Crochet Sunburst Granny Square (Sunflower Granny Square Tutorial)

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Looking for a sunburst granny square tutorial? You’ve come to the right place! In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to crochet a sunburst granny square that looks like a sunflower. This free crochet sunflower pattern is a great project for beginners, and it’s perfect for using up scrap yarn. Let’s get started!

Easy Sunburst Granny Square Pattern

The sunburst granny square is a classic pattern that has been around for years. It’s easy to crochet, and it’s a great way to use up scrap yarn. This free pattern is worked in rounds, and each round is worked in a new color.

For this tutorial, I’ve worked a sunburst design in brown, gold, yellow, and cream to create a sunflower granny square pattern. You can use any colors you like, or use the same colors as I did to make a sunflower granny square for yourself.

New to crochet? If you’re just starting out, you may want to start with my How to Crochet Guide for beginners, and then read how to make the 6 basic crochet stitches.

Recommended Yarn and Crochet Hooks

To crochet this sunburst granny square, you will need worsted-weight yarn in four colors.

Here are a few different yarns that would work well for this project:

• Lion Brand Heartland in Sequoia, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Acadia
• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted in Umber, Arrowwood, and Fisherman
• Swish Worsted from WeCrochet in Copper, Allspice, Honey, and Nutmeg

You can use other types of yarn you like for this project – even your scrap yarn – just make sure that they all have a similar weight and recommended gauge.

I also recommend using a size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook. The yarn label for the worsted weight yarn I used actually recommended a J-10 hook, but I prefer to size down a little when crocheting granny squares. Click here for a complete crochet hook size and comparison chart.

Tips for Making Granny Squares

Here are a few tips for crocheting granny squares:

• Use a light-colored yarn so you can see your stitches.
• Count your stitches as you go to make sure you don’t lose your place.
• Block your granny squares to make them straight and square before joining.

Now that you know the basics, let’s get started on our sunburst granny square!

How to Crochet a Sunburst Granny Square

Here are the step-by-step instructions to crochet a sunburst granny square in sunflower colors. For printable directions, scroll to the bottom of this post and click the big “Print” button.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Finished Size: 5-inch square

Supplies

Hook: H (5.0 mm) (These are my favorite for beginners.)

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (Category 4)

You’ll also need: 

• yarn needle
• stitch markers, if desired
• ruler or tape measure, if desired

Pattern Notes

• Pattern is worked in the round.
• Pattern is written in US terms.

Stitches and Abbreviations

• sl st = slip stitch
• st/sts: stitch/stitches
• ch = chain
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet

Special Stitches

Puff = Puff Stitch: *Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop * three times (7 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. Chain 1 to secure the puff stitch.

Cluster = Cluster Stitch: *Yarn over, insert hook in the indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops* 4 times (5 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

For more information about the difference between puff stitches, clusters, and bobbles, check out: Puff, Bobble, & Popcorn Crochet Stitches: What’s the Difference?

Pattern Instructions

Round 1 (brown yarn)

Start with a magic ring. (Alternatively, you can start with a chain: Make a slip knot, ch 5, and join with a slip stitch.)

Next, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work 15 more dc into the ring. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning ch-3. (16 sts) Cut yarn, fasten off.

Round 2 (gold yarn)

Join new yarn with a slip stitch to any dc.  Ch 2, puff stitch in the same stitch and in each dc around. Join with a slip stitch to the first puff stitch. (16 puff sts) Cut yarn, fasten off.

To make a puff stitch:

• Yarn over, insert hook into the indicated stitch, and pull up a loop. (3 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch, and pull up a loop. (5 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch, and pull up loop. (7 loops on hook). 
• Yarn over, and pull yarn through all loops on the hook. Chain 1 to secure the stitch.

Round 3 (yellow yarn)

Join new yarn with a slip stitch in any chain-1 space. Ch 2.

Now, we’ll crochet a round of cluster stitches. Making a cluster stitch is like making a series of incomplete double crochet stitches.

The first cluster stitch of the round is a little different, to account for the starting ch-2. To make the first cluster stitch: *Yarn over, insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops.* Repeat 2 more times. There will be 4 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops to complete the stitch. Ch 2.

Then, crochet the rest of the cluster stitches: (Cluster stitch, ch 2) in the next ch-1 space and in each ch-1 space around. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning cluster stitch. (16 cluster sts) Cut yarn, fasten off.

To make a cluster stitch:

• Yarn over, insert hook into the indicated space, and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, insert hook into the same space, and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, insert hook into the same space, and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, insert hook into the same space, and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (5 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, and pull yarn through all loops on the hook.

Round 4 (cream yarn)

Join new yarn with a slip stitch in any chain-2 space. Chain 4 (counts as the first tr) and then crochet 2 tr in the same space.

Then, crochet the first side: 3 dc in the next ch-2 space, 3 hdc in the next ch-2 space, 3 dc in the next ch-2 space. This forms the first side of the square.

Next, make the first corner: 3 tr in the next ch-2 space, ch 3, 3 tr in the same ch-2 space. This forms the first corner.

Now, we’ll repeat that side + corner pattern to make the other sides and corners.

Crochet the second side: 3 dc in the next ch-2 space, 3 hdc in the next ch-2 space, 3 dc in the next ch-2 space.

Crochet the second corner: 3 tr in the next ch-2 space, ch 3, 3 tr in the same ch-2 space.

Crochet the third side: 3 dc in the next ch-2 space, 3 hdc in the next ch-2 space, 3 dc in the next ch-2 space.

Crochet the third corner: 3 tr in the next ch-2 space, ch 3, 3 tr in the same ch-2 space.

Crochet the last side: 3 dc in the next ch-2 space, 3 hdc in the next ch-2 space, 3 dc in the next ch-2 space.

To finish your last corner: crochet 3 tr in the same space as the beginning treble stitches, ch 3 and join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning ch-4.

Finishing

And there you go, your sunburst granny square is complete. To finish your square, cut yarn and fasten off. Then, weave in the ends.

If you’ll be sewing a bunch of these granny squares together, you can block them to make the sides nice and straight.

How to Change Colors for Granny Squares

Granny squares are often made with several colors of yarn. For example, this sunburst granny square is made with 4 separate colors to create the sunflower design.

Changing colors in crochet is easy to do, and there are a few different methods you can use. Since we’re working each round in a different color, we’ll attach a new color of yarn after each round. Here are two ways to do that.

Join yarn with a slip stitch

In patterns, you’ll see the instructions “Join yarn with a slip stitch, then chain x…” Here’s how to do that:

1. Tie a slip knot with the new yarn color, and place it on the hook.
2. Insert the hook in the stitch (or chain-space) that the pattern indicates.
3. Yarn over, and draw through the stitch (or space) and the loop on the hook.

Note: If you don’t want any knots in your work, you can untie the slip knot when you go to weave in your ends.

Another way: Join yarn with a standing stitch

You can also join new yarn with a standing stitch. To work a standing stitch:

1. Start with a slip knot on the hook.
2. Insert the hook into the stitch that the pattern indicates.
3. Make the stitch called for in the pattern. (For example, instead of starting with a chain 4 in round 4, start with a standing treble crochet.)

Note: If you don’t want any knots in your work, you can untie the slip knot when you go to weave in your ends.

Tip: Changing colors is a little different when working in rows. Click to read about how to change colors at the end of the row, or in the middle of the row.

How to Join Granny Squares

Once you’ve made a bunch of these sunburst granny squares, you may want to join them together to create larger projects, like bags, blankets, and afghans. Joining granny squares is easy to do, and there are many different methods you can use.

Here are two different methods.

Joining Granny Squares with a Whip Stitch

To join your sunburst granny squares using a whip stitch, you will need a yarn needle and some yarn in a matching color.

1. Start by holding two squares together with the right sides facing out. Align the stitches.
2. Work from right to left, sew whip stitches through each set of loops. You can choose to sew through one loop on each square, or through both loops on each square.
3. Repeat across.

Joining Granny Squares with the Slip Stitch Method

To join your sunburst granny squares using the single crochet method, you will need a crochet hook and some yarn in a matching color.

1. Start by holding two squares together with the wrong sides facing out.
2. Insert your hook through the outer loops – the front loops on the square facing you, and the back loop of the square facing away from you. Then, yarn over, and pull through both loops on your hook.
3. Insert your hook into the next set of loops. Yarn over and pull through to form the next slip stitch. Repeat across.

More Granny Square Patterns

Granny squares are addicting, aren’t they? Here are a few more granny square patterns for you to try:

• Classic Granny Square
• Solid Granny Square
• Another Solid Granny Square, with no holes or gaps

More Crochet Tutorials

Here are a few more related crochet tutorials that you may be interested in reading next.

• What is Crochet? and How to Get Started
• How to Crochet: A Complete Guide for Beginners
• How to Crochet: 6 Basic Crochet Stitches for Beginners

What’s Next?

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