Crochet 101: Granny Square


Welcome back to Crochet 101!  Today, we’re going to learn a new project, a simple {promise!} Granny Square.

Granny Squares can be used in a number of different kinds of projects.  One square can get as large as you choose to make it and can become anything from a hot pad to a big square blanket!  Many people make afghans by joining Granny Squares together.  
For example, here’s an afghan made by my friend ChiWei at One Dog Woof.
My friend Kara at Petals to Picots even made a purse!
DSC_0366wm
There are variations for how to make a Granny Square, so there’s not necessarily a “right” way vs. a “wrong” way {unless you’re following a particular project pattern, in which case, do what the pattern says!}, but this is pretty much a standard basic way to make them.

 Our Granny Square is going to combine two stitches you already know: the chain {ch} and the double crochet {dc}, plus the ever useful slip stitch {ss}.

STEP 1: Make your slip knot and chain 5.

STEP 2: Slip stitch in first chain.
This is new!  We’re going to stick the hook back in the first chain, wrap, and pull through both loops and watch what happens…

We end up with a circle!  How fun is that!  This makes the foundation, the center of your square! 

STEP 3: Chain 3 {this serves as the first dc} and do 2 dc in the center of the circle. 

STEP 4: ch 2, 3 dc  Repeat until you have 4 sets of 3 dc, and 4 ch 2 spaces that look like corners.  Slip stitch in first ch 3.
At this point, if you want to be fancy-schmancy and change colors, you can!  Just finish off, and start by joining a new color in one of the corners.  If you are continuing with the same color like I am, ch 3 and turn!

STEP 5: For this next row, you’re going to count that ch 3 as the first dc, then 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc.  That will form a corner.  Ch 2, then do 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the next corner.  Repeat until you’re back where you started and join with a slip stitch.

At the end of this row, you’ll have a small square that looks like this:

Depending on your project, you could stop here, or you can keep on going!  For each consecutive row, you’re going to follow the same pattern.

Ch 3, turn.  Do 2 more dc.
For each space that is NOT a corner, you’ll do 3 dc, ch 1
When you ARE in a corner, do 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1

Make sense?

You can keep going and going and going until your square is the size you want it to be!
Have fun!  I’d love to see pics of your squares and/or how you use them!

Hugs & Glitter,

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20 Comments

  1. Amy – great tutorial! I used to be able to crochet like the wind (in university… don’t know why I picked it up then!), but then I let all of my skills get rusty.

    I love that beautiful blanket – the white alongside the bright colours really adds contrast. I would love to tackle that as a project.

    Again, thank you for inspiring me! Maybe I will pick up a hook this weekend! 🙂

  2. FINALLY!!!! I got a granny SQUARE! Not a granny trapezoidal circle-y one. But a square! WOOT! (Now. Let’s see if I can do it twice!) 🙂

  3. Thanks for the granny square tutorial . It is on my bucket list and could never find I pattern I could do. I might be able to do this one. Thanks again

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