This unusual crochet granny square is different to the traditional “Granny Square” we all think of, as it starts with a circle in the middle. This Easy Starburst Granny Square is a very eye catching design, using Double crochet Cluster stitches, to give the effect of the petals bursting open.
Now, here’s the thing, I’ve been calling this square a Starburst granny square for like forever! Then, on starting to write the instructions for how to make the crochet square, and doing a bit of research on google, I find that it might actually be a sunburst granny square!
So I’ll call it a Starburst/ Sunburst granny square – and you can learn how to make it here.
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I’ve used this easy pattern a lot in my magazine designs, so this has come as a bit of a shock that this is my own “sunburst” / starburst square, as I make mine slightly differently. You can see it in these 2 designs that were in Simply crochet Magazine.
I love a granny square, there is nothing more methodical than sitting crocheting granny squares and they are a great beginners easy project. Granny squares are great for any number of projects, from bags, to blankets and afghans, and even sweaters! I seem to have a things with granny squares given the number of posts I’ve written about the lately.
>>>How to crochet a solid Granny Square
>>>How to make a Starburst cushion cover
>>>The Nobrainer Mindful blanket
A granny square is so easy to crochet once you learn them (and this granny square is no exception), you’ll be making loads in no time…… Just think what you can turn them into!
Starburst Granny Square Easy Pattern
Looking back, I think I know why I changed the pattern a little bit, the lazy crocheter in me struck again! The pattern I was looking at started with Single Crochet in the centre, and there was no way I was going to make the centres so small, so I decided that 2 rows of a half double crochet made more sense.
The good thing about these squares is that they will get bigger quicker, and that’s got to be good right?
My starburst squares looks so similar to the sunburst square – but here is the absolute winner – they use a lot less yarn! In fact they use over 1m of yarn less per third round, multiply that up to a blanket – and that could be a good few balls of yarn you can save – but have the same effect.
How do you make a Starburst/ Sunburst Granny square
In my easy crochet pattern, you only need to know (USA Terms):
- How to make a magic ring
- Half double crochet
- Slip stitch
- Chain Stitch
- 2DC Cluster (2DCcl)
- 3DC Cluster (3DCcl)
- Double crochet
- Treble crochet
So I’d call this an advanced beginners pattern or an improvers pattern.
If you are a beginner I have a very detailed slow video for these two absolute beginner projects which I recommend you try first. Both teach the basics.
>>>How to crochet a granny square
>>>How to corner to corner crochet
Which are the perfect beginner crochet project as they teach you the chain stitch, double crochet and Slip stitch, and thats all they use on repeat.
The differences between a Sunburst Granny square and my Starburst Granny Square
| My Starburst Granny quare | Sunburst Granny Square | |
| Starts | Magic Ring | Chain 5, Slip stitch to join |
| Round 1 | HDC | DC |
| Round 2 | (same colour) 2 HDC in each | Puff Stitch |
| Round 3 – new colour | 2 DC cluster | 4 DC Cluster |
| Round 4 | 3 DC Cluster | |
| Round 5 | Edging | Edging |
As soon as you compare them like this – you’ll see it’s totally different, but it gives a very similar look – and mine is most definitely less of a yarn eater!
How can you make a granny square bigger?
One question I’m asked a lot is how can you make a Starburst granny square bigger?
As this pattern turns into a “traditional” granny square on round 5, you can easily make these bigger by crocheting more rows on the outside. Use the usual “3DC ch2 3DC in the corner and ch1 3DC in the sides.
(Or use a bigger yarn and hook…. see below)
What yarn can you use to make a Starburst Granny square?
You can use any yarn, from acrylic to cotton, and Double knitting, to worsted, to chunky.
You will need 4 colours to make a square like mine.
For the Weekender bag I used chunky yarn, and a 6mm hook. Each square measures 17 x 17cm.
Whereas a DK yarn, the finished granny square will measure 10cm x 10cm.
The thicker the yarn, the bigger the hook, the bigger the project, so it’ll depend if you want quick crochet or dainty crochet.
For the most colours choice in yarn, either of these brands has a huge colour selection:
Or for a more premium yarn
>>>Stylecraft Belissima ££
>>>Stylecraft Bambino ££
How many granny squares do you need to make a blanket?
I made a blanket with the squares, and conveniently they are 10cm each when blocked. The blanket I made used 140 squares, 10 on the side and 14 on the long side, and it measured (without a border) 140cm x 100cm – so a decent sized blanket.
For a baby blanket of traditional size, I would say 70 x 90cm – so 7 squares on one side, and 9 squares on the other 7×9 = 63 squares plus a border.
How do you join Starburst/ Sunburst Granny squares together
There are different ways to join your squares together. My initial go to, if you are joining with one colour, would be the continuous join as you go method.
When I made my blanket, I didn’t know about this, and boy it would have saved me time, and sewing!
>>>Learn how to Continuous Join Starburst Granny Squares here
If you’ve never heard of it – read about it here for granny squares.
For the blanket I made, used a technique of placing them back to back, crocheting through the back loops only of each square and Slip Stitching to give a smooth join.
You can do the same, back to back, crocheting through the back loops, but instead of slip stitching, join with a single crochet, this will give a slightly raised join – as I did for the cushion cover.
Easy Starburst Granny Square Pattern
You will need:
Appropriate sized crochet hook for the yarn you are using.
I have used (for the square in the video):
Stylecraft Life DK in Fuchsia (2344), Melon (2359) and Daffodil (2394)
4mm crochet hook
Abbreviations – USA Terms (Scroll down for UK pattern and terms)
HDC – Half Double Crochet
DC – Double crochet
TR – Treble Crochet
St – stitch
Ss – slip stitch
YO – Yarn Over
2DC Cluster (2DCcl)– YO, through st, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO, through same st, YO, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO pull back over all loops.
3DC Cluster (3DCcl) – YO, through st, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO, through same st, YO, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO, through same st, YO, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO pull back over all loops.
Crochet Pattern
Make a magic ring
Round 1 (RS) Ch2 (counts as HDC), 7HDC into loop, ss to top beg ch2. [8 HDC]
Round 2(RS) Ch2 (counts as HDC), HDC in base of ch2, 2HDC in each st around, ss to top of beg ch2. [16 HDC]
Fasten off, join another colour in any st.
Round 3 Ch3 (counts as first part of cl), DC in stitch at base of ch3, ch1 (2DCcl, ch1) in each st around, ss to top beg ch3.
Fasten off, join another colour yarn in any chain space.
Round 4 Ch3 (counts as first leg of DCcl), 2DCcl in same space, ch1, (3DCcl, ch1) in each chain space around, ss to top of beg ch3.
Fasten off, join new colour yarn in any chain space.
Now making the circle a square
Round 5 Ch4 (counts as a TC), (2TC, ch2, 3TC) in the same chain space *ch1, 3DC in next chain space, ch1, 3HDC in next chain space, ch1, 3DC in next chain space, ch1 **, (3TC, ch2, 3TC) into next chain space; rep from * 3 times more ending last rep at **, ss into top of beg ch4.
Easy Starburst Granny Square Pattern – UK Terms
You will need:
Appropriate sized crochet hook for the yarn you are using.
I have used (for the square in the video):
Stylecraft Life DK in Fuchsia (2344), Melon (2359) and Daffodil (2394)
4mm crochet hook
Abbreviations UK Terms
2Trcl – 2Tr Cluster
3TrCl – 3Tr Cluster
htr – Half Treble Crochet
tr – Treble crochet
dtr – Double Treble Crochet
St – stitch
Ss – slip stitch
YO – Yarn Over
2Tr Cluster (2Trcl)– YO, through st, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO, through same st, YO, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO pull back over all loops.
3Tr Cluster (3Trcl)– YO, through st, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO, through same st, YO, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO, through same st, YO, pull back through, YO, pull back through 2 loops, YO pull back over all loops.
Crochet Pattern
Round 1: (RS) Ch2 (counts as htr), 7htr into loop, ss to top beg ch2. [8htr]
Round 2:(RS) Ch 2 (counts as a htr), htr in base of ch2, 2htr in each st around, ss to top of beg ch2. [16htr]
Fasten off, join another colour in any st.
Round 3: Ch3 (counts as first leg of cl), tr in st at base of ch2, ch1 (2Trcl, ch1) in each st around, ss to top beg ch3. [16 2Trcl and 16 ch-1-sp]
Fasten off, join another colour yarn in any ch-1-sp.
Round 4: Ch3 (counts as first leg of Tr cl), 2Trcl in same sp, ch 1, (3Trcl, ch1) in each chain space around, ss to top of beg ch3. [16 3Trcl and 16 ch1 sp]
Fasten off, join a new colour in any ch-1 sp.
Round 5: Ch4 (counts as a dtr), (2dtr, ch2, 3dtr) in the same chain space *ch1, 3tr in next chain space, ch1, 3htr in next chain space, ch1, 3 tr in next chain space, ch1 **, (3dtr, ch 2, 3dtr) into next chain space; rep from * 3 times more ending last rep at **, ss into top of beg ch4.
Video – How to Crochet a Starburst Granny Square
Of course, a picture or video in this case can tell a thousand words, so I’ve recorded one. It is time stamped so you can skip to all the rounds, but you may need to go into Youtube for that. I’d love it if you could hit subscribe while you are there.
Thanks for joining me here, I hope to see lots of Starburst/ Sunburst granny squares now.
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