Crochet African Flower Animals Patterns: A Comprehensive Guide

Nov 25, 2025 0

The beautiful hexagonal shape of the traditional African flower is an eye-catching way to craft a design. It may look quite complex, but the African flower isn’t too difficult a stitch to learn. From there, it can be used to make all kinds of lovely things.

I am so excited to share this tutorial with you!! While I didn’t actually make one of those animals, I still love the African flowers! So, we made the African Flower Granny Square awhile back and its one of my most popular videos and posts and as such, I wanted to do another with a modern twist!

When it comes to the African flower, the basic pattern is pretty simple. This guide shows you how to make your own African flowers, using an easy-to-follow and clearly written pattern. Even beginners should be able to quickly understand how to make their own African flower. This guide also helps you to make the basic African square pattern, as well as how to turn it into a square or a star.

So that’s basically three patterns, all for the price of one. The pattern works up quickly, and those new to crochet should find it easy to follow.

Basic African Flower Hexagon Tutorial

This pattern was originally published in a South African magazine, and the designers are Lounette Fourie and Anita Roussouw. To begin, you will need several colours of yarn and a size 5mm crochet hook.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Start: Start by making a slip knot, and make 5 chain stitches.
Form a Ring: Slip stitch into the first chain, to make a ring. If you are not sure how to do this, please look at this post.
Chain 3: Chain 3 (this will form the first dc).
Double Crochet (dc): Make a dc into the ring. Your work should look like the pic above.
Chain 1: Chain 1.
Make 2 dc: Make 2 dc into the ring. You should now have 4 dc's separated by a chain stitch.
Repeat: Repeat, until you have six x (2dc, ch,2dc) sets.
Slip Stitch: Slip stitch into the third chain of your initial 3chain, made at the beginning of the round.
Change Color: Cut yarn, join a new colour.

Insert Hook: Insert hook into the space just to the right of the 3ch leg from the previous round. Yarn around hook, pull yarn through, ch3.
1dc: 1dc into the same space.
Ch1 and 2dc: Ch1 and the make 2dc into the same space again. Your work should look like the pic above.
Repeat Steps: Repeat the previous steps into the next chain space from the previous round, as seen above.
Continue: Continue with these repeats until you have six sets of 2dc,ch1,2dc.
Join: Join to the third chain stitch with a slip stitch, to close the round.

Third Round

Insert Hook: Insert your hook into the space created by the chain stitch between the 2dc 's, as seen above.
Chain 3: Chain 3. This again is taking the place of the first dc, and you count it as 1 dc stitch.
Make 6 dc: Make 6 further dc into the same space. There should be 7 dc's...
Repeat: Repeat the same into each space, as above.
Join Round: Join round by slip stitch.
Cut and Join: Cut yarn, and join new colour.

Fourth Round

Insert Hook: Insert hook into the first chain stitch space, yarn around hook, pull yarn through. Yarn around hook again, pull through the stitch on the hook.
First sc: You have made the first sc into the first chain loop.
Repeat 6 Times: Repeat 6 times more (sc into every successive chain loop, until there are 7 sc in total).
Double Crochet (dc): You will now do a dc , into the 3rd round space as seen in the pic.This will make a very long dc stitch, but will help to shape the flower petal. Make sure to tighten the double crochet well, but not too tight so the flower wrinkles together.
Continue: Continue to work you way around the hexagon...7sc, dc, 7sc, dc etc, until you get back to the beginning...as always, join the round by slip stitch into the first sc.

Fifth Round

Cut and Join: Cut yarn and join a new colour.
Chain 3: Chain 3.
Double Crochet (dc): Dc into the next loop of the sc you made in the previous round. Repeat until you have 4dc made.
Middle of Petal: You will now have reached the middle of the top of the flower petal. Ch1, then make another dc into the same space as the previous dc. It is this chain that helps to form the hexagon shape.

I have marked the middle stitch with a pink dot, so that you can clearly see where the dc,ch,dc has to be made, over each petal. Work your way around the hexagon, working in the above pattern. Join the last dc to the 3rd chain of the beginning leg, as in the previous rounds.

If you prefer, you can add another round in a different colour. This extra round is worked in exactly the same way as the previous round, again making a dc,ch1,dc, over the middle of the petal.

CROCHET “African Flower” Granny Square | Tutorial

African Flower Project Ideas

African flowers look fabulous as decorations on their own, but they look best when combined.

Blankets and Afghans

An afghan blanket such as this is a perfect way to get used to linking African flowers. Lots of pictures accompany the pattern to guide you through. If a simple blanket didn’t catch your eye, then this vintage explosion of color should. Using large African flowers combined with every color of yarn available, this blanket is sure to add a burst of fun to any household.

Home Decor

Once you’ve mastered the basic African flower, and experimented with making a blanket, this bowl is the next step up. This well written pattern will guide you through the slightly more complex shape, to create this gorgeous bowl. The simplicity of the design allows you to scale up and down as needed.

Tote Bags

An African flower has such a fun and carefree feel to it that lends perfectly to this slouchy tote bag. If you enjoy days at the beach, long walks in the sunshine, or exploring the fresh produce at the market, then you should adore this bag.

Toys and Stuffed Animals

African flowers are very commonly used to make toys and stuffed animals.

Rhino: African flowers are very commonly used to make toys and stuffed animals, and this rhino pattern is perhaps the best of the bunch. It may not be the easiest of patterns, but what better to make with African flowers than an African rhino?
Turtle: This turtle pattern uses strategically placed African flowers to create the shell. The clever placement means that those who aren’t too comfortable with the African flower can still experiment with the design, without having to commit to an entire toy.
Chicken: Lots of hints and pictures make this chicken pattern a surprisingly good choice for the crochet beginner. Some basic knowledge of crochet is required, but you don’t need to be more advanced than that to create your own adorable little chicken. The subtle African flower design is used across the body, which is carefully balanced to sit upright.
Owl: If chickens aren’t your sort of thing, then there’s another bird that just might have you hooting for joy. This African flower owl is an absolute delight, with big, round eyes, and a soft and huggable body. The pattern contains so many tips and diagrams that you can get to grips with the slightly more complicated shape in no time at all.
Megan the Fox: Megan the fox is incredibly adorable, and makes a wonderful gift for children. But be warned - she’s so lovely, you might struggle to stay goodbye. The African flowers across the back of the fox are stylish, and give a fun twist on a classic toy.
Frog: This beautiful frog pattern is sure to have any amphibian lover jumping for joy. There’s so much detail in this pattern to admire, from the carefully proportioned body to the webbed feet.
Octopus: Photos guide you through every step of the way on this fun octopus pattern. It’s versatile as well. Choose from the long and flowing tentacles of an adult octopus, or the cute and stubby limbs of the more stylized design.
Happypotamus: Happypotamus is a happy hippopotamus, and he’s sure to make you smile as well. Something else to make you happy - how quickly this pattern comes together. Everything from the little ears to the rounded body is designed meticulously.

Seasonal Decorations

Christmas Stocking: This is such a simple and fun way to make a Christmas stocking. Just make up your African flower motifs and join. Another holiday classic, this Christmas stocking made of African flowers is sure to look beautiful hanging above the fireplace. In fact, it’s so lovely you might want to leave it up year round.
Pumpkin: Fall is the favorite time of year for many crafters, because you can sit by the fire with a hot drink and crochet to your heart’s content. Honor the season with this fabulous African flower pumpkin.

Additional Resources

Leisure Arts Learn To Crochet African Flower Motifs eBook: The African Flower motif is a beautiful variation of the granny square and can be used in many different crochet projects. Designs include: blanket, coin purse, scarf, hat, and more.
Leisure Arts Learn To Crochet Now Book: Conquer the basics of crochet with a simple sampler spa cloth. Then discover how easy it is to go on to create 3 more beginner-friendly projects.
Leisure Arts Learn To Crochet Toys eBook: Reflecting the popular style of Japanese amigurumi, these little stuffed animals made fun toys or collectibles for any crocheter.
Learn to Crochet For Kids eBook: Introduce your kids to the art of crochet.

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