Difficulty: Intermediate ✦✦✦✧✧
Back of a Sunflower afghan square for my pin cushion!
In this free crochet pattern, I used fingering-weight cotton yarn and a 2mm hook. The finished size is 3.5 inches square. If you use a larger 5.5mm hook and worsted weight yarn, it would be perfect for a small throw pillow!
This pattern is inspired by Joyce Lewis's Crocodile Flower
Center and Sepal/Petal Foundation: In green.
Row 1: Ch 4, 4 dc in the 4th chain from the hook. Turn. (5 dc)
Row 2: Ch, 2 sc in each st across. Turn. (10 sc)
Row 3: Ch 3, skip the first st, [dc, 2 dc in the next st] repeat 4 times, dc in the last st. Turn. (14 dc)
Row 4: Ch, sc in each st across. Turn. (14 sc)
Row 5: Ch 3, skip the first st, [dc 2, 2 dc in the next st] repeat 4 times, dc in the last st. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 6: Ch, sc in each st across. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 7: Ch 3, skip the first st, [dc 3, 2 dc in the next st] repeat 4 times, dc in the last st. Turn. (22 dc)
Row 8: Ch, sc 3, [(ch 6, sl st in the side of the last sc), sc 4] repeat 4 times, (ch 6, sl st in the side of the last sc), sc 3. Turn. (22 sc, 5 sepal loops)
Row 9: Ch 10, sl st in the 6th ch from the hook, skip the first st, tr, skip the next tr, [ch 2, skip the loop, tr 2, (ch 6, sl st in the side of the last tr), tr 2] repeat 4 times, ch 2, skip the loop and next tr, tr, (ch 6, sl st in the side of the last tr), tr. (20 tr, 6 petal loops)
Tie off.
Background: In blue.
Row 10: Cast on with a sc in the 4th ch of the turning ch from Row 9, ch 2, skip the next (loop, st), sc, sc in the ch-sp, sc2tog, ch 2, skip the next (st, loop, st), hdc 2, (hdc, dc) in the ch-sp, dc, ch 2, skip the next (st, loop, st), tr 2, (tr, ch, dtr, ch, tr) in the ch-sp, tr 2, ch 2, skip the next (st, loop, st), dc, (dc, hdc) in the ch-sp, hdc 2, ch 2, skip the next (st, loop, st), sc, sc in the ch-sp, ch 2, skip the next (st, loop), sc in the last st. Turn. Note: Pull all the loops to the right side of the square.
Row 11: Ch, sc, sc in the ch-sp, sc 3, 2 sc in the ch-sp, sc 5, 2 hdc in the ch-sp, hdc, dc 2, skip the ch, (2 dc, tr, 2 dc) in the next st, skip the ch, dc 2, hdc, 2 hdc in the ch-sp, sc 5, 2 sc in the ch-sp, sc 3, sc in the ch-sp, sc in the last st. Turn.
Row 12: Ch 3 (counts as the first dc), skip the first st, dc across, (2 dc, tr, 2 dc) in the corner, dc across. Turn.
Row 13: Ch, sc in each st across, (sc, hdc, sc) in the corner, sc in each st across. Turn.
Note: Don’t forget to sc in the 3rd ch of the turning chain (the first st from Row 10)!
Repeat Rows 12 and 13 at least 1 more time (as shown), or until background is the size you want.
Tie off.
Petals and Sepals: In yellow.
Row 14: Sl st in the first loop of Row 9, ch 4, sl st into the background at the edge of the square, ch, sl st in the closest ch to the hook, 6 tr in the loop, [sc in between sts in the ch-2 from Row 9, 6 tr in the next loop, ch, flatten and stretch the petal, sl st in the background, ch, sl st in the top side of the last tr, 6 tr in the loop] repeat 3 times, sc in between sts in the ch-2 from Row 9, 6 tr in the next loop, ch, flatten and stretch the petal, sl st in the background at the edge of the square, ch 3, sl st in the loop. Tie off.
In green.
Row 15: Sl st into the side of the square at the top of Row 8, [(2 hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr) in the loop, ch, flatten and stretch the petal, sl st into the background, ch, sl st in the top side of the last tr, (2 tr, 2 dc, 2 hdc) in the same loop, sc in between sts in the ch-3 from Row 8] repeat 4 times with a sl st in the side of the square at Row 8 after the last petal.
Tie off.
Blocking:
Block the square by wetting thoroughly with cold water, squeeze (but do not twist or wring!) out excess water. Pin using a ruler and a square to a foam pad or spare mattress and allow to dry!
Continue to the front of the sunflower or to the pincushion assembly.
