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Rainbow Sunburst Granny Square Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

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90-110 Hours 0 made this

Intermediate Level

Uses ch, sl st, sc and dc with a magic ring and simple color changes.

Long Project

About 90 to 110 hours, made one small square at a time.

Eye Catching

Bright rainbow rounds framed in black make every square glow.

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About This Rainbow Sunburst Granny Square Bed Cover Crochet Pattern Pattern

This bed cover is made from 80 sunburst granny squares. Each square starts with a sunny yellow center and grows through orange, hot pink, teal and purple before a black frame round makes all the colors pop. The squares are joined in a grid of 8 across and 10 down, then finished with a black and pink border.

It measures about 64 by 78 inches, so it works as a coverlet for a twin or full bed. Every square is the same, and you only need basic stitches, so it suits a confident beginner ready for a big, colorful project.

Why You'll Love This Rainbow Sunburst Granny Square Bed Cover Crochet Pattern Pattern

I love how the black frame turns plain bright yarn into something that looks like stained glass. Even a few finished squares on the table make me smile.

Each square is small and portable, so you can crochet them anywhere. The finished bed cover is a real statement piece and a wonderful handmade gift.

Rainbow Sunburst Granny Square Bed Cover Crochet Pattern step 1 - construction progress

Switch Things Up

Try soft pastel rounds with a cream frame for a calm nursery blanket, or use autumn shades with a dark brown frame for a cozy cabin look. For a baby blanket, make 5 by 6 squares. For a throw, make 6 by 8 squares. You can also swap the black frame for charcoal gray if you want a slightly softer contrast.

Materials Needed

— Main Fabric

01 Black worsted weight cotton yarn: about 5,600 yards (2,500 g) for the frame rounds, the joining and the border

02 Yellow worsted weight cotton yarn: about 800 yards (360 g)

03 Orange worsted weight cotton yarn: about 1,200 yards (540 g)

04 Hot pink worsted weight cotton yarn: about 2,600 yards (1,170 g), including the border

05 Teal worsted weight cotton yarn: about 2,400 yards (1,080 g)

06 Purple worsted weight cotton yarn: about 3,000 yards (1,350 g)

07 Gauge: one finished square measures about 7 inches (18 cm) after Round 6

— Tools Required

08 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook

09 Yarn needle

10 Stitch markers

11 Scissors

12 Blocking mats and pins

13 Measuring tape

The Free Pattern

Intermediate 90-110 Hours

0% complete

— Sunburst Granny Square (Make 80) :

Each square is worked in the round and not turned. Stitches are US terms. Ch 3 at the start of a round counts as a dc. Make all 80 squares the same way.

Round 1 (yellow): Make a magic ring, ch 3, work 11 dc in the ring, join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 and pull the ring tight. Fasten off. (12 dc)

Round 2 (orange): Join orange with a sl st in any dc. Ch 3, dc in the same st, then work 2 dc in each remaining dc around. Join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Fasten off. (24 dc)

Round 3 (hot pink): Join hot pink in any dc. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same st, ch 2, 3 dc in the same st for the first corner. *Dc in each of the next 5 dc, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next dc for a corner; repeat from * 2 more times. Dc in each of the last 5 dc and join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Fasten off. (4 corners, 11 dc on each side including the corner dc)

Round 4 (teal): Join teal in any corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same sp. *Dc in each of the next 11 dc, then work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp; repeat from * 2 more times. Dc in each of the last 11 dc and join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Fasten off. (17 dc on each side including the corner dc)

Round 5 (purple): Join purple in any corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same sp. *Dc in each of the next 17 dc, then work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp; repeat from * 2 more times. Dc in each of the last 17 dc and join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Fasten off. (23 dc on each side including the corner dc)

Round 6 (black frame): Join black in any corner ch-2 sp. Ch 1, 3 sc in the same sp. *Sc in each of the next 23 dc, then work 3 sc in the next corner sp; repeat from * 2 more times. Sc in each of the last 23 dc and join with sl st to the first sc. Fasten off, leaving a 20 inch (50 cm) tail for joining. (104 sc)

Weave in the yellow, orange, pink, teal and purple ends as you go. Block each square to 7 inches so the grid lines up neatly.

— Layout :

Lay the squares out in 10 rows of 8 squares. All squares are the same, so the layout is a simple grid.

Count the squares before joining: 8 across x 10 down = 80 squares. The finished grid measures about 56 by 70 inches.

Turn every square so the sc seam of Round 6 sits at the top left. This keeps the black frame looking even across the whole bed cover.

— Joining :

Place two squares with right sides together. Using the black tail and the yarn needle, whipstitch through the back loops only, going from corner to corner. Make about 25 stitches along each edge.

Join the squares into 10 strips of 8 squares, then join the strips together in the same way. Match the corners so four squares meet at each join.

— Border (worked around the whole bed cover) :

Round 1 (black): Join black in any outer corner. Ch 1, 3 sc in the corner. *Sc in each sc along the edge and in each seam, working 3 sc in each outer corner; repeat from * around and join with sl st to the first sc.

Round 2 (hot pink): Join hot pink in any st. Ch 1, sc in the same st and in each st around, working 3 sc in each corner. Join with sl st to the first sc.

Round 3 (hot pink): Ch 1, sc in the same st. *Ch 3, skip 2 sc, sc in the next sc; repeat from * around, working (sc, ch 3, sc) in the center sc of each corner. Join with sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in the end.

Assembly Instructions

Make all 80 sunburst squares and weave in the ends, then block each one to about 7 inches.
Lay the squares out in a grid of 8 across and 10 down on a large floor or bed so you can check that all of them face the same way.
Join the squares into 10 strips of 8, whipstitching through the back loops only from corner to corner with the black tails.
Join the 10 strips together, matching the corners so four squares meet at every join.
Work the three round border all the way around the bed cover, with 3 sc in each outer corner.
Steam block the finished bed cover lightly and let it dry flat before putting it on the bed.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Squares that come out different sizes will make the grid ripple, so check each one against the 7 inch gauge and block them before joining.

Skipping the corner ch-2 sps in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 makes the square curl, so always work the full (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in every corner.

Joining too tightly pulls the seams in, so keep the whipstitches loose and level with the edge of the square.

Carrying colors up behind the work leaves shadows through the dc, so fasten off at the end of every round and weave in the ends.

Denise

Denise designs cozy home decor crochet patterns with simple stitches and clear instructions.

Important Notes

Gauge is not critical, but all squares must match. If a square is bigger or smaller than 7 inches, change your hook size up or down by 0.5 mm.

Buy each color at the same time and from the same dye lot so the squares match, and choose a black that is a true black.

Block the squares to the same size before joining, and block the whole bed cover once more at the end.

Cotton yarn is heavy when it is wet. Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water and dry flat.

I hope you enjoy making this bold, happy bed cover as much as I do. Take it one square at a time and share your photos when it is on your bed.

Crochet Abbreviations

01 ch — chain

02 sl st — slip stitch

03 sc — single crochet

04 dc — double crochet

05 sp — space

06 st — stitch

You Ask, We Answer

How big is the finished bed cover?

It measures about 64 by 78 inches including the border and fits a twin or full bed as a coverlet.

Can I use a different yarn weight or make it a different size?

Yes. Use any cotton yarn and a matching hook, then change the number of squares. For a throw, make 6 by 8 squares, and for a baby blanket, make 5 by 6 squares.

How do I wash and care for it?

Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water with mild soap, then lay it flat to dry. Cotton can fade, so wash it with similar colors for the first few washes.

Do I have to use black for the frame?

No. Black makes the colors pop the most, but charcoal gray, navy or cream also work well.