Sunflower Granny Square Pattern

Few motifs bring as much warmth to a project as a sunflower. A dark, textured center, a ring of golden petals, and a square of deep green or sky blue behind it all make a small piece of crochet that feels like a summer afternoon.

This sunflower granny square pattern is free, beginner friendly, and works up in six short rounds. Below you’ll find the full instructions, a sunburst variation, tips for neat results, and ideas for what to make once you have a stack of squares.

Why Make a Sunflower Granny Square?

A sunflower crochet granny square is more forgiving than it looks. The petals are small clusters worked into one loop of the center, so there is no sewing, no appliqué, and no tricky stitches. The background is then built behind them, which means the flower sits on top and looks three-dimensional.

It is also a great scrap project. A single square uses only a few yards of each color, and it looks good in nearly any combination you can think of, from classic brown and yellow to a faded vintage palette.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (medium 4) in brown, yellow, and green. Use a second brown or a golden orange if you’d like extra depth in the center.
• Hook: 4 mm (G-6), or whichever size gives you a firm, even fabric.
• Notions: A yarn needle, scissors, and a stitch marker.

Cotton shows off the petals best. Acrylic is softer and budget friendly, and either one works for the whole pattern.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch chain, sl st slip stitch, sc single crochet, dc double crochet, st stitch, sp space, FLO front loop only, BLO back loop only.

The Pattern

Round 1: The Center (Brown)

Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as a dc), then work 11 dc into the ring, for 12 dc in total. Pull the tail snug and join with a sl st to the top of the starting ch 3.

You can ch 4 and join with a sl st to make a simple ring if you’d rather not use a magic ring. The center will be a touch larger.

Round 2: The Seed Head (Brown)

Ch 1, then work 2 sc in each stitch around, for 24 sc. Join with a sl st to the first sc and fasten off.

Your center is now a flat, round disc. Real sunflower centers are dense and textured, and the two brown rounds give you that look without any special stitch.

Round 3: The Petals (Yellow)

Look at the top of the disc and you’ll see two loops on each stitch. The petals go into the front loops only, and the back loops stay free for the green round.

Join yellow with a sl st in the FLO of any stitch. That slip stitch is the start of your first petal.

Now work (ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st) in the same stitch. Sl st in the FLO of the next stitch. Sl st in the FLO of the next stitch, then work (ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st) in that same stitch. Sl st in the FLO of the next stitch. Repeat from * to * 10 more times. Fasten off.

You now have 12 petals, one on every other stitch. They’ll look a little bunched, but they relax once the next round is in place.

Round 4: The Background (Green)

Turn the square so you can see the back loops of Round 2. They sit just behind the petals. Join green with a sl st in the BLO of any stitch and count it as stitch 1.

Ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in the same stitch, ch 2, and 2 dc in the same stitch. That is your first corner. Dc in the BLO of each of the next 5 stitches, then work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the BLO of the next stitch. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Dc in the BLO of the last 5 stitches and join to the top of the starting ch 3. Fasten off.

You now have 36 dc and four ch-2 corners. The petal tips will rest over the green, which is exactly the effect we want.

Round 5: The Border (Yellow or Brown)

Join your border color in any corner space. Ch 3, then work (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same space. Dc in each of the next 9 stitches, then work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next corner space. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Dc in each of the last 9 stitches and join. Fasten off.

You’ll have 52 dc. Weave in your ends and block the square. It should measure about 4 to 5 inches, depending on your yarn and tension.

A Sunburst Variation

If you love the look of a granny square sunburst, you can use the same pattern and change the colors and the final rounds. Here is how:

• Keep the brown center from Rounds 1 and 2.
• Work Round 3 in a bright yellow for the petals.
• Work Round 4 in orange instead of green, so the background glows around the flower.
• Work Round 5 in a deep gold or red-orange.

The result is a warm, radiating square that looks like a flower and a sun at the same time. For a bolder sunburst granny square pattern, add one more round in a lighter yellow and repeat the corner shaping from Round 5. Each extra color band stretches the rays outward.

This is a good option if you want a blanket that feels more graphic and less like a garden.

Tips for Neater Sunflower Granny Squares Pattern

• Use the same tension for petals and background. If the petals feel tight, switch to a slightly larger hook for Round 3 only.
• Mark the first stitch of each round. Rounds 2 and 3 have 24 stitches, and it’s easy to lose your place.
• Count as you go. Check for 12, 24, 36, and 52 stitches at the end of the matching rounds.
• Weave in as you go. Tidy each color change straight away.
• Block every square. A little steam or a light mist, plus pins, evens out the petals and sharpens the corners.
• Pull the petals forward. Before Round 4, pinch the petals gently toward you so the green can slide in behind them.

Ways to Join and Use Your Squares

Once you have a pile of finished squares, you can join them with a whip stitch, a slip stitch seam, or by joining as you go in the last round. Choose a seam color that matches the border so the sunflowers stay the stars.

Here are a few things you can make:

• A cheerful baby blanket or lap throw
• A patchwork market bag
• Cushion covers
• A table runner or set of coasters
• A scarf made of squares joined in a row
• A wall hanging with a wooden dowel

Color Combinations to Try

• Classic: brown center, yellow petals, green background
• Blue sky: dark brown center, golden petals, sky blue background
• Vintage: rust center, mustard petals, cream background
• Sunset sunburst: brown center, yellow petals, orange background, red border

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this sunflower granny square pattern really free?
Yes. Everything you need is written above, so you can start right away.

Can a beginner make it?
Yes. If you know chains, slip stitches, single crochet, and double crochet, you can make it. Take your time with Round 3 and the rest is straightforward.

What size will my square be?
Around 4 to 5 inches with worsted weight yarn and a 4 mm hook. Use thicker yarn and a bigger hook for a larger square.

Can I make the center bigger?
Yes. Add another round of sc increases to the center before the petals, and add more petals to match. Keep the stitch count a multiple of 6 so the corner shaping still works.

What yarn works best?
Cotton gives the sharpest petals. Acrylic is softer and easier on the budget.

Final Thoughts

A sunflower is a happy thing to crochet. This pattern keeps the construction simple while giving you a motif that looks far more complicated than it is, and the sunburst version gives you a second look from the same set of rounds.

Grab your brown, yellow, and green, and make one square this evening. By the time you finish the petals, you’ll likely be planning the next one. Happy crocheting!

These two articles will help you understand the Sunflower Granny Square Pattern crochet:” Daisy Granny Square Crochet Pattern “”Easy Crochet Flower Granny Square Pattern“

If you are a beginner, I recommend starting with this article: “How to Crochet a Granny Square: 6 Easy Steps for a Beautiful Beginner Pattern.”