The sunburst granny square blanket is a beautiful and popular crochet pattern that features a circular motif with a burst of radiating colors. This style of granny square uses multiple colors and can be customized to match any color scheme. The pattern involves working clusters of stitches to create a textured, three-dimensional look. As you continue to work, the rounds expand to create a large square.
Please note this pattern was previously used for a spring CAL in 2021.
need colour inspiration?
When it comes to picking colours for your projects do you get overwhelmed at the choices? If so click here for help choosing your colours or keep reading as I’ve added a few suggestions below.
Delightful
Juicy Fruit
Spring
Bippity Boppity Boo
Neon
Seafoam
materials and tools
Yarn: Aran/Worsted weight yarn in four different colours. The amount you need will vary on your personal gauge and the size of the blanket you are making.
In the videos I have used: Caron Simply Soft in Orchid, Soft Green, Light Country Peach, Off White. However on the launch blog post (8th May) you will also see photographs of a blanket made by my lovely test crocheter Emma which uses Stylecraft Aran in Wisteria, Duck Egg, Pale Rose and Cream.
Hook: 5mm
pattern notes
Written in uk terms.
Gauge: your personal tension will determine the size of your squares and the amount of squares you will need for you desired size. The blanket pictured below used one ball of the pale rose and one ball of the duck egg, one and a half balls of wisteria and almost two full balls of cream. It’s a small baby blanket measuring 33.5 inches long and 23 inches wide including the border. The squares measure at 4X4 inches each.
terms and abbreviations
Puff Stitch: *yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through stitch* three times (7 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. Chain 1 to lock into place.
Cluster Stitch: *yarn over, insert hook in next stitch 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.
Half Treble Crochet (htc): yarn over, insert hook, yarn over pull through stitch (3 loops on the hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Treble Crochet (tr): yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook (2 loops on the hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 remaining loops on hook.
Double Treble Crochet (dtc): Yarn over hook twice, insert hook into next stitch. Yarn over, pull through stitch (4 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through two loops (3 loops remaining on hook). Yarn over, pull through two loops (2 loops remaining). Yarn over, pull through the last two loops on hook.
Unsure of the differences between UK and US terms? Need a refresher on how to do your stitches? In my ‘How to crochet: A handy reference guide’ EBook I help you with all of these terms and you can always have them to hand! You will also get exclusive access to free video instructions. Learn more about the eBook here.
sunburst granny square pattern
Using colour A
Ch 3, join with ss in 3rd ch from hook to form a circle. A magic ring can be used if preferred.
magic ring tutorial
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as tr) 15 tr in centre circle. Join with ss in top of ch-3. Tie off (16tr)
Attach colour B in any st
Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as st) work 1 puff st into each st around. Join with ss. Tie off. (16 sts)
Attach colour C in any ch-1 sp
Round 3: Ch 2 (does not count as st) *cluster st into each ch-1 sp, ch 2; repeat from *15 more times. Join with ss . Tie off.
Attach colour D in any ch-2 sp
Round 4: Ch 4 (counts as double treble) 2dtr in same sp, ch 1, (3tr in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) three times. *(3 dtr, ch 2, 3 dtr in next ch-2 sp) ch 1, (3 tr in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) three times; repeat from * twice more. Working in next ch-2 sp (which already has sts in) 3 dtr, ch 2, join with ss. Tie off.
joining your sunburst granny squares
Once you’ve completed your desired amount of sunburst granny squares it’s now time to join. I have a few different methods for you to chose from, click below to be taken to the video tutorials.
preparing for a border
Now all of your squares are joined together it’s time to think about the border but before you make a start we need to prepare your work for a border. CLICK HERE to learn how.
adding a border
Choosing a border for your blanket can make or break your beautiful project. Sometimes less it more, sometimes a more intricate border is needed. However it really is personal preference, for some lovely border inspiration CLICK HERE.
This pattern was used for a CAL in spring 2021 and here are a few of the final blankets. Fore more check out #bellacococal
I always love to see your makes so if you try any of my patterns or follow my stitch tutorials please tag me @bellacococrochet or use the #bellacococrochet
I am really looking forward to doing the CAL, I am eagerly waiting for the 8th to start! I have just ordered my yarn in suitable colours that will blend in with my living room so that I can have the blanket on my sofa. The Sunburst blanket has been on my list to do for a while so I am so excited about it!
Hi Rachel I’m so pleased that you are joining in with the CAL, it’s so exciting isn’t it 🙂
Hi!
What colors would you recommend in Caron Simply Soft to be more beachy or oceany (besides the seafoam colors) ? Uhm, more blue hues if I am not clear.
Thanks for response in advance.
Laura from Switzerland.
Hi Laura If you want to include more ocean shades you could incorporate some of the green/teal shades such as Robin’s Egg. For a beach feel you can look at shades of coral and pinks too
Hello, is there a photo of the actual blanket we will be doing. I can’t choose the colours until I can see what I’m making. thank you!
Hi Jane I don’t have a photo of the actual blanket, however if you search sunburst granny square on my blog you will see a picture of the square I previously did 🙂
Hi, am really looking forward to joining along. It’s going to be so difficult to choose my colours as there are so many lovely ones to choose from
Can wait to start this although I am still waiting for my yarn
I have never done a CAL before , it sounds like fun . I think I might try and make a few sunburst flower squares today & see if I can get the hang of it . I am loving what I have seen so far .
Give it a go it’s so much fun. Let me know how you get on 🙂
I meant to start on the CAL but completely forgot. I still want to be involved. One question I do have. I have so much wool stash here at home. Does the Sunburst Blanket have to be in the suggested wool or are we able to do it with our own stash of wool?
Hi Chris you can do the blanket with whichever yarn you wish, just be mindful that depending on what yarn and hook size you are using your blanket maybe a different size 🙂
Hi, Thank you for your reply. I am going to do a test granny square just to see what the finished size is and then decide what wool I am going to use. This will be my first blanket so looking forward to it.
I completely completely missed the boat on the CAL, but I have some beautiful Paintbox lemon cream DK (250g left over from a knitting project) and a niece with a baby on the way, so I’d love to catch up to turn it into a baby blanket with cream and another colour or two (suggestions welcome!). Can I catch up on missed sessions? Are they recorded at all? And can I join the last sessions or is it too late? Sorry for so many questions, Thank you!
Hi Julie, no it’s not too late you can either go to my blog at blog.bellacococrochet.com or you can use this link:- https://blog.tcctest.co.uk/the-sunburst-cal/ 🙂
Great! Thank you!
I was not able t do the CAL for 2021 and it looks like all the weekly boxes you would click on are disabled. I also tried the link above that the Bella Coco Team provided in a post above but I get the same results that all the weeks are disabled. Is there a place that these things are archived? Now that I have the time I can’t access the steps.
All the details, written pattern and tutorial can be found on my blog at blog.bellacococrochet.com 🙂