The Crimson Bloom Brooch: A Knitted Velvet Rose Garden Pin

Imagine a lush, dimensional rose—handcrafted from soft, worsted-weight yarn—pinned to your favorite coat lapel, scarf, or handbag. The Crimson Bloom Brooch is more than just an accessory; it's a tiny garden of texture and romance, knitted one petal at a time. This free pattern transforms simple knit and purl stitches into a statement piece that whispers vintage charm and handmade elegance. Whether you're a seasoned knitter looking for a quick, satisfying project or a beginner eager to learn shaping techniques, this brooch is a delightful journey into dimensional knitting. Let's pick up our needles and bring this velvet rose to life.

Materials Needed

Before we begin, gather your materials. This project is wonderfully portable and requires only a small amount of yarn, making it perfect for using up scraps or indulging in a single luxurious skein.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in three colors:
  • Main Color (MC): Deep crimson red (approximately 25g)
  • Contrast Color 1 (CC1): Forest green (approximately 15g)
  • Contrast Color 2 (CC2): Dusty blush pink (approximately 10g)
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) knitting needles
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and assembly, stitch markers (optional), and a brooch pin backing (approximately 1.5 inches wide).

Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Gauge is not critical for this project, but maintaining consistent tension throughout will ensure your petals are even and the final bloom is well-proportioned.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This knitted rose brooch is worked in separate petals and leaves, then assembled into a lush bloom. The pattern uses basic knit and purl stitches with increases and decreases to create curved, organic shapes. Don't be intimidated by the number of pieces—each one is quick to knit, and the assembly is where the magic happens.

Abbreviations

• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• YO = yarn over
• M1 = make one (increase by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting through the back loop)
• St(s) = stitch(es)

Petals (Make 5 Large, 4 Medium, 3 Small)

We'll start with the petals, which form the heart of the rose. Each petal is shaped with increases at the beginning and decreases at the end, creating a lovely oval curve.

Large Petal (Make 5 in MC - Crimson)

1. Cast on 3 sts.
2. Row 1 (RS): K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (5 sts)
3. Row 2 and all even rows: Purl all sts.
4. Row 3: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1 (7 sts)
5. Row 5: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 (9 sts)
6. Row 7: K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 (11 sts)
7. Row 9: K1, M1, K9, M1, K1 (13 sts)
8. Row 11: K1, M1, K11, M1, K1 (15 sts)
9. Row 13: K1, M1, K13, M1, K1 (17 sts)
10. Row 14: Purl.
11. Row 15 (RS): SSK, K13, K2tog (15 sts)
12. Row 16: Purl.
13. Row 17: SSK, K11, K2tog (13 sts)
14. Row 18: Purl.
15. Row 19: SSK, K9, K2tog (11 sts)
16. Row 20: Purl.
17. Row 21: SSK, K7, K2tog (9 sts)
18. Row 22: Purl.
19. Row 23: SSK, K5, K2tog (7 sts)
20. Row 24: Purl.
21. Row 25: SSK, K3, K2tog (5 sts)
22. Row 26: Purl.
23. Row 27: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 sts)
24. Row 28: Purl.
25. Bind off all sts. Leave a long tail (approximately 12 inches) for sewing.

Medium Petal (Make 4 in MC - Crimson)

1. Cast on 3 sts.
2. Row 1 (RS): K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (5 sts)
3. Row 2 and all even rows: Purl.
4. Row 3: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1 (7 sts)
5. Row 5: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 (9 sts)
6. Row 7: K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 (11 sts)
7. Row 9: K1, M1, K9, M1, K1 (13 sts)
8. Row 10: Purl.
9. Row 11: SSK, K9, K2tog (11 sts)
10. Row 12: Purl.
11. Row 13: SSK, K7, K2tog (9 sts)
12. Row 14: Purl.
13. Row 15: SSK, K5, K2tog (7 sts)
14. Row 16: Purl.
15. Row 17: SSK, K3, K2tog (5 sts)
16. Row 18: Purl.
17. Row 19: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 sts)
18. Row 20: Purl.
19. Bind off. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Small Petal (Make 3 in CC2 - Dusty Blush)

1. Cast on 3 sts.
2. Row 1 (RS): K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (5 sts)
3. Row 2 and all even rows: Purl.
4. Row 3: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1 (7 sts)
5. Row 5: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 (9 sts)
6. Row 7: K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 (11 sts)
7. Row 8: Purl.
8. Row 9: SSK, K7, K2tog (9 sts)
9. Row 10: Purl.
10. Row 11: SSK, K5, K2tog (7 sts)
11. Row 12: Purl.
12. Row 13: SSK, K3, K2tog (5 sts)
13. Row 14: Purl.
14. Row 15: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 sts)
15. Row 16: Purl.
16. Bind off. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Leaves (Make 2 Large, 1 Small in CC1 - Forest Green)

The leaves add a beautiful contrast and grounding to the rose. They are knitted similarly to the petals but are slightly narrower, creating a more elongated shape.

Large Leaf (Make 2)

1. Cast on 3 sts.
2. Row 1 (RS): K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (5 sts)
3. Row 2: Purl.
4. Row 3: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1 (7 sts)
5. Row 4: Purl.
6. Row 5: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 (9 sts)
7. Row 6: Purl.
8. Row 7: K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 (11 sts)
9. Row 8: Purl.
10. Row 9: K1, M1, K9, M1, K1 (13 sts)
11. Row 10: Purl.
12. Row 11: K1, M1, K11, M1, K1 (15 sts)
13. Row 12: Purl.
14. Row 13: K1, M1, K13, M1, K1 (17 sts)
15. Row 14: Purl.
16. Row 15: SSK, K13, K2tog (15 sts)
17. Row 16: Purl.
18. Row 17: SSK, K11, K2tog (13 sts)
19. Row 18: Purl.
20. Row 19: SSK, K9, K2tog (11 sts)
21. Row 20: Purl.
22. Row 21: SSK, K7, K2tog (9 sts)
23. Row 22: Purl.
24. Row 23: SSK, K5, K2tog (7 sts)
25. Row 24: Purl.
26. Row 25: SSK, K3, K2tog (5 sts)
27. Row 26: Purl.
28. Row 27: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 sts)
29. Row 28: Purl.
30. Bind off. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Small Leaf (Make 1)

1. Cast on 3 sts.
2. Row 1 (RS): K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (5 sts)
3. Row 2: Purl.
4. Row 3: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1 (7 sts)
5. Row 4: Purl.
6. Row 5: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 (9 sts)
7. Row 6: Purl.
8. Row 7: SSK, K5, K2tog (7 sts)
9. Row 8: Purl.
10. Row 9: SSK, K3, K2tog (5 sts)
11. Row 10: Purl.
12. Row 11: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 sts)
13. Row 12: Purl.
14. Bind off. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Now for the most rewarding part—watching your knitted pieces transform into a beautiful rose. Take your time with this step; the way you arrange the petals will determine the final character of your brooch.

1. Center Bud: Take the 3 small petals (CC2 dusty blush) and roll them tightly together, starting with the smallest. Sew the base to secure, forming a tight spiral center. This will be the heart of your rose.
2. Middle Layer: Wrap the 4 medium petals (MC crimson) around the center bud, overlapping slightly. Position them evenly around the bud, sewing each petal's base to the bud. Gently cup the petals outward with your fingers to create a natural, open bloom shape.
3. Outer Layer: Attach the 5 large petals (MC crimson) around the outside, again overlapping and sewing at the base. As you add each layer, fluff and arrange the petals to create a full, lush rose. The outer petals should be the most open and cupped.
4. Leaves: Turn the rose over. Sew the two large leaves to the back of the rose, positioning them on opposite sides so they peek out from behind the bloom. Add the small leaf slightly below the large leaves for a layered, natural effect.
5. Finishing: Weave in all loose ends securely with your tapestry needle. Sew a brooch pin backing securely to the back of the rose, positioning it horizontally so the brooch hangs correctly when worn. For extra durability, add a few stitches through the center of the rose to firmly secure all the layers together.

Tips for a Perfect Bloom

• Steam Blocking: For a more dimensional and polished look, gently steam-block the petals before assembly. Hold a steam iron just above the pieces (without touching them) to set the curves and relax the yarn.
• Color Play: Don't be afraid to experiment! For an ombre effect, use a lighter pink for the inner petals and deepen to crimson for the outer layers. You could also use a single color for a monochromatic statement piece.
• Size: This brooch measures approximately 4 inches in diameter, making it the perfect size for a coat lapel, scarf, or even as a unique hair accessory.