Big Puff Flower Crochet Pattern (and some tips on puff stitch)

My favorite part of this shawl is the big, puffy flowers that line the edge. There is something so satisfying about making the pillowy petals – I couldn’t get enough! Weaving in all the ends was a different story, of course . . .

This pattern is a bit different in that it’s not worked outward from the center in rounds, per se. You’ll make a “skeleton” base then work back and forth between the two skeletons. I’ll post a pattern chart toward the end that will – I hope – illustrate this more clearly! Remember to pull the beginning yarn end tight after the first couple rounds to keep your magic circle closed up – sometimes it opens up a bit as you’re working the first few.

First, make a magic circle. You can use any yarn and hook, but I used a 5mm hook and Caron Simply Soft yarn.

1. Working in the magic circle, ch 1, sc, ch3. *(Sc, ch 3) 5 more times. Join to first sc. Pull the beginning yarn end nice and tight to close the circle. (6 ch 3 spaces, 6 sc) These 6 spaces are the front skeleton.
2. Ch 3, sl st in BACK LOOP ONLY of next sc. *(Ch 3, sl st in back loop only of next sc) around and join in same st as beginning ch 3. (6 ch 3 spaces) You may want to put some sort of markers through these ch 3 spaces – to show they are the “back skeleton” – as they look very similar to the “front skeleton.”
3. Sl st into the first ch 3 space in the front skeleton. In each ch 3 space, make (sl st, sc, 3 dc, sc, sl st) around. (6 petals)
4. Now, sl st into the first ch 3 space of the back skeleton. In each ch 3 space, make (sl st, ch 5, puff stitch, ch 5, sl st) around. After you finish the last puff st petal, cut yarn, finish off, and weave in ends.
5. Sew a bead or button in the center of the flower.

If you want to join the flowers together – or to an existing piece of work – here is a tutorial for joining as you go.

How to make a big, beautiful puff stitch petal

Sl st in ch 3 space, ch 5. Insert hook in ch 3 space and pull up a loop to the height of the ch 5. *(yo, insert hook in ch 3 space, pull up a loop to the height of the ch 5) 5 more times. Yo, pull through all loops on hook, yo, pull through one loop remaining on hook. Ch 5, sl st in ch 3 space.

Now, here is my secret to not getting all tangled in a mess of loops when making the puff stitch: Keep a finger pressed down on the loops on the hook every time you yarn over. This will feel a little awkward as you work the puff stitch but will assure everything stays even and untangled. So, for every time you put yarn over your hook: pull everything even and lock it in place on the hook with a spare finger, and keep your finger there as you pull up loops through the ch 3 space. I hope this makes sense because it really makes a world of difference . . . and it was impossible to photograph!

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Pattern chart! Work the black rounds first (this is the skeleton base). Then work the red rounds into the front skeleton. Finally, work the blue round into the back skeleton.

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