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Crochet the Mariposa Lily Appliqué with this free crochet pattern inspired by the delicate, cup-shaped white blooms of the Rocky Mountains. Three graceful petals curve upward, framed by slender green sepals that give this distinctive wildflower its unmistakable character.

This dimensional floral design builds from a small, star-shaped center into a layered bloom, using simple stitches and shaping techniques. Designed for advanced beginners and beyond, this round-by-round pattern offers an engaging introduction to dimensional crochet, with a few clever construction details that bring the flower to life.

The Mariposa Lily is the fourth pattern in my Wildflower Series. To learn more about this project, check out the Crochet Wildflower Field Guide.

What You’ll Love About This Mariposa Lily Appliqué

A distinctive, dimensional flower featuring three delicate, cup-shaped petals and contrasting green sepals
A satisfying, skill-building project that uses color changes, chain spaces, stitches of varying heights, and layered construction
An approachable design for advanced beginners ready to expand their crochet skills and explore dimensional floral motifs
A versatile little flower that looks beautiful in traditional white and green or reimagined in your own favorite colors and yarns

What Is a Mariposa Lily?

The mariposa lily is an elegant, resilient perennial wildflower native to the mountain meadows, open woodlands, and subalpine slopes of the western United States. Sprouting from an underground bulb, this eye-catching flower stands out against the rugged terrain of the Rockies.

Unlike many familiar wildflowers, the mariposa lily has just three broad petals that open into a delicate, cup-shaped bloom. Its name comes from the Spanish word mariposa, meaning butterfly, a fitting name for a flower whose graceful petals seem to flutter above the surrounding grasses. Depending on the species, the petals may be white or display shades of pink, purple, or yellow, often with contrasting markings near the base. Beneath the petals, three slender green sepals complete the flower’s distinctive form.

Ways to Use the Mariposa Lily 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 advanced beginner-level crochet pattern suitable for crocheters who have mastered basic stitches and are familiar with or are comfortable learning the following stitch techniques:

Beginning with an adjustable ring (double magic ring)
Joining with a stitch at the end of a round
Working chain color changes
Crocheting into the back bars of a chain
Working stitches of varying heights

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

Concentration Level

Some concentration required. Might require some focus and counting.

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Mariposa Lily Crochet Pattern

Technical Editing: Randy Cavaliere

Pattern Testing: Barb, Beth, crochet-tm, DivaVonPurl, and Nita

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

Finished Measurements

2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, excluding spike petals

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

#820 lemon (light yellow): 3 yds (3 m/1 g)

#841 moss (light green): 3 yds (3 m/1 g)

#817 ecru (white): 5 yds (4.5 m/2 g)

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

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.

Gauge

Rnds 1–4 = 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, excluding spike petals

Pattern Notes

Join with slip stitch as indicated unless otherwise stated.
When instructed to make an hdc join at the end of a round, work a half double crochet in the indicated stitch rather than joining with a slip stitch. The hdc join counts as a chain-2 space unless otherwise stated.

Special Stitches

Double crochet join/standing double crochet (dc join): Place slip knot on hook, yo, with index finger on lps to avoid slippage, insert hook in indicated st, yo, pull up a lp, [yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.

Special Techniques

Adjustable ring: Wrap tail end around forefinger clockwise 3 times. Insert hook under first 2 strands. Grab 3rd strand with hook and pull it under first 2 strands. Yo with working yarn and draw through lp on hook. Holding ch just made, slip ring off your fingers. Work sts of first rnd in ring, working over both strands. After first rnd of sts is worked, pull back lp to close front lp, then pull tail to close remaining lp.

Need help getting started? See the step-by-step Adjustable Ring Photo Tutorial here.

Chain color change (ch color change): Drop current color, yo with new color, draw new color through lp 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)

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

st(s) stitch(es)

yd(s) yard(s)

yo yarn over

( ) work directions in parentheses in indicated stitch or space

[ ] repeat directions in brackets as indicated

Pattern Instructions

Rnd 1 (RS): With light yellow, make an adjustable ring (see Special Techniques), ch 1, [sc, ch 2] 6 times in ring, close ring, join (see Pattern Notes) in first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 2: Ch color change (see Special Techniques) to light green, cut light yellow, [3 sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5, working in back bar of chs, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 chs, hdc in next ch (spike petal made), 3 sc in next ch-2 sp] around, join in first sc, fasten off. (18 sc, 3 spike petals)

Rnd 3: Join white in first sc after any spike petal, [ch 3, dc in next sc, 2 dc in next 2 sc, dc in next sc, ch 3, sl st in next sc, holding next spike petal to front of work*, ch 2, sk same spike petal, sl st in next sc] around, ending last rep at *, hdc join (see Pattern Notes) in beg sl st join. (18 dc, 3 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 4: [Ch 4, sk next ch-3 sp, hdc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, hdc in next dc, ch 4, sk next ch-3 sp*, sl st in next ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, join in hdc join, fasten off. (3 round petals; 6 hdc, 12 dc, 6 ch-4 sps)

Finishing

Weave in ends and block to finished measurements.

Video Tutorial

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

This pattern is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, redistributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including print or digital, without the express written permission of the designer.

You may share a link to this pattern on websites or social media, but please do not copy or repost the pattern content.

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

Please use the contact form for questions and pattern support.

Mariposa Lily Appliqué Crochet Pattern

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Mariposa Lily Crochet Pattern

Pattern Instructions

Video Tutorial

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