A crochet peony flower is built from a small yellow pistil and four layers of ruffled petals worked in Afghan stitch, 22 petals in all. This page gives the whole free pattern for the flower head in 29 photo steps, with the arithmetic shown for every count we can check.
This free crochet peony flower pattern is written for crocheters who can make a magic ring, a chain, a slip stitch, a single crochet and a double crochet. The petals are worked flat, one at a time, in short rows, so you never have to count a long round. The Afghan stitch used in the petals is explained in its own section before the steps.
Key numbers. Pistil: 10 sc, then 20 stitches, then 5 + 10 = 15 chain loops (derived) · layer 1: 20 sc base, 5 petals · layer 2: 25 sc base, 5 petals · layer 3: 30 sc base, 6 petals · layer 4: 30 sc base, 6 petals · all four layers: 5 + 5 + 6 + 6 = 22 petals (derived) · base rows: 20 + 25 + 30 + 30 = 105 sc (derived) · hook 2.5 mm (stated).
This page covers the flower head only. The designer works the sepals, the leaves and the assembly in a second part, so those are not in the steps below.
On this page
- What you need for this crochet peony flower
- Stitches and abbreviations in the crochet peony flower pattern
- How the Afghan stitch works in a crochet peony flower
- The crochet peony flower pattern at a glance
- Make the pistil
- Make layers 1 and 2 of the crochet peony flower: the first ten petals
- Make layers 3 and 4: the last twelve petals
- Where the crochet peony flower goes wrong
- 5 more free crochet peony patterns
- FAQ
- Where to go next
What you need for this crochet peony flower
You need 4-ply cotton yarn in one colour for the petals and a little yellow for the pistil, plus a 2.5 mm hook, scissors, a yarn needle and a stitch marker. The maker names pink, purple, blue and red as flower colours. A stitch marker matters here, because you mark a back loop at the end of several rows and come back to it.
| Item | What the maker used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Petal yarn | 4-ply cotton yarn in pink, purple, blue or red | Stated |
| Pistil yarn | 4-ply cotton yarn in yellow | Stated |
| Hook | 2.5 mm | Stated |
| Stitch marker | Any small locking marker | Needed for the back loops |
| Floral wire 30 cm, craft wire 0.4 to 0.5 mm, fiberfill, hot glue | Listed for the finished flower | Not used in the flower head |
| Yardage and finished size | Not stated | A scrap-sized project |
A 2.5 mm hook sits inside the 2.25 to 3.5 mm range that the Craft Yarn Council’s yarn weight standard lists for super fine yarn, so this crochet peony flower is a fine-yarn make. The standard does not name 4-ply, so check your label: if it says fingering or sock weight, the hook fits. If you use thicker yarn, take the hook from your own label and expect a bigger flower.
Small hooks and yarn ends are a hazard for babies and pets, so keep the work and the finished flower out of their reach.
Stitches and abbreviations in the crochet peony flower pattern
This pattern uses nine abbreviations. The first column is the short form that the written steps use, so you can check them against any photo.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| MR | Magic ring | The start of the pistil |
| ch | Chain | Loops and petal foundations |
| ss, sl st | Slip stitch | Joins and between petals |
| sk | Skip | Between pistil loops |
| sc | Single crochet | Pistil and base rows |
| hdc | Half double crochet | The last row of each petal |
| dc | Double crochet | Petal rows |
| inc | Increase, two stitches in one stitch | Pistil and base rows |
| FLO, BLO | Front loop only, back loop only | Almost every row |
There is one stitch multiple to remember: each base row holds a number of stitches that splits evenly across the petals, because the base is 20 stitches for 5 petals of 4, 25 for 5 petals of 5 and 30 for 6 petals of 5.
How the Afghan stitch works in a crochet peony flower
The Afghan stitch is the maker’s name for a stitch that is worked up to its last loop and then left unfinished on the hook. It is the idea behind Tunisian crochet, but here you use an ordinary hook and only a few stitches at a time. The finishing happens later, on a return pass.
- Afghan double crochet: yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through the first two loops only. Leave the last loop on the hook.
- Afghan single crochet: insert the hook, pull up a loop and leave it on the hook.
- The return pass: after the last stitch, yarn over and pull through two loops at a time until one loop is left.
Every Afghan stitch in the crochet peony flower adds one loop to the hook. That is why the chain count is always one more than the number of stitches in the row: chain 7 gives 4 + 1 + 1 = 6 stitches and 7 loops, chain 8 gives 5 + 1 + 1 = 7 stitches and 8 loops, chain 10 gives 6 + 2 + 1 = 9 stitches and 10 loops, and chain 11 gives 7 + 2 + 1 = 10 stitches and 11 loops (derived). If the loops on your hook do not match the chain count, you have missed a stitch.
The first stitch of each petal goes into the second vertical bar of the chain, which is the small bump on the back of each chain stitch. Skip the first one and work into the second.
The crochet peony flower pattern at a glance
Here is every part of the crochet peony flower in one table. The counts marked derived are our sums from the stitches named. Every petal row after row 2 begins with the same moves: chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar, chain 2.
| Part | Instruction as given | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Pistil row 1 | MR, ch 1, 10 sc, sl st into the front loop | 10 sc (stated) |
| Pistil row 2 | FLO: ch 7, ss in the same st, sk 1, ss; repeat 5 times | 5 loops (stated) |
| Pistil row 3 | BLO: 10 sc inc, ss into the front loop of the first st | 20 st (stated) |
| Pistil row 4 | FLO: (ch 8, ss in the same st, sk 1, ss) repeated 10 times | 10 loops (stated); 20 ÷ 2 = 10 (derived) |
| Layer 1 base | BLO: 20 sc, ss into the front loop of the first st | 20 sc (stated); 5 × 4 = 20 (derived) |
| Layer 1 petal | Row 2: ch 7, Afghan 4 dc, 1 sc, FLO 1 sc. Row 3: Afghan 3 dc, 2 sc, FLO 1 sc. Row 4: 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, slip into the next FLO | 5 petals (stated) |
| Layer 2 base | BLO: ch 1, (3 sc, 1 sc inc) × 5, ss | 25 st (stated); 5 × (3 + 2) = 25 (derived) |
| Layer 2 petal | Row 2: ch 8, Afghan 5 dc, 1 sc, FLO 1 sc. Rows 3 and 4: Afghan 4 dc, 2 sc, FLO 1 sc. Row 5: 4 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc | 5 petals (stated) |
| Layer 3 base | BLO: ch 1, (4 sc, 1 sc inc) × 5, ss | 30 st (stated); 5 × (4 + 2) = 30 (derived) |
| Layer 3 petal | Row 2: ch 10, Afghan 6 dc, 2 sc, FLO 1 sc. Rows 3 and 4: Afghan 5 dc, 3 sc, FLO 1 sc. Row 5: 5 dc, 1 hdc, 2 sc | 6 petals (stated) |
| Layer 4 base | BLO: ch 1, 1 sc in each back loop, ss | 30 st (stated) |
| Layer 4 petal | Row 2: ch 11, Afghan 7 dc, 2 sc, FLO 1 sc. Rows 3 and 4: Afghan 6 dc, 3 sc, FLO 1 sc. Row 5: 6 dc, 1 hdc, 2 sc | 6 petals (stated) |
The owned figure: the whole flower head holds 5 + 5 + 6 + 6 = 22 petals on 20 + 25 + 30 + 30 = 105 base stitches, plus the 15 chain loops of the pistil.
The base rows grow from layer to layer because each one works into the back loops of the row before: layer 2 takes in 5 × (3 + 1) = 20 stitches and gives out 25, and layer 3 takes in 5 × (4 + 1) = 25 and gives out 30.
Make the pistil
The pistil is the yellow centre of the crochet peony flower. It is two rows of chain loops worked in the front loops of two tiny rounds, so it ends up as a frill of 15 loops.
Step 1: Make a magic ring and 10 single crochet
With the yellow yarn, make a magic ring and chain 1. Work 10 single crochet into the ring and pull the tail to close it. Slip stitch into the front loop of the first stitch, then put a marker on the back loop of that first stitch. You will come back to this marker in step 3.
Step 2: Chain 7 loops in the front loops
Work in the front loops only. Chain 7 and slip stitch into the same stitch to close the loop. Skip 1 stitch, slip stitch into the next front loop, chain 7 and slip stitch into the same stitch again. Repeat to the end of the row until there are 5 loops. Each loop sits on every second stitch, so 5 loops cover the 10 stitches.
Step 3: Make 10 increases in the back loops
Slip stitch into the back loop where you put the marker. Chain 1 and work 10 single crochet increases in the back loops of row 1, which means 2 single crochet in each of the 10 stitches. You now have 20 stitches. Slip stitch into the front loop of the first stitch and mark its back loop again.
Step 4: Chain 8 loops in the front loops
Work in the front loops only again. Chain 8, slip stitch into the same stitch, skip 1 stitch and slip stitch into the next one. Repeat the pattern 10 times, so the 20 stitches carry 10 loops. After the last slip stitch, cut the yellow yarn and pull it through. The pistil is finished.
Make layers 1 and 2 of the crochet peony flower: the first ten petals
Now the petals of the crochet peony flower begin. Each layer is a base row that is worked into the back loops, followed by flat petals worked one after another into the front loops of that base.
Step 5: Change to the petal colour
Remove the marker from the back loop of the last row and tie the petal yarn on there with a knot. Chain 1 and hide the tail along the stitches. From here on, the pistil sits in the middle of everything you make.
Step 6: Work 20 single crochet in the back loops
Work 1 single crochet in each of the 20 back loops of the row before. Slip stitch into the front loop of the first stitch, and mark the back loop of that stitch. This base holds the 5 petals of layer 1, each worked across 4 stitches, which is 5 × 4 = 20.
Step 7: Chain 7 for the first petal
Chain 7. This chain is the foundation of the first petal and sets the petal’s length. Look at the back of the chain: each stitch has a small vertical bar, like a bump, and the next row is worked into those bars.
Step 8: Work 4 Afghan double crochet
Skip the first vertical bar and work into the second. Make 4 Afghan double crochet: yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through the first two loops and leave the last loop on the hook. Do it four times, so the hook holds one new loop for each stitch.
Step 9: Add 1 Afghan single crochet and 1 front-loop single crochet
Make 1 Afghan single crochet, which is a loop pulled up and left on the hook. Then work 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next stitch on the base and leave that loop on the hook too. You should now have 7 loops on the hook, which matches the 7 chains.
Step 10: Pull through two loops at a time
Yarn over and pull through two loops, then repeat until one loop is left on the hook. This return pass finishes every Afghan stitch and completes row 2 of the petal, a narrow strip of firm fabric.
Step 11: Work row 3 of the petal
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2 again. Work 3 Afghan double crochet, then 2 Afghan single crochet, then 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next base stitch. Pull through two loops at a time to the end. The row has 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 stitches (derived).
Step 12: Work row 4 in ordinary stitches
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2. This time do not use Afghan stitch: work 3 double crochet, 1 half double crochet and 1 single crochet as normal stitches. Slip stitch into the front loop of the next base stitch. Each petal of this layer has two little ridges.
Step 13: Repeat for five petals
Slip stitch into the next front loop and repeat rows 2 to 4 four more times, which gives 5 petals in total. Each petal sits on 4 base stitches, so 5 × 4 = 20 uses the whole base. Then slip stitch into the back loop that holds the marker.
Step 14: Make the 25-stitch base of layer 2
Chain 1 and work in the back loops: (3 single crochet, 1 single crochet increase) five times. That is 5 × (3 + 2) = 25 stitches. Slip stitch into the front loop and mark the back loop. The increases give the second layer room to sit wider than the first.
Step 15: Work 3 slip stitches to stagger the petals
Before the first petal, work 3 slip stitches into the front loops. They move the start point along, so the new petals sit between the petals below instead of straight behind them. Do the same before layers 3 and 4.
Step 16: Chain 8 and work the first row of the layer 2 petal
Chain 8. Skip the first vertical bar and work into the second: 5 Afghan double crochet, 1 Afghan single crochet and 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next base stitch. You should have 8 loops on the hook, because 5 + 1 + 1 = 7 stitches and 1 loop to start. Pull through two loops at a time.
Step 17: Work rows 3 and 4
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2. Work 4 Afghan double crochet, 2 Afghan single crochet and 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next base stitch, then pull through two loops at a time. Repeat this row once more.
Step 18: Finish the petal with row 5
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2. Work 4 double crochet, 1 half double crochet and 1 single crochet as normal stitches, then slip stitch into the next front loop of the base. Each petal of this layer shows three little spikes.
Step 19: Repeat for five petals
Slip stitch into the next front loop before each new petal, then repeat rows 2 to 5 four more times. This gives 5 petals, each across 5 base stitches, so 5 × 5 = 25. Layers 1 and 2 of the crochet peony flower are now complete, which is 10 petals.
Make layers 3 and 4: the last twelve petals
The remaining two layers of the crochet peony flower repeat the same plan with longer petals and 6 petals each. The petals come out taller because the chains and the dc counts grow.
Step 20: Make the 30-stitch base of layer 3
Move 3 stitches along from the marker, slip stitch into that back loop and chain 1. Work in the back loops: (4 single crochet, 1 single crochet increase) five times. The last stitch is an increase. That is 5 × (4 + 2) = 30 stitches. Slip stitch into the front loop and then work 3 slip stitches in the front loops, as before.
Step 21: Chain 10 and start the layer 3 petal
Chain 10. From the second vertical bar, work 6 Afghan double crochet, 2 Afghan single crochet and 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next base stitch. That is 6 + 2 + 1 = 9 stitches and 10 loops on the hook. Pull through two loops at a time.
Step 22: Work rows 3 and 4 of the layer 3 petal
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2. Work 5 Afghan double crochet, 3 Afghan single crochet and 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next base stitch, then pull through two loops at a time. Repeat the row once more.
Step 23: Finish the petal and repeat for six petals
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2. Work 5 double crochet, 1 half double crochet and 2 single crochet as normal stitches, then slip stitch into the next front loop. Repeat rows 2 to 5 five more times for 6 petals, each across 5 base stitches, so 6 × 5 = 30.
Step 24: Check the three-layer flower
Slip stitch into the last stitch. You can stop the crochet peony flower here, because the maker says a peony can be finished with three layers, and it already holds 5 + 5 + 6 = 16 petals (derived). The fourth layer is for a fuller, more open flower.
Step 25: Make the 30-stitch base of layer 4
Slip stitch into the back loops, chain 1 and work 1 single crochet in each back loop around, with no increases. You should end with 30 stitches. Slip stitch into the front loop, then work 3 slip stitches in the front loops, so you start in the middle of the petal below.
Step 26: Chain 11 and start the layer 4 petal
Chain 11. From the second vertical bar, work 7 Afghan double crochet, 2 Afghan single crochet and 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next base stitch. That is 7 + 2 + 1 = 10 stitches and 11 loops. Pull through two loops at a time.
Step 27: Work rows 3 and 4 of the layer 4 petal
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2. Work 6 Afghan double crochet, 3 Afghan single crochet and 1 single crochet into the front loop of the next base stitch, then pull through two loops at a time. Repeat the row once more.
Step 28: Finish the petal with row 5
Chain 2, slip stitch into the second vertical bar and chain 2. Work 6 double crochet, 1 half double crochet and 2 single crochet as normal stitches. Slip stitch into the front loop of the next stitch. This is how the petals of the last layer of the crochet peony flower are finished.
Step 29: Repeat for six petals and cut the yarn
Slip stitch into the front loop of the next stitch before each new petal and repeat rows 2 to 5 five more times, for 6 petals. Slip stitch into the front loop of the last stitch and cut the yarn. The crochet peony flower head is finished.
Where the crochet peony flower goes wrong
Three things go wrong most often with a crochet peony flower, and each has a quick fix.
- Loops that do not match the chain. The chain count is one more than the number of stitches in the row: 7, 8, 10 and 11. If the loops on the hook do not match, you missed a stitch, so undo the row and recount.
- Petals that sit straight behind each other. The 3 slip stitches before layers 2, 3 and 4 are what stagger the petals. If you forget them, the layers stack into a column instead of a ruffle.
- Afghan stitch in the last row. The last row of every petal uses ordinary stitches. If you leave loops on the hook there, the petal edge will not close and the top will look open.
The written steps give counts but not the exact edge where each slip stitch lands. Where a photo and a sentence seem to disagree, follow the photo.
5 more free crochet peony patterns
Each of these is free on the designer’s own site, and each builds the peony in a different way.
- Crochet Peony Flower by Moara Crochet: an 8 cm flower in fingering cotton on a 2 mm hook, made of six petals worked flat.
- Peony Flower Free Crochet Pattern by Jo’s Crafty Hook: worked in the round in three colour layers in worsted weight yarn on a 5 mm hook.
- 3D Crochet Flowers Pattern by Annie Design Crochet: a small 6 cm rosette in 4-ply cotton on a 3 mm hook, or a 7.5 cm one in Aran cotton on a 4 mm hook.
- Crochet Peony by Off the Hook For You: an 8.5 cm seamless flower on a 2.5 mm hook, worked as one spiral of increase rounds.
- Free Chunky Crochet Peony Flower Pattern by Crochet Bits: a bulky peony of about 8 to 9 cm on a 4.5 mm hook, rolled up from one long chain.
These five run from fingering cotton on a 2 mm hook to bulky cotton on a 4.5 mm hook, and none of them uses Afghan stitch.
FAQ
How do you crochet a peony flower?
To crochet a peony flower, make a small yellow pistil from a magic ring, then work four layers of petals round it. Each layer starts with a base row in the back loops, and each petal is a few short rows in Afghan stitch with an ordinary-stitch row at the top.
How many petals does the crochet peony flower have?
The crochet peony flower has 22 petals in four layers: 5, 5, 6 and 6. The layers sit round a pistil of 15 chain loops, and each layer is staggered against the one below.
What is Afghan stitch in crochet?
Afghan stitch is a stitch worked up to its last loop, with that loop left on the hook. Each stitch adds a loop, and a return pass of pulling through two loops at a time finishes the row. It is the idea behind Tunisian crochet.
What hook size and yarn do I need for a crochet peony flower?
The maker used a 2.5 mm hook with 4-ply cotton yarn. Yardage is not stated. If you use thicker yarn, take the hook from your own label and expect a bigger flower.
Can I stop after three layers?
Yes, you can stop the crochet peony flower early. The maker says a peony can be finished with three layers, which gives 5 + 5 + 6 = 16 petals. The fourth layer adds 6 more petals and makes the flower fuller.
Does this pattern include the leaves and the stem?
No. This page covers the flower head only. The sepals, leaves and assembly are made separately, so use any wired crochet leaf, such as the one in our crochet rose with stem pattern.
Where to go next
For a wired leaf and a stem, the crochet rose with stem is a good next make. For more choice, browse the crochet flowers free pattern roundup, try the crochet rosebud or the free crochet tulip pattern, or make a gift with the mini crochet flower bouquet.
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council, Standard Yarn Weight System: crochet hook ranges by yarn weight.
- Each of the five patterns above, on its designer’s own site: Moara Crochet, Jo’s Crafty Hook, Annie Design Crochet, Off the Hook For You and Crochet Bits.
Design credit: this crochet peony flower design comes from the crochet channel LnM Crochet & Handmade.
