Vintage Sunburst Granny Square Blanket Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

The Vintage Sunburst Granny Square Blanket is a love letter to the 1970s, reimagined in soft candy pastels. It's designed for the advanced beginner who has mastered basic stitches and is ready to grow their skills with color changes and simple joining. Each square blooms outward in concentric rings of white, pink, yellow, blue, green, and purple, then finishes with a crisp white edge that ties everything together. The result is a dense, cozy, heirloom-feeling throw that looks far more intricate than it is to make.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (Category 4) acrylic yarn, approximately 1800 yards total:
  • Color A (white): 400 yards
  • Color B (light pink): 300 yards
  • Color C (light yellow): 300 yards
  • Color D (light blue): 300 yards
  • Color E (light green): 300 yards
  • Color F (light purple): 200 yards
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
• Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers, blocking mats and pins
• Finished size: Approximately 48" x 60" (122 cm x 152 cm)

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops.
• sp — space: a gap formed by chains in a previous round.
• sk — skip: work past the next stitch without crocheting into it.
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• rep — repeat

Gauge

Each finished square measures 6" x 6" (15 cm x 15 cm) after blocking. Crochet one square and block it to check that it measures 6" across; adjust your hook size if needed.

Tips Before You Start

• Make one practice square first and block it to confirm your gauge before crocheting all 48.
• Keep your color changes tidy by fastening off at the end of each round and weaving in as you go, rather than saving all the ends for the end.
• Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you always know where to join.
• Work 8 squares in each of 6 color combinations, or mix the ring colors freely for a scrappier vintage look.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Sunburst Square (make 48)

Set-up: With A, ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.

R1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (16 dc). Fasten off A.

R2: Join B with sl st in any dc, ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (32 dc). Fasten off B.

R3: Join C with sl st in any dc, ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (48 dc). Fasten off C.

R4: Join D with sl st in any dc, ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (64 dc). Fasten off D.

R5: Join E with sl st in any dc, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 3 sts, *ch 2, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc (16 sc, 8 ch-2 sps). Fasten off E.

R6: Join F with sl st in any ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, *dc in next 4 sc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (72 dc). Fasten off F.

R7: Join A with sl st in any dc, ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc (72 sc). Fasten off A.

Block each square to 6" x 6" (15 cm x 15 cm).

Assembly

Arrange the 48 squares in 6 rows of 8 squares each, alternating color combinations as desired.

Join squares with A using sc worked through both layers: hold two adjacent squares with right sides facing, work sc in each st across to join the edge. Join all squares into rows this way.

Join the rows together in the same manner until the full 6 x 8 grid is complete.

Border

R1: Join A with sl st in any corner, ch 1, sc evenly around the entire blanket, working 3 sc in each corner, join with sl st to first sc.

R2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, 3 sc in each corner, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all remaining yarn ends with a tapestry needle, working them through the back of the stitches so they don't show. Block the finished blanket by misting it lightly with water, pinning it to the 48" x 60" measurements on blocking mats, and letting it dry completely. This opens up the stitches and evens out the squares for a polished finish.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the pastel palette for a single bold color family for a more modern look, or use up scrap yarn for a true scrappy vintage blanket.
• Add a third border round in a contrasting color, such as light pink, for a framed finish.
• Make a smaller baby blanket by using a 4 x 5 grid of squares (24 squares) for a 24" x 30" size.