Sun Burst Granny Square Jumper

When I had to pack up my craft room last year, I really became aware of how much yarn I actually have! So I have been on a mission this year to use up my yarn stash.

I have always wanted to make a colourful crochet jumper, and for some reason I lacked the confidence before. I was worried I’d look ridiculous. But now crochet is in fashion, I decided to give it a go.

I wanted to challenge myself and create a jumper without a pattern. I have made a few jumpers, been crocheting for nearly 13 years so I felt pretty confident. I didn’t write down a pattern, but here is a guide to what I did.

How to make a sun burst granny square:

UK terms

-chain 3, slip stitch into first chain to make a loop.

-chain 3 (counts as first stitch for this round only), 15 TR into the same chain space, slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain 3. Fasten off. (16 stitches)

-with next colour, join into any stitch, chain 2. Puff stitch (yarn over, insert hook through stitch, yarn over, pull through, pull hook up to height of beginning chain 2, repeat 2 more times, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook), chain 1, puff stitch and chain 1 in each stitch all the way round, slip stitch into the top of the first puff stitch (not the chain 2!), fasten off. (16 puff stitches, 16 chain 1 spaces)

-with next colour, join in any chain 1 space, chain 3. Bobble stitch (yarn over, insert hook through chain 1 space, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook, repeat 3 more times, yarn over, pull through all loops on the hook) chain 2, bobble stitch and chain 2 in each chain 1 space all the way around, slip stitch into the top of the first bobble stitch (not the chain 3!), fasten off. (16 bobble stitches, 16 chain 2 spaces)

-with the next colour, join in any chain 2 space, chain 3, work 2 TR into same space, in next chain 2 space: 3 double TR, chain 2, 3 double TR, in next chain 2 space: 3 TR, in next chain 2 space: 3 HTR, in next chain 2 space: 3 TR - continue repeating this around until you get to the last HTR then slip stitch into the beginning chain 3, fasten off. (24 TR, 12 HTR, 24 double TRs, 4 chain 2 spaces).

US Terms

-chain 3, slip stitch into first chain to make a loop.

-chain 3 (counts as first stitch for this round only), 15 DC into the same chain space, slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain 3. Fasten off. (16 stitches)

-with next colour, join into any stitch, chain 2. Puff stitch (yarn over, insert hook through stitch, yarn over, pull through, pull hook up to height of beginning chain 2, repeat 2 more times, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook), chain 1, puff stitch and chain 1 in each stitch all the way round, slip stitch into the top of the first puff stitch (not the chain 2!), fasten off. (16 puff stitches, 16 chain 1 spaces)

-with next colour, join in any chain 1 space, chain 3. Bobble stitch (yarn over, insert hook through chain 1 space, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook, repeat 3 more times, yarn over, pull through all loops on the hook) chain 2, bobble stitch and chain 2 in each chain 1 space all the way around, slip stitch into the top of the first bobble stitch (not the chain 3!), fasten off. (16 bobble stitches, 16 chain 2 spaces)

-with the next colour, join in any chain 2 space, chain 3, work 2 DC into same space, in next chain 2 space: 3 TR, chain 2, 3 TR, in next chain 2 space: 3 DC, in next chain 2 space: 3 HDC, in next chain 2 space: 3 DC - continue repeating this around until you get to the last HDC then slip stitch into the beginning chain 3, fasten off. (24 DC, 12 HDC, 24 TR, 4 chain 2 spaces).

I also have video tutorials on Facebook (Kerensacrochet) and TikTok (@kerrikerensacrochet).

I made several squares, joined 2 rows of 4 together with dc/sc and measured it against my body. I worked out that I would need 5 rows of four at the front and back, then 5 rows of 2 at the side. I then shaped the shoulders/arm holes by adding an extra square on top of the first and fourth squares on the front and back, and joined them at the top. This gave a vest look!

I then made the sleeves by joining four squares to the squares at the arm holes, and continued working rows of 4 squares for 5 rows in total.

I then worked 2 rounds of dc/sc for the cuffs. For the hem I worked a round of sc, then added ribbing by working front post treble then back post treble all the way around, completing 3 rounds of ribbing.

For the collar, I did one round of 2dc together along the edges, and in the corners, I worked 2htrtog then 2 2trtog then 2htrtog, which made it rounder. On the next round I did a round of TR, then on the next 3 rounds I did ribbing as described above. (This was all in UK terms!)

Handy hint: sew your ends in as you go! I made 104 squares and sewed the ends in after every 4 squares, otherwise I probably would have not wanted to sew them all in at the end!

I hope this helps anyone thinking of giving it a go. Please feel free to message if you want any help.