Crochet Sun and Moon Granny Square Pattern Free (PDF + Beginner Tutorial)
If you’ve been searching for a crochet project that feels magical the moment you pick up your hook, this sun and moon granny square pattern is exactly what you need. Whether you’re new to crochet or you’ve been making granny squares for years, this design brings together two of the most beloved symbols in boho and celestial aesthetics — the radiant sun and the dreamy crescent moon — into one beautifully detailed square. And the best part? It’s completely free, with a printable PDF included so you can take it with you anywhere.
In this tutorial, we’re going to walk through everything step by step. You’ll learn about the materials you need, how to read the pattern, and how to work through each round with clear instructions. By the end, you’ll have a versatile square you can use for blankets, wall hangings, pillow covers, bags, and so much more.
Why Granny Squares Are Still So Beloved
Granny squares have been around for generations, and for good reason. They’re portable, beginner-friendly, and endlessly customizable. You can make them in an afternoon or stretch them into a meditative weekend project. They’re the building blocks of some of the most stunning crochet blankets and garments you’ll ever see, and they lend themselves beautifully to colorwork and textured stitches.
The sun and moon version takes the classic granny square concept and elevates it with a focal motif — a bold sun on one side, a delicate crescent moon on the other (or both worked into the same square depending on which variation you choose). The result is something that feels both nostalgic and fresh, the kind of piece that shows up on social media and makes people ask, “Where did you get that pattern?”
Right here. That’s where.
What You’ll Need
Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk supplies. One of the reasons granny squares are so accessible is that they don’t require a lot of investment upfront.
Yarn: You’ll want a worsted weight yarn (category 4) for this pattern, as it works up at a great size for most projects and is easy to handle if you’re a beginner. This pattern looks stunning in a two-tone colorway — think a warm golden yellow for the sun motif paired with a deep navy or soft ivory for the background. For the moon variation, a silvery white or pale lavender against a deep teal or charcoal background is absolutely gorgeous. You’ll need roughly 50–75 yards of your main color and 25–30 yards of your background/accent color per square.
Hook: A size 5.0 mm (US H/8) crochet hook is recommended for worsted weight yarn. If you tend to crochet tightly, go up to a 5.5 mm. Your tension doesn’t need to be perfect for this pattern — the square is forgiving and the ends are easy to weave in.
Other Supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers (optional but helpful for beginners), and a blocking mat and pins if you want a crisp, professional finish.
Understanding the Pattern: Terms and Abbreviations
This pattern is written in standard US crochet terms. Here’s a quick reference guide:
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
MR — magic ring
sp — space
rep — repeat
beg — beginning
st(s) — stitch(es)
yo — yarn over
BLO — back loop only
If you’re a beginner and any of these abbreviations feel unfamiliar, don’t worry. Each stitch is explained as it comes up in the pattern, and working through a few practice rounds will make everything click quickly.
The Finished Size
Using the recommended hook and worsted weight yarn, this granny square measures approximately 8 x 8 inches (20 x 20 cm) after a light blocking. The size can be adjusted by going up or down in hook and yarn weight. A bulky yarn with a 6.5 mm hook will give you a chunky square around 10–11 inches, which is wonderful for a quick throw blanket project. A fingering weight yarn with a 2.75 mm hook will produce a delicate, heirloom-quality square closer to 4–5 inches.
Free Crochet Sun and Moon Granny Square Pattern
Now let’s get into the good stuff. This pattern includes two separate motif options — the sun granny square and the moon granny square — so you can make one, the other, or combine them in your project for a celestial theme. A combined blanket with alternating sun and moon squares would be absolutely breathtaking.
The Sun Granny Square
Round 1 (Sun Center): Using your main color (MC, yellow/gold), make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc into the ring, join with a sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (12 dc total)
Pull the magic ring closed tightly before you join. This creates a firm, flat center for your sun motif.
Round 2 (Sun Rays): Ch 1. Sc in next st, ch 3, sl st in same st (picot made), ch 2; repeat from to around, ending with a sl st into first sc. (12 picot rays)
These little picot points are your sun’s rays, and they give the motif that instantly recognizable radiant look. You can add more definition here by working in BLO if you’d like a bit of texture.
Round 3 (Transition Round): Sl st to join a new color if desired (this is where your background color CC can come in for contrast), or continue in MC. Ch 3, working behind the picot rays of Round 2 into the sc stitches, work 2 dc in each sc around, join with sl st to top of ch-3. (24 dc)
Round 4 (Building the Square Shape): Ch 3, dc in next 4 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st (corner made), dc in next 5 sts; repeat from to 3 more times, ending with a final corner, join with sl st. (4 corners established)
Round 5 (Classic Granny Border): Join CC if you haven’t already. Sl st into corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same corner sp. Ch 1, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in next st (shell made), ch 1, skip 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner sp; repeat from to around, join with sl st. Fasten off.
Round 6 (Final Border): Join MC. Sl st to corner sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp. Ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner sp; repeat from to around, join. Fasten off and weave in ends.
The Moon Granny Square
The moon motif is worked differently from the sun — instead of building outward from a central circle, you’ll use surface work and shaped stitches to create the crescent. This is a little more advanced but still very manageable for motivated beginners.
Round 1 (Base Circle): Using MC (white, cream, or silver), make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 15 dc into the ring, join with sl st. (16 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in first st, 2 dc in each st around, join. (32 dc)
Round 3 (Crescent Shaping): Ch 1. Sc in first 8 sts. Hdc in next 2 sts. Dc in next 3 sts. Tr in next 2 sts. Dc in next 3 sts. Hdc in next 2 sts. Sc in next 8 sts. Sl st in remaining 4 sts. Join.
This varying stitch height creates the gentle curve of the crescent. The slip stitches at the end flatten one side, giving that classic moon shape.
Round 4 (Background Fill): Join CC (your background color). Ch 3. Work dc evenly around the circle/crescent shape, placing (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) at each of the four corners as you establish the square shape. This round is where you square off the circle into a proper granny square. Place corner stitches at roughly the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions.
Round 5 (Granny Border Round 1): Continue in CC. Sl st to corner sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner sp. Ch 1, 3 dc evenly spaced along side, ch 1, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next corner sp; repeat around, join.
Round 6 (Granny Border Round 2): Work 3 dc in each ch-1 sp along each side, with (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner sp; repeat around, join. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Optional Embellishment: Use a small amount of MC yarn to surface slip stitch a few tiny stars around the moon — a simple plus sign (+) shape at various points creates a constellation effect that takes this square to the next level. You can also use embroidery thread in gold or silver for a sparkly effect.
Tips for Making Your Squares Even and Beautiful
Getting neat, uniform granny squares takes a little practice, but a few simple habits will make a huge difference right from the start.
Always start with the magic ring. It closes up tightly with no hole in the center, which makes your motif look polished and professional. If you’re new to the magic ring, watch a short video tutorial — it takes about two minutes to learn and will change your crochet life.
Count your stitches at the end of each round. A missing stitch in Round 2 will cause problems in Round 6. Taking 30 seconds to count keeps your work on track and saves you from frustrating frogging later.
Consistent tension is everything. Try to keep your yarn tension even throughout. If you notice your square is curling up at the edges, your tension is too tight — go up a hook size. If it’s floppy and won’t lie flat, go down a hook size.
Block your finished squares. Even the most wonky-looking granny square usually comes out perfect after a good blocking. Simply wet the square, squeeze out the excess water gently, pin it to a foam blocking mat into a perfect square shape, and let it dry completely. The difference is remarkable.
How to Download the Free PDF
The printable PDF for this sun and moon granny square pattern includes both the sun and moon motif versions, a full list of abbreviations, stitch diagrams, and a color reference guide. To get your free copy, scroll to the bottom of this post and click the download button. No email signup required — just a free, clean PDF you can print at home or save to your device and pull up whenever you need it.
Project Ideas: What to Make with Sun and Moon Granny Squares
Once you’ve made a few of these squares, the creative possibilities are genuinely endless. Here are some of the best projects to consider:
Celestial Baby Blanket: Using a soft, baby-safe yarn in pale yellows, creams, and soft blues, a blanket made from alternating sun and moon squares is an absolutely stunning baby shower gift. The symbolism is sweet — sunny days and dreamy nights — and the texture is gentle against baby skin.
Boho Wall Hanging: Make one large square or a small grouping of three squares in earthy tones — terracotta, burnt orange, ivory, and sage green — and hang them on a piece of driftwood with macramé cord. This is one of the most popular uses for statement granny squares right now.
Tote Bag: Work up four squares in matching or coordinating colors, sew them together into a flat rectangle, and add handles. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind market bag that gets compliments every time you take it out.
Pillow Cover: Sixteen squares sewn together (4 x 4) make a perfect cover for a standard 18-inch throw pillow. Use all sun squares for a sunny, cheerful vibe, all moon squares for something more moody and sophisticated, or alternate them for a full celestial effect.
Crochet Blanket: The classic use for granny squares, and still the best. A lap blanket takes around 48 squares using 8-inch squares, and a full throw blanket will need around 80–90. It’s a commitment, but working up one or two squares at a time in the evenings, you’ll have a finished blanket before you know it.
Color Palette Inspiration
If you’re not sure which colors to choose, here are a few tried-and-true combinations that work beautifully with this pattern:
For the sun square: golden yellow or mustard with off-white, rust orange with cream, or coral with ivory.
For the moon square: pearl white with midnight navy, soft lavender with deep plum, or silver grey with charcoal.
For a combined project: a warm palette of yellows, oranges, and creams for the sun squares paired with cool blues, purples, and whites for the moon squares creates a stunning yin-yang effect across the finished piece.
Sharing Your Finished Squares
One of the best parts of the crochet community is how generously people share their finished work. If you make this sun and moon granny square, please share a photo! Tag your post with #sunandsquare or #celestialcrochet so others can find it, and leave a comment below if you have any questions about the pattern. Seeing what you create is genuinely one of the most rewarding parts of putting a free pattern out into the world.
Whether you’re making your very first granny square or you’re adding to a collection of hundreds, this sun and moon design is one that will stay in your rotation for a long time. It’s the kind of pattern you come back to, gifting it, adapting it, and finding new color combinations to try every season.
Happy hooking — may every stitch be as bright as the sun and as peaceful as the moon.
