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Granny SquaresSeed Sunflower Granny Square – Free Crochet Pattern
Crochet this free seed sunflower granny square pattern with 5 cheerful colors, a textured seed center, and easy rounds — perfect for blankets and decor
Level EasyTime 1-2 HoursHook 3.00 mmYarn DK
About This Pattern
The Seed Sunflower Granny Square turns a handful of yarn scraps into a cheerful little sunflower framed inside a classic square — complete with a textured center that genuinely looks like a flower head packed with seeds. In the original colorway, a rich chocolate brown center is surrounded by a vibrant golden yellow ring, delicate pink petals bloom gracefully around it, and everything sits against a serene soft blue background framed in a crisp white border. Worked in five colors with a 3.00mm hook, it's the kind of motif that instantly brightens a blanket, pillow front, or garland
You'll begin with a magic loop and build the flower center from sixteen double crochets — the chain-3 at the start counts as your first dc. The real magic lies in the dimensional texture created by popcorn and bobble stitches: the bobbles of Round 3 give the center its seed-packed look, while the popcorn stitches of Round 4 make the petals pop forward with realistic depth and character. Because rounds fasten off between colors, each new color begins with a standing stitch, keeping every color change beautifully crisp. With only six rounds and step-by-step guidance for the special stitches, confident beginners can absolutely handle this, and each square finishes in about an hour
The completed square measures approximately 4.53 × 4.53 inches — a lovely, joinable size that plays nicely alongside other 4.5-inch motifs. The raised seed center pops against the flatter petals and background rounds, giving the square real dimension without any fiddly techniques. Make one as a sunny accent, stitch four for a pillow front, or grow a whole meadow of them into a throw. A stack of these squares tied up with ribbon also makes a genuinely charming handmade gift for a fellow maker
Variations
The five-color recipe is where you can really play. For the classic look, pair bright sunflower-yellow petals with a deep chocolate-brown seed center on a sky-blue background — instant summer. Or go dreamy with a sunset version: coral petals, a golden center, and a lavender background, which is gorgeous for bohemian-style throws and wall hangings. For autumn, try burnt-orange petals with an espresso center on cream, and for a modern Scandi feel, work the whole flower in mustard and charcoal against off-white. Yarn-wise, this square adapts to any weight as long as you adjust your hook. A cotton DK like Paintbox Cotton DK or Scheepjes Catona gives crisp stitch definition that really shows off the seed texture, while Stylecraft Special DK is a budget-friendly acrylic with a huge shade range for sunflower palettes. Bump up to worsted weight — Basic Stitch works nicely — with a 4.00mm hook and each square grows to roughly 5.5 inches, which means a blanket comes together noticeably faster. Size tweaks are simple too. Stop after the flower rounds for a circular applique to stitch onto bags, beanies, or cushion covers. Or keep adding traditional granny rounds — 3-dc clusters along the sides with (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each corner — to grow one motif into a 12-inch pillow front. For a daisy variation, swap the petals to white and the center to sunny yellow: same six rounds, completely different flower. And a string of squares in graduated sunset shades makes the sweetest summer bunting
I'll be honest — I've made a lot of flower granny squares, and this one has become my absolute go-to. The magic is in the dimensional texture created by the popcorn and bobble stitches: the Round 3 bobbles build a bumpy, seed-dotted center that looks like a real sunflower head instead of a plain brown circle, and the Round 4 popcorn petals pop forward with genuinely realistic depth. I also love that this pattern uses standing stitches rather than the usual join-and-chain — starting each new color with a standing stitch makes the 'seams' practically disappear, so the finished square looks impressively clean. With only six rounds on a 3.00mm hook, I can finish a square in one sitting, which makes it dangerously easy to tell myself 'just one more.' And with five colors in play, it's the perfect excuse to raid the scrap basket. Every square comes out a little different, and laying a batch of them across my coffee table honestly feels like arranging a tiny yarn garden
Common mistakes
- Leaving the magic loop loose before
- After working the ch-3 and 15 dc into the loop, pull the yarn tail firmly until the center closes completely, then slip stitch to the top of the chain-3. Weave the tail through the back of the Round 1 stitches in two directions so the loop can't creep open with use
- Miscounting Round 1 because the chain-3
- Remember the standing ch-3 IS your first dc, so you only add 15 more dc for 16 total. Before joining, count the posts around the circle — you should see exactly 16 upright stitches including the chain
- Ending Round 2 with the wrong number of
- The repeat is [hdc, ch 1] all the way around: 16 hdc and 16 ch-1 spaces. Work your last ch-1 before slip stitching to the top of the beginning chain-2, and count the spaces before you fasten off
- Joining new colors in the wrong spot
- Read where the next round begins before you join, and start with a standing stitch: slip knot on your hook, then work the ch-2, ch-3, or ch-4 directly in the correct stitch or space. Vary your starting point each round so the joins don't stack into a visible seam
- Slip stitching into a chain-one space
- Look for the top chain of the beginning ch-2 (it looks like a small V) and insert your hook under both loops of that chain. If you struggle to spot it, slide a stitch marker into the top of the starting chain as soon as you make it
- Ignoring gauge, so squares come out
- Make one complete test square and measure it. If it's smaller than 4.53 inches, go up to a 3.25 or 3.5mm hook; if larger, go down. Keep the same hook for every square in the project, and block them all to the same measurement before joining
Easy
Materials
- Yarn of your choice- 5 colors
- Crochet hook- we are using a 3.00mm hook
- Darning Needle
- Scissors
Main Pattern
- Round 1ch3(count as dc)+15dc in a magic loop, sl st to the top of the first ch3 (16).Step by step: Start with a magic loop. ch3 as a standing st (count as dc). dc in the loop. 14dc in the loop. Pull the tail tightly. sl st to the top of the first ch3. Round 1 finished.(16)
- Round 2ch2(cout as hdc), ch1, [hdc, ch1] repeat 15 times, sl st to the top of the first ch2, fasten off.Step by step: ch2 as a standing st (count as hdc), ch1. hdc in the next st, ch1. [hdc, ch1] repeat 14 times, sl st to the top of the first ch2, fasten off. Round 2 finished.
- Round 3New yarn in ch-sp, ch2(count as incomplete dc)+another incomplete dc to create 2-dc-bo, ch1, [2-dc-bo, ch1] repeat 15 times, sl st to the top of the first bo, fasten off.Step by step: Add new yarn in any ch-sp. ch2 as a standing st (count as incomplete dc). Another incomplete dc in the same st to finish a 2-dc-bo, ch1. [2-dc-bo in the next ch-sp, ch1] repeat 15 times, sl st to the top of the first bo, fasten off. Round 3 finished.
How to make a 2 double crochet bobble stitch [2-dc-bo]: 2-dc-bo is made based on 2 incomplete dc. Firstly, let's make the first incomplete dc: yo, insert the hook into the st, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops to complete the first incomplete dc — now you have 2 loops on the hook (for the first one in this case, the ch2 counts as the first incomplete dc, so you only have 1 loop on the hook). [yo, insert hook in the same stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops] repeat one more time; once finished, there are 3 loops on your hook. Finally, yo and pull through all 3 loops to finish the 2-dc-bo stitch.
- Round 4New yarn in ch-sp, ch3(count as dc)+4dc to complete 5-dc-pc, ch3, [5-dc-pc in next ch-sp, ch3] repeat 15 times, sl st to the top of the first pc, fasten off.Step by step: Add new yarn in any ch-sp. ch3 as a standing st (count as dc). 4dc in this ch-sp to complete a 5-dc-pc, ch3. [5-dc-pc in next ch-sp, ch3] repeat 15 times, sl st to the top of the first pc, fasten off. Round 4 finished.How to make a 5 double crochet popcorn stitch [5-dc-pc]: Make 5 dc in the same ch-sp, remove the hook from the fifth dc and insert it into both loops of the first dc. Grab the last dc with the hook and pull it through the loops.
- Round 5New yarn in ch-sp, ch4(count as tr)+2tr+ch2+3tr, 3dc in next ch-sp, 3hdc, 3dc. [3tr+ch2+3tr, 3dc, 3hdc, 3dc] repeat 3 times, sl st to the top of the first ch4, fasten off.Step by step: Add new yarn in any ch-sp. ch4 as a standing st (count as tr). 2tr+ch2+3tr in this ch-sp, 3dc in next ch-sp, 3hdc, 3dc. [3tr+ch2+3tr in next ch-sp, 3dc, 3hdc, 3dc] repeat 3 times, sl st to the top of the first ch4, fasten off. Round 5 finished.
- Round 6New yarn in corner, ch3(count as dc)+dc+ch2+2dc, 15dc, [2dc+ch2+2dc, 15dc] repeat 3 times, sl st to the top of the first ch3, fasten off.Step by step: Add new yarn in any corner space. ch3 as a standing st (count as dc). dc+ch2+2dc in this corner space, dc in the next 15 sts. [2dc+ch2+2dc in next corner, 15dc] repeat 3 times, sl st to the top of the first ch3, fasten off. Round 6 finished.
Important notes
💡 Gauge check first: your finished square should measure about 4.53 × 4.53 inches with the 3.00mm hook. Crochet one full square before committing to a blanket's worth — adjusting hook size by a quarter millimeter is much easier than re-making twenty squares
💡 Leave a 6-inch tail when you start the magic loop, and cinch it completely closed before joining Round 1. Weave that tail through the back of the center stitches in two different directions so the sunflower's heart never loosens
💡 Count as you go: Round 1 has 16 dc (the ch-3 counts as one), and Round 2 has 16 hdc separated by 16 ch-1 spaces. Getting these two counts right guarantees the petal and square rounds sit evenly
💡 Since rounds fasten off for color changes, master the standing stitch: start with a slip knot already on your hook, then chain your ch-2, ch-3, or ch-4 right where the round begins. It reads as a normal stitch and hides the join beautifully
💡 Working with 5 colors means lots of ends — crochet over each starting tail for the first few stitches of the round, then weave the remainder back the opposite direction with your darning needle. Your square will survive years of washing
💡 Block your finished squares before joining: pin each one to 4.53 inches square, mist with water, and let dry flat. Cotton responds especially well, and blocking opens up the bobble and popcorn texture so the seeds and petals really pop
More photos
FAQ
What does 'ch 3 counts as dc' mean in Round 1?
It means the chain-3 you make at the start stands in for your first double crochet, so you only work 15 more dc into the magic loop for 16 stitches total. When you finish the round, you slip stitch into the top chain of that ch-3 as if it were a regular stitch
How many squares do I need for a blanket?
Each square measures about 4.53 inches, so a 9 × 10 layout gives you a throw of roughly 40 × 45 inches before bordering — that's 90 squares. For a baby blanket around 27 × 31 inches, plan on a 6 × 7 grid of 42 squares
Can I make this with fewer than five colors?
Absolutely. A three-color version — one for the seed center, one for the petals, and one for the background rounds — still reads clearly as a sunflower. You could even work it in a single color and let the bobble and popcorn texture carry the design
Why is my flower center cupping instead of lying flat?
Cupping usually means your tension tightened, especially on the Round 2 chain-one spaces. Try going up to a 3.25mm hook, or consciously relax on the chains — they need room to spread the 16 hdc into a flat disc
What yarn weight works best with the 3.00mm hook?
A DK or light-weight yarn suits the 3.00mm hook and produces the 4.53-inch square. You can substitute worsted weight with a 4.00mm hook for a larger square around 5.5 inches — just keep the same yarn and hook combination across every square in one project
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