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# Sunny Flower Granny Square Blanket

A bright, beginner-friendly granny square blanket. Each square blooms with a golden flower center surrounded by sky-blue "sky" rounds — like a field of sunflowers under a clear sky. Make 64 squares, join with whip stitch, and finish with an optional border.

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## Skill Level
**Beginner** — uses only chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), and double crochet (dc).

## Finished Size
- **Each square:** approx. 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm)
- **Blanket (8 x 8 squares):** approx. 32" x 32" (81 x 81 cm) before border
- **With border:** approx. 36" x 36" (91 x 91 cm) — a generous baby/lap blanket

*To make it larger, simply make more squares (see "Sizing Notes").*

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## Materials
- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (medium / #4), smooth acrylic or cotton blend recommended
  - **Color A (Gold/Yellow):** ~150 yds — flower centers/petals
  - **Color B (Sky Blue):** ~450 yds — background rounds
  - **Color C (White or Cream):** ~250 yds — optional border (or use Color B)
  - *Total estimate for 36" blanket: ~850–900 yds.*
- **Hook:** US H-8 (5 mm)
- **Tapestry needle** (for joining and weaving ends)
- **Scissors**
- **Stitch markers** (optional, helpful for corners)

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## Gauge
In granny pattern: **4 dc-cluster rounds = 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm)** square.
A cluster = 3 dc worked together in one space.

*Gauge is not critical for a blanket, but consistent gauge keeps squares matching. Make one square first and measure it.*

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## Abbreviations (US Terms)
- **ch** = chain
- **sl st** = slip stitch
- **sc** = single crochet
- **dc** = double crochet
- **sp** = space
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **rnd** = round
- **cluster** = 3 dc worked into the same space

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## Make the Square (Make 64)

### Round 1 – Flower Center (Color A / Gold)
1. With Color A, ch 4. Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring. (Or make a magic ring.)
2. **Rnd 1:** Ch 1, work **6 sc into the ring.** Join with sl st to first sc.
   - **Count check: 6 sc.** ✓ These form the flower's center.

### Round 2 – Petals (Color A / Gold)
3. Ch 1. In each sc around, work **(sc, ch 2, sc)** — this makes 6 little petal points.
   - Work *(sc, ch 2, sc)* in each of the 6 sc. Join with sl st to first sc.
   - **Count check: 6 petals (6 ch-2 sps).** ✓
4. Fasten off Color A. Weave in the gold ends now.

### Round 3 – First Sky Round (Color B / Blue)
This round turns the flower into the start of a square by placing **4 corners**.
5. Join Color B with a sl st in **any one** of the 6 ch-2 petal spaces.
6. Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work **2 dc in the same sp** (first corner-half started). Now you will work around, creating 4 corners and 4 sides:
   - **In this first sp:** ch 3, 2 dc *(= 3 dc, your first cluster)*
   - **Skip nothing** — into the **next** ch-2 sp: work **(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)** = a corner.
   - Continue around alternating: into next sp **3 dc** (side), into next sp **(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)** (corner) — repeat.

**Simpler beginner version of Rnd 3** (recommended — use this):
   - Join Color B in any petal sp with sl st.
   - **Corner sps (4 of them):** work **(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)**.
   - **Side sps (2 of them, the leftover petal sps):** work **3 dc**.
   - Because there are 6 petal sps, choose **4 sps spaced to be corners** and the remaining **2 sps as sides**, **plus** add one more side cluster opposite as you go so all four sides have a cluster.

> ⚠️ **Beginner tip:** Don't overthink the petals. The easiest reliable method: In **4 evenly-spaced** petal sps work **(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)** for the corners; in the **other petal sps** work **3 dc** for sides. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3.

   - **Count check Rnd 3:** 4 corners + sides = approx. **12 clusters**. ✓ (4 corner-pairs + 4 sides total = the standard granny count.)

### Round 4 – Second Sky Round (Color B / Blue)
7. Sl st across into the first **corner ch-2 sp** (the ch-2 corner gap).
8. Ch 3, **2 dc** in the same corner sp, **ch 2, 3 dc** in same corner sp *(first corner made)*.
9. **Along each side:** work **3 dc in each ch-1/between-cluster space** (1 side cluster per side this round).
10. **In each corner ch-2 sp:** work **(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc).**
11. Continue around: corner, side, corner, side... Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off Color B.
   - **Count check Rnd 4:** 4 corners + 4 side clusters = **16 clusters total** (each corner = 2 clusters: 4 × 2 = 8, plus 4 sides… on a 4-round square count is 12 clusters of the granny grid). 

> ✅ **Square math summary** (clusters per side grows by 1 each round):
> - After Rnd 3: each side has **1 side cluster + corners**
> - After Rnd 4: each side has **2 side clusters + corners**
> This gives a tidy ~4" square. Fasten off and weave in ends.

**Repeat Rounds 1–4 to make 64 squares.**

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## Sizing Notes (Optional Adjustments)
| Blanket | Squares | Layout | Approx. Size (before border) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby (as written) | 64 | 8 x 8 | 32" x 32" |
| Lap | 80 | 8 x 10 | 32" x 40" |
| Throw | 120 | 10 x 12 | 40" x 48" |

*Each added square adds ~4" (10 cm) in that direction. Yardage scales proportionally.*

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## Blocking
Lightly steam or wet-block each square to a true 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm). This makes joining far easier and keeps the blanket flat. **Highly recommended for beginners.**

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## Joining the Squares — Whip Stitch Method

1. Arrange all 64 squares in an **8 x 8 grid**. Step back and balance the colors if you used variations.
2. Place two squares **wrong sides together** (so the join seam sits on the back) **or right sides together** (for an invisible seam) — choose your preference; wrong sides together gives a decorative ridge.
3. Thread a tapestry needle with Color B (or Color C).
4. Insert the needle through the **back loops only** of the corresponding stitches on both squares.
5. **Whip stitch** through each pair of stitches across one edge: one stitch per stitch, keeping even tension. Do **not** pull tight — keep it relaxed so the blanket drapes.
6. **Join all squares into rows first** (8 squares per row = 8 rows), then **join the rows together** the same way.
7. At each four-corner intersection, take an extra stitch through all layers to close any gap.
8. Weave in all join ends securely.

> 💡 **Join-as-you-go alternative:** If you prefer, replace Rnd 4 with a join-as-you-go round: on the final round, connect each new square to its neighbor by working a sl st into the adjacent square's corresponding ch-2/cluster space instead of a ch. This eliminates seaming. (Recommended only after you've made a few squares.)

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## Border (Optional but Recommended)

Worked in **Color C** (white/cream) or Color B around the entire joined blanket.

1. Join Color C with a sl st in any **corner ch-2 sp** of the outer edge.
2. **Round 1:** Ch 3, **(2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc)** in the same corner sp. Work **3 dc** in each space along the edges (use the spaces between clusters and across seams to keep it even). In each outer corner, work **(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc).** Join to top of beginning ch-3.
   - *Beginner tip:* Aim for an even number of clusters per side; it's okay if it's not perfect — block to even it out.
3. **Round 2:** Sl st to a corner sp. Ch 1, **sc evenly around**, working **(sc, ch 2, sc)** in each corner ch-2 sp. Join with sl st.
4. **Round 3 (picot edge, optional):** Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 3, sl st in same st (picot made), sc in next 2 sts*; repeat around, with a picot at each corner. Join, fasten off.
   - **Count check:** Each border round adds ~½"–¾"; 2–3 rounds add ~2" all around → final ~36" x 36". ✓

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## Finishing
1. Weave in **all** remaining ends with a tapestry needle, working each end back through several stitches in two directions so it won't pop out.
2. Give the finished blanket a final light blocking/steam for a crisp, flat finish.
3. Trim any whiskers.

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## Quick Reference Card
- **Square:** ch-4 ring → 6 sc → 6 petals (gold) → 2 granny rounds (blue) = 4" square
- **Make:** 64 squares
- **Join:** whip stitch into an 8 x 8 grid
- **Border:** 2–3 rounds in white/cream
- **Final size:** ~36" x 36" (91 x 91 cm)

Enjoy your field of sunny flowers! 🌻