Sunburst Granny Square Blanket Crochet Pattern

Here is the Sunburst Granny Square Blanket I have mentioned 2 weeks ago in the color combination tutorial. Wow…. finally, I have finished this blanket after the took off last year!!! Not that it took me a year to complete it, it is because I stopped after I have finished all the squares. The reason behind this was because I couldn’t make up my mind which type of joining technique should I use to join the granny squares.

In my previous granny projects, I have used the “join-as-you-go” method (in this pattern) and “back-loop-join” (in this pattern). Now, I wanted to explore a new join method, so I finally decide to use “flat-slip-stitch-join” (tutorial here) for this Sunburst Granny Square Blanket. Love the flat seam line created by this joining method. Click here to find out other methods you could use.

The yarns I used in this blanket are Lion Brand’s BabySoft Acrylic Yarn. Even they are acrylic/nylon mix yarns but they are soft and comfortable, just nice for an air-conditioning room. I chose this range of yarn because it has many pastel colors to choose from.

If you are not into a huge blanket, you may adapt this method to crochet a smaller granny square blanket. It is great as a gift to the newborn during a baby shower, or as a throw on the couch or cover for pillow, etc. For the smaller blanket, you need fewer yarn colors to crochet. Read this tutorial to check on how many colors to use to make your desire number of squares.

Sunburst Granny Square Blanket

Dimension: 66″ (W) x 86″ (L) [16 squares x 21 squares], suitable for Super Single Bed. You may adapt the method to make a different size to suit your needs.

Read these tips and tutorials on how to plan & crochet non-repetitive granny colors, and how many squares you will get with the yarn colors of your choice.

Gauge / Tension: 1 square = 4″ x 4″

Material & Tool:
1. Yarns, multiple colors. I used 8 colors plus a white. View yarn details in the first picture below.
2. Crochet hook, G / 4mm

Abbreviations: (in USA terms)
sl knot = slip knot
st = stitch
slst = slip stitch
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
fo = fasten off
Rnd = round

Sunburst Granny CROCHET PATTERN

Rnd 1 – [with yarn color A] sl knot, ch4, dc 11 on the 4th ch from the hook. slst to the ch at the beginning of the round. fo.

Rnd 2 – [with yarn color B] sl knot, insert hook into a st, slst to fasten the new yarn on the round (this count as ch1), ch2, dc into same st , ch1, *2dc into next st, ch1, repeat * for 11 times. slst to the ch at the beginning of the round. fo.

Rnd 3 – [with yarn color C] sl knot, insert hook into a chain space, slst to fasten the new yarn on the round (this count as ch1), ch2, 2dc into same space, ch1, *3dc into next chain space, ch1 , repeat * for 11 times. slst to the ch at the beginning of the round. fo.

Rnd 4 – [with yarn color white] sl knot, insert hook into a chain space, slst to fasten the new yarn on the round (this count as ch1), ch3, 1 granny cluster, *1 granny corner, 2 granny clusters repeat * for 3 times, 1 granny corner, 2dc into next chain space. slst to the 4ch space at the beginning of the round. fo.

Rnd 5 – ch3, 2dc into next chain space, ch1, 1 granny cluster, ch1, *1 granny corner, 3 granny clusters, repeat * for 3 times, 1granny corner, 1 granny cluster. slst to the 3rd ch at the beginning of the round. fo.

Note:
Granny cluster pattern : 3dc into next chain space, ch1
Granny corner pattern : 3dc into next chain space, ch2, 3dc into the same chain space, ch1

The yarns I used are Lion Brand’s BabySoft Acrylic Yarn, 8 colors (3/4 ball each) and white (9 balls). The colors are bluebell, pastel blue, pastel pink, lemonade pink, melon, pastel yellow, pistachio, lavender (note: Some of the colors might have been obsoleted).
Pick 3 colors of your choice plus a white to make a sunburst granny square.
Refer above crochet pattern to crochet the Sunburst Granny Square. Refer to the photos below for the progress and tip on how to hide yarn ends while you crochet.

Crochet round 1 of the granny square.
You will come to the slit knot area after you have crochet about 6 dc, guide the yarn end around the ring, and crochet to hide it in between the stitches.
Bring the yarn end up, lay between the yarn and the hook when you do the last stitch. This will latch the yarn end in between the stitch.
You will have 2 yarn ends at the top of the round after you have finished this round.

Crochet round 2 of the granny square.
After the ch3, bring the yarn end up, lay between the yarn and the hook just like the previous round, continue with your dc stitches, this will latch the yarn end on the top of the round.
As you crochet, guide the round 1 yarn ends along the top of the round 1, crochet as usual and the yarn ends will be hidden between the stitches.

Crochet round 3 of the granny square.
Repeat the same on hiding the yarn ends of round 2 when you crochet round 3.

Crochet round 4 of the granny square. Repeat the same on hiding the yarn ends of round 3 when you crochet round 4.
In order to make the pattern easier to read, I used the terms Granny Cluster and Granny Corner (refer to the above note for the pattern) for the white part.

Crochet round 5 of the granny square.
Since there is no change in yarn color, place the white yarn end on top of the round 4 and crochet to hide it in the stitches.
As you can see that there is only 1 yarn-end after you have finished the granny square. Pic 3 is the back of the square.
Pull the diagonal corners of the square to make them squarish. You may block them in batches with the wet-blocking method if the dry pull method is not working for your squares.

Since this project is going to take a while to finish (big blanket), store your squares neatly in a covered container, avoid sunlight, moisture, and dust.

With 8 colors plus a white as the base, I was able to crochet a total of 336 non-repetitive granny square, a total of 56 stacks with 6 squares on each stack.
Read more on how to plan your squares.

Randomly place the squares on the floor with 16 x 21 squares. You may alter the squares to make a more even color spread or leave it really random.

Pick up row by row and stack them up in order with 21 squares in 1 stack.
Tie them up and label them 1 to 16.

At the beginning of joining, take 2 stacks of the squares and start joining.
I used the flat slip stitch joint method (tutorial, here) to join up my squares.
After you have finished joining the first 2 rows continue the same method to add in the 3rd stack.

This is how it looks like after a few rows of joining.
Note that it is just a horizontal line, you will need to do the cross line after that to finish the whole blanket.

After all the granny squares have been joined up.

A closer look at the granny square after joining up.

Proceed to make the border with single crochet on the back loop only, crochet 5 rounds.
Every time you come to the corner of the blanket, 2sc in each st on the 2 corner stitches of the blanket.
Wash the blanket according to the instruction on the yarn label before the first use. You may lightly press it with a warm iron if needed.