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A granny square is a simple and colorful crochet project that’s rewarding for beginners and advanced crochet artists alike. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll guide you through an entire granny square pattern step by step (or, rather, stitch by stitch), so you can work at your own pace. Need a refresher on some basic stitches and techniques as you go? Head to this section for a quick review. Once you’ve finished making your first granny square, feel free to make more and build them into an even bigger crochet project, like a blanket.
Granny Square Pattern: A Quick Tutorial
- Initial circle: Ch(ain) 6, sl(ip) st(itch) to join
- Round 1: Ch 3, 2 d(ouble) c(rochet), ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, sl st
- Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, sl st
- Round 3: ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 3, sl st
- Finishing: Cut yarn and pull tail through loop.
Steps
Section 1 of 7:
Granny Square: Round 1
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Create a slip knot. If you make your initial loop too large, pull on either the yarn tail or the working yarn to make it smaller. Slide the loop of this knot onto your crochet hook to get started.
- The yarn tail is the short strand of yarn hanging off your hook, while the working yarn is the length of yarn connected to the yarn ball.
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Chain 6 times. Wrap yarn around the hook, and pull it through the loop attached to the slip knot--this is one chain stitch. After the new loop is wrapped around the hook, pull another loop through that, making a second chain stitch. Repeat this until you have 6 chains.Advertisement -
Slip-stitch into the first chain. This forms a ring, which will be the very center of your granny square. You’ll notice a gap in the middle of the ring, which is supposed to be there.
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Chain 3. These 3 stitches will act as your first double crochet stitch.
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Complete 2 double crochet stitches. As you double crochet for the first time, you’ll be yarning over the 3 stitches you just chained, and the resulting stitch will create the illusion of 2 double crochets. Double crochet one more time to create a cluster of 3 stitches.
- As you make the stitches, slide your hook into the center of the ring, not in any of the ring’s stitches.
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Double-crochet 3 times. Create your second batch of double crochet stitches by working into the center of the ring. As you did before, yarn over the 3 chains you made as you stitch the first double-crochet stitch of the cluster.
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Repeat steps 6 and 7 two more times. To finish the first round of your granny square, you’ll need 2 more clusters of 3 double crochet stitches. Chain 3 stitches before each triple cluster to create an identical pattern around the granny square.
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Chain 3 times. Do a final set of 3 chains to form the last corner of the round.
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Do a slip-stitch to finish the first round. Slide your crochet hook into the very top of the 3 chained stitches that you used at the very beginning of the round and slip-stitch everything together.
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Section 2 of 7:
Round 2
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Double-crochet 2 times in the last corner chain of the previous round. Find the third stitch of the chain 3 that you just used to connect and finish off round 2. Work your new chain 3 and 2 double crochet stitches into this stitch to create the first cluster of round 2.
- This cluster will be close to the corner of the square.
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Chain 1 time. This stitch will bridge the gap above the cluster of double crochets below it (in round 1).
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Do 3 double crochets in the first corner space. Remember how you chained 3 stitches between each cluster of 3 double crochets in round 1? These 3 chains essentially created a corner shape between all 4 double-crochet clusters, giving it the appearance of a square. To continue the pattern (and square shape), do another cluster of 3 double crochet stitches in the first stitch of this chain.
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Chain 3 times. These 3 chains will help form the first corner in the current round you’re working on.
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Do 3 double crochets in the third corner space. You know how you just did 3 double crochets in the first corner space of round 1? It’s now time to do the same thing in the third chain of the corner in round 1. This helps solidify the corner of round 2.
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Repeat steps 3-5 two more times. Using round 1 as your guide, continue to chain once, double-crochet 3 times in the first stitch of the round 1 corner chain, chain 3 times, and double-crochet 3 times in the third stitch of the round 1 corner chain. Once you finish this, you’ll have 3 of the 4 corners in round 2 complete. [3] X Research source
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Chain 1. This goes over the fourth cluster of double crochet stitches at the end of round 1.
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Double-crochet 3 times in the first corner space of the last corner. This is the last cluster of double crochet stitches that you need to do for round 2.
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Chain 3 times. This helps form the final corner for round 2.
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Slip-stitch the 3 chains into the first double crochet cluster. Make sure that you’re slip-stitching into the top chain of the original 3 stitches you chained in round 2. Now, your granny square looks even bigger.
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Section 3 of 7:
Round 3
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Chain 3. Like before, these first 3 stitches will serve as 1 double crochet stitch. [4] X Research source
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Double-crochet 2 times in the last corner space of the previous round. You know how you ended the previous round with 3 chains, which you just slip-stitched? Work your double crochet stitches (including the chain 3) into the third chain of this previous round.
- This cluster should sit to the right of the first double crochet cluster in round 2.
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Chain 1. This chain stitch stretches over the first double crochet cluster in round 2, immediately beneath where you’re currently working the yarn.
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Double-crochet 3 times beneath the gap stitch of the previous row. Remember how you chained a single stitch between the 2 double crochet clusters along the edge of round 2? Now, work your next double crochet cluster into this exact stitch.
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Chain 1. This chain goes over the top of the second cluster along the first edge of round 2.
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Double-crochet 3 times in the first corner space. Like you did before, find the first of the 3 chains that make up the corner in round 2. Work 3 double crochets into this stitch to finish off the first edge of round 3.
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Chain 3 times. This creates the first corner for round 3.
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Double-crochet 3 times into the third corner space. To start off the second edge of round 3, find the third chain of round 2’s first corner. Then, work the double crochet cluster into this stitch.
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Repeat steps 3-8 two more times. Once you finish, you’ll be starting on the fourth edge of round 3.
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Double-crochet 3 times into the gap chain. This creates the second cluster along this edge of the granny square.
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Chain 1. This chain goes over the second double crochet cluster of the previous row.
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Double-crochet 3 times into the first corner chain. This will finish off round 3, and be very close to the original cluster you started the round with.
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Chain 3 times. This creates the fourth and final corner for round 3.
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Slip-stitch into the original chain 3 you used to start the row. Remember how you started the round by chaining 3 and double-crocheting twice to make your first cluster? Slip-stitch into the third chain of this chain 3 to complete the round (and the granny square, if you so please).
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Section 4 of 7:
Additional Rows (Optional)
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Chain 3 and double-crochet twice in last round's third corner space. No matter how many rounds you add to your granny square, you’ll always need to start the first cluster in the final third chain of the previous round. [5] X Research source
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Chain 1 and double-crochet into every gap stitch. Just as you did in the previous rows, find the gap stitch between each double crochet cluster and work 3 double crochet stitches into it. Repeat this process until you reach the corner. Make sure to chain 1 over each double crochet cluster you pass over!
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Double-crochet 3 times, chain 3, and double-crochet 3 times again. As before, work a double crochet cluster into the first chain of the corner in the previous round. Chain 3 times to create a new corner for your current round, and then double-crochet 3 times again into the third chain of the previous round’s corner.
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Chain 3 and slip-stitch to complete the round. After you finish your last cluster of the round, chain 3 and slip-stitch into the third chain of the chain 3 that you started the round with.
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Section 5 of 7:
Finishing the Square
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Snip off the working yarn and pull it through the loop. Whenever you’re ready to finish your granny square, cut the yarn (leaving a 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) tail) and thread it through the loop. Pull on the tail to tighten the knot and secure the square.
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Work the yarn tails into the square with a yarn needle . Now that the square is finished, you’ll notice 2 yarn tails hanging off your project: 1 where you finished off the square, and 1 from the loop at the very center. Thread these tails through a yarn needle (a special needle with a large eyelet) and work them into the existing loops and stitches of the square. This helps your granny square look a lot more polished.
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Section 6 of 7:
Switching Colors
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Create a slip knot with the new yarn and add the loop to your hook. Whenever you switch colors, you’ll have another yarn tail from the new yarn color.
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Slide your hook into the third chain of the previous final corner. In this pattern, every row starts in the third chain of the previous round’s final corner.
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Chain 3, double-crochet twice, and continue with the pattern as usual. Once you’ve completed the first double crochet cluster (by chaining 3 and double-crocheting twice into the third chain space), continue with the round as you normally would.
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Weave away any extra yarn tails at the end. To help your granny square look extra polished, use a yarn needle to tuck these loose yarn tails into the existing loops/stitches of the square. Just be sure to hide these tails within a matching yarn color; otherwise, they’ll stand out.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I join granny squares together?Community AnswerUsing the slip stitch method is easiest. You can also simply "sew" them together using yarn and a yarn needle. For more tips, read How to Attach Granny Squares .
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QuestionHow thin does the yarn need to be?Jenny MarieCommunity AnswerThe size of the yarn isn't really important, but you should make sure that the yarn and the hook fit together nicely. When you gently lay the yarn in the hook, the yarn should sit just inside without "puffing" or "bulging" out beyond the "inside" of the hook. At the same time, the yarn should not make the inside of the hook look large.
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QuestionWhy are my corners looking round and not square?Community AnswerMake sure you chain 3 in the same section. Also, this is a more roundish square.
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Tips
- Check the label on the yarn ball you’re using to see what size crochet hook is best to use. Look for a measurement in millimeters or an alphabetical label, depending on where you live.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- I crocheted with two strands of yarn to make it thicker, and it worked great!
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Things You’ll Need
- Yarn
- Crochet hook
- Yarn needle (optional)
References
- ↑ https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Basic-Granny-Square-Pattern-Diagram.pdf
- ↑ https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Basic-Granny-Square-Pattern-Diagram.pdf
- ↑ https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Basic-Granny-Square-Pattern-Diagram.pdf
- ↑ https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Basic-Granny-Square-Pattern-Diagram.pdf
- ↑ https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Basic-Granny-Square-Pattern-Diagram.pdf
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ir3v31G0sg&t=0m5s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1whu6Gub1M&t=0m4s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ir3v31G0sg&t=0m3s
About This Article
Article Summary
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To crochet a Granny square, start by making a chain of 6 stitches, and then slip stitch into the first stitch of the chain to make a circle. Then, chain 3 and double crochet twice into the center of the ring. Next, chain 2 and double crochet 3 times into the center of the ring. Repeat this 3 times for a total of 4 groups of 3 double crochets. Do a slip stitch into the top of the chain of 3 to finish the center part. Continue crocheting, adding rows until the square is the right size. For more tips, including how to form squared corners, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Helped me remember how to crochet again. Crocheted granny square cushions, lace shawls, ponchos, etc. in the hippy era of the Seventies, but forgot all about crocheting until recently. Now I am crocheting items for charity crafts stalls here in the UK. Thanks, wikiHow!" ..." more
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"Helped me remember how to crochet again. Crocheted granny square cushions, lace shawls, ponchos, etc. in the hippy era of the Seventies, but forgot all about crocheting until recently. Now I am crocheting items for charity crafts stalls here in the UK. Thanks, wikiHow!"
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"I had a book that taught me how to crochet this, but it didn't make sense, so I gave up. But when I saw this, I got it! I crocheted one square and then went on to make a cute tote! This totally helped!"
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"Loved it! I am just learning to knit and crochet and found this article to be really informative and free from technical jargon and abbreviations."
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"I am making a granny square tote bag. This lesson helps me a great deal. Gave me color ideas. I am going to write this lesson down. Thanks!"
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