Wednedsday Grannies - Sunburst Granny Square Tutorial

So, since today is a Granny Wednesday but also the last day of the year, I thought I'd look back onto what was my most important granny square project this year: my Sunburst Granny Square Blanket!

It truly was a labour of love, and the finished project is a constant source of snuggly and colourful happiness to me.

I have been working on a tutorial for this blanket, but in the meantime, I thought a photo tutorial for the actual Sunburst Granny Square would be a nice thing to end the year on.

So for this project, you will need:

- Yarn in 4 colours, nicknamed A, B, C and D, preferably of the same variety and weight (I used Stylecraft Special DK)

- A 4 mm crochet hook (or any size to suit yarn weight used)

- A tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

- ch: chain

- dc: double crochet (UK) (US single crochet)

- htr: half treble

- tr: treble

- tr2tog: 2 trebles together

- tr3tog: 3 trebles together

Special stitches and techniques used in this pattern (UK terms):

- magic ring: here's an excellent tutorial

- two trebles together (tr2tog) (US dc2tog): *yarn over hook, insert hook into space, pull 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 2 loops*; repeat *to* once; yarn over, pull yarn through 3 remaining loops

- three trebles together (tr3tog) (US dc3tog): *yarn over hook, insert hook into space, pull 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 2 loops*; repeat *to* twice; yarn over, pull yarn through 4 remaining loops

- standing two trebles together: same as tr2tog, but starting with slipknot on hook before * when joining new colour (tutorial coming soon). Can be replaced by ch3, one treble.

- standing three trebles together: same as tr3tog, but starting with slipknot on hook before * when joining new colour (tutorial coming soon). Can be replaced by ch3, two trebles together.

Note: this pattern is worked in rounds and is written in UK terms.

Ready? Let's get started!

Round 1:

1. Using yarn A, make a magic circle, secure with a slip stitch. Chain 3 (counts as 1 treble).

2. Work 11 trebles inside the circle (total: 12 stitches)

3. Pull loose end of magic circle to close it.

4. Cut off yarn and pull tail through the last loop. Using a tapestry needle, pull yarn end through ch.2 of round beginning, front to back

5. Now pull yarn end pack through the middle of the last stitch of the round, thus closing the round

Round 1 is complete!

Round 2:

1. Change to yarn B. Make a standing tr2tog (or ch3, one treble) in any of the spaces between the stitches of round 1, except the one just closed with the tapestry needle.

3. Chain 2

4. tr2tog in next space

5. Chain 2

6. Repeat steps 4-5 another 10 times.

7. Join yarn to beginning of round with a tapestry needle (or with a slip stitch) and cut off yarn.

7. Round 2 complete!

Round 3:

1. Change to yarn C. Make a standing tr3tog (or ch3, 2 tr) in any of the ch2 spaces from round 2, except the one just closed with the tapestry needle

2. Chain 2

3. tr3tog in next 2-chain space

4. Chain 3

5. Repeat step 3 another 10 times. Join yarn to beginning of round using the same technique as in step 7, round 2 and cut off yarn. Round 3 complete!

Round 4:

This is the round where your circle becomes a square.

1. Change to yarn D. Make a standing treble in any of the ch3-spaces from round 3 (or simply ch3 instead, counting as one tr)

2. 2 tr in same space, ch2 

3. 3 tr, ch1: this is your first corner

4. 3 half trebles in next ch-3 space, ch1

5. Repeat step 4

6. 3 tr in next ch-3 space, ch2

7. 3 tr, ch1: this is your second corner

8. Repeat steps 4-7 twice

9. Close round with slip stitch into ch-2 of beginning of round. Round 4 complete!

Round 5:

1. Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch), *double crochet in same stitch

2. 1 dc in next 2 tr

3. 1 dc in ch-3 space, ch2 

4. 1 dc in same space

5. 1 dc in next 3 tr, 1 dc in ch-1 space

6. 1 dc in next 3 htr, 1 dc in ch-1 space

7. Repeat step 6

8. Repeat steps 1-7 twice, from *

9. Close round using technique from steps 4/5, round 1. Cut off yarn and weave in ends. All done!

I hope this tutorial was helpful. Let me know if there are any mistakes or things unclear.

Thanks for reading, and all the best for 2015! :) Don't forget to go to Jijihook's website for more granny square love!

xxx