That’s a crochet sunflower granny square — a beautiful and popular motif often used in blankets, bags, and cardigans. 🌻
Here’s how you can make it step-by-step:
🧶 Materials
- Yarn colors:
- White – flower center
- Yellow – petals
- Black – background
- Gray – outer border
- Hook: 3.5 mm–4 mm
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
🌼 Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions
🔹 Round 1: White Center
Stitches used: Magic ring, half double crochet (hdc), slip stitch (sl st)
- Make a magic ring.
(If you prefer: chain 4 and join with sl st to form a ring.) - Chain 2 (counts as first hdc).
- Work 11 hdc into the ring.
→ You now have 12 stitches total (including starting ch-2). - Pull the ring tight to close the center.
- Join with a slip stitch into the top of the starting ch-2.
- Fasten off and cut the white yarn.
🧵 Tip: Make sure your center circle lies flat. Tighten the ring gently so the hole closes fully.
🔹 Round 2: Yellow Petals (Puff Stitch Round)
Stitches used: Puff stitch, chain 1, slip stitch
- Attach yellow yarn into any stitch.
- Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch).
- Make a puff stitch in the same stitch:
- Yarn over, insert hook, pull up a tall loop (about 1 cm high).
- Repeat this 4 more times (5 yarn overs total).
- Yarn over, pull through all loops on the hook.
- Chain 1 to close the puff.
- Skip the next stitch.
- In the next stitch: make another puff stitch + chain 1.
- Continue around — 1 puff stitch in every other stitch, with chain 1 between each.
→ You’ll have 6 puff stitches total. - Join with sl st to top of first puff stitch.
- Fasten off yellow yarn.
🧵 Tip: Keep all your puff stitches equal height for a nice round flower look.
🔹 Round 3: Black Background (Circle Expansion)
Stitches used: Double crochet (dc), chain 1, slip stitch
- Attach black yarn into any chain-1 space between petals.
- Chain 3 (counts as 1 dc), then make 2 dc in same space.
- In next chain-1 space: 3 dc.
Continue working 3 dc in each chain-1 space around the circle.
→ You should have 6 clusters of 3 dc (total 18 dc). - Join with sl st to top of starting chain 3.
- Do not fasten off — you can continue with black for next round if you want the dark area larger.
🧵 Tip: This round gives a nice contrast that makes the petals “pop.”
🔹 Round 4: Gray Square Shaping
Stitches used: Double crochet (dc), chain 1, slip stitch
This round turns your circle into a square.
- Attach gray yarn (or continue with black if you want a darker tone).
- Chain 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc into the same space.
- Chain 1, 3 dc in next space.
- Corner: (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in the next space.
- Continue pattern:
- (3 dc, ch 1) in two spaces
- (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next (corner)
- Repeat around until you have 4 corners.
- Join with sl st to top of starting chain 3.
- Fasten off and weave in ends.
🧵 Tip: When forming corners, make sure your chain 1 space is clear to keep the square shape sharp.
🪡 Finishing Touches
- Weave in all yarn ends using a tapestry needle.
- Block the square:
- Pin it to a flat surface in a perfect square shape.
- Steam or lightly spray with water.
- Let it dry to hold shape.
🌻 Joining Squares (to make a blanket or bag)
You can join your squares using:
Method 1: Whip Stitch Join
Lay two squares with right sides together.
Use a needle to sew edges through back loops only.
Method 2: Join-As-You-Go (JAYGO)
On the final round of each square, connect corners and sides with slip stitches as you crochet the last row.
💡 Optional Variation Ideas
- Use brown instead of black for a more realistic sunflower.
- Add one extra round of dc in gray to enlarge the squares.
- Make a bag, cushion cover, or blanket by joining 16–64 squares.
