Layered Sunflower and Maple Leaf Table Runner Pattern

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn, cream ~60g, 2 sunflowers
• Worsted weight yarn, mustard gold ~60g, 2 sunflowers
• Worsted weight yarn, burgundy wine ~30g, 1 sunflower
• Worsted weight yarn, dark brown ~40g, all flower centers
• Worsted weight yarn, rust orange ~50g, leaves
• Worsted weight yarn, amber gold ~50g, leaves
• Worsted weight yarn, olive green ~50g, leaves
• Worsted weight yarn, tan/camel ~30g, leaves
• Crochet hook 4.5 mm (US 7)
• Tapestry/yarn needle
• Steam iron and pressing cloth, or blocking mat and pins
• Sharp scissors

Abbreviations

Sunflower Center, Raised Spiral (make 5: 2 cream centers on gold-adjacent flowers use brown, all others brown)

1. Round 1: 6 sc in MR in dark brown. (6 sts)
2. Round 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
3. Round 3: *sc 1, inc; rep from * around. (18 sts)
4. Round 4: *sc 2, inc; rep from * around. (24 sts)
5. Round 5: working in FLO only, sc around even to raise the center into a slight dome. (24 sts)
6. Round 6: sc around even, both loops now, to build height on the dome. (24 sts)
7. Round 7: *sc 2, dec; rep from * around to curve the dome back down slightly at the edge. (18 sts)
8. Sl st to close, FO leaving a short tail. Repeat to make 5 centers total.

Sunflower Inner Petals (make 5, colors matching each flower’s petal color)

1. With petal color, join in any st along the outer edge of a finished center. Round 1: *ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sl st in same base st as start of petal; rep from * around all 18 sts to form 18 small pointed petals radiating from the center.
2. FO leaving a short tail. Repeat for all 5 flowers.

Sunflower Outer Petals (make 5, colors matching each flower’s petal color)

1. With the same petal color, join behind the inner petal round, working into the base sts between inner petals. Round 2: *ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sl st in same base st; rep from * around to form 18 longer pointed petals layered behind the inner round.
2. FO leaving a short tail. Fold the outer petals slightly back and down so they visibly separate from the inner round, giving the flower real depth.

Maple Leaf Motif (make approximately 32: mix of rust, amber, olive, and tan)

1. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to form a small foundation ring.
2. Lobe 1, top center: ch 11. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: sl st, sc 2, hdc 3, dc 3 (9 sts). Sl st into ring.
3. Lobe 2, upper right: ch 9. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: sl st, sc 2, hdc 3, dc 2 (8 sts). Sl st into ring.
4. Lobe 3, lower right: ch 6. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: sl st, sc 3, hdc 1 (5 sts). Sl st into ring.
5. Lobe 4, lower left: repeat Lobe 3 exactly. Sl st into ring.
6. Lobe 5, upper left: repeat Lobe 2 exactly. Sl st into ring.
7. Sl st into base of Lobe 1 to close. FO leaving a 15-20 cm tail for joining and veining.
8. Repeat for approximately 32 leaves total, mixing the 4 colors throughout rather than grouping by color.

Embroidering the Leaf Veins

1. Thread each leaf’s tail onto a tapestry needle.
2. Work a straight or backstitch line from the center ring up the middle of the top lobe to its tip.
3. Work a shorter straight stitch out toward the tip of each of the remaining 4 lobes.
4. Weave in the tail on the wrong side, or leave a short length free if that leaf will be joined at that point.

Blocking All Pieces

1. Lightly steam or mist each sunflower, pinning the petal points straight and letting the dome center sit undisturbed. Let dry.
2. Steam and pin each maple leaf flat with all 5 lobes spread evenly. Let dry completely before assembly.

Assembly and Joining

1. Lay the 5 sunflowers down the center line of your work surface in this order: cream, mustard gold, burgundy, cream, mustard gold, spacing them evenly along the intended runner length.
2. Surround each sunflower with 6-7 maple leaves, overlapping the leaf lobes directly against the sunflower’s outer petals and against each neighboring leaf, so no background shows through anywhere around the flower.
3. Continue placing and overlapping leaves in the gaps between sunflowers until the entire runner length is filled edge to edge with leaves in a mixed, scattered color arrangement.
4. Whipstitch each sunflower’s back center to the leaves directly behind it at 3-4 points, and whipstitch each leaf to its overlapping neighbors at 2-3 points per contact, working outward from the center sunflowers toward both ends.

Finishing

Turn the finished runner over and check for any leaf or petal joined at only a single point; add a second stitch anywhere that feels loose or likely to flop. Weave in all remaining tails on the wrong side. Give the whole piece a final light steam, gently lifting and separating any outer petals or leaf lobes that got pressed flat during joining, so the finished surface keeps its raised, layered texture rather than lying completely flat.

Tips for Success

• Build and block all 5 sunflowers before starting the leaf field; knowing their exact finished size makes leaf placement around them much more accurate.
• Work the FLO round on each sunflower center carefully; skipping it or working through both loops there flattens the raised dome effect.
• Mix leaf colors densely rather than grouping same-colored leaves together, so the background reads as a blended field rather than color blocks.
• Join leaves at multiple contact points, not just one, so the joined field holds its shape without individual leaves flipping up.
• Fold outer sunflower petals back deliberately after attaching; this single step is what separates a flat-looking flower from a full, dimensional one.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Working the center’s FLO round through both loops by mistake removes the raised dome shape. Fix: check carefully that Round 5 is worked in front loops only.
• Leaving gaps of visible table between leaves breaks the dense, full field look. Fix: overlap leaf lobes generously before joining rather than placing them edge to edge with space between.
• Making inner and outer petal rounds the same length flattens the layered look. Fix: keep the outer petal chain longer, ch 6 versus ch 4, so it visibly extends past the inner round.
• Placing all 5 sunflowers in a perfectly straight, evenly spaced line looks stiff against the organic leaf field. Fix: let leaf density vary slightly between flowers rather than spacing everything with mathematical precision.
• Skipping vein embroidery on leaves that end up mostly hidden under a sunflower still leaves flat, undefined leaves peeking out at the edges. Fix: vein every leaf regardless of how much of it will show.

Ways to Customize This Pattern

• Reduce to 3 sunflowers with a shorter leaf field for a smaller centerpiece mat instead of a full runner.
• Use a single sunflower color throughout instead of alternating three for a more cohesive, monochrome look.
• Swap the leaf palette for greens and yellows to shift the piece toward a late-summer rather than autumn feel.
• Arrange the sunflowers in a circular cluster instead of a line for a round centerpiece version.
• Add a few small crocheted acorns tucked among the leaves near each sunflower for extra texture.