I’ve gotten so many compliments, questions, and pattern requests lately about the African Flower crochet motif I shared on social media recently. Some of you guessed correctly that it’s the African Flower motif while others commented that they look like jammie dodgers. Well the African Flower camp wins, although I do see the jammie dodger connection too!!
To be precise though, it is only the first 3 rounds of the traditional African Flower motif. I left off the later rounds that turn the motifs into hexagons because … well … to be honest, since I just did a hexagon blanket I wanted to do a something a little different and I thought they looked pretty neat like this. And, since I am making this as coverlet for my bed and not really an afghan, I really didn’t need the coverage that the later rounds fill in. Want to give it a go?
African Flower Pattern
Here’s what you need:
- 3 colors worsted weight yarn
- H hook
- tapestry needle, scissors
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this free pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry library.
Special Stitches:
Long single crochet (Lsc): Insert hook in designated space and pull up a loop to height of row being worked, complete as single crochet.
With CA, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 1 dc in ring, ch 1, *2 dc in ring, ch 1, rep from * 4 more times, join in top of beg ch 3, fasten off — 12 dc and 6 ch-1 sps.
Round 2: Join CB in any ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work [1 dc, ch 5, 2 dc] in same ch-sp as color was joined, *ch 1, [2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc] in next ch-1 sp, rep from * 4 more times, ch 1, join in top of beg ch 3 — 24 dc and 6 ch-5 sps.
Round 3: Sl st in next dc and in next ch-5 sp, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 6 dc in same ch-sp, *ch 1, work 7 dc in next ch-5 sp, rep from * rep from * 4 more times, ch 1, join in top of beg ch 3, fasten off — 42 dc and 6 ch-1 sps.
Here is where I stopped for this project. To continue on with the traditional hexagon shaped African Flower motif scroll to the bottom of the page for the last 2 rounds.
Joining
To join, I used the Join As You Go Method (JAYGO) as follows:
For the first motif only, join CC in the first dc of any 7 dc-grouping from Round 3, ch 1 (does not count as st), work 1 sc in same st as color was joined and in next 6 sts, *work 1 Lsc over the ch-1 sp from Round 3 and into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, work 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * 4 more times, work 1 Lsc into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, join in first st of round, fasten off — 48 sts.
For subsequent motifs, follow the same pattern as for the first, but when you reach the side to join, after working your Lsc, work 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, ch 1, then drop the loop from your hook and insert it into the 4th sc of the motif you want to join it to, put the loop back on your hook and pull it through, now continuing to work back in your current motif, work 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat this for the next petal of your motif.
Each motif should join to another at 2 points. See the diagram below for placement of the motifs. Joining points are indicated by the red diamonds.
To make the traditional hexagon African Flower motif, follow Rounds 1 through 3 above and then continue on as follows:
Round 4: Join CC in the first dc of any 7 dc-grouping from Round 3, ch 1 (does not count as st), work 1 sc in same st as color was joined and in next 6 sts, *work 1 Lsc over the ch-1 sp from Round 3 and into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, work 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * 4 more times, work 1 Lsc into the ch-1 sp from Round 2, join in first st of round, fasten off — 48 sts.
Round 5: Join CD in same st, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, *[1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc] in next st, 1 dc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * 4 more times, [1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc] in next st, 1 dc in each of the next 4 sts, join in top of beg ch-3, fasten off — 54 sts.
I would love to see your projects! Feel free to post up your pictures to my Facebook page.
Hello, lovely color scheme and pattern! I actually can follow it, and that is an achievement for me. Is there any way you can put numbers by the red dots in the joining sequence? I can’t see it in my head.
This pattern, designed/authored by Dorothy Neidhart using the name Paperweight Pattern, was originally published in The Womans Day Magazine in September 1986. It was the cover afghan. You can see the cover at
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/womans-day-magazine-september-9-1986/patterns.
She, and the name she gave it, deserve recognition. I hope you will do so.
Thank you for your comment 🙂 This pattern is commonly known as the African Flower and has many variations done by many different people. It is similar to the traditional granny square in the way that it is difficult to pinpoint where the pattern first came and how it has evolved. Here is a sampling of some of the variations available on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&craft=crochet&query=african flower
You won’t find an earlier pattern of this motif than the Paperweight as designed by Dorothy Neidhart. It would be nice to give her credit.
Hi how many chains I need for the magic circle ?
Great post, you have pointed out some fantastic points, I also think this is a very wonderful
website.
Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the beauty.
How many skeins of each coor? And what colors did u use?
Hi! I love this pattern. I just had a question about the colors, on the top in the section labeled “Here’s what you need” you say you need 3 colors of worsted yarn, so what color did you use for your fourth color? Thank you for any info!
this thoroughly confused me as well.
I am making the traditional hexagonal African flowers-do you put them together the same way?
Hi Cindy 🙂 Here is a tutorial for joining hexagons that I think will help … http://www.petalstopicots.com/2013/03/joining-granny-hexagons-with-join-as-html/
This looks stunning, the colours are beautiful
Thank you so much 🙂
Is it chain 5 in row 2 correct?? My flower looks all bloated?
Yes. When you work in those chains on the next round your flower will fill in.
I l9ve this! I love your color choices. I am wondering what yarn amd colors you used.
Hi Nicole 🙂 I used Knit Picks Brava Worsted in cream, wine, and camel heather.
This is so beautiful! I love the colors.
I haven’t crocheted for long, my mom tried hard to teach me but it just didn’t “take” until I was waiting on my first grandchild, I’m hoping to make the afghan for her in the white and blue that I mentioned in a previous comment. 🙂
I came across this pattern today and absolutely love it! I’m thinking of doing the motifs in white and blue for a snowflake effect.
how many motifs does it take? Can you give me an estimate?
Thank you so much for sharing! I have been looking for a gift for a special person and I found it here! So just know that your generosity will be going to someone who also shares and gives to others.
This is absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait to try this. Do you have a video turorial?
Hello, love this pattern!
I haven’t done a LSC before and I am a bit confused… Could you maybe explain it a little differently? Thanks!
Long so single crochets are worked over the stitch below it instead of into it. So you are really working a single crochet in the row below. Make sense?
thank you for sharing
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for sharing! I been looking for a new project for my living room.
So glad you like it!
Meant joining my motifs now. Did you embroider the joining red areas together?
Love this pattern. I’m not joining my motifs and did them as I went. Did you do each row than join the rows, or join as you crotched the edges? I’ve completed the first row and now have noticed that each motif in a row is joined only on the two bottom areas where I’ve joined the last two petals at two areas, thus making it joined to the next motif 4 times. Guess I’ve goofed somewhere. Any enlightening on this will be helpful.
Thanks
Hi Karen 🙂 I joined my while working the last edging round of each flower. Each petals should join to an adjacent petal except for in the outer rows of your blanket. Make sense? The red triangles on my joining diagram indicate the points at which each flower joins another. Hope that helps!
Yes, it’s makes sense. Thanks so very much. I love this pattern and will just need to put the rows together since I’ve done all the motifs together.
I have been wanting to make this flower and putting it off. I now am going to make it.
Thank you soo much I have been crocheting MOST of my life Learned from books. My MOM started me with the basic stitches.
I will be 82 years young next month. I am still learning. So much to do.
Happy early birthday 🙂 I love learning new things too!
Thanks for the birthday wishes I have so much i want to do and so little time.
Still trying to figure how many 50g balls I need for a throw please?
Vicki
Hi Vicki 🙂 This is still a work in progress for me too so I’m not sure what my final yardage will be.
Hi Kara,
How many skeins of each color will I need to make this project?
Thanks,
Judy
I Love this pattern! I too was wondering if you have finished it yet, and know how many
skeins it took. I think a lot of afgans use about 50-60 oz. I was hoping this was close to that!
Hi Kris 🙂 Nope, I am embarrassed to say but my afghan is still a work in progress. Sorry 🙁
LOL! Don’t feel bad, i still have those kinda projects that have been sitting around the house for a year “unfininished”. I tend to see new patterns that i “suddenly” need to make! LOL!
Hi, I started this project when all free crochet posted it on Facebook, I got a little sidetracked until today when I decided to pick it back up again. This is such a fun pattern, and so easy to! My only question is how many motifs would it take to make a throw. I’m not sure how big a throw should be but something that you snuggle up with while watching tv. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Hi Sam 🙂 I am so glad you are enjoying the pattern! Good question … it really depends on how big you would like it to be. I usually just keep making them until I reach the size I like (or am sick of the project, hehe 😉 ). A typical throw is usually about 50 in. by 60 in.
Ahhh, a Jewish star! Few patterns are available. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this lovely pattern.
Hi Kara,
Love this pattern! Thank you for posting it. I would like to know how many motifs did you make. I’m not sure if you made 11 motifs or 77 motifs per your diagram. Much appreciated. I will be making this for my mother, I think she’s going to love it!
Thanks,
Judy
Hi Judy 🙂 The diagram represents 11 motifs.
Ok great! Thanks again!!! 🙂
hello. thank u. it is grate. what if you had the acrobat reader download link, for your beutiful free patterns!
good luck
I too would love to make this but unfortunately you lost me in round 2. Is there an easier way to explain this?
Sure, Heather 🙂 I will try to spell it out with no abbreviations. Maybe that will help. Join your next color in any of the spaces left by the chain 1s from the previous round and chain 3 (the chain 3 counts as your first double crochet), work 1 more double crochet into the same chain space as you joined the yarn, chain 5 and work 2 more double crochets into the same chain space again (this gives you the [2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc] cluster). *Now chain 1 and work 2 double crochets, into the next chain 1 space, ch 5 and work 2 more double crochets into that same chain space again. Now repeat from the * 4 more times, chain 1 and join with a slip stitch in top of beginning chain 3. Make sense?
Hello! I love the pattern it’s gorgeous!! But I would like to do the same color story you did. What is the brand name and name of color yarn your used?
I used Knit Picks Brava worsted in Wine, Cream, and Camel Heather 🙂
Do you know how big in diameter each flower is? I’m think about making this into a crowl (:
would like to be on youre mailing list the African Flower Mofit is beautiful would like to make one
Absolutely love this pattern and the colors that you used. Can you please tell me what these colors are and the name of the yarn please!! Thanks for always keeping it free and real!!
Brenda
HI Brenda 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment! I used Knit Picks Brava worsted in Wine, Cream, and Camel Heather.
I love this pattern but started crocheting late in life and on my own. I can’t seem to follow the written instructions so should you ever do a video on this pattern I would love to try it. Your work is beautiful.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 1 dc in ring, ch 1, *2 dc in ring, ch 1, rep from * 4 more times, join in top of beg ch 3, fasten off — 12 dc and 12 ch-1 sps.
12 dc and 6 ch-1 sps.
Good catch! I updated the pattern 🙂
Hello
I have talked my mother-in-law into teaching me to crochet because of this beautiful pattern. You mentioned that you left the last round off that made it a hexagon. Could you please share the original pattern directions as I’d like to make it as a throw and think I will need the extra “coverage”. Thank you!
Yay! I am so happy to hear that. I hope you love it as much as I do. You can fi the 4th and final round of the traditional African Flower motif at the very bottom of this post.
I too think thisis beautiful…I love looking at the things you make. I think this would also make beautiful placemats, a square bag, ifvyou did it with thread it would make a beautiful tablecloth ….thanks for sharing, I look toward to seeing your next project.
Forgot to click on boxes below to receive emails of comments.
Like Pat above, I am also interested in knowing what the 4th color is.
I absolutely love this! The colors are beautiful. And thank you for the join as you go instructions. I’ve seen them in other patterns but this is so much clearer.
My only question is about the magic ring I have been crocheting for years and have not seen that term in crochet before, I know how to make a ring with chain stitches and I guess I am just used to the old fashioned method of chain so many and join so what is the secret to this magic ring?
Hi Donna 🙂 there should be a link in the post for a tutorial on the magic ring. But if you feel more comfortable chaining and joining to make a ring, that works just as well. Hope that helps!
Thanks I just found the tutorial very interesting. I am learning this site, so sorry if it was an obvious answer.
How many chains to begin?
This is such a pretty pattern. I am hoping it will work for a table runner. Thank you for sharing.
I love your granny hexagons! What is the fourth color in the African Flower pattern? I have started on the Granny Hexagon pattern and the suggestions for selecting colors are very helpful – in fact right on! Thank you!!
pinned!! I love african flowers. I really need to make a bag or afghan one of these days!
So glad you like it, Anita!
Gorgeous! Thanks so much for linking up on Hookin On Hump Day!
I love this pattern and can’t wait to try it. On Round 5, it refers to CD, but I could not find it listed in the abbreviations section. Can you please tell me what it stands for just in case I decide to go all the way to Round 5 some day. 🙂
Hi Cheryl 🙂 CD stands for color D. Hope that helps!
This is a beautiful afghan and the pattern is not to diffcult so I will be trying this one thanks for sharing….Hugs, Leslie
Hope you enjoy it!
Hi Kara,
I’ve seen the picture of this pattern on the Hookin on Hump blog hop! it’s really nice! thanks for sharing
Thanks, Tatsme 🙂 Glad you like it!
Thank you, it is a beautiful pattern. love Carol
Thank you, Carol! I’m so glad you like it 🙂
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing the pattern!
Thanks, Hanni 🙂
Thanks for sharing , Kara!! I love the color combination you have used 🙂
How did you create that diagram, I mean which application? It would be great if you reply me at [email protected]
Earlier I used to get replies on my mail whenever you replied to comments but these days I don’t. And I forget about the queries I put on blogs to check for reply 🙁
These are really beautiful.
At first I thought they were cookies LOL 🙂
Lol!! No, I will leave the baking yummy things to you. You are much better at it 🙂
I love how you are joining the African flower! Such a pretty lacy version ♥
Thanks, Ana 🙂
I’ve never seen granny squares in a flower shape before, Kara! Is there anything you can’t do with a crochet hook? You are so talented!
You are always so sweet to me, Marilyn! Your comments always make my day. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure 🙂
This is very beautiful! I’m definitely interested in making my own. About how many ounces/yards would I need of each color?
Thanks!
Hi Sharleen 🙂 I’m not sure yet how much it will take for an afghan since I am still in the process myself. I just try to order colors that are usually in stock and don’t have a dye lot. That way I can order more as I go. Hope that helps!
Beautiful….
Hug
Anna
Thank you, Anna!
It’s really pretty Kara, I would love to do this, it would make a lovely throw, thanks for sharing the how to. 🙂
Glad you like it, Linda!
How do you make a magic circle?
Hi Sharon 🙂 You can check out my tutorial here on how to make a magic ring: http://www.petalstopicots.com/2011/11/how-to-crochet-magic-ring-html/