Are you looking for a way to personalise your latest crochet project? A well-placed crochet applique can completely change the character of your project. These small crochet motifs use very little yarn or time. So they’re perfect for those leftover scraps and spare minutes.
Though they are small, crochet appliques are also often an opportunity to expand your crochet skills, since they may require a variety of crochet stitches and techniques to achieve their unique shapes. This allows you to practice shaping on a small scale without a huge time commitment. You can quickly make one shape and move on to something else. So you’ll never get bored!
But not all of these appliques are super challenging, either. You’ll find everything from quick and easy crochet flowers and leaves, playful fruits and desserts, and crochet animal applique patterns. So choose whichever one suits your taste and skill level and let your imagination run wild!
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Crochet Applique Patterns to Personalise Your Projects
Below, you’ll find a selection of free crochet applique patterns for all occasions, including:
- Two Layer Crochet Flowers
- Quick and Easy Crochet Leaf Pattern
- Crochet Bunny Applique
- Ice Cream Cone Applique
- Crochet Rainbow Flowers Applique
- Easy Crochet Chick Applique
- Maple Leaf Crochet Pattern
- Easy Crochet Popcorn Flowers
- Crochet Bleeding Heart Flower
- Crochet Butterfly Pattern
- Blooming Crochet Flowers and Leaves
- Crochet Cherry Applique
- Cloud & Rain Applique
- Crochet Festive Star
- Bouquet of Roses Applique
- Christmas Crochet Stars
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The Many Uses of Crochet Appliques
Before we dive into the patterns, you may be wondering, what exactly is an applique (or appliqué)? The word comes from the French appliquer, which means “to apply.” Accordingly, “applique” refers to a piece of fabric (in this case, crochet fabric) that is applied, or attached, to a larger piece of material.
Certainly, all of these appliques are perfectly suited to their original use. They add a colourful and personal touch when sewn onto to hats, blankets, and kitchen items. But you can also use them in all sorts of other fun crochet projects, like:
- Attach a strand of yarn or a chain loop to the top of any motif to make an ornament, window hanger, or gift tag.
- String together several of one applique (or mix and match two or three of them) to make a garland or bunting.
- Sew an applique to a key ring for a personalised keychain.
- For flat appliques, adjust just your hook and yarn size to make a fun set of coasters.
- Glue appliques to paper crafts, such as scrapbooks or greeting cards.
- Make small motifs from crochet thread to create earrings or pendants.
These are just a few of the many fun options. What other uses can you think of for crochet appliques?
More Pattern Collections
If you enjoy making home decor, you may also like these crochet projects:
- 12 Crochet Sunflower Patterns to Brighten Your Home
- 10 Free Small Crochet Flower Patterns
- 21 Free Easy Crochet Flower Patterns
- 21 Free and Easy Patterns for Crochet Coasters
- 21 Free Crochet Patterns for Adorable Baby Gifts
18 Free Crochet Applique Patterns
Originally, an applique was a small element attached to a larger project. Yes, these small crochet motifs are perfect for embellishment. But there are so many other fun ways to use crochet appliques, too, both individually and together with other appliques. Check out these 18 free crochet applique patterns below. How will you use them?
These cute little flowers are a great way to use up your scraps. To keep it simple, you can stop after the first round of petals. However, the second layer, worked in chain loops behind the first layer, give the flowers great dimension.
These crochet leaves take only minutes to make and add contrasting colour and visual interest to crochet flowers, fruits, and more. Use these leaves individually or pair them with any of the flowers in this collection.
This adorable bunny applique makes use of an upside down crochet heart to form the bunny's face. It's actually part of a larger wall hanging pattern. But the applique can also be used on its own to adorn an Easter basket or baby gift.
This sweet ice cream cone applique will add a playful touch to your crochet projects. This tiny project is a great way to stretch your crochet skills as you learn to make rounded and pointed shapes, as well as a scallop edging.
Even if these techniques are new to you, the pattern includes lots of helpful photos to guide you through each step.
These bright and cheerful flowers work perfectly as a window hanger or anywhere you need an infusion of colour. A simple single crochet circle is offset by a border of double crochet clusters for a beautiful flower that radiates joy.
I just love all the cute details on this cheerful little chick, from its tiny crochet bow (or bow tie) to the 3D curl on its head. They're also a fun exercise to practice increases and decreases in half double crochet.
This sleepy crochet owl is the perfect embellishment to add a whimsical touch to cozy baby blankets or children's hats. Change up the colours to give each owl its own character.
Make these beautifully-shaped maple leaves in any colour--green for spring and summer or vibrant warm shades for autumn. Attach them to any project or scatter them in seasonal decor displays.
These two-layer crochet flowers use popcorn stitches, which add lovely texture to the petals. Like many of the appliques in this collection, they're a great stash-busting project. What colour combinations will you create?
If you love spring flowers but want something a little different from the petalled type, check out this gorgeous bleeding heart flower applique. The designer has thought of every detail, including two sizes of leaves, plus open and closed flowers. This pattern is listed as intermediate, so it's a bit of a challenge, but the results are worth it!
These pretty little crochet butterflies are a great beginner project, requiring only the slip stitch and double crochet. They're perfect for attaching to magnets or any project that needs a colourful touch of summer.
This stunning crochet flower applique features layers of colour and texture. Choose multiple shades of one colour or use a contrasting colour for each round. Sew on a small pre-made flower to the centre for an optional fourth layer.
Are you looking for a unique way to add a pop of colour to your crochet items? Fruits can look every bit as pretty as flowers, as evidenced by this colourful cherry applique. I think they would be the perfect complement to retro crochet kitchen items.
This puffy cloud applique uses several different sizes of scallops give it a characteristic cloud shape. You can add classic raindrops, pictured here. Or for a romantic look, you can also use tiny hearts as raindrops (the main page links to a free heart pattern).
This pattern is styled as a garland, which demonstrates one creative way to use crochet appliques. But of course, a single star would look gorgeous as an ornament or tied onto on a gift package. How would you use them?
A bouquet of red roses adds a romantic touch to your crochet projects. If you're looking for even more romantic embellishments, you'll be happy to know that this applique is part of a Valentine's Day collection, which is linked from the pattern page. But of course, flowers are appropriate any day of the year! Make the roses in pink or yellow for a Mother's Day or birthday gift.
In muted shades reminiscent of faded doilies, these crochet hearts spread love on Valentine's Day or any day. Sew one to a crocheted washcloth to add extra beauty to a practical gift.
These six-pointed stars were originally designed as Christmas ornaments. But a bright colour scheme makes this verstaile design appropriate any time of the year. This intricate-looking star is deceptively easy to make and only uses basic crochet stitches.
Hopefully, you have enjoyed browsing these free crochet applique patterns and have found inspiration for your crochet projects. You can further personalise these appliques by playing with the colour scheme, yarn weight and hook size, and the characters’ facial expressions. No matter what, you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind project that you and your loved ones can enjoy.
Happy Crocheting!
The photographs and pattern contained on this page are the property of Annie Design Crochet.com.
You are welcome to use this pattern to make items to sell, and I would appreciate that you include a link to the free pattern with credit for the designer, thank you!
No unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part, or distribution of this pattern or content is permitted.