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Granny SquaresWild Raspberry Wheel Granny Square — A Sunburst Pattern in Berry Hues
Meet the Wild Raspberry Wheel, an intermediate sunburst granny square worked in seven verified rounds of raspberry pink, warm plum, cream, and dusty berry.
Level IntermediateTime 1.5-2 HoursHook 5.0 mmYarn Worsted
About This Pattern
The Wild Raspberry Wheel is a sunburst-style granny square that builds outward in soft, even bands of color, the way ripples spread across a pond. Instead of the classic granny cluster look, this one leans into a rounder, more wheel-like silhouette, with color changes that land in exactly the right spots to keep the whole motif feeling balanced and deliberate.
You'll work in the round using basic double crochet clusters, corner chain-2 spaces, and simple color changes — nothing fussy, just steady, rhythmic stitching. It's a lovely project for someone who already has a granny square or two under their belt and is ready to enjoy a slightly bigger motif with more rounds to sink into.
Finished up, it measures about 8 by 8 inches, with a soft sunburst center that fades outward through raspberry pink, warm plum, buttery cream, and dusty berry before the border ties everything together. Stitch up a stack of these and you've got the makings of a cozy blanket, a set of pillow covers, or a stretch of table runner that feels handmade in the best way.
Variations
Once you've made a few of these, play with the palette. Swap in a single main color with one accent for the border, or go scrappy and use a different four-color combination for every square in your stack. A cotton-blend yarn gives the Wild Raspberry Wheel a crisper, flatter finish that's lovely for table pieces, while a soft acrylic keeps it cozy for blankets. If you want a bigger motif, simply keep repeating the established rhythm for a round or two more before adding your border round, and if you'd rather have a smaller one, stop after round four or five and border from there. Either way, the wheel shape holds up beautifully at any size.
I designed the Wild Raspberry Wheel because I wanted a sunburst square that felt a little richer than the usual pastel versions, something with real depth to the color story. There's something so satisfying about watching that center wheel spin outward, round by round, each color landing exactly where it should. I love that every round gives you a stitch count to check against, so you're never left guessing whether you drifted off track. And honestly, the corners on this one turn out crisp every single time, which makes joining a whole stack of these squares later so much more enjoyable. It's one of my favorite sunburst designs to keep in rotation.
Common mistakes
- Losing track of stitch counts
- Count at the end of every round before starting the next one — catching a mismatch early is much easier than unraveling three rounds later.
- Joining in the wrong spot
- Always slip stitch into the corner chain space, not just the nearest stitch, or your corners will start to lean and lose their crisp point.
- Pulling color changes too tight
- Keep your last stitch of the round a touch loose before fastening off so the new color has room to sit neatly in the same spot.
- Skipping the chain-3 count
- Remember the starting chain-3 stands in for your first double crochet, so don't add an extra stitch into that very first space.
Intermediate
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn in 4 colors (raspberry pink, warm plum, buttery cream, dusty berry) — about 25–40 g total per square
- 5.0 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors
How to Crochet the Wild Raspberry Wheel
An original sunburst design — every round below carries its exact math-verified stitch count.
- Round 1With raspberry pink, in a magic ring: ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, [3 dc, ch 1] 7 times; sl st to top of ch-3 to join (24)Step by step Step by step: Using raspberry pink yarn, in a magic ring: make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch] 7 times; slip stitch to top of ch-3 to join.
- Round 2With warm plum, sl st into the next sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next sp, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next sp, ch 1] 3 times; sl st to top of ch-3 to join (36)
Step by step Step by step: Using warm plum yarn, slip stitch into the next space, make 3 chain stitches, (2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in same space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet in next space, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in next space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet in next space, make 1 chain stitch] 3 times; slip stitch to top of ch-3 to join.
- Round 3With buttery cream, sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (48)
Step by step Step by step: Using buttery cream yarn, slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.
- Round 4With dusty berry, sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (60)
Step by step Step by step: Using dusty berry yarn, slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.
- Round 5With raspberry pink, sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (72)
Step by step Step by step: Using raspberry pink yarn, slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.
- Round 6With warm plum, sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (84)
Step by step Step by step: Using warm plum yarn, slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.
- BorderWith buttery cream, sl st into the corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, [3 sc in the corner sp, (sc in next 3 sts, sc in next sp) 6 times, sc in next 3 sts] 4 times; sl st to the first sc (120)Step by step Step by step: Using buttery cream yarn, slip stitch into the corner ch-2 space, make 1 chain stitch, [3 single crochet in the corner space, (single crochet in next 3 stitches, single crochet in next space) 6 times, single crochet in next 3 stitches] 4 times; slip stitch to the first single crochet.
Important notes
💡 Gauge: the finished square is about 8 x 8 inches in Worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook. Tight crocheters can go up half a hook size; loose ones down half.
💡 Color plan: the sample uses raspberry pink, warm plum, buttery cream, dusty berry in round order — change colors with a slip-stitch join in the first stitch of the new round.
💡 Weave in ends as you finish each colored round rather than saving them all for last — it keeps the back tidy and saves you a big cleanup session.
💡 Block your finished squares lightly before joining; it squares up the corners and makes matching seams so much easier.
More photos
FAQ
What size hook and yarn do I need for the Wild Raspberry Wheel?
This pattern is designed for worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook. That combination gives you the clean stitch definition this sunburst design needs while keeping the motif nice and sturdy.
How big is the finished square?
Once blocked, the Wild Raspberry Wheel measures about 8 by 8 inches. Your gauge and blocking style can shift that slightly, so it's worth checking your first square against the size you want.
Is this pattern good for a confident beginner?
It's rated intermediate, so I'd recommend it once you're comfortable with basic granny squares, corner spaces, and color changes. The stitches themselves stay simple; it's the extra rounds that ask for a bit more patience.
Can I use a different color palette?
Absolutely — the four-color structure of raspberry pink, warm plum, buttery cream, and dusty berry is really just a guide. Swap in your own favorite shades and the sunburst effect will still shine through.
Why does my stitch count come out different from the pattern?
A stitch count that's off almost always means a stitch or space got missed somewhere in the previous round. Count after every round while it's fresh, and you'll catch the issue before it compounds.
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