Sunflower Granny Square Crochet Pattern (Free)

A sunflower granny square is one of the happiest motifs in crochet. Bright yellow petals ring a rich brown center, and the whole square works up in under an hour. This free sunflower granny square crochet pattern gives you a cheerful motif you can join into blankets, bags, cardigans, and cushions, or use on its own as a coaster or a wall hanging.

This is an original Little Loop Finds design, written in US terms and completely free. The square is worked in the round from the center out, starting with a textured brown center, then a round of yellow petals, then a green or cream background that squares off the corners. Every round ends with a stitch count, and the petal round is explained stitch by stitch so the petals come out even.

A quick note on scope: this post is about one sunflower motif granny square, a single cheerful square with yellow petals and a brown center. It is not a full sunflower blanket. If you want a whole blanket made from sunflower motifs, our crochet sunflower blanket pattern is a separate pattern. If you love flower motifs, our daisy granny square crochet pattern is a gentler white petal square in the same style.

Key Takeaways

• Free original pattern: this sunflower granny square crochet pattern is a Little Loop Finds original design, written in US terms, and completely free.
• A cheerful sunflower motif: a textured brown center, twelve bright yellow petals, and a squared off background, all in one motif.
• Quick and portable: one square takes about 45 minutes, and it uses about 35 yards of worsted weight yarn.
• Beginner friendly granny square: simple double crochet and puff stitches, with a stitch count at the end of every round.
• Endlessly joinable: make squares in matching colors and join them into blankets, bags, cardigans, cushions, and table runners.

Table of Contents

• Why You Will Love This Sunflower Granny Square
• Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time
• Materials You Need
• Abbreviations (US Terms)
• Gauge and Sizing Notes
• Part 1: The Brown Center
• Part 2: The Yellow Petals
• Part 3: Squaring Off the Background
• Joining Your Sunflower Squares
• Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Uses
• Troubleshooting Sunflower Squares That Ruffle or Cup
• Care Instructions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Will Love This Sunflower Granny Square

There is something about a sunflower that makes a room feel brighter. Maybe it is the sunny yellow petals, or the way the brown center looks like a tiny seed head. A sunflower granny square brings that warmth to any project, whether it ends up in a blanket, on the front of a tote bag, or framed on a wall. It looks impressive and takes less than an hour, which makes it a perfect motif when you want a quick win.

A sunflower granny square is also a wonderful way to learn textured crochet. The center teaches you puff stitches, the petal round teaches you cluster stitches worked into the same space, and the background round teaches you how to square off a circle with corner clusters. Every round ends with a stitch count, and the square is forgiving: the petals hide small wobbles in the center.

Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time

• Finished size: about 6 inches square after blocking, in worsted weight yarn, measured from edge to edge. The pattern also gives notes for a small 4 inch version and a large 8 inch version.
• Skill level: Easy. You need a magic ring, chains, slip stitches, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and puff stitches.
• Time: about 45 minutes per square: roughly 10 minutes for the center, 15 minutes for the petals, and 20 minutes for the background rounds.

Materials You Need

Worsted weight yarn is the best choice for a sunflower granny square because it works up quickly, the petals hold their shape, and the finished square is sturdy enough to join into a blanket or a bag. A smooth acrylic or cotton blend yarn works well, because it shows clean stitch definition and the petals stay crisp. Avoid fuzzy or eyelash yarns, because they hide the petal shaping and make the puff stitches hard to see. Choose a yellow that makes you smile, a golden yellow for a classic sunflower, or a pale lemon yellow for a softer look.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet
• puff = puff stitch, yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, repeat 3 more times in the same stitch, yarn over, pull through all loops on the hook
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd(s) = round(s)
• rep = repeat
• MR = magic ring
• sp = space

Gauge and Sizing Notes

Gauge for a granny square is about keeping the square flat and square, not about hitting an exact number. Work the first 3 rounds and look at the piece. It should lie flat on the table with no ruffling at the edges and no cupping in the middle. If the edges ruffle, your stitches are too loose or you have too many stitches, so go down a hook size. If the piece cups like a bowl, your stitches are too tight, so go up a hook size. A quick check at round 3 saves you from a square that will not join neatly.

To make a smaller square, use DK weight yarn with a 4.0 mm hook for a piece about 4 inches square. To make a larger square, use bulky weight yarn with a 6.5 mm hook for a piece about 8 inches square. The stitch counts stay the same in every size.

Part 1: The Brown Center

The center is worked in the round from a magic ring, starting with a ring of puff stitches that gives the sunflower its textured seed head look. Work in joined rounds for this motif, joining each round with a slip stitch to the first stitch, so the color changes stay neat.

Center

With dark brown yarn, MR, ch 2 (does not count as a stitch).

• Rnd 1: 12 puff stitches in MR, join with a sl st to the first puff. (12 puffs)
• Rnd 2: ch 2, puff in the same st, puff in each st around, join with a sl st to the first puff. (24 puffs)

The center should now look like a textured brown disc about 2 inches across, with a bumpy surface like a real sunflower seed head. If the disc cups, your puff stitches are too tight, so loosen them a little. Fasten off the brown yarn, leaving a tail to weave in later.

Part 2: The Yellow Petals

The petals are the star of this square. Twelve petals are worked in one round, each petal made from a cluster of treble crochet stitches worked into the same space, with chains between the petals to separate them. Join the yellow yarn in any space between the puff stitches of round 2.

Petals

With yellow yarn, join with a sl st in any sp between puffs, ch 3 (counts as first tr).

• Rnd 3: (tr, ch 2, tr) in the same sp, ch 1, skip 1 puff, (tr, ch 2, tr) in the next sp, ch 1, skip 1 puff, rep around. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (12 petals, 12 ch-1 sps)

Each petal is a little V shape, two treble crochet stitches with a chain 2 between them, and the chain 1 spaces between the petals give the flower its open, airy look. Count your petals when you finish the round: you should have twelve. If you have eleven or thirteen, you skipped the wrong number of puffs somewhere, so count back and find the spot where the spacing went wrong.

The petal round should lie flat, with the petals fanning out evenly around the brown center. The square should now measure about 4 inches across from petal tip to petal tip. Fasten off the yellow yarn, leaving a tail to weave in later.

Part 3: Squaring Off the Background

The background rounds turn the round flower into a square. The first background round anchors the square shape with single crochet stitches and corner spaces, and the second round builds the corners up with double crochet clusters. Join the background yarn in any ch-2 space at the tip of a petal.

Background Round 1

With the background color, join with a sl st in any ch-2 sp at a petal tip, ch 1.

• Rnd 4: sc in the same sp, ch 2, sc in the same sp (first corner made), sc in the next ch-1 sp, sc in the top of the next petal tr, sc in the next ch-1 sp, sc in the next petal tip sp, ch 2, sc in the same sp (second corner made), rep this pattern around, working a corner in every third petal tip sp. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (4 corners, 28 sc, 4 ch-2 sps)

Take your time with this round, because the corners set the shape of the whole square. The four corners should sit at equal distances around the flower, with two petals between each corner. If the corners look uneven, count your petals again and shift the corner positions so the spacing is even.

Background Round 2

• Rnd 5: sl st to the next ch-2 corner sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same corner sp, dc in each st across the side to the next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp, rep around. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (12 dc per side, 4 corners)

The square should now look like a proper granny square, with straight sides and neat corners, and the sunflower sitting in the middle. Measure it: it should be about 6 inches square. If it measures less, your tension is tight, so try a larger hook for the next square. If it measures more, your tension is loose, so try a smaller hook.

Optional Background Round 3

If you want a larger square, or if your squares will be joined into a blanket and you want a wider background border, add one more round.

• Rnd 6: sl st to the next ch-2 corner sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same corner sp, dc in each st across the side to the next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp, rep around. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Fasten off, leaving a tail to weave in. (16 dc per side, 4 corners)

Block the finished square by pinning it to a flat surface, misting it lightly with water, and letting it dry completely. Blocking evens out the petals and sharpens the corners, and it makes joining much easier.

Joining Your Sunflower Squares

Joining is where a pile of squares becomes a blanket. Lay your squares out in the order you want, right sides up, and join them in rows first, then join the rows together. The simplest join is a single crochet join worked through the back loops only, which leaves a neat raised seam on the front. A slip stitch join gives a flatter seam, and a whip stitch join with a tapestry needle gives an invisible seam.

For a blanket, plan your layout on the floor before you join anything. A baby blanket needs about 20 squares, a throw needs about 48 squares, and a full bed blanket needs about 80 squares. Mix in solid granny squares between the sunflowers for a calmer look, or use all sunflowers for a bold field of flowers. Our easy granny square pattern makes a perfect plain square to alternate with your sunflowers, and our crochet granny square bag pattern shows how the same motif becomes a bag.

Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Uses

• Classic sunflower: work the center in dark brown, the petals in golden yellow, and the background in cream, the colorway in the photos, for a sunflower that looks like it came from a summer garden. Our heart granny square crochet pattern makes a sweet matching square for the same blanket.
• White daisy look: make the petals in white with a yellow center for a daisy version of the same square. Our daisy granny square crochet pattern is a dedicated daisy design if you want to compare the two.
• Autumn sunflower: work the petals in burnt orange and rust, with a chocolate brown center and a sage green background, for a square that suits autumn blankets and cushions. Our crochet flower pattern free has more flower motifs in the same autumn palette.
• Sunflower bag: join four squares for the front, four for the back, and two for the sides, then add a strap, for a cheerful market bag. Our crochet granny square bag pattern explains bag construction in detail.
• Sunflower cushion: join nine squares into a cushion front, add a plain back, and sew in a cushion pad for a bright living room accent. Change only the background color, and the same pattern makes a whole set.

If you enjoyed the petal shaping in this square, try another flower motif next.

Troubleshooting Sunflower Squares That Ruffle or Cup

• My square ruffles at the edges. You have too many stitches in the background rounds, or your tension is too loose. Check your stitch counts at the end of each round, and go down a hook size on the next square.
• My square cups in the middle. Your stitches are too tight, or you missed a corner increase. Check that every corner has a chain 2 space, and go up a hook size on the next square.
• My petals look uneven. The petal round spacing went wrong somewhere. Count the petals: you need twelve, with one chain 1 space between each pair. Mark the first petal with a stitch marker so you can count easily.
• My center looks flat, not bumpy. Your puff stitches are too short. Pull each loop up taller before you yarn over and pull through, so the puff stands proud of the fabric.
• My corners are not square. The corners were not placed evenly around the flower. Count two petals between each corner, and block the finished square to sharpen the corners.
• My squares are different sizes. Your tension changed between squares. Work all the squares in the same sitting if you can, and block every square to the same size before joining.

Care Instructions

Hand wash sunflower granny squares gently in cool water with a tiny amount of mild soap, squeeze gently without wringing, and lay them flat to dry so the petals keep their shape. If the yarn label says machine washable, use a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag, and lay the squares flat to dry. Do not put a sunflower blanket in the dryer on high heat, because the petals can lose their shape. Reshape the petals by hand while the piece is still damp, and keep it out of direct sunlight, so the yellow stays bright.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this sunflower granny square crochet pattern good for beginners?

Yes, it is a great first textured granny square. You need chains, single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, and puff stitches, and every round ends with a stitch count. One square takes about 45 minutes.

What yarn is best for a sunflower granny square?

Worsted weight yarn is the best choice, because it works up quickly, the petals hold their shape, and the finished square is sturdy enough to join. A smooth acrylic or cotton blend works well and washes easily. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they hide the petal shaping.

How big is the finished sunflower granny square?

About 6 inches square after blocking, in worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook. Use DK weight yarn for a small 4 inch version, or bulky weight yarn for a large 8 inch version. The stitch counts stay the same in every size.

How many squares do I need for a blanket?

A baby blanket needs about 20 squares, a throw needs about 48 squares, and a full bed blanket needs about 80 squares. A single square takes about 45 minutes, so a throw takes roughly 36 hours of stitching time, spread over as many evenings as you like.

Can I use different colors for the petals?

Yes, absolutely. Golden yellow is the classic sunflower color, but pale lemon yellow, burnt orange, and even pink petals all look lovely. Keep the brown center and a light background, and any petal color will read as a flower.

Can I sell items made from this pattern?

Yes, you may sell finished squares and blankets made from this free pattern, with credit to Little Loop Finds. Please do not sell or republish the pattern text itself.

How do I join sunflower granny squares?

Lay the squares right sides up in your chosen layout, join them in rows with a single crochet join through the back loops only, then join the rows together the same way. Block every square to the same size first, so the seams stay straight.

Happy stitching, and may your sunflower squares bring a little sunshine to every project you make.