These little crochet suns are sure to brighten your day.

They would be a great addition to a baby’s mobile…

or hanging in a school locker…

or on the rear dash of a car…

anyplace that needs cheering up
(I’m thinking every dentist office needs at least one).

Look how much it brightens up this workspace.

They’re fun to cuddle too.

I’m hoping to modify this pattern to make a big sun pillow at some point. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂

Cuddly Sun Crochet Pattern

Finished Size: 6″ tall by 6″ wide by 1 1/2″ deep

Materials

Worsted-weight yarn in orange (Caron Simply Soft in Mango 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
Worsted-weight yarn in yellow (Vanna’s Choice by Lion Brand in Duckie 3.5 oz [100 g] / 170 yds [156 m])
Worsted-weight yarn in black or embroidery floss for smiley face
G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
Polyester Fiberfill
Place marker (PM) or waste yarn
Tapestry needle
2 10-mm buttons for eyes (If making this for a child, please consider embroidering the eyes instead.)

Instructions

Sun (Make 2)

With orange, ch 2 or begin with a magic loop.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (or into the magic loop and pull tight to close).

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. (12)

Rnd 3: * sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (18)

Rnd 4: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Rnd 5: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnd 6: * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (36)

Rnd 7: * 5 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (42)

Rnd 8: * 6 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (48)

Rnd 9: * 7 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Join with slst. (54)

FO and weave in ends.

Joining Rnd: Arrange sides of the sun together with RS facing out. Align stitches. Pick one set of stitches and pull up a loop of orange through them both, ch 1. Sc in each set of stitches all the way around to join the 2 sides together. Stuff firmly with Fiberfill when you get about ¾ of the way around. Do not FO. (54)

Put a PM in the FL of the 1st sc of the Joining Rnd.

Sunshine Rays

Rnd 1: Continuing with orange, sc in BL of ea of next 4 sc. * Ch 8, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, tr in next 2 ch, dtr in next 2 ch, sk next 5 BLs, sc in next BL, rep from * 7 more times. Ch 8, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, tr in next 2 ch, dtr in next 2 ch, sk next 5 BLs, slst in BL of next sc. FO, and weave in ends.

Rnd 2: With yellow, pull up a loop in the FL you marked with the PM, ch 2. In FLs only, dc, 2 tr, dc, ch 2 and sc, * sc and ch 2, dc, 2 tr, dc, ch 2 and sc, rep from * 7 more times. FO and weave in ends.

Sew on eyes and embroider a smile.

If you want your sunshine rays to stand straight and tall, you may need to starch and block them. Otherwise they will probably curl a bit, which kinda looks cool too in my opinion.

You might also attach a contrasting color yarn in any of the stitches or chains of Rnd 1 of the rays. Slst in each stitch around, while doing (slst, ch 1, slst) in the point of each ray. I found that in addition to looking pretty snazzy, it also helps the rays stand up straight. To embroider a smiley face like this one, visit my smiley face tutorial.