Tulip knitting pattern

A super realistic tulip knitting pattern for intermediate knitters. PDF with 13 pages and step-by-step written instructions

You don’t have to live in the Netherlands to love tulips. There are few other flowers that come in so many different colors, shapes, forms, and variations. I, at least, always have some decorating my home in spring. But they sadly never last forever, and that’s why I came up with this tulip knitting pattern.

(or get it in my Ravelry shop)

This tulip pattern comes with 13 pages full of step-by-step written instructions. There are tons of schematic close-up pictures showing you the most important steps, and there are free tutorials for all techniques here on my blog. The pattern has been extensively test knit (check out the projects on Ravelry), and it should be lovely little challenge for all intermediate knitters.

It takes me about 8-9 hours to finish one tulip. They are rather large flowers, after all. But here’s the good news: most of the parts are actually knit flat on straight needles. Only a small portion (mostly the stalk) is knit in the round.

It’s mostly creative blocking and wire that brings these gorgeous little flowers into shape. You don’t have to do a lot of seaming or complicated stuffing either. And the different parts are constructed in a way that reinforcing them with wire is super easy on top of that (I’m not even exaggerating when I say that it goes through like a hot knife through butter).

So all in all, I would say they are not all that difficult to knit. Of course, there are the lace yarn and those 2.00 mm needles. That’s nothing I can change for you, as flowers are quite delicate by nature. So, they are probably not the best beginner project.

What I personally like the most about this pattern is how many different ways you can style the finished tulips. They can still be almost closed, or you push the petals wide open so you can see them in their full glory, with the stamen peeking through.

While I am not the biggest fan of colorways, I could well imagine that you could get some very fun effects with the right yarn. Tulips, as you might know, are often multicolored or marbled as well. I’m very positive you could create some stunning effects.

Now there is one thing I need to address. My tulips have somewhat pointed petals and they are quite large. That’s my personal preference. I know that some species have rather blunt tips and others are curly. Some are really tiny and others super big. I hope you understand that I had to decide on one kind during the design process. But, experienced knitters should be able to adjust the pattern according to their own wishes quite easily.

Note: Looking for more flower knitting patterns? I also have snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths available for download.

Size & Gauge

My finished tulip is around 27 cm (10.6 n) tall and the actual flowers are around 9 cm (3.5 in) wide. These dimensions will depend a bit on how you style them and which yarn you use. My gauge for a 2,5 x 2,5 cm swatch in flat stockinette stitch is 10 stitches x 13 rows.

Knitting techniques

Like I already said, most of this tulip knitting pattern is knit flat. I wouldn’t say it super easy but it’s not like it’s super hard either – as long as you are comfortable with the small needle size (I’d grade it as suitable for an intermediate knitter). There is quite a lot of double-stockinette stitch involved to keep things from curling and to hide the wire.

• K = knit
• P = purl
• Sl1p wyif = slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in front
• SSK = Slip Slip Knit
• K2tog = knit two together
• K3tog = knit three together
• KLL = Knit left loop
• KRL = Knit right loop
• A standard longtail cast-on
• A picot-bind off

Click on the links to access the (video) tutorials for all these techniques.

Materials you will need for this daffodil knitting pattern

Note: I earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this article.

• 60 m (55 yd )of the Wollmeise lace in green & 40 meters (44 yd) in a tulip color- or any other lace yarn scraps for needles size 2.0mm. You’ll also need some scraps in yellow/orange for the stamen (like 5 meters or so).
• Double-Pointed Knitting needles 2.0 mm. Frequent readers probably already know that I am a huge fan of the Knitter’s Pride Karbonz because they are the only ones that don’t end up crooked after 5 minutes.
• A tapestry needle and scissors.
• Thin wire and a wire plier
• (Blocking) pins

Here’s a little preview image of the tulip pattern. Again, you get a pdf with 13 pages where every single step is described. No charts, but lots of pictures and detailed written instructions.

The pattern is also available in my new Ravelry shop if you prefer that platform.

Oh..and one more thing. Don’t forget to share your finished projects with me. I would love to see what you come up with!

Anyway, that’s all you need to know about my tulip knitting pattern. Feel free to comment below in case you have any questions.