The Starburst Granny Square

I keep seeing this square popping up in my Instagram feed, and I had to give it a try. If you can’t read a pattern, yet, this one is perfect for you! You gotta learn sometime if you want to take advantage of everything crochet has to offer, and this one is simple enough to dive right in to pattern reading.

Here’s the pattern: Don’t be scared! We’re going to get you through this!

Abbreviations:

• sl st = slip stitch
• dc = double crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• trc = triple crochet (ie yarn over twice before picking up a loop)
• puff stitch = draw up loop and pull it until it is about the height of a double crochet, yarn over and draw up another loop until it is the same height, yarn over and draw up another, then yarn over and pull through all the loops on your hook and chain 1 to lock it all into place.
• 4dc cluster = start making a double crochet, but stop before you pull through the last two loops. Then, yarn over and do it again … you should now have three loops you haven’t used. Then, repeat until you have four double crochet posts that haven’t been finished. You should have 5 loops on your hook. Pull through all five loops and lock it in place with a ch 1.

Pattern: (We’ll be breaking it down step by step in the video, but here it is in it’s entirety.)

1. 16 dcs into magic loop, sl st into 1st dc to end. (or chain 4 and slip stitch into first chain making a loop and then make 16 dcs into that loop)
2. *puff stitch, ch 1* repeat around, sl st into 1st puff st to end. (16 puff stitches and 16 chain 1s)
3. sl st into first space between puff sts, *4dc cluster, ch1* repeat around, sl st into 1st cluster to end. (16 clusters and 16 chain 1s)
4. Sl st into first space or add different color with a standing dc in any space between clusters, 2dcs in same space, *3hdc in next space, 3dcs in next space, (3trcs, ch2, 3trcs) in next sp … corner made …, 3dcs in next space* repeat from * to * until you meet up with the other end. Fasten off!

OK! Now, if you can’t follow along, watch the video (at the bottom of the page), and then go back to the pattern and try to read it. Try not to crochet along with the video … INSTEAD, crochet along with the written pattern. It will make a lot more sense after you watch the video, and you’ll be one step closer to not needing YouTube for your patterns.

Another note regarding reading patterns before you just skip down to the video, look at the picture and get a visual. When starting a new pattern, find one (especially when you’re just starting to read) that has one really good picture of what you’re finished product is going to look like.

There are many joining methods for these squares, my favorite for this square is the “join-as-you-go” method, where you join your squares while making the last round. I’ll have a blog post on that soon, so remember to subscribe if that’s something you’d be interested in learning.

Here’s the video, as promised:

If you have a pattern you need help with, or would like a video tutorial made for, ASK! I am here to help. Just drop me a comment below or message me on Facebook, here.