The Sun Dial motif is a square crochet afghan block using basic stitches, post stitches, and complex variations to create lots of interesting fabric texture!
This crochet afghan block is made with simple stitches to quickly create a gorgeous fabric that is really fun to crochet.
This pattern is worked in joined rounds using chains, single, double, and triple crochet stitches, with specialty stitches back post double and triple, front post double and triple, and back loops only.
In addition to the written instructions, you can use the stitch chart to follow every step and successfully make your own Sundial Motif and blanket.
Follow the crochet afghan block pattern to create a standard throw or create as many blocks as you want for a blanket size that you choose!
The Sundial Motif and Throw crochet afghan block is a great pattern because:
- Each motif is created separately, then joined together when you’re done (it’s portable, hooray)!
- Each motif is quick and fun to work up!
- You can easily substitute yarn fibers, weights, and colors to make this motif and finished afghan your own style!
- You’ll get to practice a lot of crochet skills: working in joined rounds, increasing, front and back post stitches, complex stitch repeats, gauge & size, border, finishing techniques & more!
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Table of contents
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Policy for Individual Use
This crochet pattern is designed by Salena Baca Crochet for the American Crochet Association.
Pattern instructions are protected by copyright laws.
Users must acknowledge and respect the intellectual property rights of pattern creators and designers as follows:
- This pattern is for personal use only. Pattern instructions may be accessed and used by individuals for personal, non-commercial purposes only. Users may create finished products based on the pattern instructions for personal use or gifting.
- Users may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works of pattern instructions without explicit permission from the copyright holder.
- Selling or commercially exploiting products made from pattern instructions will require additional permissions or licensing from the copyright holder.
- It is unlawful to share or distribute pattern instructions in any way, including but not limited to: print, digital, video.
- It is unlawful to create derivative works based on pattern instructions, including but not limited to translations, adaptations, or variations.
- Users should provide proper attribution when sharing or displaying finished products made using these pattern instructions, giving credit to the original pattern creator and source.
- Users are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical and respectful manner when using pattern instructions. Users should not engage in plagiarism, claim others’ work as their own, or misrepresent the origin of pattern instructions.
By accessing and using pattern instructions, individuals agree to abide by the usage policy herein.
Users may be held responsible for any damages or legal liabilities resulting from their non-compliance with this policy.
Ravelry – Purchase a PDF File
For a copy of this pattern on Ravelry, you can purchase a downloadable PDF version right here:
Etsy – Purchase a PDF File
For a copy of this pattern on Etsy, you can purchase a downloadable PDF version right here:
Crochet Afghan Block – Resources
What is a Crochet Afghan Block
A crochet afghan block pattern is a design used to create individual square motifs that are later joined together to form a larger blanket or throw, known as an afghan.
Crochet afghan block patterns can vary greatly in complexity and style.
Crocheters often create multiple blocks using the same motif or pattern and then join them using methods such as sewing or crocheting them together.
This allows for customization in color schemes, stitch variations, and overall design, resulting in a unique and personalized finished afghan.
If you want to see more crochet afghan block patterns, here are a few you can also view on our website:
Danyel’s Motif: Afghan Block Crochet Pattern
Vanna’s Afghan Square: Colorful Crochet Pattern Motif
Finished Crochet Afghan Block Projects
Follow my Sundial Crochet Afghan block pattern instructions here to make the blanket size outlined here.
If you’re looking for some inspiration before you get started, click on over to Ravelry to view other finished Sundial Crochet Afghan projects, including the yarn types and colors used so far: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sun-dial-throw
Crochet Blanket Sizes
You can make these crochet afghan blocks in any size you choose to create a blanket in any size you need.
Just measure each one as you go for the best results.
For a little extra help, be sure to check out our size guide with tips, stitches to follow, even more crochet patterns to follow, and a blanket size cheat sheet, here: Crochet Blanket Sizes: Tips, stitches, patterns, and a cheat sheet
How To Read Crochet Repeats
Want help reading the asterisk, bracket, and parenthesis stitch repeats?
This crochet pattern is written using complex repeat symbols like asterisk, bracket, and parentheses.
If you’re not familiar with reading and following all of these repeat symbols together at one time, here are some tips that will help: How to read a crochet pattern with asterisk, bracket, and parenthesis!
Right and Wrong Sides in Crochet
Not all crochet projects have a right side (front) and a wrong side (back), but these crochet crochet afghan blocks definitely do.
Be sure to note the right side of the fabric as you work the pattern instructions, and join your finished crochet afghan blocks so that each one is facing the same direction.
For even more details, I’ve put together my favorite tips (with photo tutorials) right here: Right and Wrong Sides in Crochet: What does this mean?
How To make a Sundial Crochet Afghan Block
Yarn
Sprightly Acrylic Worsted, Medium Weight #4 (100% Acrylic; 201 yds/183 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein):
- Teal x 13 skeins
To find other natural fibers, or other brands that carry cotton yarn, I suggest looking on yarnsub.com and comparing the yarn used to write this pattern.
You can read more about how to substitute yarn, including my best tips to choose yarn alternatives, right here: Understanding Yarn Substitution – An Easy Reference For Crocheters
If you want to use a substitute, here are some yarns I recommend for this project:
Materials
Gauge
- 25 pattern Sts = 10”
- 10 pattern rounds = 5”
Size and Finished Measurements
- 1 motif = 10” x 10”
- Sample throw = 50” x 50”
Stitch Key
This crochet stitch pattern is worked with the following basic crochet stitches.
You can see these stitches in action as you watch these video tutorials (just click on the underlined text):
- Ch(s) = chain(s)
- Sc = single crochet
- Dc = double crochet
- Tc = triple crochet
- St(s) = stitch(es)
- Sl St = slip stitch
Specialty Stitches and Techniques
With so many different places and spaces to work in crochet, it can be easy to wonder where you should place your hook to work specialty stitches.
Here are some tips and resources to help: Where do stitches go in crochet: All the places and spaces to put your hook
- Adjustable Loop
- BPDc = Back Post Double Crochet
- BPTc = Back Post Triple Crochet
- FPDc = Front Post Double Crochet
- FPTc = Front Post Triple Crochet
- BLO = Back Loops Only
Pattern Notes:
- Each motif is worked individually, then joined together once complete.
- To alter throw in size, create desired number of squares & join accordingly.
- If resizing; 1 skein of suggested yarn makes 2 motifs.
- Chart of 1 (figure 1) motif on last page.
- Diagram of joining order (figure 2).
Sun Dial Crochet Afghan Block – Instructions
Crochet Afghan Block (Make 25)
- Round 1 (Right Side): Form adjustable loop, Ch 3 (not a St, here and throughout), work 12 Dc into loop, Sl St to top of first St to join – 12 Dc
- Round 2: Ch 3, (FPTc, Dc) 12 times, Sl St to top of first St to join – 24 Sts; 12 FPTc + 12 Dc
- Round 3: Ch 3, [FPTc around FPTc, Dc into next 2 Sts] 12 times, Sl St to top of first St to join – 36 Sts; 12 FPTc + 24 Dc
- Round 4: Ch 3, [FPTc around FPTc, Dc into next 3 Sts] 12 times, Sl St to top of first St to join – 48 Sts; 12 FPTc + 36 Dc
- Round 5: Ch 3, [FPTc around FPTc, Dc into next 4 Sts] 12 times, Sl St to top of first St to join – 60 Sts; 12 FPTc + 48 Dc
- Round 6: Ch 3, [FPTc around FPTc, Dc into next 5 Sts] 12 times, Sl St to top of first St to join – 72 Sts; 12 FPTc + 60 Dc
- Round 7: Ch 4 (first Tc + Ch 1, here and throughout), work 3 Tc into same St, skip 2 Sts, Sc, *[skip 2 Sts, (3 Dc, Ch 1, 3 Dc) into same St, skip 2 Sts, Sc] 2 times, skip 2 Sts, (3 Tc, Ch 1, 3 Tc) into same St, skip 2 Sts, Sc*. Repeat * to * 3 times. Skip 2 Sts, Sc, [skip 2 Sts, (3 Dc, Ch 1, 3 Dc) into same St, skip 2 Sts, Sc] 2 times, work 2 Tc into 1st St of round, Sl St to top of first Tc to join – 96 Sts; 48 Dc + 24 Tc + 12 Sc + 12 Ch
- Round 8: Sl St into Ch-1 space, Ch 4, Tc into Ch-1 space, BPTc around next 3 Tc, skip Sc, *[BPDc around 3 Dc, Sc into Ch-1 space, BPDc around 3 Dc, skip Sc] 2 times, BPTc around 3 Tc, (Tc, Ch 1, Tc) into Ch-1 space, BPTc around 3 Tc, skip Sc*. Repeat * to * 3 times. [BPDc around 3 Dc, Sc into Ch-1, BPDc around 3 Dc, skip Sc] 2 times, BPTc around 3 Tc, Sl St to top of first Tc to join – 92 Sts; 48 BPDc + 24 BPTc + 8 Sc + 4 Ch + 8 Tc
- Round 9: Sl St into Ch-1 space, Ch 4, Tc into Ch-1 space, [BPDc around next 22 Sts, (Tc, Ch 1, Tc) into next Ch-1 space] 3 times, BPDc around next 22 Sts, Sl St to top of first Tc to join – 100 Sts; 88 BPDc + 8 Tc + 4 Ch
- Round 10: Sl St into Ch-1 space, Ch 4, Tc into Ch-1 space, [ Hdc into next 24 Sts, (Tc, Ch 1, Tc) into next Ch-1 space] 3 times, Hdc into next 24 Sts, Sl St to top of first Tc to join, fasten off – 108 Sts; 96 Hdc + 8 Tc + 4 Ch
Sundial Crochet Afghan Block – Stitch Chart
Joining Crochet Afghan Blocks
This method joins pieces of crochet together once they are all complete.
The technique is applied by completing all pieces of crochet, or pieces of fabric, first, then joining all pieces together with a seam of crochet.
If you would like to watch a tutorial to see how the Crochet Together When Done technique is applied, try this: 9 Easy Ways To Join Crochet Pieces Together
Use Figure 2 as a guide for joins. With Right Sides facing, arrange motifs into joining order; 5 rows of 5 motifs. Begin with any 2:
- Hold 2 adjacent motifs with wrong sides together. Beginning at first Ch-1 corner, attach yarn through both thicknesses. Sl St into BLO of each St across both motifs (and for remaining 4 pairs of motifs) until last Ch-1 St is met. Fasten off.
- Repeat above for each horizontal join.
- Rotate throw, repeat above for each vertical join.
Sundial Crochet Afghan Bock – Joining Diagram
Border
With the Right Side of Throw facing, attach yarn into any Ch-1 corner.
Round 1: Ch 4 (first Dc + Ch1), Dc, [*FPDc around next St, BPDc around following St* repeat from * to * across side (including 1 Tc St per Join, next to seam), (Dc, Ch 1, Dc) into Ch-1 corner space] 3 times, FPDc around next St, BPDc around following St across side, Sl St into top of first Dc to join, fasten off.
Finishing
Sew in the ends, trim excess.
Video Chat
To hear more about the Sundial Crochet Afghan Bock pattern from the author Salena Baca, watch this quick video chat right here:
Click Here to share your finished project in our community!
Peace + Love + Crochet
Salena
