Sunburst Granny Square Blanket Pattern + Video Tutorial

There is something deeply satisfying about a blanket that looks intricate but can be made one small square at a time. The Sunburst Granny Square is one of those patterns that stops people mid-scroll and makes them say, “I need to make that.” With its radiating petals and bold center medallion, each square looks like a tiny starburst frozen in yarn, and when you sew them together into a blanket, the effect is absolutely stunning.

Whether you are a beginner who has just mastered the basic granny square or an experienced crocheter looking for your next satisfying project, this sunburst granny square blanket pattern has something for you. In this post, you will find a full written pattern, tips for choosing your yarn and hook, guidance on color combinations, finishing techniques, and a video tutorial to walk you through every stitch visually. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite skein, and let’s get started.

What Makes the Sunburst Granny Square Special

The classic granny square has been a crochet staple for generations, but the sunburst variation takes the concept to a new level. Instead of simple clusters worked into corners, the sunburst square features rounds of long double crochet stitches that reach down into earlier rows, creating a layered, almost three-dimensional petal effect. The center pops forward while the surrounding rounds form a geometric frame, and the whole thing comes together in a way that looks far more complex than it actually is.

What makes this motif so popular for blankets in particular is its versatility. You can make every square identical in a bold, repeated pattern, or you can change the color sequence in each square for a scrappy, eclectic look that uses up every bit of your stash yarn. The squares join seamlessly, and the finished blanket has a lovely drape that makes it perfect for tossing over a sofa or wrapping around yourself on a cool evening.

Materials You Will Need

Before diving into the pattern itself, it helps to gather everything in one place. Here is what you need to make a sunburst granny square blanket in a throw size, approximately 48 by 60 inches.

Yarn: You will need a worsted weight yarn, sometimes labeled as a 4 or “medium” weight. A smooth yarn shows the stitch definition beautifully, which really matters for a pattern like this where the texture is the star of the show. For a throw-sized blanket, plan on approximately 1,500 to 2,000 yards total, spread across however many colors you choose. Cotton-acrylic blends work wonderfully here because they are washable, affordable, and come in an enormous range of colors. Pure cotton gives a heavier, more structured result, while a wool or wool blend creates a softer, warmer blanket with beautiful stitch definition.

Hook: A size 5.0mm (H-8) crochet hook is the standard choice for worsted weight yarn, but always check your gauge and adjust if needed. If your squares are coming out too stiff, go up half a size. If they are too loose and floppy, go down half a size.

Additional supplies: You will also need scissors, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and rustproof blocking pins if you plan to block your squares (highly recommended for a polished finish). A tape measure is helpful for checking square size consistency as you go.

Choosing Your Color Palette

Color is where the sunburst granny square truly shines, and choosing your palette is half the fun. The pattern works beautifully in several different approaches.

A two-color scheme using a bold center color and a neutral outer frame creates a striking, modern look. Think deep teal with a crisp white border, or mustard yellow with a soft gray surround. This approach is clean and graphic, and it photographs beautifully.

A rainbow or gradient approach uses a different color for each round within each square, creating that classic, joyful granny blanket look. You can assign the same color to the same round across all squares for uniformity, or let each square be its own little experiment. If you go the gradient route, arranging your colors in a spectrum from warm to cool across the finished blanket adds another layer of visual interest.

A scrappy stash-busting approach uses whatever you have on hand. Keep a consistent color for the final round on every square to create a sense of cohesion across the finished piece, even when the interior colors are completely different. This is a great way to use leftover yarn from previous projects and create a blanket that tells the story of your crochet journey.

Understanding the Stitch: The Long Double Crochet

The signature of the sunburst square is the long double crochet, sometimes called an extended double crochet or a spike stitch. Instead of inserting your hook into the stitch of the current row, you insert it into a stitch several rows below, pull up a long loop, and complete the double crochet as normal. This pulls the stitch down visually, creating the petal or ray effect that gives the sunburst its name.

If you have never worked a long double crochet before, it feels a bit awkward at first because you need to pull that loop up quite high to compensate for the depth you are reaching into. After a few rounds, it becomes second nature. The key is not to pull the stitch too tight, which would pucker the fabric, or too loose, which would make the petal look sloppy. A smooth, even tension that matches your other stitches is the goal.

The Sunburst Granny Square Pattern

This pattern creates a finished square measuring approximately 6 inches when worked in worsted weight yarn on a 5.0mm hook. For a 48 by 60 inch blanket, you will need 80 squares arranged 8 across and 10 down.

Abbreviations used:

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• LDC: long double crochet (insert hook 2 rounds below, pull up loop, complete as dc)
• sp: space
• rep: repeat
• BL: back loop only

Round 1 — The Center Ring

With your first color, make a magic ring or chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Chain 3 (counts as first double crochet throughout), work 11 more double crochet stitches into the ring. You will have 12 double crochet stitches total. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3. Fasten off and weave in the end, or carry the yarn if you are continuing with the same color.

Round 2 — Building the Petals

Join your second color (or continue with color one if you prefer a solid center) in any stitch of Round 1.

Chain 1. Work 1 single crochet in the same stitch as the join. Chain 2. Skip 1 stitch. Work 1 single crochet in the next stitch. Continue around in this manner, ending with a chain 2 and a slip stitch into the first single crochet to close the round. You will have 6 single crochets and 6 chain-2 spaces. Fasten off.

Round 3 — The First Sunburst Round

Join your third color (or continue with your chosen color) in any chain-2 space from Round 2.

Chain 3, work 2 double crochet in the same chain-2 space (this is the top of one petal cluster). Now, skip to the single crochet below and work 1 long double crochet by inserting your hook into the corresponding stitch of Round 1, directly below that single crochet. Pull up your loop and complete the double crochet. This LDC sits in front of the Round 2 single crochet, creating the petal effect.

Move to the next chain-2 space and repeat: 3 double crochet in the chain-2 space, then 1 LDC into the stitch below the next Round 2 single crochet. Repeat around for all 6 spaces. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3. Fasten off.

Round 4 — Expanding the Square

This is the round where the circle begins transitioning into a square shape. Join your next color in the top of any petal cluster from Round 3.

Chain 3, work 2 dc in the same space (corner beginning). Chain 2, work 3 dc in the same space again (corner complete). Now work 3 dc in the space between clusters. Continue around: at every other cluster position, work the full corner cluster of (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), and in between each pair of corners, work a standard 3 dc shell. You will have 4 corners and 1 shell on each side. Join and fasten off.

Round 5 — Solidifying the Square

Join your next color at any corner chain-2 space. Chain 3, work 2 dc, chain 2, 3 dc in the corner space (full corner). Work 3 dc in each shell along the side. At each corner, work the full (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) cluster. Join and fasten off. This is a standard granny square round that frames the sunburst center.

Round 6 — The Final Border

Join your border color at any corner chain-2 space. Single crochet evenly around the entire square, working 3 single crochets into each corner space to keep the corners flat and sharp. Join with a slip stitch. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Your square should measure approximately 6 inches at this point. If it is significantly larger or smaller, adjust your hook size accordingly before making the remaining squares.

Blocking Your Squares

Blocking is the step many crocheters skip and then immediately regret. Taking the time to wet block or steam block each square makes an enormous difference in the final blanket. Squares that are blocked lie flat, have crisp, defined edges, and join together much more easily and evenly.

To wet block your squares, soak them in cool water for about fifteen minutes, gently squeeze out the excess water without wringing, and then pin them to a foam blocking board in a perfect square shape. Use your tape measure to keep all the squares consistent. Let them dry completely before removing the pins, which usually takes several hours or overnight.

Joining the Squares

There are several methods for joining granny squares, and the right choice depends on the look you want.

The whip stitch join is quick and creates a subtle ridge on the back of the blanket. Hold two squares with wrong sides together and stitch through the back loops of both edges using your yarn needle.

The flat slip stitch join is worked with a hook and creates a seam that lies flat on the right side of the blanket. Join yarn at a corner, hold two squares with right sides together, and slip stitch through the back loops of both pieces along the edge.

The join as you go method (JAYG) allows you to connect each square to the previous one during its final round, eliminating the sewing-up step entirely. This is a favorite among crocheters who find seaming tedious. There are excellent video tutorials available specifically for JAYG if you want to try this approach.

For a throw blanket, arrange your squares in 8 columns and 10 rows. Lay them out on the floor first to check the arrangement of colors and make sure you are happy with the distribution before committing to any joins.

Adding the Final Border

A blanket border pulls everything together and gives the piece a finished, polished look. A simple border works perfectly here because the sunburst squares are already so visually rich.

Work 2 rounds of single crochet around the entire blanket, working 3 single crochets into each corner stitch to maintain the corners. On the second round, you can add a simple shell stitch or a picot for a decorative touch. Alternatively, a round of reverse single crochet, which is worked from left to right instead of right to left, creates a lovely corded edge that frames the blanket beautifully without competing with the squares themselves.

Video Tutorial

If you are a visual learner, watching the stitches come together in real time makes a huge difference, especially when it comes to understanding exactly where to insert your hook for the long double crochet. Search for “sunburst granny square tutorial” on YouTube and you will find several excellent video guides. Look for one that shows a close-up of the LDC insertion point, demonstrates the tension needed to keep the petals lying flat, and shows the transition rounds where the circle becomes a square. Watching the video once through before starting, then pausing and working alongside it, is the most effective approach for learning a new motif pattern.

Tips for Success

A few final thoughts to help your blanket come out beautifully. Weave in your ends as you go rather than leaving them all until the end. When you have 80 squares, each with multiple color changes, the end-weaving task becomes genuinely daunting if you leave it all for later. Working in ends after finishing each square keeps the process manageable.

Keep a consistent yarn tension throughout your project. If you tend to crochet more tightly when you are tired or more loosely when you are relaxed, your squares will come out different sizes. Blocking helps with minor variations, but major inconsistencies are harder to correct.

Label your yarn colors if you are making a striped or gradient arrangement across the blanket. A simple piece of tape on each skein noting which round it is designated for will save you from confusion mid-project.

Finally, enjoy the repetition. There is a meditative quality to making the same beautiful motif over and over again. Each square is a small, satisfying accomplishment, and the blanket builds up faster than you might expect. By the time you join that last square and weave in that final end, you will have something truly beautiful to show for your time and creativity.

Final Thoughts

The sunburst granny square blanket is one of those projects that earns you compliments every time you use it or display it in your home, and the best part is that you made it yourself, one small sunburst at a time. With the written pattern above, the video tutorial as a visual companion, and a little patience, this blanket is completely achievable for crocheters of all skill levels. Happy crocheting, and enjoy every single stitch.