Crochet granny squares have been around for years but have recently seen a revival in popularity. Crochet granny squares are often used in crochet as a type of base for other designs. They can be used to create granny square blankets, bags, cardigans and more.
The classic crochet granny square is one of the most popular crochet patterns around. It’s simple and versatile, making it the perfect crochet pattern for beginners and experienced crocheters alike.
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, knowing how to make a granny square is part of the crochet basics you need to know. This page will break down everything you need to know to make your first granny square and amazing projects!
Commonly Asked Questions About The Granny Square
Why Is It Called A Granny Square?
A granny square is so named because it was made popular by the grannies. This is because it is a simple pattern which can be easily adapted to any size and it is easy to follow. Grannies usually practiced this pattern when they had left over yarn and wanted to make something pretty.
What Are Granny Squares Used For?
Granny squares are crocheted squares that are made from a simple granny square pattern. They can be used for blankets, pillows, garments, accessories and lots of other projects, but they are most commonly used in crochet blankets.
The nice thing about granny squares is that you don’t have to follow a specific pattern for the project. If you have some extra squares lying around, you can crochet them into a larger piece and then add other squares later. Also, you can use a variety of different stitches to make your squares more unique.
Are Granny Squares Easy For Beginners?
Granny squares are easy for beginners. It’s just a basic crochet pattern using beginner crochet stitches. You can use any yarn, in any colors and make it any size you like. The pattern is really simple, so everyone can learn to make granny squares.
How Many Types Of Granny Squares Are There?
There are many different types of granny squares, and you can make as many different types of granny square patterns as you can think of.
What Size Crochet Hook Should You Use To Crochet Granny Squares?
It all depends on the size or thickness of your yarn! The thicker the yarn, the larger the hook size needs will be. If you use a 4 medium worsted weight yarn, the common hook size will be between 5.5 and 6.5 mm, learn more about crochet hook for the yarn weight.
What Type Of Yarn Should You Use To Crochet Granny Squares?
The type of yarn used for granny squares depends on the type of project it is for. Different types of yarn and yarn weight can give different results, so it is important to use the right type for the right project.
If you are following a crochet pattern, use the yarn suggested or a similar yarn substitute. Many of my granny square crochet patterns use worsted weight yarn.
How Long Does It Take To Crochet A Granny Square?
As far as Crocheting Granny Squares is concerned it really depends on how fast you can crochet. It takes roughly 20-30 minutes to make a crochet granny square. It will probably take around 30-40 minutes or more if it is your first time to try crochet. You can calculate how long it takes to crochet a bigger granny square project using this handy yarn calculator.
The Classic Granny Square
The basic granny square is a true classic in the world of crochet. This simple square can be worked in any size, with any yarn and hook combination, making it a great choice for any project. The granny square is also very versatile, as it can be used to create dishcloths, sweaters, pillows, shawls, and more.
The most used version of the simple classic granny contains chains and 3 double crochets (dc clusters). But you can also crochet solid granny squares, where you don’t crochet chain stitches between the clusters to make a solid square. Furthermore you can swap the double crochet stitches for single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc) and even treble crochet stitches (tr).
Granny squares are a great way to use up scrap yarn, and they can be combined to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind projects. So grab your hooks and give the classic granny square a try! We have full step by step video and photo tutorial for you.
If you are looking for the written instructions, you can also quickly view them here:
Written instruction – classic granny square pattern:
All rounds are made with right side facing. Written in us terms (learn how to translate to uk terms).
First round of the granny: Ch3 (counts as first double crochet), insert hook into 3rd ch (base ch/first chain) from hook and dc 2 (you have now made the first cluster), *ch 2, 3dc in first ch*, rep from *to* 2 times, ch 2, sl st in top of ch from beginning of round (=20 st).
Fasten off & cut yarn if you proceed with a new color.
Second round of the granny: Make slipknot, dc 3 in any corner spaces (ch-2-sp) from previous round, ch 2, *dc 3 in next corner ch-2-sp, ch 2, dc 3 in same corner ch-2-sp, ch 2*, rep from *to* 2 times, dc 3 in first corner ch-2-sp, ch 2, sl st in top of 1st dc from beg of round (=40 st).
Fasten off & cut yarn if you proceed with a new color.
Third round of the granny: Make slipknot, dc 3 in any corner ch-2-sp, ch 2, *dc 3 in next ch-2-sp, ch 2, dc 3 in next corner ch-2-sp, ch 2, dc 3 in same corner ch-2-sp, ch 2*, rep from *to* 2 times, dc 3 in next ch-2-sp, ch 2, dc 3 in first corner ch-2-sp, ch 2, sl st in top of 1st dc from beg of round (=60 st).
Fasten off & cut yarn if you proceed with a new color.
You can continue to repeat steps from round 2 and 3 to make the granny square as big as you’d like, working granny clusters into chain spaces.
Other Types of Granny Square Variations
There are lots of other types of crochet granny square motifs other than the classic. Many uses special stitch patterns or combinations of basic crochet stitches.
Some starts off with a round center and then turns into a square at the end. Many also starts out as a flower before it is worked into a square.
One of the most known is the Sunburst Granny Square. You can use the sunburst granny squares, just like any other square and substitute that for the classic.
Here’s a few granny squares for you to try:
- Sunburst Granny Square
- Classic Granny Square
- Ferris Wheel Granny Square
- Daisy Granny Square
- Solid Granny Square
- Leaf Clover Granny Square
- Heart Granny Square
- Skull Granny Square
- Star Granny Square
- Flower Granny Squares
Other Shapes of Granny Square Patterns
There are many other shapes of granny square patterns that can be used to create a variety of different looks. By breaking out of the traditional square shape, you can create all sorts of interesting patterns. For example, square granny squares can be made into a variety of shapes, including triangles, hexagons, and octagons.
You can also make half granny squares, such as shown for the Ferris Wheel Granny Square and Clover Leaf Granny Square.
Here’s a few granny squares shapes for you to try:
- Triangle Granny Square
- Pentagon Granny Square
- Hexagon Granny Square
- African Flower Hexagon
- Octagon Granny Square
- Rectangle Granny Square
- Granny Heart
- Granny Star
- Granny Circle
How to Assemble Granny Squares
There are many different ways to assemble crocheted granny squares, but some of the most known methods are the whip stitch, flat slip stitch join and join as you go.
To assemble granny squares, first lay out all of the squares in the desired pattern. If you have created different colored grannies, try placing them in different sequences to decide the look you want.
Make sure that the squares are oriented correctly and that the corners match up. Once the squares are laid out, begin stitching them together with a crochet hook or a needle and thread using one of the techniques below.
Whip Stitch
This technique uses yarn and a needle to assemble granny squares. It’s recommended to use the same yarn and color as the main color of your work when using this technique. In that way the seam won’t be visible when you’ve finished assembling the piece.
However, if you do prefer the seam to show, use a contrasting color to show of the seam. This can especially look good if you have a solid colored granny square & want to show of the seam.
Flat Slip Stitch Join
The flat slip stitch join is a technique where you use the crochet hook and yarn to assemble the squares together.
This is a very pretty technique, where the seam created usually work as a statement on the finished piece.
This can be done using the main color or a contrasting color, depending if you want the seam to be visible.
Join Granny Squares As You Go
The Join Granny Squares As You Go method is a great way to join granny squares together without having to do any sewing. This method is often used when making afghans or other large projects that require many squares to be joined together.
This method allows you to join the squares as you go, so you don’t have to worry about sewing them all together at the end. This is a great way to save time and make your project look professional.
There are many join as you go methods, but here are 3 great ones for you to try. All with photo and video tutorials.
- Substitute Chain For Slip Stitch Method
- Fully Attached Join as You Go Method
- Chain Through Space Join as You Go Method
Granny Square Crochet Pattern Ideas
Classic Granny Square Crochet Patterns
There are lots of crochet patterns featuring the classic granny square.
One of the most common is a crochet granny squares blanket pattern, which is so simple that all you need to do is crochet enough squares to create a blanket and then assemble it.
But there’s so many more unique ways to assemble granny squares into beautiful results, such as granny square garments and granny square home decor.
Here are some amazing crochet patterns using the traditional granny:
- Granny Square Cardigan
- Granny Square Sweater
- Granny Square Market Bag
- Granny Square Dishcloth
- Granny Square Dish Towel
- Granny Square Ottoman
- Granny Square Basket
Crochet Pattern Using Unusual Granny Square Designs
There are many different ways to make a granny square, and some of them are quite unusual. So if you’re looking for a crochet project that’s a little bit different, try using some unusual granny square designs.
Here are some crochet patterns using unique grannies:
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