Solar Flare Sunburst Wall Hanging Free Pattern – Crocheted Textured Mandala

Bring the Golden Hour Indoors: The Solar Flare Sunburst Wall Hanging

Imagine a sunset captured in thread—a radiant burst of burnt orange, mustard yellow, terracotta, and cream, frozen in time on your wall. That’s the magic of the Solar Flare Sunburst Wall Hanging. This crocheted textured mandala is more than just a craft project; it’s a statement piece that infuses any room with cozy, bohemian warmth. With its intricate layered petals and dimensional rays, this pattern is surprisingly achievable for confident beginners and a joy for seasoned crocheters. Let’s dive into creating this stunning focal point together.

Materials Needed

Before we begin, gather your supplies. Using the right materials ensures your sunburst hangs beautifully and holds its shape for years to come.

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn in four warm tones:
  • 100g Burnt Orange
  • 80g Mustard Yellow
  • 60g Terracotta
  • 40g Cream
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving ends, scissors
• Hanging Hardware: A wooden dowel or branch (12–14 inches long) and a piece of yarn or twine for the hanging loop

Gauge: First 5 rounds = 4 inches in diameter. (Don’t stress about perfect gauge—this is a wall hanging, so slight variations just change the final size slightly.)

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• MR: Magic ring
• ch: Chain
• sl st: Slip stitch
• sc: Single crochet
• hdc: Half double crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• tr: Treble crochet
• puff st: Puff stitch (yo, insert hook, pull up loop) 4 times, yo, pull through all loops on hook
• picot: ch 3, sl st in first ch

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these rounds carefully. The pattern builds outward from a tight center, creating the sunburst effect. Take your time, and remember to count your stitches at the end of each round.

Round 1 (Burnt Orange): The Core

Make a MR. Ch 3 (this counts as your first dc). Work 11 dc into the ring. Pull the tail to close the ring tightly. Sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. You should have 12 dc total.

Round 2 (Burnt Orange): Doubling Up

Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in the same stitch (this is your increase). Work 2 dc in each stitch around. Sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. You now have 24 dc.

Round 3 (Mustard Yellow): Creating the First Spaces

Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch. *Ch 3, skip 1 st, sc in the next st.* Repeat from * to * around. End with ch 3 and sl st to the first sc. You should have 12 ch-3 spaces.

Round 4 (Mustard Yellow): First Clusters

Sl st into the first ch-3 space. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 2 dc in the same space. Ch 1. *In the next ch-3 space, work 3 dc. Ch 1.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. You now have 12 clusters of 3 dc.

Round 5 (Terracotta): Expanding the Clusters

Sl st to the next ch-1 space. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 2 dc in the same space. Ch 2. *In the next ch-1 space, work 3 dc. Ch 2.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to join. You still have 12 clusters, but now with ch-2 spaces between them.

Round 6 (Terracotta): Adding Height

Sl st to the next ch-2 space. Ch 4 (counts as tr). Work 3 tr in the same space. Ch 2. *In the next ch-2 space, work 4 tr. Ch 2.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the top of the ch-4 to join. You now have 12 clusters of 4 tr.

Round 7 (Cream): The First Petal Loops

Sl st to the next ch-2 space. Ch 1. Sc in the same space. *Ch 5, sc in the next ch-2 space.* Repeat from * to * around. End with ch 5 and sl st to the first sc. You should have 12 ch-5 loops.

Round 8 (Cream): Forming the First Petals

Sl st into the first ch-5 loop. Ch 1. In the same loop, work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc). *Sc in the next ch-5 loop. In the next loop, work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc).* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the first sc. You have created 12 small petals.

Round 9 (Burnt Orange): Building the Next Layer

Sl st to the middle dc of the first petal (the 2nd of the 3 dc). Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch. *Ch 6, sc in the middle dc of the next petal.* Repeat from * to * around. End with ch 6 and sl st to the first sc. You now have 12 ch-6 loops.

Round 10 (Burnt Orange): Larger Petals

Sl st into the first ch-6 loop. Ch 1. In the same loop, work (sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc). *Sc in the next ch-6 loop. In the next loop, work (sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc).* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the first sc. Your petals are growing.

Round 11 (Mustard Yellow): Extending the Rays

Sl st to the middle dc of the first petal (the 3rd of the 5 dc). Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch. *Ch 8, sc in the middle dc of the next petal.* Repeat from * to * around. End with ch 8 and sl st to the first sc. You now have 12 ch-8 loops.

Round 12 (Mustard Yellow): Even Bigger Petals

Sl st into the first ch-8 loop. Ch 1. In the same loop, work (sc, hdc, 7 dc, hdc, sc). *Sc in the next ch-8 loop. In the next loop, work (sc, hdc, 7 dc, hdc, sc).* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the first sc. The sunburst is really taking shape now.

Round 13 (Terracotta): The Final Stretch

Sl st to the middle dc of the first petal (the 4th of the 7 dc). Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch. *Ch 10, sc in the middle dc of the next petal.* Repeat from * to * around. End with ch 10 and sl st to the first sc. You now have 12 ch-10 loops.

Round 14 (Terracotta): The Elongated Rays

Sl st into the first ch-10 loop. Ch 1. In the same loop, work (sc, hdc, 9 dc, hdc, sc). *Sc in the next ch-10 loop. In the next loop, work (sc, hdc, 9 dc, hdc, sc).* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in all ends securely. Your radiant sunburst is complete!

Finishing Touches: Mounting and Hanging

Your beautiful mandala is ready for its debut. Follow these steps to turn it into a wall-worthy piece of art.

1. Weave in Ends: Use your tapestry needle to weave in all loose yarn tails on the back of the piece. Take your time to make it neat.
2. Blocking (Highly Recommended): Pin the mandala to a foam board or blocking mat. Gently steam it with an iron (without touching the yarn directly) or spritz it with water. This opens up the stitches, defines the petals, and ensures the piece lies perfectly flat. Let it dry completely.
3. Attach the Dowel: Lay the mandala flat with the back facing you. Place the wooden dowel horizontally across the top edge. Using matching thread or yarn, sew the top stitches of the mandala to the dowel. Work from the back, catching the back loops of the top row of stitches. Secure it firmly at several points across the width.
4. Create the Hanging Loop: Cut a piece of yarn or twine about 12 inches long. Tie one end securely to one end of the dowel. Tie the other end to the opposite end of the dowel, forming a loop. Adjust the length so the hanging is balanced.
5. Hang and Enjoy: Place your new sunburst on a hook or nail. Step back and admire the warm, handcrafted glow you’ve brought into your space.

This pattern is a wonderful way to practice working in the round and creating textured layers. The result is a stunning, heirloom-quality piece that adds a touch of handmade warmth to any wall. Happy crocheting!