5 Not-So-Common Materials for Crocheting Flowers
Today we’re going to talk about 5 different materials you can use to make a crocheted flower AND I’m sharing MY crochet flower pattern with you. You can use this flower pattern or one of your favorite flower patterns. Some of the materials may work better with some patterns versus others, but as long as the pattern is pretty simple, it should work.
This pattern can be used with a multitude of materials as you will see. It is a simple series of stitches: chain, single crochet, double crochet, and slip stitch. I do not cover how to do those individual stitches here, but you can find numerous tutorials for each of them on YouTube.
And these are the different types of materials we are going to use on our crocheted flowers today:
- Yarn, with some interesting additions and combinations so don’t pass this one up!
- Ribbon
- Jute
- Lace
- Tee shirt fabric
You will need between 4-6 yards for each of these since gauge could vary.
The Crocheted Flower Pattern
Yarn: 4 weight
We are going to make our first crocheted flower using simple 4 weight yarn. And then each of the following materials are substituted in place of the yarn.
- Hook size: K hook (6.5mm)
- Finished flower size: 2” diameter
Chain 4 and join to beginning chain with slip stitch.
Round 1: Chain 1. Inserting hook into center circle, make 7 single crochets. Join to beginning single crochet with a slip stitch.
Round 2: *(Chain 2, 2 double crochet, slip stitch) into the same stitch. Slip stitch into the next stitch and repeat from * 6 more times. (7 petals)
Fasten off and tuck ends, or use the ends to tie it onto something.
And now for some variations using yarn.
1. Regular yarn
- Amount of 4-weight Yarn: 4 yards or 144″
- Hook Size: K (6.5mm)
- Finished flower size (diameter): 2-3”
This is a great way to use up scraps of yarn leftover from other projects. It doesn’t take much yarn to make this crocheted flower. The amount of yarn will vary if you increase your hook size, or use a thicker yarn. But using 4-weight yarn, it only took 4 yards, and that also included 3-4” tails on both the beginning and the end.
You could also use a 5- or 6-weight yarn as shown in the pictures, up your hook size to a L or M and the finished flower turns out a little bit bigger at 2.5—3”. Keep in mind, this will take closer to 5+ yards of yarn.
I’ve also used two 4-weight yarns like the blue and white flower shown, use an L or M hook, to create a slightly larger flower at about 2.75”. This is great for mixing together team colors.
Another option is to combine a strand of thread or embroidery floss with a strand of yarn just to add a touch of pizazz, as you can see in the cream yarn and black thread flower. I used a smaller weight yarn (3-weight) and it turned out at about 1.75”
Different sized flowers could be layered for a cute hair clip, embellishment on a hat, fixed to a headband, or even attached to things like a wreath or frame. If you want to really go crazy you could sew the flowers together to make an actual blanket. This might take a ton of flowers but could be cute for a doll sized blanket.
2. Ribbon
- Hook: K (6.5mm)
- Finished flower size (diameter): 2.5”
This one makes a cute flower to use on gift packages, especially birthday or Christmas gifts. Again you could go smaller or larger on the ribbon width, and just adjust your hook size. I found the narrower ribbon widths worked up a little easier.
3. Jute
- Hook: L (8mm)
- Finished flower size (diameter): 3.5”
Surprisingly, jute was a little more wiry to crochet with so if you’re just learning to crochet, I would not recommend starting with jute. But if you’re an intermediate to experienced crocheter, go for it.
Finished jute crocheted flowers would be a good addition to a lace or burlap wreath, frame, garland or attached to a vase for a country style wedding.
4. Lace
- Hook: M (9mm)
- Finished flower size (diameter): 3.5”
I used a spool of lace and this one worked up a little easier than the jute, but a little more involved than regular yarn. Much of the lace design is lost in the flower, but I think it could look good with a mixture of the other flower materials.
5. Tee Shirt Fabric
- Hook: N (10mm)
- Finished flower size (diameter): 4”
This is one where you might use an old t-shirt and cutting on a slight diagonal from side to side, cut a 1” wide continuous strip.
Once you’ve created your strip, you’ll want to “pull” on the strip like you’re doing resistance band training. Taking each end and pulling away from each other will allow the fabric to curl in on itself, leaving most of the right side of the fabric on the outside.
This one makes a much larger flower, and is a little more of a workout.
More Creative Ways to use a Crocheted Flower
I mentioned a few uses for some of the different flowers, but here are a few more ideas you could use or attach them to:
- Attach to a barrette, hair clip, headband
- As a blanket embellishment
- Add to a crocheted, knitted, or fleece hat
- Adorn your shoes by attaching it to a shoe clip
- Make into a pin to wear as a brooch — I’m thinking either dressy, shabby chic, or bold school colors
- Attach to a necklace or bracelet – again either dressy, casual, or clip to a bead necklace for school spirit wear
- Accessorize a purse
- Fasten to a ring base (especially for the embroidery floss flower)
- Enhance a scarf
- Create Christmas ornaments using a team/school colors or colors from a wedding. Adding a button to center can also dress it and feed into the theme you’re going for.
- Embellish a frame
That’s it for today, but we will be working on another list of new materials to use for this flower pattern.
What materials have you crocheted with? What would you add to the list of materials? And what other items have you attached them to? Drop me a note in the comments!
5 Not-So-Common Materials for Crocheted Flower
