African Flower Granny Square — Free Crochet Pattern (Step-by-Step)
The african flower granny square is one of the most satisfying motifs to make. It looks like it took hours — the layered petals, the dimensional center, the clean square edges — but the construction is surprisingly logical once you work through it once. By the second square, your hands know where to go.
This is the free Patterns Here version, with the full written pattern, stitch counts for every round, and photos of the actual process. Six rounds total. No PDF purchase required.
The african flower granny square goes by a few names depending on where you find it — african flower crochet, flower granny square, hexagon flower motif. All of them refer to the same construction: a circular flower center that gets squared off in the final rounds.
Materials
This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Yarn | DK weight #3 cotton or acrylic — approx. 25–30 yards per square |
| Hook | 3.5mm for DK / 4.5mm for worsted |
| Notions | Yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors |
Colors: 3–4 colors work best. Center color (Rnd 1), petal color (Rnds 2–3), outline color (Rnd 4), and square color (Rnds 5–6). You can use the same color for Rnds 3 and 4 for a different effect.
Finished size: approximately 4.5 inches / 11.5cm with DK weight and 3.5mm hook. Larger with worsted weight.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
Check our abbreviations guide.
- MR — magic ring
- ch — chain
- sc — single crochet
- hdc — half double crochet
- dc — double crochet
- tr — treble crochet
- sl st — slip stitch
- sk — skip
- sp — space
- spike sc — spike single crochet (explained in Round 4)
- 3-tr-tog — 3 treble crochets worked together (explained in Round 5)
UK crocheters: US dc = UK tr, US tr = UK dtr, US sc = UK dc.
How This Pattern Works
The african flower granny square builds in two phases:
Rounds 1–4 create the circular flower — center ring, petals, outline.
Rounds 5–6 transform the circle into a square — the most satisfying moment of the pattern.
Each round uses a new color. Fasten off at the end of each round and join the next color in the appropriate space. The pattern notes where to join for each round.
African Flower Granny Square Pattern
Round 1 — Center
Make a MR, or ch 3 and sl st to form a ring.
Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in ring. Ch 1. 2 dc in ring, ch 1. Rep * to * until you have 8 groups total. Sl st to top of starting ch 3 to join. Fasten off. (16 dc, 8 ch-1 spaces)
Pull the magic ring closed snugly before fastening off — a loose center is hard to fix later.
Round 2 — Building the Petals
Join new color in any ch-1 space.
Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in same space. Ch 1. 2 dc in same space. (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch-1 space. Rep * to * around. Sl st to top of starting ch 3 to join. Fasten off. (32 dc, 8 ch-1 spaces)
Round 3 — Petal Clusters
Join new color in any ch-1 space.
Ch 3 (counts as dc). 6 dc in same ch-1 space. 7 dc in next ch-1 space. Rep * to * around. Sl st to top of starting ch 3 to join. Fasten off. (56 dc — 8 petals of 7 dc each)
Count carefully — 8 petals of exactly 7 dc each. This count matters for Round 5.
Round 4 — Outline and Spike Singles
What is a spike sc? Insert your hook into the small space between two petal clusters from Round 2 (going down through the work), pull up a loop to the height of your current round, yarn over, pull through both loops. It creates a longer stitch that connects the layers.
Join new color in first dc of any petal.
Sc in same st and in next 6 sts. Spike sc into the space between petals in Round 2. Sc in next 7 dc. Rep * to * around, ending with a spike sc. Sl st to first sc to join. Fasten off. (56 sc, 8 spike sc — 64 sts total)
Round 5 — Squaring the Circle
This is the most complex round — it creates the 4 corners that turn your flower into a square. Take it slowly the first time.
What is 3-tr-tog? Three treble crochets worked into the same stitch but not completed individually — you leave the last loop of each on your hook until all three are done, then pull through all 4 loops together. It creates a pointed cluster.
Join new color with a standing hdc (or ch 2) in any spike sc.
Skip 1 st, sc in next 4 sts, ch 1, skip 2 sts.
Corner: (3-tr-tog, ch 3, 3-tr-tog) in next spike sc. Ch 1, skip 2 sts.
Sc in next 4 sts, skip 1 st, hdc in next spike sc.
Rep from * to * 3 more times, working corners in each of the 4 remaining spike sc positions. Sl st to starting hdc to join. Fasten off. (4 corners with ch-3 spaces, 4 sides)
Don’t worry if this round looks wonky — Round 6 straightens everything out.
Round 6 — Border (Finishing the Square)
Join new color in any side stitch.
Ch 2 (counts as hdc) or work a standing hdc. Hdc in each st and ch-1 space across to corner. In ch-3 corner space: 3 hdc, ch 2, 3 hdc. Hdc in each st and ch-1 space to next corner. (3 hdc, ch 2, 3 hdc) in corner space. Rep * to * around. Sl st to first hdc to join. Fasten off and weave in all ends. (100 hdc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces)
Block lightly and the square will lie flat.
Blocking
Block every square before joining — this is the step that makes the difference between a square that looks handmade and one that looks polished. Wet blocking works best: soak in cool water for 10 minutes, press out excess in a towel, pin to a flat surface at your target measurements, let dry completely.
How Many Squares for a Blanket
| Blanket Size | Squares Needed |
|---|---|
| Baby (30×40 in) | 48–56 |
| Throw (45×60 in) | 110–130 |
| Twin (55×78 in) | 190–220 |
Based on 4.5-inch squares. Adjust for your gauge.
Color Ideas to African Flower Granny Square
Classic 4-color: teal center, light blue petals, pink outline, cream border — the color combination in the photos.
Earthy boho: mustard center, rust petals, olive outline, cream border. Warm and vintage.
Pastel spring: lavender center, blush petals, mint outline, white border. Light and airy.
Bold modern: black center, bright yellow petals, white outline, black border. High contrast.
Scrappy: different color combination for every square. Works beautifully because the border round unifies everything.
Joining Your Squares
The invisible join gives the cleanest seam — both sides look the same and the join is almost invisible. Hold two squares together with right sides facing, join yarn at any corner ch-2 space, and slip stitch through both corner spaces. Continue sl sting through the back loops of both squares across the side. Fasten off and repeat for each seam.
Tips From One Crocheter to Another
Count your petals after Round 3. Eight petals of exactly 7 dc each — if the count is off, fix it here before continuing. Round 5 depends on this count.
The spike sc in Round 4 feels awkward at first. Let the loop pull up naturally to the height of your working round — don’t force it tight. A relaxed spike sc lies flat; a tight one puckers.
Round 5 looks terrible before Round 6. This is normal. The corners curl, the sides look uneven. Keep going — Round 6 straightens everything.
Use stitch markers on your 4 spike sc corner positions before starting Round 5. This makes the squaring round much easier to navigate.
Troubleshooting
Square curling: hook too small or tension too tight. Go up half a hook size.
Petals uneven: stitch count off in Round 3. Recount — 8 groups of exactly 7 dc.
Spike sc too tight: the loop is being pulled up too short. Let it relax to the height of the current round before completing.
Square not square after Round 6: block it. Pin to measurements while damp and let dry completely.
What to Make with the African Flower Granny Square
Blankets — the most popular use. Mix colors or keep one consistent palette.
Cardigans — the dimensional petals add texture to garments that plain squares don’t.
Bags and totes — sturdy enough with cotton yarn, and the floral pattern makes simple shapes look interesting.
Baby blankets — soft cotton in pastels, joined with the invisible seam.
Care Instructions for your African Flower Granny Square
Cotton yarn: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry.
Acrylic yarn: machine wash cold, gentle cycle in mesh bag. Lay flat to dry — tumble drying distorts the petal shape.
Wool: hand wash only with wool wash. Re-block while damp.
FAQs
Is the african flower granny square beginner-friendly?
Confident beginner — not your first project, but accessible if you know dc, sc, and joining rounds. Round 5 looks complicated but is very manageable once you understand the 3-tr-tog.
How long does one african flower granny square take?
45–60 minutes for the first one. After a few, most crocheters get it down to 30 minutes.
What’s the best yarn for african flower granny squares?
DK weight cotton for clean stitch definition and bags. Worsted acrylic for blankets — easy to wash and widely available.
Can I use more than 4 colors?
Yes — some crocheters use a different color for every round, or repeat colors in a specific sequence across a blanket. The pattern accommodates any color arrangement.
Can I sell finished items made from this pattern?
Yes. Please credit Patterns Here as the pattern source when posting online.
See Also
- Easy Granny Square Pattern — Free Beginner Tutorial
- Willow Granny Square Pattern — Free Tutorial
- Retro Daisy Granny Square Pattern — Free Tutorial
- Crochet Hook Size Chart — US, Metric & Brand Comparison
- Crochet Abbreviations — Complete Reference Chart
- African Flower Granny Square Dress — Step by Step Free