How to Make a Granny Square Cardigan — The Sunlight Cardigan by Bethany Lynne Makes
There is something deeply satisfying about turning a pile of yarn into a wearable garment, and few projects capture that feeling quite like a granny square cardigan. The Sunlight Cardigan by Bethany Lynne Makes is one of those patterns that has captured the hearts of crocheters everywhere, and it’s easy to understand why. It combines the nostalgia of classic granny squares with a modern, wearable silhouette that looks just as good on a coffee run as it does at a weekend farmers market. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter looking for your next big project or someone who has completed a few squares and wants to take the leap into garment making, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make your own Sunlight Cardigan.
What Is the Sunlight Cardigan?
The Sunlight Cardigan is a crocheted garment pattern designed by Bethany Lynne, the creative force behind Bethany Lynne Makes. The pattern is built around classic granny squares that are joined together to form a relaxed, oversized cardigan with a boho-inspired aesthetic. The cardigan typically features an open front, a comfortable fit, and optional border or edging details that tie the whole piece together.
What makes this pattern particularly appealing is its versatility. You can make it in a single colorway for a more polished, cohesive look, or you can go full stash-buster mode and use every color you have on hand to create something vibrant and eclectic. The construction method — joining pre-made squares — also means you can work on it in pieces, which is perfect if you’re someone who crochets in small pockets of time throughout the day.
The pattern has gained a significant following in the crochet community, particularly on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Ravelry, where makers share their finished versions with a sense of pride that is entirely warranted. Once you’ve made one, you’ll understand the hype.
Materials You’ll Need
Before you cast on (or rather, before you pull up a loop), let’s talk about what you’ll need to gather.
Yarn
The Sunlight Cardigan is typically made with a DK or worsted weight yarn, depending on which version of the pattern you’re following. Bethany Lynne often uses a smooth, round yarn that shows the stitch definition of the granny squares clearly. Cotton blends and acrylic yarns are both popular choices because they hold their shape well and are easy to care for. If you’re making this cardigan for warmer weather wear, a cotton or cotton-linen blend will give you a breathable, lightweight fabric. For a cozier version, a soft acrylic or wool blend adds warmth without too much weight.
The amount of yarn you’ll need depends on your size, but expect to use anywhere from 800 to 1,500 yards for most sizes. Checking the pattern’s specific yardage requirements before you begin is always a good idea, especially if you’re working from a stash.
Hook Size
The hook size will be specified in the pattern, but for DK weight yarn, a 4mm or 4.5mm hook is common. For worsted weight, a 5mm or 5.5mm hook is typical. As always, swatch before you start. Gauge matters in garment making in a way that it simply doesn’t in, say, making a dishcloth, so taking fifteen minutes to crochet a test square and measure it against the pattern gauge can save you hours of frustration later.
Other Supplies
You’ll also want a yarn needle for weaving in ends and joining squares if you choose to do so with a needle rather than a hook, scissors, stitch markers, and a measuring tape. A blocking mat and pins are highly recommended, especially if you want your finished cardigan to have clean, defined squares and a polished drape.
Understanding the Granny Square Construction
The granny square is one of crochet’s most iconic motifs, and for good reason. It’s worked in the round, usually starting from a central ring, and builds outward in a series of cluster stitches (typically groups of three double crochets) separated by chain spaces at the corners. The result is a small, square medallion that can be worked quickly once you get into a rhythm.
For the Sunlight Cardigan, you’ll need to make a specific number of squares in a consistent size, as the overall dimensions of the cardigan depend on them all being the same. This is why gauge matters so much — if your squares are even slightly too big or too small, the cardigan’s proportions will be off.
Most granny squares for this type of project are worked over three to five rounds. A three-round square will give you a smaller, denser motif, while a five-round square produces something larger and more open. Bethany Lynne’s pattern specifies the size and round count for you, so follow those instructions carefully, especially for your first cardigan.
If you’ve never made a granny square before, don’t let that intimidate you. There are countless free video tutorials available, and Bethany Lynne herself has tutorials on her YouTube channel that walk you through the process step by step. The learning curve is genuinely short — most people are comfortable making squares within an hour or two of their first attempt.
Making Your Squares
Once you have your materials ready and you understand the basic construction of a granny square, it’s time to start making squares. Lots of them.
The best approach is to make all your squares before you begin joining them. This gives you a clearer picture of how the finished project will look, allows you to adjust your color distribution if needed, and means you can do all your joining in one focused session rather than switching back and forth.
If you’re working with multiple colors, lay your squares out on a flat surface before joining to plan your color placement. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the process — arranging and rearranging until the combination feels right. Some people prefer an organized, repeating pattern, while others like a more scattered, random look. Both approaches produce beautiful results, so let your personal taste guide you.
As you make each square, try to keep your tension consistent. This is something that naturally improves with practice, but it helps to crochet at a similar time of day, in a similar posture, with similar levels of focus. Tension tends to change when you’re tired, rushed, or distracted, so if you notice your squares are getting looser or tighter over time, take a break and come back when you can give the work your full attention.
Weaving in ends as you go is a matter of personal preference. Some crocheters prefer to do all their finishing at the end, while others find it more satisfying to finish each square completely before moving on. For a project with a large number of squares, the latter approach can make the finishing process feel far less overwhelming.
Blocking Your Squares
Blocking is one of those steps that many beginner crocheters skip, and it genuinely makes a significant difference to the final result. Blocking involves wetting or steaming your finished squares and pinning them into shape while they dry, which helps even out the stitches, opens up the lace-like structure of the granny pattern, and ensures all your squares are the same size.
For cotton or acrylic yarn, wet blocking works well. Soak your squares in cool water for about twenty minutes, gently squeeze out the excess water (never wring crochet — it can distort the stitches), then lay them on a blocking mat and pin them to the correct dimensions. Allow them to dry completely before removing the pins.
For wool or wool-blend yarns, steam blocking or wet blocking both work, but be careful with steam to keep the iron from touching the yarn directly, as heat can damage some fibers.
Blocking all your squares to a uniform size before joining ensures that your finished cardigan lies flat, the seams look clean, and the overall structure of the garment is neat. It’s an extra step, but it’s one of those things you’ll be glad you did when you’re wearing the finished piece.
Joining Your Squares
There are several methods for joining granny squares, and the Sunlight Cardigan pattern will specify which method Bethany Lynne recommends. The most common options include the join-as-you-go method, the flat slip stitch join, the standing double crochet join, and the classic whip stitch join with a needle.
The join-as-you-go method, as the name suggests, involves attaching each new square to the previous one as you finish the last round, rather than making all your squares first and joining them afterward. This eliminates the need for a separate joining step but requires a bit more planning in terms of knowing the order in which squares should be joined.
The flat slip stitch join is popular because it creates a relatively discreet seam that lies flat without adding significant bulk. You hold two squares with wrong sides together and slip stitch through the back loops of both pieces along the edge, then open them out flat.
For beginners, the whip stitch join with a yarn needle is often the easiest to learn. You align two squares with right sides facing, thread a length of yarn through your needle, and sew through the outer loops of both squares with a simple overhand stitch. The result is a slightly raised seam on the wrong side that adds a nice structural element.
Whatever method you use, aim for consistency. A cardigan where all the seams are done the same way will always look more polished than one where the joinery method varies across the garment.
Assembling the Cardigan
Once your squares are joined into panels, the assembly of the cardigan comes together relatively quickly. The Sunlight Cardigan is typically constructed by joining squares into rectangular panels that form the back, the two fronts, and the sleeves, then seaming those panels together at the shoulders and sides.
Bethany Lynne’s pattern will provide a schematic — a simple diagram showing how many squares go in each section and how they’re arranged. Following this carefully is important, especially for the sleeve panels, which need to be oriented correctly to avoid a twisted or awkward fit at the arm.
After the main panels are seamed, you’ll typically pick up stitches around the armhole openings and work the sleeves downward in joined rounds, or attach pre-made square sleeve panels. Some versions of the pattern use a drop shoulder construction, which simplifies the fitting process considerably and is very forgiving in terms of sizing.
Adding the Border and Finishing Details
The finishing touches on the Sunlight Cardigan are what elevate it from a collection of joined squares to a truly polished, wearable garment. Bethany Lynne typically includes a border worked around the entire outer edge of the cardigan — along the front opening, across the hem, and up the other front — as well as around the cuffs.
This border often uses the same stitch pattern as the squares themselves, tying the whole piece together visually. It also helps stabilize the edges and gives the cardigan a tidy, finished appearance that makes it look professional even when made at home.
When working the border on the front opening, pay attention to whether the pattern asks you to add any additional chain spaces or increases at the corners to keep the edge lying flat. Borders that are worked too tightly will cause the fronts to curl inward, while borders worked too loosely will ruffle or wave. Take your time with this step and be prepared to rework it if the first attempt doesn’t lie flat.
After completing the border, weave in any remaining ends thoroughly. For a garment that will be worn and washed regularly, it’s worth taking extra care here — weave each tail through several inches of stitching in different directions to ensure it won’t work loose over time.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Making your first granny square cardigan is an adventure, and a few practical tips can help you get the best possible outcome from the experience.
Swatching is non-negotiable. Yes, it feels like an obstacle between you and the fun of starting, but an accurate gauge swatch made with your actual yarn and hook will tell you whether your finished cardigan will be the right size. Measure your swatch carefully and adjust your hook size if needed before committing to making dozens of squares.
Trust the pattern. Bethany Lynne has put considerable thought and testing into the Sunlight Cardigan pattern, and if you follow her instructions carefully, the finished product will look as good as the examples you see online. Resist the urge to improvise too much on your first run, especially with construction-related decisions.
Work at a comfortable pace. This isn’t a project that needs to be rushed. One of the joys of granny square garments is that you can make a few squares, set the project down for a while, and pick it up again without losing your place. Give yourself permission to enjoy the process.
Join a community. The online crochet community is wonderfully supportive, and there are dedicated groups for Bethany Lynne Makes patterns where you can ask questions, share progress photos, and find encouragement when a section feels tricky. Seeing others working on the same pattern makes the project feel like a shared experience rather than a solitary one.
Why the Sunlight Cardigan Is Worth Making
The Sunlight Cardigan earns its popularity. It’s a project that scales beautifully across skill levels — experienced makers can fly through the squares and experiment with complex color work, while newer garment makers will find the construction logical and approachable. The finished cardigan is a genuinely wearable piece that holds its own alongside anything you might find in a boutique, and the pride of wearing something you made yourself from scratch is genuinely unmatched.
Beyond the practical result, making this cardigan is a satisfying creative experience. There’s a meditative quality to working granny squares, a quiet rhythm of cluster-chain-corner that your hands learn quickly and then do almost automatically. By the time you’re joining your last seam and working your border, you’ll understand exactly why Bethany Lynne’s pattern has inspired so many makers to pick up their hooks and fill their homes with color and texture.
If you’ve been on the fence about starting the Sunlight Cardigan, consider this your sign. Gather your yarn, pick your colors, and make yourself something beautiful.
