Free Crochet Flowers: Easy Step-by-Step Smiley Daisy Pattern for Beginners
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Looking for free crochet flowers that are cute, quick and truly beginner friendly? You are in the right place! In this post I am sharing one of my favorite flower patterns: a happy little smiley daisy with a sunny yellow face and eight soft white petals. The full written pattern, the materials list and every step-by-step photo are right here on this page, so you never have to guess what comes next.
This little daisy is a perfect first project if you are new to free crochet flowers. It uses only simple stitches (single crochet, increases, slip stitch, chain and triple crochet) and it is made from just three parts: a front center, a back center and eight petals. Once you finish one, you will want to make a whole bouquet!
Quick answer: how do you make free crochet flowers? To make this free crochet flower, crochet two small circles (a yellow front and a green back) using a magic ring and single crochet. Add a smiley face to the yellow front. Then join both circles with white yarn and crochet 8 triple crochet petals around the edge. You need DK yarn, a 3.25mm crochet hook and 6mm safety eyes. What is inside this free crochet flowers tutorial
- Free crochet flowers pattern at a glance
- Why beginners love free crochet flowers
- Materials you need
- Crochet abbreviations (US terms)
- Step 1: Front center and face
- Step 2: Back center
- Step 3: Petals
- Beginner tips for perfect free crochet flowers
- Ways to use your free crochet flowers
- FAQ about free crochet flowers
Free Crochet Flowers Pattern at a Glance
Here are the key facts about this free crochet flowers pattern, so you can decide if it is right for you before you start.
| Pattern name | Smiley Daisy (one of my easy free crochet flowers) |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Beginner / easy |
| Cost | Free |
| Technique | Crochet in the round, amigurumi style, with US crochet terms |
| Yarn weight | DK (double knit, light worsted) |
| Hook size | 3.25mm |
| Parts | 3: front center, back center and 8 petals |
| Estimated time | Under 1 hour (about 30 to 45 minutes for most beginners) |
| Sewing needed | No. The petals join the two centers together. |
Why Beginners Love Free Crochet Flowers
Free crochet flowers are one of the best ways to practice new stitches, because the pieces are small and you see the result fast. A flower is finished in one sitting, so you build confidence quickly. This one is also made in the amigurumi style, the Japanese craft of crocheting small, cute figures, which means you will also practice working in a magic ring and adding safety eyes.
Here is why this pattern is perfect for anyone searching for easy free crochet flowers:
- It is truly free. No sign-up, no paywall. The whole pattern is written below.
- It is beginner friendly. Every round is listed with its stitch count in [brackets], so you can check your work.
- It is fast. You only make 3 pieces.
- It is useful. You can turn these little flowers into keychains, hair clips, brooches, bouquets, gift toppers and home decor.
- It uses little yarn. A few scraps are enough, which makes it a great stash-buster.
Materials for These Free Crochet Flowers
You do not need much to start making free crochet flowers. Here is the complete supply list from my pattern card. The yarn brand is Paintbox Yarns, but any DK weight yarn in similar colors works well, so feel free to use what you already have.
- Paintbox DK Cotton in Buttercup Yellow (for the face)
- Paintbox DK Acrylic in Grass Green (for the back)
- Paintbox DK Acrylic in Paper White (for the petals)
- Paintbox DK Acrylic in Blush Pink (for the embroidered cheeks)
- 3.25mm crochet hook
- 6mm safety eyes
- Polyfil (polyester fiberfill stuffing)
- A yarn needle and scissors (to embroider the face and weave in ends)
Color note: the center rounds below are named Daffodil Yellow (front) and Spearmint Green (back). Any cheerful yellow and any leafy green will look great in your own free crochet flowers.
Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)
This pattern is written in US crochet terms. If you are a true beginner, keep this little glossary open while you work.
| MR | Magic ring (also called a magic loop or adjustable ring) |
|---|---|
| R | Round |
| Ch | Chain |
| Sl st | Slip stitch |
| Sc | Single crochet |
| Inc | Increase (work 2 single crochet in the same stitch) |
| Dec | Decrease |
| Trc | Triple crochet (called a treble crochet in UK terms) |
| ( )* | Repeat the instructions inside the brackets until the end of the round |
| [ ] | Total number of stitches at the end of the round |
Step 1: Front Center and Face (Daffodil Yellow)
We start our free crochet flowers with the sunny yellow face. Work in a spiral, without joining, and use a stitch marker if it helps you keep track of the start of each round.
Front Center Pattern
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: 6 inc [12]
R3: (1 sc, inc)* [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc)* [24]
R5-6: 24 sc [24]
Fasten off. Add face.
Face
Attach the safety eyes between R3 and R4, 5 stitches apart. Embroider the blush and a smile in between the eyes.
Your front center should now look like a small, flat yellow circle with a sweet little face. Leave a long tail, because you will use the yarn from both centers in the next steps.
Step 2: Back Center (Spearmint Green)
The back is the easiest part of this flower, because it has no face.
Back Center Pattern
Repeat Rounds 1-6 above. Do not add a face.
When you are done, you have two matching 24-stitch circles: a yellow smiley front and a plain green back. Make sure both pieces are the same size so the petals sit evenly.
Step 3: Petals (Paper White)
This is the magic moment! The petals join the front and back together, so you will not need to sew anything. You will crochet into both center pieces at the same time.
Petals Pattern
Insert your crochet hook through both center pieces with the right sides facing out. You will crochet into both center pieces at the same time.
Repeat ( )* below for a total of 8 petals:
((Sl st, ch 3, 2 trc) all in one stitch, (2 trc, ch 3) all in the next stitch, (sl st) in the next stitch)*
Petal pattern explained for beginners
One petal uses 3 stitches of the edge. Here is how a single petal works:
- First stitch: slip stitch, chain 3, then 2 triple crochet, all in the same stitch.
- Second stitch: 2 triple crochet, then chain 3, all in the next stitch.
- Third stitch: 1 slip stitch in the next stitch. This closes the petal.
Repeat these 3 stitches 8 times. Because 8 petals times 3 stitches equals 24, the petals fit exactly around the 24 stitches of your centers. Fasten off, weave in all the ends, and your smiley daisy is done!
Beginner Tips for Perfect Free Crochet Flowers
- Count your stitches. Check the number in [brackets] at the end of every round. If your count is off, it is much easier to fix it early.
- Crochet tightly for the centers. A slightly tight tension keeps the circles flat and neat and avoids gaps. Many amigurumi makers use a hook a little smaller than the one on the yarn label.
- Keep the right sides facing out before you start the petals. This is the most common beginner mistake with this flower.
- Work through both pieces every time. Every stitch of the petal round goes through the front piece and the back piece together, so they stay joined.
- Place the eyes before you close the flower. Safety eyes go on the front center and must be attached before the petals join the pieces together.
- Use a light touch with stuffing. If you add a little polyfil, keep it thin so the flower stays flat and your petals lie nicely.
- Practice with scrap yarn. This flower uses very little yarn, so try the magic ring a few times before you begin.
Ways to Use Your Free Crochet Flowers
Once you have made one of these daisies, there are so many things you can do with it:
- Attach a keyring to make a cute bag charm or keychain
- Glue or sew a pin back on for a brooch
- Sew onto a hair clip or headband
- Make several and tie them together into a forever bouquet (no watering needed!)
- Use them as gift toppers on presents for birthdays, Mother’s Day or teacher gifts
- Decorate baby blankets, hats and tote bags
- Change the colors to make other flowers: pink petals with an orange center, or purple petals with a white center
The daisy (the common daisy, Bellis perennis, is one of the most loved garden flowers) is a symbol of happiness and fresh starts, which makes these flowers a lovely handmade gift.
Love these free crochet flowers? Save this pattern for later! Pin it to your “Free Crochet Flowers” board on Pinterest so you can find the pattern again whenever you want to crochet.
FAQ About Free Crochet Flowers
Where can I find easy free crochet flowers patterns for beginners?
You can find easy free crochet flowers patterns on craft blogs, Pinterest and pattern sites such as Ravelry. This post gives you a complete beginner friendly smiley daisy with photos, a materials list and the full written instructions, all for free. What yarn is best for free crochet flowers?
DK weight yarn is a great choice for free crochet flowers. This pattern uses Paintbox DK Cotton and DK Acrylic with a 3.25mm hook. Cotton gives a firm, neat flower, while acrylic is soft, affordable and comes in many colors. What hook size do I need for this free crochet flowers pattern?
Use a 3.25mm crochet hook with DK yarn. A slightly smaller hook than usual makes tight stitches, which helps your crochet flowers keep their shape. How long does it take to crochet a flower?
Most beginners finish this flower in under an hour. As you practice, you will get faster, and you can make a whole bunch of free crochet flowers in one afternoon. Are these free crochet flowers written in US or UK terms?
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The triple crochet (trc) here is called a treble crochet in UK terms. Check the abbreviations table above if you are unsure. Do I need to sew the pieces together?
No. In this pattern, the petals are crocheted through the front and back centers at the same time, so the pieces are joined as you work. You only need a needle to weave in ends and embroider the face. Can I make these free crochet flowers without safety eyes?
Yes. If you plan to give the flower to a baby or small child, embroider the eyes with black yarn or embroidery floss instead of using safety eyes. This is the safest option for little ones. Can I sell items made from these free crochet flowers?
Please check the pattern designer’s terms before selling finished items, and credit the designer when you share photos online.
Final Thoughts on Free Crochet Flowers
I hope this tutorial shows you how simple and fun free crochet flowers can be. With a few scraps of DK yarn, a 3.25mm hook and about an hour, you can make a little daisy that makes everyone smile. Bookmark this page, save the pin, and come back whenever you need more free crochet flowers for gifts, decor or just for fun.
Did you make your own? Leave a comment below and tell me which colors you picked for your free crochet flowers. Happy crocheting! 🌼
