How to Crochet a Granny Square

How to Crochet a Granny Square: How to Make a Crochet Square

Granny squares are a staple of crochet, which means that learning how to crochet a granny square is an important skill for anyone learning how to crochet. 

Image source: Love Stitches Blogspot

The beauty of granny squares is that they come in an enormous variety of styles and they can be easily joined together to create more projects. Between changing colors and unique granny square patterns, the possibilities are truly endless with granny squares.

Are you ready to learn how to make a granny square in crochet? This article will answer the question, “How do I crochet a granny square?” and cover other essential topics on granny squares. Continue reading to explore the following topics:

• • What are granny squares and why learning how do you crochet a granny square is beneficial
  • How to crochet a classic granny square with step by step instructions
  • Granny square video tutorials
  • How to make a square crochet blanket with granny squares

Ready to learn how to crochet granny squares for beginners? Grab your favorite crochet hook and a beginner-friendly yarn and let’s get started.

What is a Granny Square?

What are granny squares? Unlike crochet stitches (such as the triple crochet) or crochet techniques (such as decreasing), granny squares are a crochet motif. Crochet motifs are stitch patterns repeated in larger designs.

If you want to learn how to crochet granny squares, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that it’s a type of stitch. However, searching “how to crochet a granny stitch” will deliver less helpful results than searching for something like “show me how to crochet a granny square”.

The term “granny square” refers to any crochet motif that’s worked in “granny clusters.” A granny cluster consists of three double crochet stitches grouped together and separated by a series of chain stitches.

You are probably already familiar with the classic granny square pattern. You’ve probably seen this type of granny square in someone’s home or even in their clothing.

Image source: Cherry Heart Crochet

Practicing how to crochet a granny square is different from learning how to crochet a square. The easiest way to crochet a square is by stitching in rows until the material’s length matches its width.

Image source: All Free Crochet

Ironically, granny squares are crocheted in the round (the same method used to crochet circles). The square shape is a result of working several stitches into the same space.

Beginner crocheters are easily intimidated by granny squares, but fortunately, they look much more complex than they are. There are many advantages to working granny squares individually, particularly for beginners. Examples of these benefits include:

• • Granny squares break large projects into small, manageable units.
  • Learning how to crochet a granny square step by step is beginner-friendly and can even help improve your stitching confidence and speed as you get into a rhythm.
  • Granny squares are small and provide an excellent opportunity to use up small sections of leftover yarn.
  • Using different techniques to join your granny squares together impacts the finished look of a project, giving you even more creative freedom!

Ready to learn how to start a granny square in crochet? Keep reading for step-by-step instructions for making the classic, nostalgic granny square.

How to Crochet Granny Squares: Easy Step by Step Instructions

Grab a skein of your favorite non-splitting, light-colored yarn for crochet and follow along with the instructions below. Prepare to be astonished at how quickly your first granny square comes together!

How to Start a Granny Square in Crochet

When it comes to starting your granny square with a foundation ring, you have three different options. 

1. 1. Start stitching in a single crochet chain
   2. Chain stitch a center ring
   3. Make a magic ring/magic circle

Each option offers unique advantages and disadvantages. Read the table below to gather more information about the pros and cons of each starting method.

Foundation Ring Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
Stitch in a single chain	It’s simple and fast.	Beginners will find it challenging to fit all of the stitches into a single chain stitch.
Chain stitch a center ring	Not as quick as the method above, this technique is also quick and easy.	The finished granny square will have a more noticeable hole in the center.
Magic ring/magic circle	This technique is difficult for beginners to master.	The completed granny square will have a tight center without holes or awkward gaping.

Image source: Wilmade

Feel free to experiment with different starting methods as you practice your granny squares. The instructions below chain stitch a center ring as step one as an example.

How to Crochet a Classic Granny Square

Making a traditional granny square involves creating a foundation ring and then stitching four rounds. The instructions below walk you through each step in detail.

1. 1. Make the foundation ring (using the chain stitch center ring method as an example).

• • • Chain four.
    • Place your hook into the first chain stitch.
    • Create a slip stitch to join the chain stitches and form a circle.

      2. Stitch round one.

Image source: Sarah Maker

• • • Chain three. This is counted as the first double crochet of cluster number one.
    • Work two double crochet stitches into the center ring. This completes the first granny cluster.
    • Chain three.
    • Make the second granny cluster by working three double crochet into the center ring.
    • Chain three.
    • Make the third granny cluster by working three double crochet stitches into the center ring.
    • Chain three.
    • Then, make the fourth and final cluster of round one. Stitch three double crochet stitches into the center ring. 
    • Chain three.
    • You should now have a small square. Join the first round by placing a slip stitch into the top of the first chain.

Image source: Sarah Maker

      3. Stitch round two.

Image source: Sarah Maker

• • • Chain four. This is counted as the first double crochet and your first chain.
    • In the first corner space (your chain three space), work three double crochet, then chain three, work another three double crochet, and finally chain one.
    • Repeat the step above in the next two corners.
    • In the last corner (chain three space), work three double crochet stitches. Chain three and work two more double crochet stitches.
    • Finish round two by slip stitching into the third chain of the beginning chain stitches.

      4. Stitch round three.

Image source: Sarah Maker

• • • Chain three. This counts as your first double crochet of round three.
    • Place your hook into the chain one space in round two (should be just below your hook).
    • Work two double crochet and then chain one to make the first granny cluster of round three.
    • Place your hook in the next chain three corner space, work three double crochet stitches. Chain three, work three more double crochet stitches, and finally chain one.
    • Place your hook into the next chain three corner space. Work three double crochet then chain one.
    • Repeat the two steps above as you work your way back to the beginning chain.
    • Join round three with a slip stitch into the stop of your starting chain three.

      5. Stitch round four.

Image source: Sarah Maker

• • • Chain four. This is counted as one double crochet and a chain one space.
    • Into the next chain one space, work three double crochet stitches and then chain one.
    • Into the next chain three corner space, work three double crochet. Chain three, work three more double crochet, and then chain one.
    • Repeat the two steps above in each of the chain one and chain three spaces until you’ve reached the last chain one space.
    • Insert your hook into the final chain one space and work two double crochet stitches.
    • Join the fourth and final round with a slip stitch into the top of the starting chain three. Note that you don’t have to weave in ends since the slip stitch secures the granny square.

You’ll notice that although the instructions look lengthy, they’re mostly repetition. With practice, the rhythm of the classic granny square will flow through you naturally and without thought. 

If you find the written instructions too overwhelming to start with, follow along with a video tutorial such as the one below. Feel free to pause and slow down the video as needed!

How to Crochet a Granny Square Blanket

If you’ve found a comfortable rhythm with crocheting granny squares, you can confidently crochet a blanket! Continue reading to learn how to crochet a granny square afghan or blanket in two different ways.

Image source: Ideal Me

Granny square blankets allow you to create cozy, decorative blankets without using a single scrap of fabric. They’re also highly customizable, since you can choose your favorite joining and edging methods.

How to Crochet a Giant Granny Square Blankets

If you’re looking for the simplest way to crochet a granny square blanket, try crocheting a giant granny square until it’s the size of a blanket. This is known as the “giant granny square” blanket.

Image source: Hello Deborah Co Uk

The giant granny square method is a quick way to learn how to crochet a square blanket. They make excellent baby blankets, especially with the addition of a woven label featuring the baby’s name. Don’t forget to add care labels if you plan to gift one of these adorable blankets!

Giant granny square blankets are made by expanding the “standard” granny square pattern. Follow the steps below to crochet a classic giant granny square blanket. Keep in mind that you can expand nearly any type of granny square into a blanket.

1. 1. Tie a slip knot. 
   2. Chain four.
   3. Place the hook in the first stitch and create another slip stitch to create your foundation circle.
   4. Start round one by: chaining three (counts as one double crochet) and working two double crochet into the center of the circle.

Image source: Melanie K Ham

      5. Continue round two by: chaining two, working three double crochet into the center circle, and chaining two. Repeat this step three times so that you have a total of four double crochet granny clusters. 

Image source: Melanie K Ham

      6. Finish round two by: Chaining two and joining the round with a slip stitch.

Image source: Melanie K Ham

      7. Start round two by: chaining three, and working two double crochets into the chain two space to the right of your chain three.

Image source: Melanie K Ham

      8. Continue round two by: working three double crochet into the next chain two space, chaining two, and working three double crochet into the next chain 2 space. Repeat this step in all corner chain two spaces.

Image source: Melanie K Ham

      9. Finish round two by: chaining two and joining the round with a slip stitch into your first chain three.

      10. Start round three by: chaining three, working two double crochets into the chain two space to the right of your chain three.

      11. Continue round three by: working three double crochets into the space between the two double crochet clusters from the previous round.

Image source: Melanie K Ham

      12. Continue round three by: working three double crochets into the next chain two space, chaining two, working three double crochets into the corner space. Continue all the way around the square.

      13. Finish round three by: joining the round with a slip stitch into the first chain three.

      14. Continue the blanket by repeating steps 11 – 13, increasing with each round. You may need to add a new ball of yarn depending on your desired blanket size.

Image source: Melanie K Ham

If you’re a more visual learner, check out a video tutorial for the giant granny square project.

How to Crochet Joined Granny Square Blankets

If you want your granny square blanket to have a more traditional look with a generous amount of pattern, the joined granny square technique is your best option. 

The major advantage of this method is that you can effortlessly customize every part of the project, from the type of granny square to the joining technique, all the way to the (optional) edging or border patterns.

You can either search for a specific granny square blanket pattern you want to replicate, or you can design your own. Regardless of how you choose to make your blanket, the basic overall steps are the same.

1. 1. Crochet the appropriate number of granny squares for your desired blanket size. (See the table below for suggested granny squares per blanket size).
   2. Join the granny squares together with your favorite joining method.
   3. Stitch a border or edge around the blanket for a polished look.

Blanket Size	Dimensions	Approximate Number of Granny Squares Required
Baby blanket	42” x 42”	49
Throw blanket	48” x 66”	88
King-sized blanket	90” x 90”	225

Even if you stick with the classic granny square pattern, there is infinite room for creativity. As the picture below shows, you can combine different size granny squares in multiple colors for a stunning effect.

Image source: Pinterest

Using this method, you can also create gorgeous blankets that don’t look like granny square blankets to the inexperienced eye. Combine modern granny squares into a blanket for elegantly finished projects such as the examples below.

Image source: Ideal Me

Crochet blankets never go out of style, and granny square blankets are perfect for an online crochet store. If you choose to sell your handmade blankets, don’t forget to add a branded hangtag so your customers know where they can order another one!