What are motifs? They are the building blocks of many beautiful crochet projects! Projects piece together multiple motifs to create everything under the sun. There is a lot of room for creativity when you are working with crochet motifs. Won’t you join us on this exploration of free crochet motifs patterns?
The first thing you might notice about crochet motifs is what shape they are. Squares are the most popular crochet motif choice because of how nicely and easily they fit together. I bet you’ve seen more than a few crochet blankets made out of granny squares! Each individual granny square is a motif. Of course, not all free crochet motif patterns are a crochet square. Motifs can also be in the shape of circles, hexagons, flowers, stars, octagons, etc.
The fun part is when you are done crocheting all the motifs and you get to join them together. Depending on the layout of your motifs, and how many you have, you can make a number of different things. Free crochet motif patterns are commonly used for blankets, cardigans, pillows, shawls, skirts, scarves, rugs, drapes, chair covers etc. The only limit is your imagination!
When you work with motifs you are making your projects piece by piece rather than all at once. This is much easier on your wrists than holding a big heavy project, and it also makes it easier to take your projects on the go with you. The other thing that is really nice about free crochet motif patterns is that they are well suited to using up scraps of yarn leftover from other projects!
I can’t wait to share all these beautiful free crochet motif patterns with you all! We’ve got a great variety of shapes for you today and a good mix of styles as well. Some are lacey, while others are solid. Some are monochrome, and some are multicolored. Some are smooth, while others are textured. Some are small, and some are large. I think you get the point! So what are you waiting for? Scroll down and prepare to be inspired!
- Hawaiian Flowers
These 3 color flowers will add so much fun to your next crochet table runner or lightweight shawl. The flowers can be made with just single and double crochet stitches, so they’re very beginner-friendly. If you are worried about sewing them together at the end, don’t be! You can easily join them together as you go.
Designer: Sunshine for the Soul
Yarn: (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Fleur Motif
This flower motif can be made with or without the square border. I love the versatility of this design and I think it really opens a lot of doors. The bright colors with their white outlines remind me of children’s building blocks. The pattern calls for half double, double and treble crochet stitches.
Designer: Poppy & Bliss
Yarn: (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Flower Scraps
These tiny scrap busters can be made with just 2 rounds of basic stitches. This is the perfect project for using up bits of yarn leftover from other projects. You could also go for a more sophisticated look with a smaller color palette, so don’t feel like you have to use scraps if you don’t want to.
Designer: Ali Crafts Designs
Yarn: Sock Yarn (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Quilo Square
The snowflake motif is made separately from the square background piece, so feel free to use it on its own. I am imagining a snowflake shawl or a cape. Wouldn’t that just be lovely? Despite their intricate appearance, they are surprisingly easy to make with just single and double crochet stitches. Both video and written pattern formats are available.
Designer: Meghan Makes Do
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Solids, Heathers & Twists (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Sun and Stars Granny Square
Bold blue and gold are the perfect choices for this celestial-inspired motif. I especially like how the points of the sun look 3-dimensional. Look closer at the outer ring of gold and you will see where the stars come into play. Aside from the star stitch, all you need to know is the basics and how to crochet around the post.
Designer: Crochet Cloudberry
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Octagon Motif
For free crochet motif patterns of more unusual shapes, why not try a crochet hexagon? This multicolored hexagon design uses double crochet and half treble crochet stitches worked in the round. The pattern consists of 5 rounds. It’s available in both US and UK terms and there’s lots of pictures to help you out along the way.
Designer: Spincushions
Yarn: Rico Design Essentials Cotton DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Sprocket Motif
A sprocket is a type of gear. The shape reminds me of the wheel of a ship or of a compass. The unique design uses single and double crochet stitches along with picot stitches to make the signature sprocket shape. These crochet motifs are easy to join together as you go, so you don’t have to worry about sewing.
Designer: Speckless Blog
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Petal Mandala
Small mandalas can also serve nicely as crochet motifs. Join them together to form new and exciting blankets, throw pillows, and more! This easy petal mandala uses only basic stitches – single, half double, and double crochet. I especially like how the last round of work forms a lovely scalloped border.
Designer: Underground Crafter
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Ultra Pima Fine (Sport Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Granny Triangle
I’m sure you’ve heard of granny squares before, but have you heard of granny triangles? Just like the traditional squares, these triangles use only double crochet stitches. You should be able to use your favorite granny square joining technique for these triangles, since they have straight sides and are worked in the traditional granny stitch.
Designer: Cherry Heart’s Crochet Corner
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Solid Triangles
These granny triangles are almost entirely solid. That makes these motifs more well suited to cozy throw blankets and cold weather wearables. The pattern still only makes use of double crochet stitches, there’s just less chain spaces in between the stitches. You’ll also find that it’s easy to adjust the size on these by adding or subtracting rounds.
Designer: Lullaby Lodge
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Big Dipper Square
You are probably wondering how to make this striking 3-dimensional design. Single crochet and bobble stitches are worked in rows (you can follow along with the written instructions or the graph). Then the pattern has you go back and use surface slip stitches to connect the dots and form your constellation.
Designer: Hooked Hazel
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Solids, Heathers & Twists (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Falling Leaves Granny Square
Have you attempted the filet crochet technique in the round before? It’s a neat way of forming a symmetrical design that also has the benefit of nice edges (instead of the rough edges you get when you work in rows). The pattern uses only double crochet and chain stitches. I’d love to see it done in multiple colors!
Designer: You Should Craft
Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Emerald Asscher Afghan Square
Textured crochet projects are totally on trend right now. You can easily get that 3D look with eye-popping stitches like bobbles. This design uses bobbles along with single crochet and double crochet stitches. The bobble stitches are worked around the post for an extra boost of volume.
Designer: Crochet For You
Yarn: Red Heart Soft Solids & Heathers (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Northern Diamond Square
The Northern Diamond Square is quite striking by itself, but the real magic happens when you join multiple squares together. The raised diamond design connects to neighboring squares to form circles. Joining squares together has never been more satisfying than in this free crochet motif pattern made with basic and post stitches.
Designer: Torun Johansson
Yarn: Scheepjes Stone Washed (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Blooming Lotus Square
Two friends across the world from each other designed this square together by trading off rounds. The result is highly imaginative, intricate, and visually stunning. What a cool experiment! You can make your own Blooming Lotus Square with basic, post, puff, and cluster stitches. Both video and written pattern formats are available to choose from.
Designer: Sisters in Stitch
Yarn: Scheepjes Catona (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Cable Hexagon
I have been seeing a lot of amazing looking hexagon blankets in my social media feed lately, and this cable hexagon design certainly doesn’t disappoint! Can you believe that you can make this intricate motif using just single and double crochet stitches? The secret is the faux cables made with interlocking loops of chain stitches.
Designer: My Picot
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Spring Garden Hexie
What could be better than free crochet motif patterns for hexagons? How about a hexagon motif design that also includes a half hexagon motif! The half motifs are serious game changers when it comes to making crochet projects with straight sides. This detailed photo tutorial walks you through how to make the hexagons with single, half double, and double crochet stitches.
Designer: In The Yarn Garden
Yarn: Scheepjes Cotton 8 (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Sunburst Hexagon
This subdued sun design owes its sophisticated air to the refined color palette. I think this free crochet motif pattern would make an amazing looking sweater or blanket. The design uses basic stitches and cluster stitches. I’m really impressed with how straight the sides are, especially when you consider the irregular shape of the sunburst!
Designer: Persia Lou
Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Strawflower Hexagon Motif
Here’s another one of our free crochet motif patterns that’s in the shape of a hexagon. This fun and easy pattern uses double, treble and post stitches to create a spoked floral design. I like the way that the different colors interact with each other in this design. It’s not too tricky, so you should have it down after you make a couple.
Designer: Fiber Flux
Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Painted Daisy Hexagon
Let’s turn up the texture with the Painted Daisy Hexagon. This multidimensional pattern uses contrasting colors to emphasize the design. The thickness of these motifs would make a nice warm blanket or a sturdy throw pillow. You’ll be using double crochet and popcorn stitches for this one.
Designer: Megan Speakes
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Bobble Drops Flower Hexagon
Floral depictions are certainly a popular theme among these free crochet motif patterns! I think it’s wonderful just how well the beauty of a blooming flower translates into yarn. The bobble Drops Flower Hexagon uses basic stitches plus bobble stitches. You can mix and match between single color and two color versions.
Designer: Crochet for You
Yarn: (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Linna Hexagon
Motifs without straight sides are well suited to creating projects with open structures like flowy shawls and lightweight throws. The extra space between the attachment points of the motifs really makes a difference! You can see this difference for yourself in the beautiful Linna Hexagon which is made with basic stitches plus post stitches.
Designer: Creative Crochet Workshop
Yarn: Nurturing Fibres Eco-Cotton DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Traditional Hexagon Motif
Sometimes it’s nice to find free crochet motif patterns that are a little on the plain side. You don’t have to fuss with color changes or special stitches for this traditional hexagon motif. Using just basic crochet stitches, you can recreate this motif with one eye on your work and one eye on your latest Netflix binge. The free pattern includes both right and left handed video tutorials
Designer: Moogly
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- African Flower Granny
Some of the most impressive crochet stuffed animals around are the ones made with african flower motifs. Making the motifs is the easy part. You only need to know how to single and double crochet. Joining them together to create fantastic designs like elephants and teddy bears is a little trickier.
Designer: Craft Passion
Yarn: Laines du Pingouin Golf (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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- Granny Flower Hexagons
These circle in a hexagon motifs create visions of flowers right before your eyes when you switch colors every row. You can make them using just double crochet stitches. If you’d like to make a blanket with them, I’d recommend using a worsted weight yarn or thicker. I’m sure it will turn out lovely!
Designer: Lullaby Lodge
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Common Questions about Crochet Motifs
A crochet motif is really any small crochet shapes that are joined together to make something larger, such as a blanket, cardigan or bag. The most popular motifs are granny squares, hexagons and other fun crochet squares. (You can see some really popular square patterns here!)
To crochet a motif blanket you first make as many of the crochet motifs as needed (usually 10-100 depending upon the size of the blanket and how big the motifs are), and then you will join the motifs together to make the size of blanket you want. There are many ways of joining motifs.
Motifs are joined either with your crochet hook or a yarn needle. Odd shaped motifs usually will have at least one edge that can be joined to another.
A motif is usually worked from the center out, although there are exceptions. It usually begins with a magic circle or a small number of chains and the rounds are worked out from the middle.
You can really use crochet motifs to make just about anything! Some popular things to make with motifs are a lap throw or baby blanket, scarf, cardigan, crochet bag and sometimes even a hat. There really is no limit to what you can make with motifs.
Let your imagination run wild! Pick any one of these free crochet motif patterns, use it for your next crochet project, and you will be amazed with the results! Before you go, drop a comment for me really quick and let me know what beautiful project you are going to create!
I look forward to seeing you all again next week for another free crochet pattern round-up. I hope that you all have as much fun reading these posts as I do writing them! Do make sure and click follow so you can get notified when the next post is live.
Wait, one more thing! Don’t forget to save this page to your Pinterest board for crochet or add a bookmark in your browser. This is one free crochet pattern round-up that you will definitely be using again and again.
Happy Crocheting!
Amanda
How to Crochet a Basic Granny Crochet Motif
Learn how to make this most basic crochet motif pattern - the basic granny square!
Materials
- Yarn of Choice.
Tools
- Crochet hook appropriate for yarn. If unsure, check recommendation on yarn label.
Instructions
- Ch 5, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times, 2 dc in ring, sl st to 3rd ch of ch-5.
- Slip st into ch-2 space, ch 5, 3 dc in same ch-2 space, *ch 1, skip 3 dc, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-space; repeat from * twice more, ch 1, skip 3 dc, 2 dc in same space as ch 5 of beg of round, sl st to 3rd ch of ch-5.
- Slip st into ch-2 space, ch 5, 3 dc in same ch-2 space, *ch 1, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch space, skip 3 dc**, (3dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into next sp; repeat from * twice more and from * to ** again, 2 dc into same space as ch 5 of beg of round, sl st to 3rd ch of ch-5.
- Slip st into next sp, ch 5, 3 dc in same ch-2 space, *(ch 1, skip 3 dc, 3 dc into next sp) twice, ch 1, skip 3 dc**, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into next sp; repeat from * twice more and from * to ** again, 2 dc into same sp as ch-5 of beg of round, sl st to 3rd ch of ch-5.
- Fasten off.
Ch 4. Join with slip stitch in 4th ch from hook to create a ring.
You can repeat this last row as many times as desired, just working clusters of 3 dc in each ch-1 space separated by a ch 1 – if you keep working this round you can even make an entire granny square blanket with these instructions!
Notes
Ch 5 at beginning of round counts as dc, ch 2.
You can choose to crochet over the tail end on the first round, saving you an end to weave in later, or you can wait and easily weave in the end after your square is finished.
