How to Crochet a Sunflower Bag Charm (Free Pattern)

Looking for a quick, cheerful project to brighten up your favorite tote bag or keep your place in a cozy weekend read?

This Crochet Sunflower Bag Charm double-functions as a bookmark and brings a splash of warm sunshine wherever you go.

Featuring a clever back-to-back construction technique and a delicate hanging leaf-heart cord, this project is super rewarding and beginner-friendly.

Materials and Preparation

Materials:

• Yarn:
  • Brown yarn for the sunflower center.
  • Yellow yarn for the vibrant petals.
  • Green yarn for the leafy heart accent and hanging cord.
• Stuffing / Assembly Supplies:
  • Fabric glue or hot glue gun (optional, for securing the leaf accent).

Tools:

• Crochet Hook: 2.5 mm – 3.0 mm hook (or sized appropriately for your chosen yarn).
• Yarn Needle: Tapestry needle for sewing pieces back-to-back and weaving in ends.
• Stitch Marker: To keep track of rounds.
• Scissors: For trimming yarn tails.

Preparation Notes:

• You will need to make two identical brown flower centers and two green leaf-hearts before assembling the sunflower petals.
• Practice making a double ring or magic ring (MR) for tight, secure centers that will not loosen over time.

Abbreviations and Notes

Abbreviations:

• MR: Magic Ring (Double circle or standard adjustable loop)
• ch: Chain stitch
• sc: Single crochet
• inc: Single crochet increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• hdc: Half double crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• sl st: Slip stitch
• picot: 2-chain picot stitch (ch 2, sl st)

Pattern Notes:

• The brown flower center is worked in continuous joined rounds.
• Every round begins with a ch 1 turning chain (which does not count as a stitch) and ends with a sl st into the first stitch of the round.
• The petals join two brown flower center pieces placed back-to-back, crocheting through both layers simultaneously.
• Original design and pattern credit belongs to Lingzhi Handmade.

Gauge, Approximate Size, and Pattern Notes

Gauge:

Gauge is not critical for this accessory. Work with consistent, firm tension so the flower discs lie flat and neat.

Finished Size:

• Flower Diameter: Approximately 2.5–3 inches (6.5–7.5 cm).
• Cord Length: Approximately 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) using a 65-chain foundation.

Special Techniques:

• Double Circle / Magic Ring: Creates an ultra-tight center so yarn tails can be trimmed safely without unraveling.
• Back-to-Back Join: Joining two identical discs around the perimeter creates a clean, professional finish on both sides of the charm.
• Picot Tip Petals: A ch 2 picot sequence forms the pointed tip of each sunflower petal.

Step-by-Step Pattern

Part 1: Flower Center Discs (Make 2)

Work in brown yarn:

• R1: MR, ch 1 (does not count as st), 6 sc in ring. Sl st to first sc to close (6)
• R2: ch 1, 6 inc. Sl st to first sc to close (12)
• R3: ch 1, (sc, inc)*6. Sl st to first sc to close (18) Fasten off. Tie off ends at the back. Repeat to make a second disc.

Part 2: Leaf-Heart Accent & Hanging Cord

Leaf-Heart 1 (Base Piece):

Work in green yarn:

• R1: MR, ch 3, 4 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, ch 2, sl st back into the first chain (picot formed), 1 sc, 2 hdc, 4 dc, ch 3, sl st into the center ring. Fasten off, leaving a long tail (~30 cm) for sewing.

Leaf-Heart 2 with Cord (Top Piece):

Work in green yarn:

• R1: MR, ch 3, 4 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, ch 2, sl st back into the first chain, 1 sc, 2 hdc, 4 dc, ch 3, sl st into the center ring.
• Cord: Do not cut yarn. Work ch 65 (or desired length for bag strap or bookmark tail). Fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment.

Leaf Assembly:

• Place the two leaf-hearts back-to-back and sew around the edges using the long tail from Leaf-Heart 1 (or secure with hot glue).

Part 3: Petals & Final Assembly

Joining Flower Discs and Adding Petals:

• Place the two brown flower center discs back-to-back.
• Join yellow yarn through both layers at any stitch.
• Petal Repeat Sequence:
  • Stitch 1: ch 1, 1 hdc in current st, 1 dc in current st.
  • Stitch 2: ch 2, 1 dc in next st, 1 hdc in next st, ch 1, sl st into next st.
  • Repeat this petal sequence around the entire flower.

Inserting the Hanging Cord:

• After completing 2 or 3 petals, insert the free end of the green cord between the two brown discs.
• Secure the cord end inside using a yarn tail or hot glue, then continue crocheting the remaining petals over both layers to seal the cord inside.
• Sl st to the first stitch to close, fasten off, and weave in all yarn ends.

Detailed Pattern Breakdown

1. Flower Center Discs (Rounds 1–3)

• The brown core starts with 6 single crochets (6 sc) in a magic ring to form a tight, gap-free center.
• Round 2 doubles the stitch count using 6 increases (6 inc), bringing the total to 12 stitches.
• Round 3 expands the disc evenly with a standard repeating sequence of (sc, inc)*6, finishing at 18 stitches. Making two identical discs ensures both sides of the charm look polished.

2. Leaf-Heart & Hanging Cord Construction

• The leaf shape uses varying stitch heights (sc, hdc, dc) worked into a single magic ring to form symmetrical rounded lobes.
• A 2-chain picot at the tip defines the bottom point of the leaf.
• Extending 65 chains directly from the second leaf creates an integrated hanging strap without adding bulky knots or extra seams.

3. Petal Formation & Back-to-Back Joining

• The petal design spans across 2 foundation stitches of the brown center discs:
  • Stitch 1 builds height with hdc and dc.
  • The ch 2 space creates the pointed tip of the sunflower petal.
  • Stitch 2 steps down using dc and hdc, ending with a ch 1 and sl st to anchor the petal base before starting the next one.

Pattern Question:

Question: How can I make sure the hanging cord stays firmly attached inside the flower without pulling out during use?

Answer: Before finishing the petals, sandwich the end of the green cord between the two brown center discs. Node or tie the cord end securely inside the cavity, or apply a small drop of hot glue between the inner disc surfaces. Crocheting the remaining petals tightly around the insertion point traps the cord permanently between the two layers.