Everbloom Carnation Bouquet Free Pattern – Knit a Perpetual Garden

Imagine a bouquet that never wilts, never needs water, and stays in full, glorious bloom all year round. That's the magic of our Everbloom Carnation Bouquet knitting pattern. This project transforms simple worsted-weight yarn into lush, textured carnations with a soft, heirloom feel. Whether you're looking to brighten your own living space or craft a heartfelt, handmade gift for someone special, these knitted blooms are the perfect choice. The two-tone petals—blush pink and deep burgundy—create a striking, realistic depth, while the sage green stems and leaves complete the garden-fresh look. Best of all, this pattern is beginner-friendly, using basic knit and purl stitches with simple decreases to create the ruffled petals. Let's dive in and knit a garden that never fades!

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. This pattern uses standard worsted weight yarn and US Size 5 needles, making it an accessible project for most knitters.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in three colors:
  • Color A: Blush pink (for outer petals)
  • Color B: Deep burgundy (for inner petals)
  • Color C: Sage green (for stems and leaves)
  • Small amount of yellow yarn (for flower centers)
• Needles: US Size 5 (3.75 mm) knitting needles
• Notions: Tapestry needle for sewing and weaving in ends, stitch markers (optional but helpful)
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Gauge is not critical for this project, but maintaining consistent tension is important for even, uniform petals.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern creates a single carnation bloom. For a full, lush bouquet, make three to five blooms, then assemble them with stems and leaves. Each bloom consists of two petal layers and a center, which are gathered and sewn together.

Carnation Bloom (Make 3-5)

Petal Layer 1 (Outer - Blush Pink)

1. Cast On: Cast on 60 stitches with Color A (blush pink).
2. Row 1 (Wrong Side): Purl all stitches.
3. Row 2 (Right Side): *K1, k2tog, k2tog, k1* (this decreases 2 stitches per repeat). Repeat from * to * across the row. You should now have 36 stitches on your needle.
4. Row 3: Purl all stitches.
5. Row 4: *K1, k2tog, k1* (this decreases 1 stitch per repeat). Repeat from * to * across the row. You should now have 24 stitches.
6. Row 5: Purl all stitches.
7. Row 6: *K2tog* across the row. You should now have 12 stitches.
8. Finish: Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail (about 12 inches). Thread the tail through a tapestry needle, then pass it through the remaining 12 stitches on the knitting needle. Slip the stitches off the needle, pull the yarn tight to gather the fabric into a ruffled circle, and secure with a knot. This forms the ruffled outer edge of the carnation.

Petal Layer 2 (Inner - Deep Burgundy)

1. Cast On: With Color B (deep burgundy), cast on 40 stitches.
2. Row 1 (Wrong Side): Purl all stitches.
3. Row 2 (Right Side): *K1, k2tog, k1* (decrease 1 stitch per repeat). Repeat from * to * across the row. You should now have 24 stitches.
4. Row 3: Purl all stitches.
5. Row 4: *K2tog* across the row. You should now have 12 stitches.
6. Finish: Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 12 stitches, pull tight to gather, and secure with a knot, just like the outer layer.

Center (Yellow)

1. Cast On: With yellow yarn, cast on 8 stitches.
2. Knit: Work in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 4 rows.
3. Finish: Cut the yarn, leaving a tail. Thread the tail through the stitches, pull tight to gather, and secure. This will form a small, pom-pom-like ball for the center of the flower.

Bloom Assembly

1. Layer the inner burgundy petal piece inside the outer pink petal piece, aligning the gathered centers.
2. Using the yarn tails, sew the two layers together securely at the base.
3. Attach the yellow center to the middle of the flower, stitching it in place.
4. Weave in all loose ends with your tapestry needle.

Stem (Make 1 per bloom)

1. Cast On: With Color C (sage green), cast on 6 stitches.
2. Knit: Work in stockinette stitch (or i-cord for a rounder stem) for 12 inches, or until the stem reaches your desired length. For a bouquet, 12 inches is a good standard.
3. Bind Off: Bind off all stitches. This creates a sturdy yet flexible stem.

Leaf (Make 2 per bloom)

1. Cast On: With Color C (sage green), cast on 3 stitches.
2. Row 1: Knit all stitches.
3. Row 2: K1, M1 (make one), K1, M1, K1. You should now have 5 stitches.
4. Row 3: Knit all stitches.
5. Row 4: K2, M1, K1, M1, K2. You should now have 7 stitches.
6. Row 5: Knit all stitches.
7. Row 6: K2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2. You should now have 5 stitches.
8. Row 7: Knit all stitches.
9. Row 8: K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, K1. You should now have 3 stitches.
10. Row 9: Knit all stitches.
11. Row 10: K1, k2tog. You should now have 2 stitches.
12. Row 11: K2tog. You should now have 1 stitch.
13. Finish: Cut the yarn and pull it through the last stitch to secure. This creates a pointed, leaf shape.

Final Bouquet Assembly

1. Sew the stem to the base of the completed carnation bloom, stitching firmly through the gathered petals.
2. Sew the two leaves onto the stem at staggered heights, positioning them to look natural.
3. Repeat the entire process for each bloom you wish to create (3-5 recommended).
4. Arrange the finished carnations in a vase, or wrap their stems together with a ribbon or twine for a charming hand-tied bouquet.

And there you have it—a stunning, everlasting bouquet of knitted carnations! These flowers make wonderful gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because. They're also a beautiful way to add a touch of cozy, handmade charm to your home decor. Happy knitting, and enjoy your perpetual garden!