
~Caitlin
So pretty, I love it! Thank you for sharing the pattern at The Really Crafty Link Party this week!
Teresa, I’m so glad you clicked on it and enjoy my pattern! Thanks for commenting <3 ~Caitlin
How can you print the pattern again. I printed it in April but I lost some of the pages. Thanks
Andrea, If you purchased the pattern on Ravelry or Etsy, please go to that platform and print it from there. Good Luck and thanks for your support <3 ~Caitlin
Oooh I love the look of this sunflower! I’m thinking it needs to be made in to a summer purse! ❤️ 🌻
Leigh, I completely agree! I actually started making two of these squares into a purse, but never got around to finishing it. Maybe I’ll put it back in my “needs to be finished” pile so I can update the post! Thanks for commenting <3 ~Caitlin
This is so beautiful! I wish you had also given us the ruffle pattern, it just frames it so nicely. Thank you so much for sharing!!!!! Marla
Marla, Thank you. Adding that bit of the pattern is on my list. Hopefully I’ll get to it soon 🙂 ~Caitlin
Thank you for the sunflower pattern, I’m making it ino a pillow for my daughter in law who has stage four cancer. She loves sunflowers. So thank you again, I know it will bring a smile.
Laurie, I’m so glad to hear it will bring a smile to your daughter in law. I’m very sorry to hear about her cancer and I will pray for her. <3 ~Caitlin
wow. I think this is beautiful but seems very complicated for my skill level.
Shelly, Thank you for your comment. It is a little difficult if you have never worked the crocodile stitch before. Perhaps it is something you could work towards? You can do it! ~Caitlin
Your sunflower pattern is the best I’ve seen , I love sunflowers and have been looking for months for one that I thought worthy of me taking the time a effort to make and I have finally found it so thank you. I have arthritis and carpel tunnel so I choose carefully.
Daisy, Thank you so much! I am honored by your kind words 🙂 I hope you enjoy the pattern and creating it! ~Caitlin
I like the frilly border you added to make it a hot pad. Are the directions for that on the PDF?
Peggy, Unfortunately I gave that hot pad away before I could write down exactly what I did for the border. It is on my list to duplicate it and write it down for you. If you’d like to subscribe to my email list, I will be making an announcement once I do get this item done 🙂 ~Caitlin
so pretty work.
This is gorgeous Caitlin, it’s one of the features at tomorrows Handmade Monday 🙂
Julie, Thank you so much!! <3 I love your link party 🙂 ~Caitlin
Is there an error in the pattern or am I just not understanding it? For the sunflower’s center, after the foundation row, you indicate to make a puff stitch in the center of the ring, then to repeat that 3 more times. Shouldn’t it say to repeat it 4 more times? How else do you get 5 puffs? Please clarify. Thank you.
Rosalie, So sorry for any inconvenience. You are correct, it should say to repeat 4 more times for a total of 5 puff stitches. Guess now you have absolute proof I am a person and not a robot 🙂 Thank you for pointing that out, I will fix the pattern post right away <3 ~Caitlin
Beautiful!
Michelle, Thank you for your kind comment. Glad you enjoy it!! ~Caitlin
I saw your beautiful blanket someone made in the, We Love Crochet FB group, and she was kind enough to share your link, so glad she did. Your work and designs are beautiful. She had a different type of border, but I would love to know how you did your frill border, I would love to add that to my finished blanket.
This is the group I saw your beautiful pattern.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/crochetcrazyfans/?multi_permalinks=1683845725103489%2C1683842345103827%2C1683839205104141%2C1683831295104932%2C1683691875118874¬if_id=1588408823093016¬if_t=group_activity
Thank you Sharon! I’m very glad you enjoy my pattern and to hear that others are sharing it as well. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet written out that frill border as I did simply to embellish the photos and not part of the initial pattern. I will add another reply to this comment once I have it written and added. Thank you again for your comment and interest in my pattern 🙂 ~Caitlin
I am struggling to understand the second part of this pattern at all. I am completely stuck at trying to even start the petals. Can you provide a better link with pictures or to a better video to show this technique of picot in the crocodile stitch? Your pictures jump right from the first yellow row to a completed row of crocodile and picot. I have completed many a pattern, and have never been this stuck before. I have watched several videos of crocodile stitch, but none of them are getting me to the results you show. Thanks.
Carmen, Thank you for your comment and interest in my pattern. I’m very sorry to hear that you are having trouble. I took additional photos after I wrote the initial post for this pattern, but it has taken me a while to get them edited and added. Your comment was exactly the inspiration I needed to get that done. I have added more photos after the written directions for row 7 to help the step by step process to work a single petal. I hope they are helpful! Again thank you for your comment and interest 🙂 ~Caitlin
ABSOLUTELY what I needed. Thank you SO much!!
I love your pattern and love the way it looks worked up! Beautiful! I want to do a much smaller version and I’m having trouble with my addled brain in trying to convert to smaller. If I leave off the last row of brown and have 60 stitches could you help me figure out how row 12 would then be worked? Thanks so much for any help.
Sheila, Unfortunately, I do not have a template to make this sunflower smaller. I am a hands on type of person and would need to physically work with yarn and hook to make a smaller version. If I have time in the future I will give it a go and reply to your comment again to let you know, but to be honest with you I am busily working on new patterns and posts and so my time to return to projects like this is very limited. I will add it to my list though and if I get to it I’ll let you know. If you happen to figure it out, please comment here to let me know what you’ve come up with! I’d love to see your variation 🙂 Thank you for your comment and interest in my pattern. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help at this time. ~Caitlin
You could try to use a smaller hook!!!!
I give up. I’m left handed and for the life of mei cannot figure out how to do the crocodile stitch. I can’t work it from bottom to top. So I used the center pattern but had to go to different pattern for the rest of the square
Wanda, I’m so sorry you were so frustrated by my lack of left handed directions 🙁 Unfortunately, I am extremely right handed and can barely hold the hook with my left, let alone actually crochet with it. The only suggestion I can offer is to try looking at the photos of whatever right handed thing you are working on through a mirror (set up the mirror so you can see your computer screen in it). This is what works best for my students when they are lefties learning from a righty. I hope that helps you in the future <3 Thank you for giving my pattern a try, I hope you found some petals that look great! ~Caitlin
They have instructions for left hand crocodile stitch on you tube. very helpful.
Caitlin,
I am so impressed with your site. I love your patterns. I fell upon you in Pinterest when looking for a good sunflower pattern. Yours is THE BEST one I have found with hours of looking! I think you like texture as I do! I have taken your basic pattern and put my own spin on it to even give me more texture. What do you think about adding green as leaves? Have you tried that? I love your ideas. You taught me how to make the crododile stitch. Waayyy easy. Great directions.
I am making a sunflower blanket. I love lots of texures and different shapes.
In your email it says you are going to have a little one. Is this your first baby?
Love your personality that you put into your website and emails.
Warmly,
Trish
Trish, Thank you so much for your comment and kind words! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed my pattern so much 🙂 I do love texture, but I have not considered adding leaves to my sunflower. If you do so, I’d love to see a photo. Since you joined my email list, it is very easy for you to email me. Just press reply on any email I’ve sent you and I’ll be sure to see it! I am pregnant with my first baby, so I’ve been doing lots of baby stuff but I know I’ll get back into my other stuff also 🙂 Thank you again for your comment and have a great day! ~Caitlin
Hello Caitlin,
Today I purchased the Crocodile Stitch Sunflower Square pattern so I can make this for my daughter-in-law’s 40 birthday in December. I would love to add the frilly border. How do I get thos instructions?
Thank you,
Barbara in Texas
Barbara, Thank you for your support in purchasing one of my patterns 🙂 You will need to download the instructions from the platform you purchased the pattern on. It might have been Etsy, Ravelry, or LoveCrafts (I sell on all three). I hope that helps! Have a great day! ~Caitlin
Hi Caitlin,
I received my pattern just fine, but I was hoping the Frilly Edging was included. Do you have a written pattern for that?
Thank you.
Barbara
Barbara, I’m so sorry I didn’t actually write down the directions for when I added the frilly border. It was one of my earlier patterns and it didn’t occur to me to ever write it down. I admit I never went back to figure out what I did to update the pattern. I’m very sorry for any inconvenience. ~Caitlin
Hi. This is a beautiful pattern. I laughed when I read through these comments after finishing my flower. I followed the instructions and realized when I got to the border that there should have been 5 puff stitches in the beginning (repeat 4 not 3 times). So—I pulled it all out and started again. This time, all was well until row 12. The instructions are :ch 1 and *SC in first st. SC in each of next 3 st. (4 SC here). HDC in each of next 2 st. 2 HDC in chain 2 space. Only, there is no chain 2 space! The only chain space happens at the corner—or am I missing something? I did my own version of that row and it worked out.
For the most part, I was able to follow your instructions., but they did get a bit confusing at times. Funny how when you know what you mean by something, then you write it down and it means something different to someone else. The pictures help a lot.
Thanks for your lovely pattern.
Thanks heaps, Jodie
Jodie, Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and alert me to the mistake in row 1. I have adjusted it. 🙂 I also reviewed the directions in row 12 and I think what you mentioned above is exactly what happened. I wrote this pattern so the directions make sense to me, but I can see how they may be confusing to someone who isn’t me lol. I have re-written them and I hope they are more clear now. Thank you again for letting me know, it can be difficult to look at the pattern as though I was reading it for the first time. I’m glad you like the pattern overall, and I’m glad the photos helped. Have a wonderful week! ~Caitlin
How much of each of the colors of yarn do you use?
Tina, Thank you for your comment. Unfortunatley, I was still semi new to blogging when I created this pattern and therefor did not keep track of how much yarn I needed. I will add it to my list to work up and edit the post when I have numbers for this. So sorry for any inconvenience. No more than a skein of the yellow and back ground color and 1/2 a skein of the flower center color. Thank you again. Enjoy the pattern 🙂 ~Caitlin
Turned mine into a center square for a blanket in honor of Kyiv to be donated to a PT/OT Rehab hospital where they took care of the Boston Marathon Bombing victims.
https://www.facebook.com/CopperBeechCrochet/photos/a.1828316797364961/1847518495444791/
Susan, Thank you for your comment. That is a beautiful idea! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed my pattern. ~Caitlin
Your sunflower pattern is the only one I really love, but for some reason I can’t dpwnload it and print it. Why?
Kay, Thank you for your comment. I’m glad to hear you enjoy my sunflower pattern! 🙂 You must download and print it from one of the three platforms I sell the pdf from. I use Etsy, Ravelry, and LoveCrafts. If you are trying to print directly from my website there could be a number of reasons it won’t print, which I unfortunately couldn’t help with. Good luck! ~Caitlin
I am left handed and I am having a hard time with the petals. When I ss down the first dc I have to turn my work to come back up and then it is backward and does not look good. Can you help me? Thanks! 🙂
Marcine, Thank you for your comment. I hope you are enjoying the sunflower pattern. I’m sorry to hear that it isn’t working out for you. I and my tester were right handed. I apologize, it didn’t occur to me that the pattern would work up weirdly if used by a left handed person. Unfortunately, I’m really not sure what to suggest to help you with this issue. Perhaps ask in a Facebook group? Maybe another lefty could be more help? I wish you lots of luck and would love to hear what you learn!! Thank you again!! ~Caitlin
Caitlin, this is absolutely beautiful and mine turned out great! I’d like to add another row, too use it as a dream- catcher. Do I need to increase my chains, going from the first 2 DC’s, too the next? It seems too tight , as I proceed.?
Jo, Thank you for your comment. It’s so nice to hear you enjoy my pattern. I’m honestly not sure about adding another row. I would try it as written, and if it turns out a bit small (you would see some curling at the edges) then I would frog it and add another chain in between. It may require some trial and error to figure out. I hope it turns out well for you!! ~Caitlin
Hi Caitlin! Thank you so much for this beautiful pattern, I’m making it into a little bag for a dear friend. Is there some way I can tag you on Instagram when I post the final result?
Sara, Thank you for your comment. I’m so glad you like my pattern. I think it will look great as a little bag!! Unfortunately, Instagram is a platform I do not yet have a presence on, so I don’t think there is a way for you to tag me. I would greatly appreciate you sharing the pattern on Facebook or Pinterest. You could also share a photo of your finished result on the Ravelry page for this pattern. I would love to see your finished result! Thank you again!! <3 Caitlin
https://www.caitlinscontagiouscreations.com/crocodile-stitch-sunflower-square-crochet-pattern/
Love this. My question is how many squares did you get out of one skein each color? ‘I’m planning an Afghan 6 squares by 7 squares for my granddaughter who loves sunflowers and yours are the prettiest!
Sincerely,
Josi Schlie
Josi, Thank you for your comment! I’m so glad you like my sunflower pattern. I think a blanket would be absolutely lovely!! I’m not 100% sure of the answer to your question since I used scrap yarn and I didn’t weight before and after for the pattern. I would guess from new skeins of red heart super saver you might get 3-4 squares (assuming you are using 3 different colors per square- the flower center, the petals, and the border color). You will use up the flower petal color faster than the others because the crocodile stitch is a yarn eater. I hope this helps you. I’d love for you to share photos when you are finished! I hop you enjoy the pattern! ~Caitlin