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Here are some pretty flowers for these cold, blustery days. An African flower granny square is a wonderful crochet theme for designing items and it’s one of the most distinctive crochet patterns. It comes in many shapes, sizes and color combinations, so it’s one on the most versatile pattern as well.
African flowers work very well both on flat surfaces and on oddly shaped or curved objects as Crochet African Flower Toys. However, they truly come into their own when incorporated into a square.
This pattern was originally designed by Lounette Fourie and Anita Roussouw and published in a South African magazine called ‘Sarie’ in 2009. The original African flower is in a shape of a hexagon and it is slightly less complicated to make for beginners.
In this post, I will focus on 8-petal African flower square (but there is so much more to this topic! If you’re curious, go HERE.) . We will start with a tutorial how to make a 8-petal crochet flower and how to incorporate it in a square.
Then I will show you beautiful examples of African Flower Granny Square Blankets. Because African Flower Squares can be made as bold, or as subtle as anyone could wish, they are never out of season. Actually, I divided them in the post to match each season’s color scheme, to convince you that no matter the month you’re here, there is ALWAYS good month to start African Flower project.
At the end you will find African Flower Granny Square Project Ideas to use your new skills. Throughout here, you will find more than 70 different African Flower Squares get your imagination wild!
8 Petal African Flower Square vs 6 Petal African Flower Hexagon
African Flower Square is often confused with his older brother, the African Flower Hexagon, as they look very similar. The 8 Petal African Flower, when incorporated into a border, creates a square shape, easy to join and perfect for bigger, square items. The 6 Petal African Flower, when surounded by a border, creates a hexagon shape, which gives this pattern more uses, as it is more flexible to incorporate in smaller and irregularly shaped projects, such as African Flower amigurumi toys, crochet tops, bikini bras, etc.
Go for the 6 Petal African Flower if you were looking for a crochet pattern of an African Flower Hexagon. You will find there more color combinations and ideas you can use for your perfect African Flower Square.
African Flower Granny Square Tutorial for Beginners
The first step to make An African Flower Square, is to start with an African flower. A square is based on the 8 Petal Flower. If you are a newbie, you may wish to start with 6 petal African Flower Hexagon pattern which is similar visually, but at the same time a less complicated pattern to follow for the first time.
Materials you’ll need
Alize Diva Silky Effect Acrylic Yarn in 4 colors (or any yarn you have)
the crochet hook in the size corresponding with your yarn.
scissors to cut yarn tails
a yarn needle or tapestry needle (for weaving in ends)
Abbreviations Used and the Pattern Notes
This written pattern is in US crochet terms. The standard crochet abbreviations I used in this tutorial are:
- ch = chain stitch
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- yo = yarn over
- sl st = slip stitch
- st /sts = stitch/es
- ldc = long dc
- sp = space
8 Petal African Flower Tutorial
You will love your new project! The fresh and vivid look of this African blossom is perfect for any of crocheted item. Crochet the African Flower following this free step by step pattern:
Foundation
Using color A (I’m using yellow) ch5 and sl st into the 1st ch to make a circle.
Round 1
Using color A (yellow) ch3, (count as 1st dc), dc in the ring, ch 1, * (2 dc, ch 1) – repeat from * 7 times. Sl st into the top of ch3 from the beginning. Fasten off. [8 clusters of (2dc,ch1)]
Round 2
Join color B (white) to any ch-1 sp. Ch 3, (1 dc, 1 ch, 2 dc) in the same sp, * (2dc, 1 ch, 2 dc) in each following ch-1 sp repeat * around. Finish with a sl st in the top of the 1st dc. [8 clusters of (2dc,ch1)]
Round 3
Continue with color B (white). Sl st into next st and sl st in ch-1 sp. Ch3, 6dc into the same ch-1 sp. *7dc into the next ch-1 sp – repeat * around 7 times. Finish with a sl st in the top of 1st dc. [8 arches of 7dc at the end of the round.]
Round 4
Attach colour C (red) in 1st st of 7dc from the previous round. Sc, sc in each of the next 6 sts, ldc into the round 2 sp separated by arches.
To ldc = long dc (spike st)- yo, insert your hook in between (2dc, 1 ch, 2 dc) sp from round 2, grab a yarn and pull up a loop high, yo and pull through two loops, yo and pull through.
*Sc in the next 7 st, ldc – repeat * around for all 7 arches. Sl st in 1st sc.
Fasten off.
Congratulations! You have just made your first African flower.
African Flower Granny Square
There are 2 more rounds left to incorporate your flower into a square. You can find it here – How to Incorporate 8-Petal Afican Flower into a Square.
Read further to see some examples of amazing color combinations to use for your next granny square and what crochet items are the best to use your new skill in practice.
African Flower Square Crochet Ideas for Every Season
Here are some examples to show you the great beauty and versatility of this gorgeous square. Do you think that this pattern is good only for summer? Flower patterns are associated with warmer weather and often avoided by crocheters in autumn or winter, when there is a gray sky and sadness outside. You couldn’t be more wrong!
I divided examples by seasons to convince you that African flower pattern can be used all year round.
Spring African Flower Square Ideas
Paste colors are associated with the first flowers and the revival of nature, so they will be a perfect choice for a spring blanket.
8 Petal African Flower Square by Marun Crochet
This square by Marun Crochet is a lovely way to make today’s subject into a summer vibe. The plain square consequently forms a backdrop to display wonderful pastel blossoms.
photo source: marun_crochet @ Instagram
African Flower Square Blanket
photo source: Ravelry
Summer African Flower Square Ideas
Bold and saturated colors, stronger pink shades and contrasting hues will be perfect for summer items.
African Flower Granny Square Blanket by Holly Pips
In this color combo, delicate flowers are incorporated into a grey background. The flower colors are repeated in the single crochets border motif. All combined, the blanket has a summer, rich color vibe.
photo source: Hollypips
8 Petal African Flower with Leaves
In this African Flower pouch, summer vibes of pinkish flowers are underlined by adding contrasting, pale green leaves instead of 3trtog on the corners.
photo source: chocolat.r.k @ Instagram
African Flower Baby Blanket
In this color combo, delicate flowers are incorporated into a pink background. The flower colors are are varied in terms of the single crochets border motif. This blanket is a summery, sunny color explosion.
photo source: Ravelry
African Flower Blanket by Bean Crochet
In this color combo, delicate flowers are incorporated into varied backgrounds. The flower colors can be repeated or randomly scattered throughout a blanket. This works well with a toned down, understated color palette.
photo source: Bean Crochet @ Instagram
African Flower Blanket by Bean Crochet
One again, here is an African Flower Blanket by Bean Crochet. This time in a darker violet-dominant vibe created with Stylecraft Special DK and Paintbox Simply DK yarn.
photo source: Bean Crochet @ Instagram
African Flower Rainbow Blanket
The African Flower Rainbow Blanket is an intriguing color composition. The hues of flower petals have a gradient according to the color wheel, but there is more. The center of each flower is crocheted in the subsequent color, introducing a color change and makes the blanket colorful and harmonic at the same time.
photo source: Ravlery
Fall African Flower Square Ideas
Add an orange or brown vibe to your African flower squares and you are ready to enter the fall.
Fall African Flower Afghan by Sinem Torun
To begin with, as it says on the box, this 8-petalled beauty is a classic of the kind. In particular, I like the border around the flower that really delineates it.
Photo source: Sinem Torun@Instagram
Fall African Flower by Kerryandtheboys
Here is another classic in this genre. These beautiful earth tones are a calming, homey touch.
Photo source Instagram: African Flower Square
Winter African Flower Square Ideas
White and blue dominant colors in a blanket are the perfect recipe for winter projects.
8 Petal African Flower Blanket
Photo source: Sinem Torun @Instagram
8 Petal African Flower Blanket
The pattern is a design for an afghan in a large variety of 4 color variations (navy, beige, light blue and white). It’s undoubtedly noteworthy how the 8-angled symmetry of the flower interplays beautifully with the diagonally stitched lines of voids in the blanket. Overall, this is a masterful, understated blanket making use of this design.
photo source: Instagram
African Flower Granny Square Project Ideas
What projects you can make using the African Flower? There are many possiblilites. It all depends on your imagination. In each of the projects below, you can make a whole item made from an African squares, or incorporate individuqal ones as an accent motif for your work.
The most popular items based on a square African flower motif are:
African Flower Square Blanket
The easiest and most popular item made from an African Flower Square. Let’s say it an icon project for it. You will find a lots of examples of color combos for an African flower blanket above in this post. Once you made enough squares, attach them together using a square joining method.
African Flower Square Toys
An African flower square can be incorporated as a motif into crochet toys and softies, especially easy ones with regular shapes. For more complicated amigurumi patterns, I recommend that you use African flower hexagon or petnagon. Read more about African Flower Toy Free Crochet Patterns:
African Flower Square Pillow
A pillow is always good option for your project to try, as it requires smaller amount of work than a bblanket and allows you to test your chosen color combos in practise.
African Flower Square Pouch
If you want to make something practical, pouch is a great choise. It’s a quick an easy project to make and requires only one (or 2 if also on the reverse side) African Granny Square.
photo source: Instagram
photo source and free pattern: D60 Crochet
African Flower Square Clutch
A clutch is grate quick project to show off your new technique and impress family or just to make a lovely gift for any occasion. It requires only 2 (or 4 if also on reverse) squares.
photo source: Instagram
African Flower Granny Square Bag
Made from 13 squares of DK weight cotton yarn (light worsted), an Afican Flower bag will be a great summer statement of color and fun project to make.
photo source and free crochet pattern: Annie Design Crochet
You can consider to incorporate store bought bag hands from metal or leather to extend its capacity.
photo source: Instagram
African Flower Square Pot Holder
A square shape is perfect project to create simple potholder. If you use cotton yarn medium weight, you will get one square sized aproximately 4″ side so just perfect for kitchen bakeware.
African Flower Square Bikini Top
You can easily incorporate Afican Granny Square in a bikini top or a top.
photo source: Etsy
African Flower Granny Square Cardigan or Coat
An African Flower Cardigan or Coat is definitely a bold fashion statement. It will make you memorable and visible wherever you will go. If you want to make it calmer and more visually quiet, use a monochromatic shades instead of contracting colors.
photo source: Instagram
African Flower Grany Square Vest
African Flower Vest is easier to make than a Cardigan so it will be a fun project to make if you are not a pro. In a vest, it’s also easier to combine matching colors and even vidid, contrasting colors will work great.
photo source: Instagram
That’s all for now. I hope you will find this helpful and I wish you amazing African flower square projects! See you in the next post.
There’s more: African Flower Hexagons
There is still more to see! I dedicated this post to African Flower Squares, but you can easily make African flower hexagons or pentagons. They are based on 6-Petal and 5-Petal African Flowers. In the next post – African Flower Hexagons you can find even more inspirations, tutorials and project ideas!
Thank you and see you next time!
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