Sunflower Pincushion

How cute! Another creation by Gallimelmas that has stolen our hearts and is also very useful for crocheters or sewing enthusiasts. Stay and discover step-by-step how to crochet this original pincushion.

MATERIALS

Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50: 1 ball Col. 002 (Ecru), 1 ball Col. 403 Dark Green, 1 ball Col. 501 Brown and 1 ball Col. 102 Yellow

1.5 mm crochet hook

Tapestry needle

Stuffing

1 pair of 8 mm safety eyes

1.5 mm thick wire

Pliers

2-3 small stones for weight

Scissors

HOW TO CROCHET THE PATTERN

DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM

MEASUREMENTS

13 cm high x 8 cm wide approx.

Crochet each piece as indicated in the pattern, taking into account the stitch abbreviations and the color used for each. 

All rounds are worked in a continuous spiral, except for flat pieces (such as the stem or loop) which are worked by turning the work at the end of each round.

Stuff and embroider details when the pattern specifies for your convenience. 

Join the pieces according to the assembly instructions and enjoy adding details. 

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS: 

Sc = Single crochet                  

Sl st = Slip stitch 

Ch = Chain stitch

Hdc = Half double crochet

Dc = Double crochet     

Tr = Treble crochet              

Inc = Increase         

 Dec = Decrease      

Back loop only = Work stitch into back loop only

[ ] = Work stitches inside brackets into the same stitch

STEP BY STEP

• HEAD (X1): 

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 501 (Brown) 

Start: Magic ring with 6 Sc (6 sts)

R1: 1 Inc in each stitch (12 sts)

R2: (1 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R3: 1 Sc + 1 Inc + (2 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 1 Sc (24 sts)

R4: (3 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (30 sts)

R5: 2 Sc + 1 Inc + (4 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 2 Sc (36 sts)

R6: (5 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (42 sts)

R7: 3 Sc + 1 Inc + (6 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 3 Sc (48 sts)

R8: (7 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (54 sts)

R9: 4 Sc + 1 Inc + (8 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 4 Sc (60 sts)

R10-R12: 1 Sc in each stitch (60 sts)

R13: In back loop only: 1 Sc in each stitch (60 sts)

R14-R15: 1 Sc in each stitch (60 sts)

R16: 4 Sc + 1 Dec + (8 Sc + 1 Dec) x5 + 4 Sc (54 sts)

R17: (7 Sc + 1 Dec) Repeat 6 times (48 sts)

*Change color to Col. 403 Dark Green*

R18: 3 Sc + 1 Dec + (6 Sc + 1 Dec) x5 + 3 Sc (42 sts)

R19: (5 Sc + 1 Dec) Repeat 6 times (36 sts)

*Place safety eyes between rounds R6 and R7 of the head, centered and slightly below the middle of the piece*

R20: 2 Sc + 1 Dec + (4 Sc + 1 Dec) x5 + 2 Sc (30 sts)

R21: (3 Sc + 1 Dec) Repeat 6 times (24 sts)

R22: 1 Sc + 1 Dec + (2 Sc + 1 Dec) x5 + 1 Sc (18 sts) 

*Stuff*

R23: (1 Sc + 1 Dec) Repeat 6 times (12 sts)

R24: 6 Dec  (6 sts)

*Close, cut and fasten off* 

• SEPALS (X1):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 403 (Dark Green) 

Start: 43 Ch (43 sts)

R1: Starting in the 2nd Ch from the hook: 

([1 Sc + 1 Hdc] + [1 Dc + 1 Tr] + 1 Ch + [1 Tr + 1 Dc] + [1 Hdc + 1 Sc] + 2 Sl st) Repeat 7 times (77 sts)

*Cut, leaving a very long tail for sewing later.*

• SMALL PETALS (x8):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 102 (Yellow) 

Start: 7 Ch (7 sts)

*Work on both sides of the chain*

R1: Starting in the 2nd Ch from the hook: 

2 Sc + 2 Hdc + [2 Dc] + [4 Dc] + [2 Dc] + 2 Hdc + 2 Sc (16 sts)

*Cut, leaving a long tail for sewing later. Shape them to cup*

LARGE PETALS (x8):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 102 (Yellow) 

Start: Magic Ring with 6 Sc  (6 sts)

R1: 1 Inc in each stitch (12 sts)

R2: (1 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R3: 1 Sc + 1 Inc + (2 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 1 Sc (24 sts)

R4-R6: 1 Sc in each stitch (24 sts)

R7: 1 Sc + 1 Dec + (2 Sc + 1 Dec) x5 + 1 Sc (18 sts) 

R8-R9: 1 Sc in each stitch (18 sts)

R10: (1 Sc + 1 Dec) repeat 6 times (12 sts)

R11: 1 Sc in each stitch (12 sts)

Sl st to join. 

*Cut, leaving a long tail for sewing later. Do not stuff. Shape them to cup*

• STEM (x1):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 403 (Dark Green) 

Start: 25 Ch (25 sts)

R1: Starting in the 2nd Ch from the hook: 

1 Sc in each stitch (24 sts). 1 Ch and turn. 

R2-R8: 1 Sc in each stitch (24 sts). 1 Ch and turn. 

R9: 1 Sc in each stitch (24 sts) 

*Cut, leaving a very long tail for sewing later.*

• LEAVES (X4):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 403 (Dark Green) 

Start: 11 Ch (11 sts)

*Work on both sides of the chain*

R1: Starting in the 2nd Ch from the hook: 

1 Sl st + 2 Sc + 2 Hdc + 3 Dc + [2 Tr] + [5 Tr] + [2 Tr] + 3 Dc + 2 Hdc + 2 Sc + 1 Sl st (25 sts)

*Cut, leaving a long tail for sewing later. Join two leaves wrong sides together, with right sides facing out, and sew them together using the tapestry needle. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing to the stem later.*

POT (X1):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 002 (Ecru) 

Start: Magic ring with 6 Sc (6 sts)

R1: 1 Inc in each stitch (12 sts)

R2: (1 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R3: 1 Sc + 1 Inc + (2 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 1 Sc (24 sts)

R4: (3 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (30 sts)

R5: 2 Sc + 1 Inc + (4 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 2 Sc (36 sts)

R6: (5 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (42 sts)

R7: 3 Sc + 1 Inc + (6 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 3 Sc (48 sts)

R8: In back loop only: 1 Sc in each stitch (48 sts)

R9-R14: 1 Sc in each stitch (48 sts)

R15: (7 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (54 sts)

R16-R17: 1 Sc in each stitch (54 sts)

R18: 4 Sc + 1 Inc + (8 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 4 Sc (60 sts)

R19-R21: 1 Sc in each stitch (60 sts)

Sl st to join.

*Cut and fasten off. Fold the last two rounds outwards to create the rim of the pot.*

POT BASE (x1):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 002 (Ecru) 

Start: Magic ring with 6 Sc (6 sts)

R1: 1 Inc in each stitch (12 sts)

R2: (1 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R3: 1 Sc + 1 Inc + (2 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 1 Sc (24 sts)

R4: (3 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (30 sts)

R5: 2 Sc + 1 Inc + (4 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 2 Sc (36 sts)

R6: (5 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (42 sts)

Sl st to join. 

*Cut, leaving a long tail for sewing later.*

• SOIL (x1):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 501 (Brown) 

Start: Magic ring with 6 Sc (6 sts)

R1: 1 Inc in each stitch (12 sts)

R2: (1 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R3: 1 Sc + 1 Inc + (2 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 1 Sc (24 sts)

R4: (3 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (30 sts)

R5: 2 Sc + 1 Inc + (4 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 2 Sc (36 sts)

R6: (5 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (42 sts)

R7: 3 Sc + 1 Inc + (6 Sc + 1 Inc) x5 + 3 Sc (48 sts)

R8: (7 Sc + 1 Inc) Repeat 6 times (54 sts)

Sl st to join. 

*Cut, leaving a long tail for sewing later.* 

• SCISSOR LOOP (x1):

With Perlé Rubí Oro 5/50 Col. 403 (Dark Green) 

Start: 14 Ch (14 sts)

R1: Starting in the 3rd Ch from the hook: 

1 Hdc in each stitch (12 sts). 2 Ch and turn. 

R2: 1 Hdc in each stitch (12 sts) 

*Cut, leaving a long tail for sewing later.*

ASSEMBLY OF THE PIECES: 

1) Sew the strip of sepals to the back of the head, on round R18, in a circle with the points facing outwards. 

2) Sew the large petals to the head, distributing them around it, between rounds R13 and R15. 

3) Sew the small petals into the gaps of the large petals, on R13 of the head. 

4) With Perle Rubí Oro 5/50 col. 002 (Ecru), embroider a pair of rosy cheeks under the eyes. 

5) Sew the sides of the stem together to form a cylinder. Flatten one end and sew to the head exactly on round R24. Leave the other end free to insert the wire.  

6) Using pliers, cut a piece of wire a few cm long and fold it in half. The folded end is what we will insert into the stem. 

7) The other end with the two wire tips will be inserted through the center stitch of the soil, with the right side facing the stem. Use scissors or a crochet hook to open the stitch for the wire, but do not force it.

8)  Insert the two wire tips also through the center stitch of the pot so that the pot faces upwards and the wire comes out at the base. Bend the tips with pliers so they don't prick. 

9) Sew the stem to the soil between the starting rounds and R1.  

10) Stuff the pot with 2-3 small stones at the bottom and stuffing on top. Sew the soil onto the pot on the wrong side of R18, so that the rim created by folding the last two rounds of the pot is not lost. 

11) Bend the ends of the wires again, adjusting the height of the sunflower well and leaving them horizontal, flush with the pot. This will give it all the support and stability it needs.   

12) Sew the base of the pot to it to hide the wire and give more weight to our pincushion. 

13) Place the leaves on both sides of the stem and sew them. 

14) Sew the scissor loop to the back of the head (in the green area), at the height of the join with the stem. Only the two ends need to be sewn, so that the scissors can enter and be held by the loop. 

15) Add pins, needles and whatever you usually use for your projects to the head and scissors to the loop. It's ready! 

FINAL RESULT