Free crochet hellebore flower pattern
Hellebores are one of those wonderful plants that seem to last forever. Ours began to flower in late January and add the prettiest hint of colour to a dark corner of my garden, so they were the perfect flower for the February instalment of my year in bloom project. This crochet hellebore is made using just 4 rounds of crochet! Did you know that the coloured parts which look like petals are in fact the plant’s sepals? The actual petals have been modified and are in the little green tubes in the centre of the flower. (The pattern includes adding those at the end!) For ease, I will be referring to the sepals as petals within the pattern.
These crochet hellebores are an excellent way to use up small amounts of yarn and they come in such a wide range of colours that you’re sure to have something suitable. I used DK weight cotton blend yarn to give the stitches definition, but any DK yarn is suitable. There is a little finishing required at the end, but nothing too complex. They will make the ideal addition to a winter flower wreath, or perhaps a pretty brooch.
Materials list:
- Small amounts of DK yarn in green and white
- 3mm (C/2 or D/3) hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Abbreviations (US and UK terminology)
| US | UK (if different) | ||
| beg | beginning | ||
| BLO | back loop only | ||
| ch(s) | chain(s) | ||
| dc | double crochet | tr | treble crochet |
| FLO | front loop only | ||
| hdc | half double crochet | htr | half treble crochet |
| ij | invisible join | ||
| mr | magic ring | ||
| rep | repeat | ||
| rnd | round | ||
| RS | right side | ||
| sc | single crochet | dc | double crochet |
| sk | skip | ||
| sl st | slip stitch | ||
| tr | treble crochet | dtr | double treble crochet |
| * ; | repeat instructions between * ; the given number of times | ||
| [ ] | instructions between [ ] are worked into the same st or sp |
Skill level: advanced beginner/intermediate
Tension: not critical for this project
Size: hellebore flowers measure 6.5cm diameter
Special stitches
ij On the last stitch of any round, do not sl st to join. Snip the yarn and pull the loop so the end of the yarn comes out of that stitch. Thread the yarn onto your needle and under the legs of both parts of the ‘v’ of the second stitch of the round, then down through the middle of the last stitch of the round. (See video https://youtu.be/CrfCtkkNZdU )
picot ch 2, sl st in second ch from hook
Pattern notes (please read before starting)
- Invisible joins are used throughout, you can replace them with a sl st join if you prefer.
- The flowers are worked in rounds, using chains to create a base fore the petals to be worked from.
- Photos are provided throughout to help with accurate stitch placement.
- The final crochet hellebore flower shape can be adjusted easily by changing the position of the stitches created in the finishing section – you can create a more open flower or the classic cup-like shape depending on your preference
- If you wish the petals to be all one colour rather than variegated, omit the colour change at the end of Round 3.
- US abbreviations are used throughout, with UK terms indicated in brackets afterwards
Crochet hellebore instructions
Centre
We begin by working the green centre of the flower, which we will work the hellebore petals out of. If you aren’t confident with using a magic ring, you could chain 2 and work the stitches into the second chain from the hook. The base is worked in a spiral, amigurumi style, so you do not need to join with a sl st at the end of Round 1.
Round 1: Using green yarn, make a mr. Ch 1, 6 sc (UK dc) into the ring. 6 sts
Round 2: 2 sc (UK dc) in each st around. Fasten off with an invisible join (ij) in the second st of the round (see Figs. 1 & 2).
Now weave in the ends so they are out of the way.
Flower petals
The Flower Petals are working in 2 rounds out of the Centre. We work a round of chains and slip stitches first, in either the colour you would like the centre of the petals to be if they are variegated, or the colour you would like the whole petal to be. We then work into these chains to make the petals larger.
Begin by joining your chosen colour in any st on the Flower Base. To do this, make a slip knot on your hook, insert your hook into your chosen stitch, then make a slip stitch.
Round 3
*Ch 4, working back down the ch, 1 sc (UK dc) in second ch from hook, 1 sc (UK dc) in each of the next 2 ch, sl st in each of next 2 sts on Centre; rep from * 4 more times, replacing final sl st with an invisible join if changing colour (see figs. 3, 4 & 5).
Round 4
Join next colour in same st as a sl st immediately after a ch (see Fig. 6), *working in unworked loops of ch 4, 1 dc (UK tr), 1 tr (UK dtr), 2 tr (UK dtr), [2 dc (UK tr), picot, 2 dc (UK tr)] in unworked loop at end of ch.
Working through both loops of the sc (UK dc) sts you worked down the ch in Round 3, 2 tr (UK) dtr in next st, 1 tr (UK dtr), 1 dc (UK tr), sl st in same st as Round 3 sl st; rep from * 4 more times, fasten off with an ij in beg sl st, leaving a long tail for sewing. See Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 for additional support.
Finishing your crochet hellebore flower
We will now add details to the centre of the crochet hellebore flower by creating lark’s head knots in the unworked FLO of Round 1 of the Centre. The FLO may be a little tricky to access – folding back the petals and wiggling a tapestry needle under each loop will help.
Cut five 15cm lengths of your chosen colour (I used green). Insert your hook under any FLO from the Petals towards the centre (see Fig. 13), fold the length of yarn in half and use your hook to pull the loop through the stitch. Then pull the ends of the yarn through the loop and pull to secure. Repeat for all 5 FLO then trim the yarn as desired. Use your tapestry needle to separate the strands within the yarn for a fuller effect.
Your crochet hellebore will probably be laying quite flat, so if you wish you can now give it some more shape. Overlap the Petals as much as you wish and using the long tail left from Round 4, make tiny stitches to secure the Petals (see Fig. 14). Adjust the amount of overlap to your preference. For a more cup like shape, make the stitch about halfway up each Petal, for a more open hellebore flower shape, make the stitch nearer to the base of each Petal. Weave the yarn under the sts and repeat for each petal.
I hope you enjoyed making your crochet hellebore! If you love crocheting flowers, you might enjoy my snowdrop garland and periwinkle bookmark. You can also find a range of crochet flower patterns in my Etsy, Ravelry and Payhip stores!
