Granny Squares

 

You can make granny squares big, small, tight, loose, from a single color or many colors. The only guidelines are to find a beautiful, natural yarn you'll really want to cuddle, and have a fun time inventing each unique square.

 

The Materials

natural fiber yarn
For a warm coverlet, try merino wool, cashmere, or alpaca.  For a light summer throw, try cotton and silk or bamboo. 

crochet hook in a size appropriate for your yarn.
For bulky weight yarn, try a 8 - 10 mm hook.
For worsted weight yarn, try a 4.5 - 5.5 mm hook.
For sport weight yarn, try a 4 mm hook.
For lace weight yarn, try a 2 - 5 mm hook.  

 
Notes

Visit our Crochet Basics Tutorial for help with the techniques used in this project. 

 
ABBREVIATIONS

dc     double crochet

sc     single crochet

sl st    slip stitch 

 

Remember, you can add as many rounds as you like to your square.  Here is a pattern for up to 4 rounds.  You may want to make squares that are all one color, or a different color for each round.

Classic Granny Square Pattern

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Chain 4; join into a ring with a slip stitch.

  

ROUND 1: Ch 4, (3 dc into center of ring, ch 1) 3 times; 2 dc into center of ring; join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch. 

 

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME COLOR:
Slip stitch from the end of the round until you reach the ch1 stitch at a corner. Continue with the next round. 

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE COLORS:
Cut yarn, leaving a tail, and draw it all the way through the slip stitch to secure it. Join the new color at a corner by drawing a stitch through a ch1 stitch. Continue with the next round.

ROUND 2: Ch 3, work corner (dc2, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch, work remaining corners: *ch1, skip over the 3 dc from the previous round, (dc3, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch; repeat from * two more times, ch1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.

 

 

 

AGAIN...

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME COLOR:
Slip stitch from the end of the round until you reach the ch1 stitch at a corner.  Continue with the next round. 

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE COLORS:
Cut yarn, leaving a tail, and draw it all the way through the slip stitch to secure it.  Join the new color at a corner by drawing a stitch through a ch1 stitch. Continue with the next round.

ROUND 3: Ch 3,  work corner (dc2, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch, work remaining sides:* ch1, skip over the 3 dc from the previous round, dc3, ch1, work corner (dc3, ch1, dc3); repeat from * two more times, ch1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.

 

 

AND AGAIN...

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME COLOR:
Slip stitch from the end of the round until you reach the ch1 stitch at a corner.  Continue with the next round. 

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE COLORS:
Cut yarn, leaving a tail, and draw it all the way through the slip stitch to secure it.  Join the new color at a corner by drawing a stitch through a ch1 stitch. Continue with the next round.

ROUND 4: Ch 3,  work corner (dc2, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch, work remaining sides: *ch1, skip over the 3 dc from the previous round, dc3, ch1, skip over the 3 dc from previous round, dc3, ch1, work corner (dc3, ch1, dc3); repeat from * two more times, ch1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch. 

 

Comments

[m&m]

thank you yarn bee for such easy to follow instructions on granny squares!!!!!what fun

[Jane]

How do you go about connecting all the squares once you have finished them? I love the photo above and am trying to achieve that same gradient color scheme and different sizes. But any advice you could give about actually creating the blanket would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[VBee]

Your photo really showcases the differences between yarns. Could you tell us which yarns are in your main picture?

[purl bee]

Hi VBee,
Its been awhile since we posted it, but I think this is what we've got, with links to each yarn.

Upper left, Koigu
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/410

Upper right, Kid Silk Haze
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/641

Middle left, Haiku
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/1025

Middle, koigu
see above

Middle right, Kid Seta
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/253

Bottom Left, Kersti
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/870

Bottom Right, Blue Sky Alpaca Sport
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/714

[Kathy]

Wow what a wonderful site. After creating many very disappointing rugs I have now found your site and hopefully I am on my wasy to creating the perfect Granny rug. Thank you !!
Kathy

[Emma]

I was also wondering how to join the granny squares together.
Thanks

[purl bee]

Hi Emma-

Here is an explanation of one way to sew granny squares together, it's under the "Assembling" section:

http://www.purlbee.com/granny-square-slippers/
Also, you could use a slip stitch instead of the single crochet that is detailed in the link above.

Thanks so much for your question!

[Sarah]

I really like making granny squares,your post shows that you really can make them with any yarn and achieve such lovely effects! Colour choices are fab!!