Lavender Sunflower Granny Square Baby Blanket Free Pattern

Looking for a handmade baby gift that feels truly special? I love this blanket so much, because each square is a cheerful golden sunflower framed in soft lavender and cream, and sixteen of them join together into a beautiful 32-inch receiving blanket that any new parent would treasure.

We work in happy little pieces here. Each sunflower square takes about 45 to 75 minutes, so you can crochet during short pockets of time, catch mistakes early, and watch your stack of finished sunflowers grow. The whole blanket takes roughly 20 to 30 hours from start to finish.

The finished blanket is perfect for strollers, car seats, or tummy time on the floor. The dimensional petals give each square real texture and personality, popping off the surface with a raised cluster stitch that catches the light beautifully.

Materials

• About 110 yards (101 m) worsted weight (Category 4) yarn in dark brown (Colour A)
• About 220 yards (201 m) worsted weight yarn in golden yellow (Colour B)
• About 300 yards (275 m) worsted weight yarn in lavender / light purple (Colour C)
• About 350 yards (320 m) worsted weight yarn in cream / off-white (Colour D)
• US Size J-10 / 6.0mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle for weaving ends
• Scissors
• Locking stitch markers or split ring markers
• Blocking mats and rust-proof pins (strongly recommended)

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• tr: treble crochet
• st/sts: stitch/stitches
• sp: space
• ch-sp: chain space
• sk: skip
• rep: repeat
• pm: place marker
• beg: beginning
• yo: yarn over
• rnd: round
• RS: right side

Special Stitches

• Sunflower petal: worked into the chain-1 spaces of the previous round, not into the top of stitches. Insert hook into the designated ch-1 sp, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops (a sc to anchor). Working into the same ch-1 sp, yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops (first leg of dc), yarn over and pull up a loop again into the same sp, yarn over and draw through 2 loops (second leg of dc), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Chain 1 to close the petal. In short: work 1 sc followed by a 2-dc cluster into the same ch-1 sp, then ch 1.
• Shell stitch: work 5 dc into the same stitch or space. This creates the scalloped border edge.

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: about 32 inches by 32 inches (81 cm by 81 cm) after blocking, about 30 inches by 30 inches before blocking
• Each square: about 7 inches by 7 inches (18 cm by 18 cm) blocked
• Gauge: 14 dc and 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) with US J-10 / 6.0mm hook
• Construction: 16 sunflower granny squares joined in a 4 by 4 grid with a flat slip stitch join, finished with a 2-round border
• Skill level: Intermediate

Sunflower Square Pattern

Make 16 squares. Use Colour A (dark brown) for Round 1, Colour B (golden yellow) for Rounds 2 and 3, Colour C (lavender) for Round 4, and Colour D (cream) for Round 5.

Round 1: Center. With Colour A, make a magic ring (or ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring). Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work 11 dc into the ring. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. Pull magic ring tight. (12 dc)

You have a small, tight circle of 12 double crochet stitches. This is your sunflower center. Fasten off Colour A.

Round 2: Inner Petal Ring. Join Colour B with sl st to any dc of Round 1. Ch 1 (does not count as st). Work 1 sc into the same st. Ch 1. Work 1 sc into next dc, ch 1. Rep around, working 1 sc and ch 1 into each of the 12 dc of Round 1. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 ch-1 sps)

Do not fasten off Colour B.

Round 3: Petal Round. Sl st into first ch-1 sp. Ch 1 (does not count as st). Work one Petal (see Special Stitches) into each ch-1 sp around. (12 Petals total)

After completing all 12 Petals, join with sl st to first sc of first Petal. (12 Petals: each consisting of 1 sc + 1 2-dc cluster + 1 ch)

You have a full sunflower face with 12 raised golden petals around a brown center. Fasten off Colour B.

Round 4: Lavender Square Frame. This round transforms your circle into a square with four corner ch-2 spaces. Join Colour C with sl st to the ch-1 sp at the top of any Petal. This will become a corner petal. Designate every 3rd petal as a corner petal, working 4 corners total from the 12 petals, with the first, fourth, seventh and tenth petals as corner petals.

Round 4 corner start: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work 2 dc into same ch-1 sp. Ch 2 (corner). Work 3 dc into same ch-1 sp. (First corner complete)

Round 4 sides: (Work 1 dc into next petal ch-1 sp. Work 1 dc into following petal ch-1 sp. Work 3 dc into next ch-1 sp, ch 2, work 3 dc into same sp for the corner) 3 times.

Round 4 finish: Work 1 dc into next petal ch-1 sp. Work 1 dc into next petal ch-1 sp. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (32 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces)

Your sunflower now has a defined lavender square shape with four rounded corners. The piece should be flat. Fasten off Colour C.

Round 5: Cream Outer Frame. Join Colour D with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work 2 dc into same corner ch-2 sp. Ch 2. Work 3 dc into same sp.

Round 5 sides: (Work 1 dc into each dc across side, working into each of the 8 dc along the side and treating corner groups and side dc all as individual sts. At next corner ch-2 sp: work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) 3 times.

Round 5 finish: Work 1 dc into each remaining dc across final side. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (56 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces)

Your completed square should measure approximately 6.5 to 7 inches before blocking. Make all 16 squares before joining.

Joining & Border Pattern

Lay your 16 squares out in a 4 by 4 grid on a flat surface, with all sunflowers facing the same direction (right side up). Hold two squares with wrong sides together and right sides facing outward. Working through both layers simultaneously, join Colour D with sl st to the corner ch-2 sp at the start of one edge.

Joining: Ch 1. Working through both layers, sl st into each dc along the shared edge, placing sl st through the back loop only of both corresponding stitches at once. At the corner ch-2 sp of both squares, work 1 sl st through both ch-2 sps together. Fasten off and weave in end.

Join all squares in rows first (making 3 horizontal seam lines), then join the 4 rows together with 3 vertical seam lines, for 12 seams total. At intersections where 4 squares meet, work through all layers at the intersection with a single sl st. After all joins, your blanket should measure approximately 28 inches by 28 inches before the border.

Border Round 1: Lavender Foundation Round. Join Colour C with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp of the blanket. Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work 2 dc into same corner sp. Ch 2. Work 3 dc into same sp.

Border Round 1 sides: Work 3 dc into each ch-2 sp at corners of individual squares that fall along the blanket edge. Work 1 dc into each dc along the side edges. At intersections where two square seams meet the outer edge, work 1 dc into the junction point. At each outer corner ch-2 sp of the blanket, work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. (284 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces)

Fasten off Colour C.

Border Round 2: Cream Scalloped Edge. Join Colour D with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp. Ch 1. Work 3 sc into corner ch-2 sp.

Border Round 2 scallops: Across each side, work (skip 2 dc, work 5 dc shell into next dc, skip 2 dc, work 1 sc into next dc) rep across each side, ending at corner. At each corner: work 3 sc into corner ch-2 sp, then continue the scallop pattern along the next side.

After completing all 4 sides with scalloped edging and 3 sc at each corner, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off Colour D and weave in all ends securely.

The finished border should show a continuous row of shell-shaped scallops all around the blanket in cream, resting on the lavender foundation round.

Finishing & Assembly

Weave in all yarn ends on the wrong side using a yarn needle, working through several stitches in different directions to secure, and trim ends close.

Wet blocking is strongly recommended. Fill a basin with cool water, submerge the blanket fully and gently press to saturate without wringing. Lift the blanket and gently press against the side of the basin to remove excess water, roll in a clean dry towel and press. Lay blocking mats on a flat surface, place the blanket right side up, gently stretch each square to 7 inches by 7 inches, and pin at corners and midpoints. Allow to dry completely before removing pins, which may take 12 to 24 hours.

To customise the size: for a smaller lovey or car seat blanket, make a 3 by 3 grid of 9 squares for about 22 inches by 22 inches. For a larger lap blanket, make a 5 by 5 grid of 25 squares for about 37 inches by 37 inches. For a crib blanket, make a 4 by 6 grid of 24 squares for about 30 inches by 44 inches, adding approximately 60 yards of each colour per additional square.

Tips

Choose a smooth yarn that shows stitch definition clearly, and avoid highly textured or fuzzy yarns or the sunflower petal detail will get lost.

For baby items, always choose yarns labelled machine washable.

If your square is cupping, your tension is too tight. If it is ruffling, your tension is too loose.

For machine washable yarn, wash on gentle cycle in cool water and lay flat to dry. Do not tumble dry. Store folded loosely away from direct sunlight to prevent colour fading, especially in the lavender sections.