This sunflower puff-stitch pillow is a cheery, textured accent that works up faster than it looks. The center is a dense brown circle with puffs for seed-like texture. Fat golden puff-petals ring the center, then a simple granny-square frame in leaf green (and a creamy outer band) squares everything to pillow size. The front is all about texture and crisp outlines; the back is an easy hdc square, so you can relax and cruise. Use worsted (#4) yarn and a 5.0 mm hook for a sturdy, huggable cover that holds shape. The pattern uses common stitches (sc, hdc, dc) plus a friendly puff that’s explained below. You’ll learn how to anchor petals into unused loops, place evenly spaced corners to square a circle, and seam cleanly for a neat edge. Make it 16″ or 18″—just add or stop rounds when you hit your target. A firm pillow insert makes the sunflower pop; light blocking softens the petal edge for a pro look. It’s a bright, giftable project that photographs beautifully.
Materials
- Worsted-weight (#4) yarn:
A—Deep Brown (center) ~50 g
B—Sunflower Gold (petals) ~100 g
C—Leaf Green (frame) ~120 g
D—Cream (outer frame + back) ~150 g - 5.0 mm (H/8) hook (and 4.5 mm optional for edging)
- 16–18″ pillow insert
- Scissors, tapestry needle, 4 locking markers, measuring tape, steamer/blocking mat (optional)
Gauge (unblocked): ~14 hdc × 10 rows = 4″ with 5.0 mm
Finished size: works for 16″ (stop earlier) or 18″ (add rounds)
Abbreviations: ch, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr, inc (2 sts in one st), st(s), sp(s), rep
Special stitch — 5-loop puff (closed with ch-1): (Yo, insert, pull up a tall loop)×5 in same st, yo, pull through all 11 loops on hook, ch-1 to close.
Notes
- Join rounds with sl st to first st; work joins neatly.
- “Work in BL of R3” means use the back loops left from Round 3; this hides petal roots behind the textured center.
- Corners are placed every 3rd gap after the petals (12 gaps total → corners in gaps 1, 4, 7, 10).
- Adjust tension or last rounds to hit your insert size.
Pattern
Front — Brown seeded center
R1 (A/Brown): MR, ch1, 8 sc in ring, join (8).
R2: ch1, 2 sc in each st, join (16).
R3: ch1, sc, inc around, join (24).
R4 (texture): ch1, puff in next st, ch1 around (24 puffs, 24 ch-1 sps), join to top of first puff. Fasten off A.
Golden puff-petals (work into BL of R3)
Petal rnd (B/Gold): Join B to any BL of R3. *In next BL: (sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc); skip next st (BL) * — rep around to make 12 petals. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off B.
Square-off and frame (granny style)
You now have 12 gaps between petals. Join in those gaps.
S1 (C/Green): Join C in any gap. (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in same gap (corner); [ch1, 3dc in next gap] ×2; rep from * to * around so corners land in gaps 1, 4, 7, 10. Join.
S2 (C): Sl st to corner ch-2 sp, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in corner; ch1, 3dc in each ch-1 sp along side, ch1 between groups — work all four sides. Join.
S3 (C): Repeat S2.
S4 (D/Cream): Switch to D, work as S2.
S5 (D): Repeat.
Stop for 16″ or add one more cream round for 18″.
Edging (D): ch1, sc evenly around with (sc, ch1, sc) in each corner for a tidy rim. Fasten off; weave ends.
Back panel (simple square)
With D (Cream), ch to the same width as your front (or start with a granny square if you prefer).
Row 1: hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across.
Rows 2+: ch1, turn, hdc across until the panel matches the front height. Keep edges square and measure against the front.
Assembly
Place front and back WS together. With C or D, sc-seam around three sides, insert pillow form, then finish seaming. Option: add a zipper on one side or make two back flaps for an envelope closure.
1. Supplies
Here’s everything you need in one clean frame so you can start without guessing. We use a 5.0 mm hook and worsted yarn in four reliable shades: deep brown for the seeded center, sunflower gold for puff-petals, leaf green for the framing rounds, and cream for the outer square and back. Stitch markers keep your corners honest, and a simple pillow insert shows the final size. Lay tools in the order you’ll use them to speed up your flow. Natural light helps you see true color and texture, which makes counting stitches and checking tension much easier from the very first round.
2. Starting the center
Make a magic ring and work three tidy setup rounds in deep brown. Keep stitches snug so the center stays flat and dense. Round 1 gives you the anchor; Round 2 doubles, then Round 3 evens the growth. Count out loud or slide a marker at the join so you never lose track. If your circle cups, relax your tension; if it ripples, tighten slightly. This is the foundation the puff texture grips onto, so smooth, even single crochets matter. Place the piece on a cream surface to check silhouette and neat edges before moving to the puff round that adds sunflower seeds.
3. Puff stitch texture in brown
Switch to the puff rhythm: yarn over, insert, pull up a tall loop five times in the same stitch, yarn over, draw through all loops, then chain one to lock. Aim for matching height and a gentle lift so the texture looks like packed sunflower seeds. Don’t yank the closing pull; guide it so each puff sits round and soft. Work all the way around with the same cadence. The little ch-1s between puffs give breathing room and a clean place for the next section to sit behind. Lay flat, steam lightly if needed, and admire the rich, tactile center you just built.
4. Golden puff petals into back loops
Join sunflower gold into the unused back loops from Round 3. Work a full petal in one back loop—sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc—then skip the next stitch to keep petals distinct. Repeat to make twelve even petals circling the center. Plant the petal feet firmly so the shapes rise cleanly from the brown seeds. Keep your tr stitch tall but not floppy; a consistent peak makes the flower read crisp in photos. The center remains undisturbed on top while the petals anchor behind, giving that layered, natural look. After the last petal, slip stitch and neaten the back.
5. Squaring the circle in leaf green
Time to turn the bloom into a pillow front. Join leaf green in any gap between petals. Work a corner—3dc, ch2, 3dc—then ch1 and place 3dc in the next two gaps. Repeat so corners land in gaps 1, 4, 7, and 10. Mark corners to keep growth straight. This first square round sets the frame; check that each side has the same number of clusters. Your petals should sit proud, with green forming a clean stage underneath. If a side bows, your tension is tight; if it ruffles, it’s loose. Adjust now, and the next rounds will fly perfectly.
6. Growing the frame + cream outer bands
Build out the square: keep working corners as (3dc, ch2, 3dc) and place 3dc clusters with a ch-1 between along the sides. After two leaf-green rounds, switch to cream for a soft, airy outer band that modernizes the look. Lay a measuring tape across the piece—stop at 16″ or add one more cream round for 18″. Keep counting side spaces so both halves match. A quick steam or pat-block can help corners relax and stay true. The cream border frames the sunflower like a mat in a gallery, making the golden petals and green ring stand out beautifully.
7. Back panel in cream
Work the back as a simple cream hdc square to the exact size of your front. Start with a chain that matches the width, then cruise in hdc rows until the height matches. Count edges every few rows so the square stays true; a tidy selvedge makes seaming painless later. Check your gauge against the front often—lay them together and adjust rows if the back is shy or long. This plain field gives a soft, even hand against furniture and keeps the star of the show on the front. Fasten off, weave ends, and get ready to seam cleanly.
8. Seaming + finished pillow
Place the front and back with wrong sides touching and seam with a gentle single-crochet in leaf green, working evenly around. Pause a few inches before closing, slide in the pillow insert, then finish the seam and bury the tail. The green seam frames the cream back and coordinates with the front’s border for a polished finish. Give the pillow a quick fluff and a light steam at corners if needed. Set it on a creamy chair or bedspread and watch the sunflower glow. The brown seed center, gold puff-petals, green frame, and soft cream field feel bright yet grounded.
Final Thoughts
This project balances texture and clarity: puffs for the seeds and petals, simple clusters to square off, and a calm cream back to rest the eye. Work at a steady pace, check counts at corners, and keep your tension relaxed so the petals sit smooth. Adjust rounds to match your insert, and don’t skip the last tidy edging—it makes the whole piece look store-bought. Once you finish one, the second goes twice as fast. Enjoy the bright, summery hit this pillow adds to your space—and the satisfaction every time someone says, “Wait, you made that?”
