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Sunburst Granny Square Blanket Crochet Pattern

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If you are looking for a free pattern and tutorial on how to crochet a beautiful afghan blanket for the family, you have come to the right place. This sunburst granny square blanket crochet pattern is the perfect one for you to work on. We also share tips on how many granny squares you need, how many colors of yarn you need to prepare, and also the way to store the crochet squares while working on them. Scroll down to read the details.

how to crochet sunburst granny square blanket

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

Are you ready to dive into this crochet project? Besides the details on how to crochet this granny square blanket, at any time when you need additional info about the basic knowledge of crochet, we have an article on crochet guides for beginners where we touch base on some important knowledge that you can refer to.

sunburst granny square crochet pattern

How To Join

Similar to other granny square projects, you need to join the crochet square to make it into a bigger crochet piece. In my previous granny projects, I have used the “join-as-you-go” method in a crochet top pattern and “back-loop-join” in this crochet bag pattern. Now, I wanted to explore a new join method, so I finally decided to use “flat-slip-stitch-join” for this Sunburst Granny Square Blanket. I love the flat seam line created by this joining method. Find out other methods on how to join granny squares you could use.

colorful sunburst granny square pattern

The Yarn & Hook

The yarns I used in this blanket are Lion Brand’s BabySoft Acrylic Yarn. Even though they are acrylic/nylon mix yarns, 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. Feel free to choose your favorite yarn to make this crochet granny square blanket. Be aware that different yarn weights will produce different sizes of granny squares, so choose the same yarn type that offers multiple color choices for this project.

In correspondence to the yarn weight, I used a 4 mm (size G) crochet hook to crochet. Please read your yarn label for the recommended hook size if you are using other yarn choices.

crochet granny square afghan pattern

If you are not into a huge blankets, 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, as a throw on the couch or cover for a 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 desired number of squares and how we store the crochet squares during my work in progress.

Be patient, as it will take some time for you to get the crochet blanket to the finished line.

Happy crochet!

crochet granny square afghan pattern

WHAT’S NEXT:

  • Start crocheting and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
  • Pin it to Pinterest for future To-Crochet List
  • Share with your crochet groups for a crochet-along event.
  • Head over to Ravelry to see what other crocheters have made with this pattern. (Required a Ravelry account to view)
  • Browse more free crochet patterns to make.
how to crochet sunburst granny square blanket

Sunburst Granny Square Blanket Crochet Pattern

Yield: 66″ (W) x 86″ (L) Crochet Blanket
Active Time: 1 month
Total Time: 1 month
Difficulty: Intermediate /Advance Level
Estimated Cost: $20 - $30

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.

Enjoy crocheting them!

Materials

  • Yarns, multiple colors. I used 8 colors plus a white. View yarn details in the first picture below

Tools

  • Crochet hook, G / 4mm

Instructions

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″

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 Square 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

Instructions with pictures to assist in crocheting Sunburst Granny Square Blanket

  1. 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. granny pattern


  2. 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. granny pattern


  3. 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. granny pattern


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


  5. 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. granny pattern


  6. 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. granny pattern


  7. 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. join granny square


  8. 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. join granny square


  9. 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. join granny square


  10. 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. join granny square


  11. 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. join granny square


  12. 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. join granny square


  13. After all the granny squares have been joined up. join granny square


  14. A closer look at the granny square after joining up. join granny square


  15. 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. join granny square


Notes

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

Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/crochet-sunburst-granny-square-blanket/

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Did you make this project?

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Annette Smyth

Tuesday 21st of July 2020

Such a beautiful pattern, I have learned to crochet in lockdown and am going to try 24 squares for a baby blanket but I'm sure it won't be as even and neat as yours. Thank you for publishing this

Sock Monkey Amigurumi - Free Pattern | Craft Passion

Monday 29th of June 2020

[…] I finished the Sunburst Granny Square Blanket project. Have you seen it? If not, here it is the crochet pattern. I think this project could also be something you want to […]

Daphne

Friday 29th of June 2018

Hi! I am just learning how to crochet, I am doing a cardi with a base pattern which is so similar to this. Actually, te granny squares are the same, except from the last white round... Now, I joined them placing two squares face-to-face or back-to-back (depending on if I wanted to have an embossed or debossed border) joining the inner loop only. When I need to do the border, it ruffles in correspondence of these joins, and the finish is more curvy than flat. Looking at your pics, it looks like yours starts as a wavey edge too, then turns flat on the last rows... Not sure though, do u maybe have any tips? How many stitches do I need to consider in the joining seam between two rows of squares? Hopefully I managed to give you an idea, I am not a native English speaker! Thank you a lot!

Emily Dickinson

Tuesday 24th of July 2018

I have a similar problem when crocheting also, your English is quite impressive!

Craft Passion

Monday 2nd of July 2018

Hi Daphne, Regarding your question, firstly, you need to block all granny squares before joining them up if they don't hold the shape in a square. Secondly, when you join the granny squares, just crochet 1 stitch for a stitch. Thirdly, the tension of your stitches must be consistent throughout the border, however, if it starts to distort, adjust your tension to either tighten or loosen so that you can get it even out. Hope these tips help.

Katrina Blee

Thursday 28th of December 2017

I finally finished my blanket, it is full single bed size and being used by my 2 year old granddaughter. Thanks for the pattern! How do I post a photo?

Craft Passion

Monday 8th of January 2018

Hi Katrina, You may share it via social media and tag us, or you may send the photos via the form at the Contact Us

Siw

Friday 28th of July 2017

Thank you for your inspiring ideas . Your work is beautiful. I am using your pattern to try and crochet my own bed - blanket 150 x 200 cm. A lot of work, but in the end I think it will be just what I want

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