Free Knitted Sunflower Cushion Pattern with Moss Stitch Petals

This knitted flower cushion is constructed from two shaped centre pieces and nine separately knitted petals. The two centre panels are worked in stocking stitch, sewn together and filled with toy stuffing. Each petal is worked in moss stitch, shaped with decreases and gathered slightly before being sewn around the centre seam.

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What you need

4 x 20g balls double knitting for the centre.

and 4 x 20g balls for petals

5 1/2mm needles no 5 needles

Instructions

Bring a cheerful splash of colour into your home with this free knitted sunflower cushion pattern. The design features a softly rounded centre surrounded by nine individual flower petals, creating a dimensional cushion inspired by a blooming sunflower.

The centre is knitted in smooth stocking stitch, while the petals use traditional moss stitch for a softly textured finish. Each petal is knitted separately, lightly gathered along the cast-on edge and sewn around the cushion seam so that it curls naturally like a real flower petal.

Two strands of double-knitting yarn are held together throughout, giving the cushion a substantial, cosy texture without requiring complicated knitting techniques. Choose golden yellow or burnt orange petals with a dark brown centre for a classic sunflower, or use a pale yellow centre to create the daisy variation shown in the original project photograph.

This pattern is ideal for intermediate knitters and confident beginners who are familiar with knit and purl stitches, simple increases, decreases, sewing seams and stuffing knitted pieces. The original pattern creates nine moss-stitch petals rather than the elongated stocking-stitch petals sometimes seen on modern sunflower cushions.

To make the center Use two strands of the color you have chosen for the center.

Cast on 16 stitches.

Work in stocking stitch, which is one row knit, one row purl alternately, beginning with a knit row.

Knit 1 row.
Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next 5 rows. (26 stitches)
Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next row.
Purl 1 row.
Repeat the last 2 rows twice more.
(32 stitches).

Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next row.
Work 3 rows.
Repeat the last 4 rows twice more.
(38 stitches).
Work 4 rows without shaping.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of next row.
Work 3 rows.
Repeat last 4 rows once. (34 stitches)
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of next row.

Purl 1 row.
Repeat last 2 rows twice. (28 stitches)
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of next
6 rows. (16 stitches)
Cast off.

Work another center in the same way.

Place the centers together with the smooth, right sides touching and back stitch evenly round the edge, leaving a gap of about 10 cm.

Turn right side out and stuff.

Now neatly join the edges of the gap together.

To make the petals

Using 2 strands of your chosen color, cast on 21 stitches.

1st row Knit 1, * Purl 1, knit 1, repeat from the * to the end of the row.

Repeat this row 11 times more. The pattern you will make is called moss stitch.

Keeping the moss stitch pattern correct, that is, always purling the purl stitch of the row before, and knitting the knit one, decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next 4 rows.

Cast off.

Work 8 more petals in the same way. Sew the cast-on edge of each petal to the cushion seam, gathering the edge slightly so that it curls round like a real flower petal.

All done!