This pattern includes the “Water Lily” appliqué only.
Decorative applique patterns of choice, as well as the Teabag pattern you can attach this to, can be found on this site separately from the featured pattern.
This would also be super cute applied to crochet bags, hats, blankets, tops, pants, skirts, or gloves.
Contents include photos and detailed instructions to aid in your completing this project with ease.
DISCLAIMER:
This pattern belongs to MyCocoLily.
It may not be copied or redistributed in any form and is for personal use only.
Any items made by those who purchase this pattern may be sold, donated, auctioned, or gifted.
BY MYCOCOLILY
If you need help with anything, feel free to send me a message at [email protected]
My lovely testers from the Ribblr crochet community!
Also featured here are items made by my testers using my other patterns: Teabag, Frog and Bear, and Blossoms and Leaf Appliques.
What you’ll need:
“Coboo” yarn (3) Light / DK weight, in the color “Blossom”; green embroidery floss or yarn
2.50mm hook, scissors, darning needle
Abbreviations
MR – magic ring
sl st – slip stitch
ch – chain
Symbol
X Indicates how many times to repeat the line of text within the brackets – [ ]
Size
1/2″
Yarn & Material Substitutions
For the prototype featured here, I love using Lion Brand Coboo yarn, which is a light weight (3) cotton and bamboo blend. Paired with a 2.50mm crochet hook, this blend gives the petals a subtle, beautiful sheen, and a compact size that looks incredibly neat.
If you want to look through your yarn stash instead, here are a few great alternative options:
• 100% Mercerized Cotton (Sport/Fine Weight): Mercerized cotton has a wonderful glossy finish that looks amazing on floral designs like this one. It will give your water lily sharp, rigid petals that hold their shape perfectly, though it won’t be quite as silky soft as the bamboo blend.
• Lightweight Acrylic Yarn: If you choose a light weight (3) acrylic yarn, your flower will have a softer, slightly fuzzier appearance. Because acrylic behaves differently than bamboo, you may need to lightly block the petals after finishing to keep them from curling inward.
• Size Up to Worsted Weight (4): If you want to turn this delicate water lily into a larger centerpiece or a structural desk accent, swap the light yarn for a standard medium-weight cotton and a 3.5mm hook. This will scale up the flower size while keeping the pattern steps exactly the same!
Choosing the Right Hook & Matching Your Gauge
Before you pick up your yarn and jump into making your water lily petals, let’s talk briefly about choosing your crochet hook and mastering your tension.
For the sample flower featured in these photos, I specifically paired the light weight (3) Lion Brand Coboo bamboo-cotton blend with a 2.50mm crochet hook.
While the yarn label technically recommends a much larger hook size, sizing down significantly is the key to achieving a perfectly compact, miniature flower with an elegant finish.
If you have a naturally loose crochet tension, you might find that your petals turn out a bit loose looking or lack definition. If that happens, don’t be afraid to drop down even further to a 2.25mm or 2.0mm hook.
The goal here is to create dense, solid stitches so that the distinct radial shape of the water lily layers holds up beautifully with a nice shape.
Conversely, if you crochet very tightly and struggle to insert your hook into your stitches, moving up slightly to a 2.75mm hook can give you just enough breathing room without sacrificing the signature small size of this design.
Take your time during the first few foundation rounds to see how the materials shape your flower—finding that sweet spot with your hook will make the entire process a breeze!
Lily Instructions
I’ll be using the color “Blossom” and a 2.50mm hook
MR, ch 1
[sl st into MR, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook] x6
![[sl st into MR, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook] x6](https://i0.wp.com/mycocolily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lily-1.jpg?resize=686%2C639&ssl=1)
End the row with sl st into MR
Close MR
Pull up loop on your hook and cut yarn, leaving a long tail.
With your needle, insert the tail into the side of your first petal of the row, from the front through to the back.
Leave tail for sewing to a project, if not using glue.
Otherwise, weave in ends and cut.
Leaf Instructions
Use about 5 inches of embroidery floss for this portion.
To start, weave floss through a couple of stitches at the back of a petal, pulling floss through at the side of the petal.
Pull floss through a couple stitches at the back of the next petal, careful not to pull too tight, so as to leave a small loop behind for a leaf.
Repeat in each petal all around.
Weave excess through at the back and cut remainder.
Here’s an example of what you could add your Water Lily Applique to:
More Creative Ways to Style and Display Your Lily
This delicate water lily applique is incredibly versatile and can be used for so many beautiful projects. Here are a few creative ways to display your finished flower:
Whimsical Home Decor: For a lovely botanical vibe, you can back the lily pad with a small piece of felt and place it under a clear glass cloche dome on your bookshelf, surrounded by vintage books and fairy lights.
Another option is to sew or fabric-glue your lily directly onto the center of a small, decorative linen accent pillow, instantly adding a touch of cozy charm to a reading nook chair or bed setup.
Cottagecore Wearables: If you love all things Cottagecore, you can sew a sturdy metal alligator clip or a safety brooch pin to the back of the base. You can use it as a gorgeous hair accessory, clip it onto a summer sun hat, or pin it to a cozy cardigan for a sweet touch of floral style.
Garland Accents: Craft three or four of these water lilies alongside some simple crochet leaf appliques, string them together on a strand of twine, and hang it across your mantle or bedroom wall for a lovely botanical display.
If you loved making this, check out my other applique designs!