Sunburst Granny Squares (Sunflower) - Easy, Free Pattern

Sunburst granny squares are such fun to make, and this one looks just like a sunflower, which makes it a great favorite. It's not only beautiful, but it's also a terrific project for newbie crocheters who want to practice crocheting in the round. In this tutorial, I will show you how to crochet a sunburst granny square to make beautiful sunflower inspired crochet projects.

Crochet Sunburst Granny Squares Tutorial

The crochet sunburst granny square is just a little more difficult than the regular or traditional granny square because you'll be working with a variety of cluster stitches. These stitches are not difficult to learn, and once you've mastered them, you'll be able to whip up a few of these squares in no time at all!

A timeless pattern, the sunburst granny square has been around for a long time. It's a simple crochet pattern that's perfect for using up odds and ends of yarn. Each round of this free pattern is crocheted in a new color. The center is usually brown and then the flower is made up of shades of yellow. You can make the border any color you like, but I have used white and green.

Supplies for Making Sunburst Granny Squares

• YARN: You will need worsted weight yarn in 4 colors.
• HOOK: Crochet hook size suitable for your yarn. I suggest an H (5 mm) for the worsted weight yarn. If you would like a tighter stitch, you can size down your hook.
• CROCHET TOOLS: Scissors, Yarn needle

COLOR TIPS: If you would like to make a sunflower, you could use brown, bright yellow, pale yellow, and cream or green for the border. Of course, these colors are not essential, you could use any shades of yellow, orange, and copper, or you could make a sunburst square in any other colors you fancy! This pattern is also suitable for using up scraps of yarn from other projects.

Size of Crochet Sunburst Granny Squares

If you use worsted-weight yarn, your square will be approximately 5” (12.7cm) square. Learn about crochet gauge.

Abbreviations in Sunflower Granny Squares

All crochet terms are in US terms.

• ch = chain stitch crochet
• Sl st = slip stitch
• dc = double crochet stitches
• tr = treble crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• YO = yarn over

Stitches Used For Sunburst Granny Squares

To make this sunflower crochet square, you will need to know how to make the following crochet stitches:

• Chain stitch
• Slip stitch
• Double crochet
• Half double crochet
• Treble crochet
• Puff Stitch
• Cluster Stitch

Free Sunburst Granny Squares Pattern Instructions

My step-by-step instructions are going to assume that you are making the sunflower with the colors described above. Feel free to change colors if you wish to!

Here is how to crochet a sunburst granny square using the yellow and brown colors of a sunflower.

Round 1, Brown:

• Start with a magic ring, or a slip knot and a chain 5, and join into a ring with a slip stitch.     
• Chain 3 (first dc) and work 15 more double crochet into your ring.  
• Join with a slip stitch at the top of the chain 3. (16 stitches)
• Cut yarn, and fasten off.

Round 2, Bright Yellow:

• Join new yarn into any dc stitch. 
• Chain 2, and puff stitch into the same stitch. (In this puff stitch, the ch2 counts as the first dc, so you will only repeat from * twice.)
• Now work puff stitch (made up of 4 incomplete dc) into each dc around the circle.
• Join with slip stitch to first puff stitch. (You will have 16 stitches)
• Cut yarn, and fasten off.

Round 3, Pale Yellow:

• Join new yarn into any chain 1 space. Chain 2. Now you will be working cluster stitches. Ch2 is the first part of the first cluster.
• Work cluster stitch, chain 2 in the next chain space, and into each chain space all the way round.
• Join with a slip stitch. (You will have 16 clusters) Cut yarn. Fasten off.

Round 4: Outside Color:

Join new yarn in any chain-2 space.

• Chain 4 (counts as the first treble stitch) and then crochet 2 trebles in the same space.
• 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.)
• 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, repeat that side + corner pattern to make the other sides and corners.

• 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.
• Second corner: 3 tr in the next ch-2 space, ch 3, 3 tr in the same ch-2 space.
• 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.
• Third corner: 3 tr in the next ch-2 space, ch 3, 3 tr in the same ch-2 space
• 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.
• 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.

And now your sunburst granny square is complete!

Changing Colors in Sunburst Granny Square

Method 1: The easiest way to change colors:

Take your second color option and tie a knot in the same space, leaving the tail yarn at the back of the square. Make sure the knot is positioned to the right of where you fastened off the first color.

• Insert your hook from front to back into the space, yarn over the hook, draw up a loop and begin round 2.

After round 2, weave in the ends from the previous round. Instead of facing all that weaving in at the end of the granny square, I would suggest weaving in your ends after you finish each round.

Method 2: Alternative way to change colors:

If you are not keen on having any knots in your squares, you can do it by using the new color as part of your slip stitch to join the round.

• Crochet until the round is finished. Finish the last stitch using the previous color.
• Insert your hook into the first stitch. To finish the slip stitch, yarn over with the new color of yarn and draw through both the stitch and the loop on the hook.

This simple method accomplishes three things at once: it completes the slip stitch, joins the round, and changes the yarn color. You can now work your chain and begin the following round in the new color.

Making Larger Sunburst Granny Squares

If you would like each sunburst square to be a little bigger, it is easy to add another round to the square. Keep working in your chosen background color.

• Into the corner, you have just completed work 3ch, 2 dc. (Counts as 3 dc.)
• *Into next space work 3 dc.
• Work 3 dc into each space along the side. (5 dc clusters)
• Next corner: Work 3 dc, ch2, 3 dc into corner space.
• Repeat from * all the way around.
• In the last corner, work 3 dc, ch2, and finish with a slip stitch into the top of the first ch3.

You can keep going in this manner with as many extra granny square rounds as you please.

Another variation would be to just work one or two rounds of single crochet around the crochet sunburst square.

Joining a Sunburst Granny Square Pattern

Once you have enough sunburst granny squares, you will need to join your crochet squares. This would make a beautiful baby blanket.

1. Whip Stitch Joining Technique

Holding the squares together, whip stitch through the outer loops of each crochet stitch along the perimeter of your block. The seam will be barely visible if you use the same color yarn as the outer edge of your squares.

• Insert yarn needle into yarn. Insert it through the rear loops of both squares.
• Lift the yarn up and over, then enter it from right to left through the back loops of the next crochet stitch.
• Continue stitching in this manner until all of the blocks are linked.

2. Ladder Stitch

The ladder stitch produces an invisible join.

Place the squares together, front side up. I prefer to work from the bottom to the top of the squares. Join your yarn to the back of one square.

• Insert your sewing needle through both loops of the crochet stitch on the left-hand square, from left to right.
• Insert the needle through both loops of the crochet stitch on the adjacent right-hand square from right to left.
• Repeat this process, placing the needle into each stitch. While the sewing is loose, it appears to be a small ladder rising between your squares.
• Pull the yarn firmly after a few stitches to pull the squares together, but not so tightly that the crochet fabric puckers and gathers!

Your seaming yarn will vanish into the crochet fabric.

Sunburst Granny Squares - In Conclusion

You will now have a lovely bright and cheerful Sunburst Granny square, which looks just like a sunflower. You can use these sunflowers to make anything from a single square for a coaster, to bags, to large blankets. These cheerful flowers are a favorite of many, and their colors will brighten up any dark room! Enjoy making your own sunflower garden!

More Granny Square Patterns

• How to Join Granny Squares
• Solid Granny Squares
• How to Crochet a Granny Square
• Free Crochet Granny Square Patterns
• Granny Rectangles
• Granny Stripes