How to Knit a Flower

How to Knit a Flower

What better way to use leftover bits of yarn when learning how to knit a sweater, a hat, or a blanket than to create adorable knitted flowers? A knitted flower is an excellent token of appreciation and an incredible embellishment to your knit fabrics.

To knit a flower, you should choose an appropriate yarn color that complements your knitted fabric or your home decor when looking to decorate your house. You should further select an easy-to-follow pattern and suitable knitting needles.

Want to learn more about how to knit a flower? Let’s get started!

How to Knit a Simple Flower

Wondering how to start knitting a flower? Knitting a flower may seem like a challenging task, but you will be surprised how easy it is once you get the hang of it. 

 Knitting a simple flower involves three stages including;

• • Knitting foundation row
  • Creating petals
  • Gathering petals

Here is a guide on how to knit a flower for beginners step by step

1. 1. Knit the Foundation Row

To create the foundation row, you should;

Step 1: Gather essential  knitting tools

Image source: Good housekeeping

The first step of learning how to knit a simple flower is to gather the necessary knitting supplies. These include;

Knitting tools	Function
Knitting yarn	This is a continuous thread used to create knitted fabrics
Knitting needles	Knitting needles are tools used to produce a knitted garment
Tapestry needles	Yarn or tapestry needles are used to sew or gather the petals of your knitted flower together
Crochet hook	Crochet hooks come in handy when weaving in the loose ends of your knitted flower
Pair of scissors	These are used to cut the extra yarn at the end of your knitting project or change colors.

It is worth noting that there are distinct types of knitting yarns with different materials, yarn weight, and color, so you should check the woven labels to determine the appropriate thread for your project.

To knit a simple flower, go for light to medium weight yarn and knitting needles with US size  5 to 7 for a lightweight thread and 7 to 9 for medium weight.

 Knitting yarns also come with custom care labels that provide information about the best washing and care method for specific materials. So ensure that you check these labels to avoid damaging your knit flowers while washing them.

The following table shows the appropriate yarn weight and  needle size for your project 

Yarn Weight	Needle size( US size)
Lightweight	5 to 7 inches or 3.75 to 4.5 mm
Medium weight	7 to 9 inches or 4.5 to 5.5 mm

Step 2: Make a slip knot

Not sure how to tie a slip knot? To make a  slip knot, also known as a running knot, you should loop the working yarn around the index and middle finger twice and then pull the second loop over the first one. 

Next, slip the loop onto one of your knitting needles and then pull the yarn’s tail to tighten the arc.

Step 3: Cast on the desired number of stitches

Image source: We are knitters

Don’t know how to cast-on knitting? To cast on, you should hold the needle with the slip knot with your right hand and then wrap the working yarn over the left-hand needle. Next, insert the right-hand needle into the new loop from the front to the back, then throw the working yarn over the tip of the right-hand needle and pull it through.

Repeat this process until you have cast on the required number of stitches for your project. If, for instance, your project requires 50 stitches, you should cast on 49 stitches, since the running knot counts as your first cast-on stitch.

Step 4: Purl the first row

Image source: Instructables

You should place the needle with the cast-on stitches onto your non-dominant hand and the empty needle onto the dominant one. Next, using the purl stitch, work all the stitches from the left needle to the right-hand needle.

      2. Create the Petals

Step 5: Knit the first stitch on row two

Transfer the needle with your work onto the left hand and the empty one onto the right hand. Next, push the empty needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, then wrap the working yarn over the tip of the left-hand needle. Pull this yarn through the initial stitch using the right-hand needle and then let the stitch(old stitch) slide off as the new one replaces it on the right-hand needle.

Step 6: Slip the new stitch back onto the left-hand needle

Push the left-hand needle through the new stitch you just made onto the right-hand needle, and then let it slide off onto the left needle.

Step 7: Loop 9 stitches

Insert the right-hand needle into the second stitch on the left-hand needle and pull it up and over the initial stitch. Next, loop eight more stitches up and over the initial stitch in the row, just like you did the second stitch. You should learn how to finger knit to make looping stitches up and over the initial stitch using knitting needles more straightforward.

 You should now have 9 loops onto the first loop.

Step 8: Knit the last stitch

Once you loop the ninth stitch, you should knit it (the first loop) as usual but do not let the old stitch slide off; instead, keep it in the needle. Next, wrap the working yarn over the needle to create an extra stitch, then pull this thread through the stitch while letting the old stitch slide off the left-hand needle. You should now have three stitches on the right-hand needle.

Step 9: Repeat steps 5-9 until you work across the entire row

You should keep knitting one stitch, looping over nine, and then kitting and increasing until you work the entire row. You should now have 15 stitches on the right-hand needle.

      3. Gather the Petals

Image source: Pinterest

Step 10: Knit across row three

Transfer the needle with your work to the left hand and then knit across the row

Step 11: Sew the fabric to gather the petals

To gather the petals for your simple flower, you should equip yourself with various sewing room ideas to make the process more straightforward.

Using a pair of scissors, cut the working yarn a few inches from the last stitch. Next, insert working yarn through the eye of the tapestry needles, then pull it through the loops on the knitting needles to secure them.

You should then slip the loops off the knitting needles and pull the ends of the yarn to form a circle at the petal’s center. Finally, sew through the first and last petals of the flower to join them together. 

You could further learn how to weave in loose ends in knitting to secure your flower and prevent unraveling

Want a visual guide on how to knit a flower step by step? Watch this video.

How to Knit Flowers for Beginners: Patterns

Want to add flowers to your project when learning how to knit a blanket, a scarf, or a hat? There are various beginner-friendly patterns you could knit to make your project more attractive. However, ensure that you know how to read patterns in knitting to ensure that you achieve the desired outcome.

The following are some flower patterns you could choose when learning how to knit a scarf, a dishcloth, a sweater, or a hat, to mention a few.

• • Flowerburst dishcloth pattern
  • Pinwheel flowers pattern
  • The Sunflower pattern
  • The Rose flower pattern

1. 1. Flowerburst Dishcloth

Image source: AllFreeKnitting

Looking to make attractive dishcloths for your kitchen? Consider knitting the flowerburst dishcloth pattern. This knitted flower pattern is perfect for beginners as it requires simple knit and purl stitches. You further need medium-weight yarn and knitting needles with a size of 4.5 mm to get started.

      2. Pinwheel Flowers Pattern

Image source: Ravelry

This flower pattern is perfect when you are looking to add decorations and brooches around your home. What’s more? The pinwheel flowers pattern requires the easy-to-knit garter stitch technique, so it is perfect for beginners.

      3. The Sunflower Pattern

Image source: Gathered

This awesome flower pattern provides a great way to turn sunflowers that only bloom during summer into an all-year-round joy. To create the sunflower pattern, you should cast on, knit, purl, work increases and decreases, bind off then sew seams together.

      4. The Rose Flower Pattern

Image source: Studio knit

This flower pattern is suitable for making embellishments for your knitted fabrics, including sweaters, scarves, and hats. To create this flower pattern, you should knit a garter stitch swatch in the desired number of rows, using the yarn over increase method, then shape it into a rose flower. 

Watch this video to learn more about how to knit a rose flower pattern.

How to Knit a Flower for a Hat

Image source: Mack and Mabel

How do you knit a flower for a hat?

Looking to add a flower to your fabric when learning how to knit a hat? To knit a flower for your hat, you should first cast off your knitting and weave in the loose ends of your hat. Next, you should;

Step 1: Gather the necessary knitting equipment

You should select yarn and appropriate needles for your project. Ensure that the yarn color complements your already knitted hat.

Step 2: Cast on the required number of stitches depending on the flower pattern

For a flat blossom pattern, cast on 51 stitches.

Step 3: Knit the body of your flower

When knitting the flat blossom flower pattern, you should knit the first four rows of your project using the stockinette stitch.  Next, knit 1 stitch in row five, then bind off the following 9 stitches. You should then keep knitting 1 and binding off  9 stitches until you work across the entire row. You now have six stitches on the knitting needle.

Step 4: Sew through the stitches on your knitting needle

Cut the working yarn to make a long tail and then insert it (tail) into a tapestry needle. Next, push the tapestry needle through each loop while sliding them off the knitting needles. You should then pull the yarn tail on both ends to gather the blossoms and whipstitch them together. Ensure you leave a long yarn tail so that you can attach the flower to your hat.

Step 5: Attach the flower to the knitted hat

You should choose a location on your hat where you want the flower attached. Next, sew the flower to your hat to attach it using the tapestry needle.

Watch this video to learn how to knit a flower for a hat.

Conclusion

Knitted flowers help add style and improve the overall appearance of your knits. They also provide a creative way to decorate and add charm to your home. 

To knit a simple flower, you should make the foundation row, create petals and then gather them together. You should then sew the flower to your knitted fabric, including hats, sweaters, dishcloths, and scarves. 

That said, different flower patterns require distinct knitting procedures to achieve the desired appearance. So ensure that you follow the knitting flower pattern’s instructions and gather the necessary knitting equipment.

Got an idea on how to knit a flower for your next project?