Use this crochet pattern at your own risk! The washers are choking hazards and the weight may not be appropriate for those with limited abilities. This is NOT a medical product!
This crochet pattern is also VERY basic, lacking the detailed how-to photos and explanations I usually add to my patterns. That’s why the printable download is free. Please be kind with your comments and critiques. If you have additional info you’d like to add, the comment section is open 😊
The squares are purposely kept small. I wanted to add as many washers as possible per square inch. Smaller squares means more squares, which hold more washers.
Join the squares together however you like. You can sew them together or make running SL STs to join them. Like I said, this is a limited crochet pattern and I’m not showing how to do that with this basic pattern.
Please scroll to the bottom of the page if you would prefer to download the FREE PDF version!
Things You Need
To make a 13.4 lb or 6.1 kg weighted blanket (a total of 96 square, lap sized blanket)
96 – 1.5” stainless steel washers. I got mine at Home Depot. Each weighs 64 grams
Worsted weight (8 ply) yarn in colours of your choice. You can use up yarn from your stash to make the flowers and surrounding border. (I haven’t finished the blanket myself as of yet so I can’t give firm amounts). A couple of 1 lb balls (like the Caron brand) should be more than enough if doing one solid colour.
Size 4.5 mm (G/7) crochet hook
Tapestry needle – to work in the ends
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To start and with one washer, hook your yarn and pull through the centre. YO and and pull through the loop. This does NOT count as the first SC. Make 24 SC through the hole around the washer. Join with a SL ST to the top of the first SC
Round 2: Ch 4 ◘ YO 3 times. Draw up a loop through the same st as join. YO and draw through the first 2 loops on your hook. YO. Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. YO Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. Leave the remaining loops on the hook unworked.◘ Repeat from ◘ to ◘ 3 more times. YO and draw through all 5 loops on your hook (petal made). Ch 2. Skip next 2 SC and in the 3rd SC.
☺♦ YO 3 times. Draw up a loop through the 3rd SC. YO and draw through the first 2 loops on your hook. YO. Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. YO Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. Leave the remaining loops on the hook unworked.♦ Repeat from ♦ to ♦ 4 more times. YO and draw through all 6 loops on your hook (petal made). Ch 2. Skip next 2 SC.☺ Repeat from ☺ to ☺ around. Join with SL ST to the top of the starting Ch 4. (8 flower petals).
Round 3: SL ST in first Ch 3 space. Ch 3 (counts as 1 DC) 2 DC. Ch 2. ♠In the next Ch 3 space, 3 DC, Ch 2, 3 DC, Ch 2 (corner made). In the next Ch 3 space, 3 DC Ch 2 ♠ Repeat from ♠ to ♠ around. In last Ch 3 space, 3 DC, Ch 2, 3 DC, Ch 2 (last corner made). Join with SL ST to top of starting Ch 3.
Round 4: Ch 1 (counts as first SC). SC in each of the next 2 DC. 2 SC in next Ch 2 space. ♫ SC in each of the next 3 DC. 5 SC in the corner Ch 2 space. SC in each of the next 3 DC. 2 SC in the next Ch 2 space. ☼ SC in each of the next 3 DC. 2 SC in the next Ch 2 space. ♫ Repeat from ♫ to ♫ around. End with the last repeat at the ☼ mark. Join with SL ST to the top of he starting Ch 1.
Each washer weighs 64 grams. The average weight of a weighted blanket is about 6.8 kg (15 lbs). A smallish, lap size blanket uses about 96 squares. The total number of washers to meet the weight is 106. If you double up with washers on 10 squares, you can meet the 6.8 kg total weight.
If that’s too heavy, there are plastic washers you can use to replace the metal washer so the squares all look the same. If you want a heavier blanket double up washers on more squares. You can also use smaller washers that weigh less. There are many options to adjust the weight.
And I bought these washers at Home Depot. The number on the washers is the bin number. I don’t know if that’s standard in all Home Depots.
Hold your yarn to the back of your work as you create each square. It will have you less ends to work in.
I decided to make a new style of bucket hat when I became enamoured with the many granny square hats I was seeing online. While I appreciate the basic granny square, I felt I needed to jazz up the square a bit. I found a very basic flat flower, which I liked, but I knew I could make it a bit nicer with a textured flower and more leaves.
While I wouldn’t say that this is a beginner pattern, I’ve supplied numerous photos to show you how to make all of the more complicated parts.
The hat itself is made to fit adults and is a one size fits most. It’s not too small to fit a larger head (that would be someone like me) but tight enough to be a roomy, easy fit for those with an average size head.out of 100% cotton yarn for comfort, but you can use whatever you prefer, or have on hand.
If you are looking for photos to help you along with the granny square, I made a separate post that will show you how with photos. I didn’t add them here because there are already so many photos, it would make for a behemoth of a post. It’s easier to just do 2. It makes it less of a burden on the server to separate them into different posts. To see the photos along with the written instructions, click this link – Flower and Leaves Granny Square – Easy Crochet Pattern
Use the Table of Contents tab on the left to easily navigate through the pattern and avoid photos if you don’t need them.
If you decide to purchase the downloadable PDF or the Kindle or paperback version on Amazon, the photos for everything ARE included in the single publication. If you want the printable copy you can buy it on this website here – Sunny Days Granny Square Bucket Hat, from my Etsy shop, Ravelry and the aforementioned, Amazon in both a Kindle and Paperback versions. If ordering the paperback, make sure you select the correct country. It’s set to USA by default.
Love the free patterns? You can say thanks in a couple of ways. You can read more about how you can Support My Work by clicking that link or make a small donation and Buy Me a Coffee. 👈🏼 That link is to a website where you can make a one time donation as a thanks. (FYI I have some great offers if you would like to buy me multiple coffees. You can see those by clicking on the Extras tab or you can click this link Janis Frank Extras).
Another way to support my work is by becoming a Member on this website. When you become a Website Supporter for $3/month, you’ll gain access to exclusive member only posts. These posts contain one click downloads of the patterns. Simply click the Download & Print button. The PDF will automatically download to your computer or smart device. You can then read it on your device or print it at your leisure. You can download as many patterns as you like for the same $3 each month. You can go to this page to learn more, become a member and support my work… Exclusive Member Area.
If you don’t want to or are unable to make a financial donation, sharing this pattern through social media is a great way to help out too! The links below are a super easy way for you to do so.
Things You Need
4 colours of worsted weight yarn (center, flower, leaves and hat body and brim). I used 100% cotton yarn for breathability in hot temperatures but you can use anything. You will need at least 2 of the smaller balls of cotton yarn for the main colour. I used the yarn that comes in the large balls of cotton yarn for my main colour.
3.5 mm (size E or 4) crochet hook
Stitch markers – spare pieces of yarn will work.
Tapestry needle to sew seams and work in ends
Gauge
In DC – double crochet
10 sts = 2 inches (5 cm)
5 rows = 2 inches (5 cm)
Each square measures approximately 12 cm (4.75 inches) wide.
The Granny Square (make 5)
With your choice of center colour,
Ch 2 making first chain large enough to fit the next 8 sts.
Round 1
8 HDC. Join with sl st at the top of the first ch. Break yarn.
In any HDC, join with sl st. Ch 1 and make it into a large loop. Pull up a large loop. YO. Pull up a loop. YO. Pull up a loop. YO draw through all the loops ion your hook. Ch 2. ♠ In the next HDC, *Pull up a loop. YO* Repeat from * to * 3 times more (total of 4 large loops). Draw through all loops on your hook. Ch 2 ♠ Repeat form ♠ to ♠ around for a total of 8 petals. Join with sl st to the first ch 1 of the first petal. Break yarn. Tie off.
Round 3
With your choice of leaf colour,
Join with sl st in any Ch 2 space. Ch 1 ♣ YO. Draw up a loop as if to make a DC. YO and draw through the first 2 loops on your hook. Leave the remaining loops on your hook unworked.♣ Repeat from ♣ to ♣ one more time. YO and draw through the all loops on your hook. (Small middle leaf complete). ▲ Ch 4.. In the next Ch 2 space, ♥ ◘ YO 3 times. Draw up a loop as before. YO and draw through the first 2 loops on your hook. YO. Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. YO Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. Leave the remaining loops on the hook unworked.◘Repeat from ◘ to ◘ 2 more times. YO and draw through all 4 loops on your hook. ♥ (1st corner leaf made). Ch 5. Repeat from ♥ to ♥ 1 time staying in the same Ch 5 space of the leaf just made. (2nd corner leaf made). Ch 4. In the next Ch 2 space, Repeat from ♣ to ♣ but repeat 3 times total. (Small middle leaf made).▲ Repeat from ▲ to ▲ ending with last 2 corner leaves. Ch 4. Join with sl st to the top of 1st small middle leaf. Break yarn. Tie off.
Round 4
With your choice of edging colour,
Join with sl st in the DC of any small middle leaf, Ch 2. ♫ In the next Ch 4 space, (DC, HDC, SC). SC in each of the next 2 sts. In the Ch 5 corner space, 5 SC, SC in each of the next 2 sts. In the Ch 4 space (SC, HDC, DC) DC in the next 2 sts. ♫ Repeat from ♫ to ♫ ending with 1 DC in the next st. Join with sl st in the top of the starting Ch 2.
Round 5
Working evenly over the sts unless otherwise stated, 6 SC, 3 SC in the corner st, ☼ 16 SC, 3 SC in the corner st. ☼ Repeat from ☼ to ☼ 2 more times. 8 SC. Join with sl st in starting SC. Break yarn. Tie off.
Make 4 more granny squares. Join squares together to make a circle. You can sew them together or use a sl st along the edges. Make the seam from middle corner SC to the middle corner SC.
With the RIGHT side of the circle facing you, and on either edge, count back 4 sts from any joining seam. Join yarn with a sl st, SC, HDC, DC. Place a st marker at the seam. 18 DC *2DCtog twice. 16 DC. Place st marker on the seam* Repeat from * to * around to the 2 sts before the st marker. Do NOT join! You will now work continuously around the top of the hat.
Round 2 and beyond
☺ 2DCtog on each side of the st marker. DC to the 2 sts before the st marker. ☺. Repeat around from ☺ to ☺ until there are no sts between the 2DCtog. Make 2DCtog until there are 6 sts left. HDC over 2 sts. (Pull up loop in next 2 sts. YO and draw through all 3 loops on your hook). Join with a sl st in the next st. Break yarn. Tie off. Work in end.
Hat Brim
Round 1
With the RIGHT side of the hat facing you, count back 4 sts from any joining seam. SC, HDC, DC. Place a st marker at the seam. DC around to st marker. Do NOT join but work in continuous rounds.
Round 2
◊ 4 DC 2DC in next st. ◊ Repeat around from ◊ to ◊ to the st marker.
Round 3
8 DC, 2 DC in next st. ♪ 5 DC 2DC in next st. ♪ Repeat around from ♪ to ♪ to the st marker. 2 DC in last st. (don’t worry if your off by a few sts).
Round 4
DC around to the st marker. HDC, SC, sl st in the next st to join. Ch 1. Turn.
Round 5
With the WRONG side facing you, SC around to st marker. Join with sl st in Ch 1. Break yarn. Tie off. Work in ends.
Abbreviations
SC – single crochet
DC – double crochet
HDC – half double crochet
2DCtog – crochet 2 sts together. Do NOT YO. Pull up a loop in the next st as if to make a SC. Pull up a loop in the next st. YO. Draw through 2 loops on your hook. YO. Draw through the 2 loops on your hook. Decrease made. 2 stitches are now crocheted together.
YO – yarn over
sl st – slip stitch
st – stitch
sts – stitches
Hints and Tips
If counts are off for round 5, SC as many sts as you need to get to the middle st of the corner. Make sure the 3 sts in one st are always in the middle st.
There are a lot of ends when you make a multi-coloured granny square. Work the ends in as you crochet. Hold your yarn to the back of your work and catch the end over a few sts while you crochet. There are lots of great videos online that can show how.
If you would like a wider brim on your hat, DC with increases every other row around. End one row of DC without increases and a row of SC.
If the hat is too big or too small, you can always switch up the hook size. Use a smaller hook to make it smaller, and a larger hook for a bigger one. I wouldn’t add or take away a square as they are quite large and will make a big difference in the size. A larger size hook will also make the brim less stiff and more floppy. Please note I can’t help you with sizing if you’ve changed the hook size.
I decided to make a new style of bucket hat when I became enamoured with the many granny square hats I was seeing online. While I appreciate the basic granny square, I felt I needed to jazz up the square a bit. While this square is used in the hat, this particular pattern is for the square only.
What can you do with a square? Pretty much anything. A square can be used as a square of course, like a coaster. It’s when you start adding those squares together that you really can do more. Attached them together to make a scarf, more squares to make a larger square for a pillow. Add a lot of squares and make an afghan. Put them together in creative ways to make the body and sleeves of a sweater, or diagonally and make a bag. Add extra stitches to make a hat, more stitches on one side to make a small purse. It really is only limited by imagination.
Use the Table of Contents tab on the left to go to the next round without scrolling past the photos.
Love the free patterns? You can say thanks in a couple of ways. You can read more about how you can Support My Work by clicking that link or make a small donation and Buy Me a Coffee. 👈🏼 That link is to a website where you can make a one time donation as a thanks. (FYI I have some great offers if you would like to buy me multiple coffees. You can see those by clicking on the Extras tab or you can click this link Janis Frank Extras).
Another way to support my work is by becoming a Member on this website. When you become a Website Supporter for $3/month, you’ll gain access to exclusive member only posts. These posts contain one click downloads of the patterns. Simply click the Download & Print button. The PDF will automatically download to your computer or smart device. You can then read it on your device or print it at your leisure. You can download as many patterns as you like for the same $3 each month. You can go to this page to learn more, become a member and support my work… Exclusive Member Area. This pattern is NOT in the member area.
If you don’t want to or are unable to make a financial donation, sharing this pattern through social media is a great way to help out too! The links below are a super easy way for you to do so.
Unlike most of my patterns, this one is NOT available as a printable version, yet. I’m planning on developing a collection of granny squares I’m going to make available. And I have a hat pattern I’m working on where this square will be added in full. But for now, you can scroll along and make the square as you go.
Things You Need
4 colours of worsted weight yarn (center, flower, leaves and border)
3.5 mm (size E or 4) crochet hook
Tapestry needle to sew seams and work in ends
Gauge
In DC – double crochet
10 sts = 2 inches (5 cm)
5 rows = 2 inches (5 cm)
Each square measures approximately 12 cm (4.75 inches) wide.
This is a fairly densely packed square with more sts per inch. It’s not very “floppy” and is more stiff. If you are wanting more flexibility in your final project, like a blanket, use a larger hook, like a 5 mm (Size H or 6) or so.
If you are making the hat pattern (coming soon!) you’ll need 5 squares.
The Pattern
With your choice of center colour,
Ch 2 making first chain large enough to fit the next 8 sts.
Round 1
8 HDC. Join with sl st at the top of the first ch. Break yarn.
Round 2
With your choice of flower petal colour,
In any HDC, join with sl st. Ch 1 and make it into a large loop. Pull up a large loop. YO. Pull up a loop. YO. Pull up a loop. YO draw through all the loops ion your hook. Ch 2. ♠ In the next HDC, *Pull up a loop. YO* Repeat from * to * 3 times more (total of 4 large loops). Draw through all loops on your hook. Ch 2 ♠ Repeat form ♠ to ♠ around for a total of 8 petals. Join with sl st to the first ch 1 of the first petal. Break yarn. Tie off.
Pattern continues after photos. Use the Table of Contents tab on the left to go to the next round without scrolling past the photos.
Round 3
With your choice of leaf colour,
Join with sl st in any Ch 2 space. Ch 1 ♣ YO. Draw up a loop as if to make a DC. YO and draw through the first 2 loops on your hook. Leave the remaining loops on your hook unworked.♣ Repeat from ♣ to ♣ one more time. YO and draw through the all loops on your hook. (Small middle leaf complete). ▲ Ch 4.. In the next Ch 2 space, ♥ ◘ YO 3 times. Draw up a loop as before. YO and draw through the first 2 loops on your hook. YO. Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. YO Draw through the next 2 loops on your hook. Leave the remaining loops on the hook unworked.◘Repeat from ◘ to ◘ 2 more times. YO and draw through all 4 loops on your hook. ♥ (1st corner leaf made). Ch 5. Repeat from ♥ to ♥ 1 time staying in the same Ch 5 space of the leaf just made. (2nd corner leaf made). Ch 4. In the next Ch 2 space, Repeat from ♣ to ♣ but repeat 3 times total. (Small middle leaf made).▲ Repeat from ▲ to ▲ ending with last 2 corner leaves. Ch 4. Join with sl st to the top of 1st small middle leaf. Break yarn. Tie off.
Round 4
With your choice of edging colour,
Join with sl st in the DC of any small middle leaf, Ch 2. ♫ In the next Ch 4 space, (DC, HDC, SC). SC in each of the next 2 sts. In the Ch 5 corner space, 5 SC, SC in each of the next 2 sts. In the Ch 4 space (SC, HDC, DC) DC in the next 2 sts. ♫ Repeat from ♫ to ♫ ending with 1 DC in the next st. Join with sl st in the top of the starting Ch 2.
Round 5
Working evenly over the sts unless otherwise stated Ch 3, 6 DC, 3 DC in the corner st, ☼ 16 DC, 3 DC in the corner st. ☼ Repeat from ☼ to ☼ 2 more times. 8 DC. Join with sl st in starting Ch 3. Break yarn. Tie off.
Please note:You can substitute SC for the DC in round 5. Photos of the granny square show the squares with DC edging. If using SC don’t Ch 3.
Abbreviations
SC – single crochet
DC – double crochet
HDC – half double crochet
YO – yarn over
sl st – slip stitch
st – stitch
sts – stitches
Hints and Tips
If counts are off for round 5, DC as many sts as you need to get to the middle st of the corner (I marked it in the photo). Make sure the 3 sts in one st are always in the middle st.
There are a lot of ends when you make a multi-coloured granny square. To help with things, hold your yarn to the back of your work and catch the end over a few sts while you crochet. There are lots of great videos online that can show how.