Today I want to share my simple pattern for a granny square.
The granny square is one of the basics of crochet, and from this, you can create a variety of different kinds of blankets. In fact, in the next post, I will show you a pattern for a baby blanket starting with this exact pattern.
Even though it is a crochet staple, I’ve come to realize that there are many variations out there. So I am sharing my favorite way to make a granny square.
Directions
Ch 6, sl st to first ch to form loop.
Row 1: Ch 3 (this acts as your first dc) in loop, 2 dc in loop, ch 2, 3 dc in loop, ch 2, 3 dc in loop, ch 2, 3 dc in loop, ch 2, sl st to ch 3 to join.
Some people only chain one between double crochets on the corners, but I find that two chains give just enough room for a nice rounded square edge, while one chain makes it too round for my liking.
I’m going to start the next row by chaining three and turning. Some granny square patterns advise to slip stitch into three double crochets to begin a row, but I find that this adds a bit of extra bulk to the beginning of each row and makes it look imperfect.
Row 2: Ch 3 and turn, 2 dc in corner, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, * 3 dc in corner, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, rep from * all the way around, sl st to ch 3 to join.
Notice that I chain one between double crochets when I’m not doing a corner? Other patterns call for two double chains between double crochets here, but I find that two are too bulky.
Row 3: Ch 3 and turn, 2 dc, ch 1, * 3 dc in corner, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, rep from * all the way around, sl st to ch 3 to join.
Row 4: Ch 3 and turn, 2 dc, ch 1, * 3 dc in corner, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, rep from * all the way around, sl st to ch 3 to join.
And you can keep making rounds as long as you want, following this same pattern and adding three double crochets and a chain to each side each time around.
To neatly change colors, complete a row all the way except before making the last stitch of the slip stitch at the end, fasten off the first color and switch to the last color, then do the very last part of the slip stitch, so that the loop at the end of the slip stitch is the new color, like so:
Abbreviations:
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sl st – slip stitch
- ch – chain stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- rep – repeat
