Crochet blanket flower applique on a white background. A puffy, dark purple circle is at the center. Petals radiate outward in shades of bright red, coral orange, and yellow. There are round textural details on the outer edge of the petals.

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Crochet the Blanket Flower Appliqué with this free crochet pattern. Inspired by the vibrant red, orange, and yellow blooms of the blanket flower, this crochet flower pattern creates a richly textured and dimensional appliqué. This pattern is best suited for intermediate crocheters who enjoy small projects with engaging stitch patterns and detailed shaping — perfect for a relaxing and satisfying evening of crochet.

The Blanket Flower is the first pattern in my Wildflower Series. To learn more about this project, check out the Crochet Wildflower Field Guide.

What You’ll Love About This Blanket Flower Appliqué

Rich texture and dimension created with puff stitches, spike stitches, and post stitches
A satisfying intermediate crochet project that uses multiple techniques to build your stitch skills
Perfect for embellishing blankets, bags, hats, and garments
Small and portable — great for travel or stash-busting
Inspired by nature, capturing the bold color shifts of the blanket flower

What Is a Blanket Flower?

A group of blanket flowers in shades of burgundy, red, orange, and yellow. A bee sits in the center of the foremost flower. — Photo courtesy of Marina Yalanska on Unsplash

The blanket flower (Gaillardia) is a hardy perennial known for its fiery red, orange, and yellow blooms. Native to the Rocky Mountains and found throughout North and South America, these cheerful flowers bloom from late spring through fall and attract bees, butterflies, and goldfinches.

Their bold color transitions and layered petals make them a perfect subject for crochet.

Ways to Use the Blanket Flower Appliqué

This crochet flower appliqué can be used to decorate all kinds of items, including:

Blankets and afghans
Market bags and tote bags
Hats and headbands
Garments and cardigans
Pillow covers
Wall hangings and home décor

Skill Level

This is an intermediate crochet pattern suitable for crocheters who have mastered basic stitches and are familiar with or are comfortable learning the following stitch techniques:

Puff stitches
Post stitches
Spike stitches
Picots
Standing stitches
Working into non-traditional stitch locations

Clear instructions will guide you through each step so you can build confidence while creating a beautifully textured crochet flower.

Concentration Level

Extreme focus required. Unusual techniques and stitches may require constant focus.

Materials

Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Superwash Sport (light) weight wool yarn (136.5 yds/125 m; 1.75 oz/50 g per hank):

Yarn for One Applique

#265 burgundy: 5 yds (4.5 m/2 g)

#263 tomato (red): 5 yds (4.5 m/2 g)

#827 coral (dark peach): 5 yds (4.5 m/2 g)

#821 daffodil (dark yellow): 11 yds (10 m/4 g)

Size F/5/3.75mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn needle

Note: For best results, choose a hook slightly smaller than recommended for your yarn to give the flower structure without making the background fabric stiff.

Yarn Note

Pattern is designed for light-weight yarn. Lighter or heavier weight yarns may be used. A different weight yarn may require a different size hook, as well as more or less yarn than noted. Working with a thinner or thicker yarn may result in different gauge measurements, which will affect the Finished Measurements.

Please do not copy this pattern to other websites. Instead, link to this page.

👇 Pin this pattern to crochet it later.

Crochet the Blanket Flower Applique with this free crochet pattern and video tutorial.

Blanket Flower Crochet Pattern

Technical Editing: Randy Cavaliere

Pattern Testing: Bis, DivaVonPurl, Heather, Jonelle, Maylina, Paulina, and Rachel

Written in standard US crochet terms. For UK terminology equivalents, please refer to the Craft Yarn Council’s conversion chart.

Finished Measurements

Flower Applique = 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) in diameter

Motif = 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) wide

Gauge

Rnds 1–4 = 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) in diameter

Pattern Notes

Join with slip stitch as indicated unless otherwise stated.
Chain-2 at beginning of round does not count as a stitch.
Left-handed crocheters: reverse directional instructions (left/right) as needed.
Chain-3 at beginning of round counts as first double crochet unless otherwise stated.

Special Technique

Invisible join: After working last ch-1 of rnd, cut yarn and pull working end through ch just made. Thread tail onto yarn needle. Skip next st and insert needle from front to back through both top lps of first ch of rnd. Pull yarn through gently but firmly. Insert needle down into back lp only of last ch of rnd and pull it out toward back of work. Weave in end as normal.

Special Stitches

Beginning puff stitch (beg puff st): Ch 2 (or pull up lp to a height of approximately 0.25 inch/0.6 cm), yo, insert hook in indicated sp, yo, pull up a lp, [yo, insert hook in same sp, yo, pull up a lp] twice (7 lps on hook), yo, draw through all 7 lps on hook.

Puff stitch (puff st): Yo, insert hook in indicated sp, yo, pull up a lp, [yo, insert hook in same sp, yo, pull up a lp] twice (7 lps on hook), yo, draw through all 7 lps.

Front post treble crochet join (FPtr join): Place slip knot on hook, yo 2 times, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated st, yo, pull up a lp, [yo, draw through 2 lps] 3 times.

Double crochet join (dc join): Place slip knot on hook, yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, pull up a lp, [yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.

Chain color change (ch color change): Drop current color and yarn over with new color. Draw new color through lp on hook.

Spike single crochet (spk sc): Insert hook in indicated sp from front to back, yo and draw lp through sp and up to height of current rnd, yo, draw through both lps on hook.

Picot: Ch 3, sl st in front 2 lps at top of dc just made.

Single crochet join (sc join): Place slip knot on hook, insert hook in indicated sp, yo, pull up a lp, yo, draw through both lps on hook.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

beg begin/begins/beginning

ch(s) chain(s)

ch sp(s) chain space(s)

cm centimeter(s)

dc double crochet (singular/plural)

FPtr front post treble crochet

g gram(s)

hdc half double crochet

lp(s) loop(s)

m meter(s)

mm millimeter(s)

oz ounce(s)

rep(s) repeat(s)

rnd(s) round(s)

RS right side

sc single crochet (singular/plural)

sk skip/skipped/skipping

sl st(s) slip stitch(es)

sp(s) space(s)/spaced

spk spike

st(s) stitch(es)

yd(s) yard(s)

yo yarn over

( ) work directions in parentheses in indicated stitch or space

*, ** repeat directions following asterisks as indicated

[ ] repeat directions in brackets as indicated

Pattern Instructions

Rnd 1 (RS): With burgundy, ch 4, join (see Pattern Notes) in 4th ch from hook to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as first hdc, ch-1), [hdc, ch 1] 11 times in ring, join in 2nd ch of beg ch-3. (12 hdc, 12 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 2: Sl st in next ch-1 sp, beg puff st (see Special Stitches), [ch 2, puff st (see Special Stitches)] in each ch-1 sp around, ch 2, join in beg puff st. (12 puff sts, 12 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 2 complete. A crochet circle made with purple yarn and textured stitches. — *Rnd 2 complete.*

Rnd 3: Sl st in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in each ch-2 sp around, join in first sc, fasten off. (12 sc)

At the end of Rnd 3, you will have a padded button forming the flower’s center.

Rnd 3 complete. Front shown at left. Reverse shown at right.

Rnd 4: FPtr join (see Special Stitches) red around top of any puff st, [hdc in middle 2 side lps of FPtr just made (at left side of st—see Pattern Notes), dc in bottom 2 front legs of same FPtr, ch 1*, FPtr around top of next puff st] around, ending last rep at *, join in first FPtr, fasten off. (12 hdc, 12 dc, 12 FPtr, 12 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 4 complete. A crochet circle with red triangles radiating outward from a textured purple center. — *Rnd 4 complete.*
If you’d like step-by-step photos for the stitches used in this round, see the **Round 4 Photo Tutorial** below.

Rnd 5: Dc join (see Special Stitches) dark peach in any FPtr, dc in each st and ch-1 sp around, join in first dc. (48 dc)

Rnd 5 complete. A crochet circle with red triangles radiating outward from a textured purple center. The outer circle is peach colored. — *Rnd 5 complete.*

Rnd 6: Ch color change (see Special Stitches) to dark yellow, cut dark peach, sc in same st as join, sc in next 2 dc, spk sc (see Special Stitches) in next ch-1 sp 2 rnds below, [sc in next 3 dc, spk sc in next ch-1 sp 2 rnds below] around, join in first sc. (12 spk sc, 36 sc)

Rnd 6 complete. A textured crochet circle in purple, red, peach, and yellow. — *Rnd 6 complete.*
Need help with the spike stitches in this round? See the **Round 6 Photo Tutorial** below.

Rnd 7: Ch 2 (see Pattern Notes), dc in same st as join, picot (see Special Stitches), *[dc in next sc, picot] 2 times, ch 2, sl st in last sc just worked (petal made), ch 1, sk next spk sc**, (sl st, ch 2, dc) in next sc, picot, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, invisible join (see Special Technique) in first ch, fasten off. (12 petals, 12 ch-1 sps)

A crochet blanket flower made with red, coral, and yellow yarn on a white background. — *Rnd 7 complete.*
For more on how to make a picot, see the **Round 7 Photo Tutorial** below.

Finishing

Weave in ends and block to finished measurements.

Photo Tutorial

Rnd 4 Tutorial: Making a triangle petal

A circle crocheted in dark purple yarn. A crochet hook has been inserted around the post at the top of one of the puff stitch. — **Step 1:** Front post treble crochet (FPtr) join red around top of any puff stitch (puff st). Start by making a slip knot and placing it on your hook. Yo 2 times, and insert hook from front to back to front around the post at the top of the puff st. Yo, pull up a lp, [yo, draw through 2 lps] 3 times.

A crochet circle in dark purple yarn. A red yarn has been attached to one of the puff stitches with a standing treble crochet. — FPtr join complete.

A red yarn is attached to a purple crochet circle with a standing treble crochet. A blue circle has been drawn around the center of the stitch. — **Step 2:** In this step, we will work an hdc in the middle 2 side lps of tr just made *(circled in blue in the photo at left)*.

A half double crochet stitch worked into the side of a treble crochet using red yarn. — To make the hdc, yo, insert hook in middle 2 side lps, yo, pull up a lp *(3 lps on hook)*, yo draw through all 3 lps to complete the hdc.

A half double crochet stitch worked into the side of a treble crochet using red yarn. A blue circle has been drawn around the bottom of the treble crochet stitch. — **Step 3:** In this step, we will work a dc in the bottom 2 front lps of the same tr *(circled in blue in the photo at left)*.

A triangle petal crocheted in red yarn emerges from a purple crochet circle. The triangle is made with 2 stitches worked into the side of the taller treble crochet stitch. — To make the dc, yo, insert hook in bottom 2 front lps, yo, pull up a lp *(3 lps on hook)*, [yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.
Triangle petal complete.

Rnd 6 Tutorial: Making a spike single crochet

The outer edge of a crochet circle made with coral-colored yarn. A few single crochet have been worked in yellow. A black arrow points to the space between red petals 2 rounds below, indicating where to insert hook next. — Here, we will work a spike single crochet (spk sc) in next ch-1 sp 2 rnds below *(indicated with a black arrow in the photo at left)*.

The outer edge of a crochet circle made with coral-colored yarn. A few single crochet have been worked in yellow. The hook is inserted into the space between red petals 2 rounds below. — Insert hook into sp between two triangle petals made in Rnd 4.

Yo and pull lp through the space and up to height of the current rnd.

A completed spike single crochet worked into the space between red triangle petals 2 rounds below. — Yo, draw through both lps on hook to complete the spk sc.

Rnd 7 Tutorial: Making a picot

A double crochet and chain-3 worked in yellow yarn. A black circle is drawn around the top two front loops at the top of the double crochet stitch. — To make a picot, start with a ch 3. Next, sl st in the front 2 lps at top of dc just made *(circled in the photo at left)*.

A completed picot worked in yellow yarn. — Yo and draw through both lps on hook to complete the picot.

Video Tutorial

Prefer to follow along visually? Watch the step-by-step tutorial.

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Finished items made using this pattern may be sold in limited quantities, provided that credit for the design is given to Jennifer Olivarez.

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Free Blanket Flower Appliqué Crochet Pattern