Good Ol’ Granny Squares

I saw this crochet bag on the street the other day. (On a homeless bum…) I loved it! It was made with the simple Granny Square method of Crocheting. So I’ve been working on trying to re-create it myself. In the process I crocheted up a bunch of granny square swatches while designing.

The quintessential granny square has a bad rap! But it is still today a very handy (and ingenious) way of crocheting. It is the most basic of crochet blocks and is unique to Crochet! Like most crochet blocks the entire “block” is crocheted in the round, uses very basic stitches, and has 4 corners! That’s it. From there on out it can be customized in so many ways. And even morphed into new motifs like wagon wheels, starbursts, even triangle and octagon shapes etc. You can make anything from a dress to a bag to a whole afghan by stitching together some well-planned blocks! The possibilities for granny squares are endless. It’s a building block of sorts for modular crocheting that is so easy to pick up and fun to get creative with. It’s great for beginners too!

This page also includes patterns for Granny Rectangles as seen above! Not as popular but it’s actually what I was looking for. Being able to create a rectangle can be invaluable and gives the Granny Square Method extra flexibility in what you can create.

*Do all dcs or hdcs into chain spaces
*All yarn is Medium Worsted Weight – Red Heart Super Saver

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Granny Square Traditional (in hdcs) Hook I9 5.50mm
Chain 4. Join into ring with a sl st into first ch.

2ch, 2hdc into ring, {2ch, 3hdc into ring} * 3, 2ch, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 2ch.

3ch, 3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc, {1ch, 3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} * 2, 3hdc, 2ch, 2hdc, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 3ch.

2ch, 2hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch} * 3,
3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc, 1ch, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 2ch.

3ch, 3hdc, {1ch, 3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc} * 3,
1ch, 3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 2hdc, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 3ch.

2ch, 2hdc, 1ch, 3hdc,
{1ch, 3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc} * 3,
1ch, 3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 2ch.

Break yarn. Pull through last loop. Weave in ends.

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Granny Rectangle I (in hdcs) Hook I9 5.50mm
Chain 6. Join into ring with a sl st into first ch.

2ch, 2hdc into ring,
1ch, {3hdc into ring, 2ch} * 2, 3hdc into ring,
1ch, {3hdc into ring, 2ch} * 2, sl st to join in 2nd ch of 2ch.

3ch, 3hdc,
1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc},
1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc},
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc},
1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 2hdc}, sl st into 2nd ch of first 3ch.

2ch, 2hdc,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 2ch.

3ch, 3hdc,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, 3hdc, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch, 2hdc, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 2ch.

2ch, 2hdc,
{1ch, 3hdc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
{1ch, 3hdc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
{1ch, 3hdc in ch space} * 4, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
{1ch, 3hdc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc} in 2ch space,
1ch 3hdc 1ch, sl st to join in 2nd ch of first 2ch.

Break yarn. Pull through last loop. Weave in ends.

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Granny Rectangle II (in dcs) Hook I9 5.50mm
Chain 6. Join into ring with a sl st into first ch.

3ch, 2dc into ring,
1ch, {3dc into ring, 2ch} * 2, 3dc into ring,
1ch, {3dc into ring, 2ch} * 2, sl st to join in 3rd ch of 3ch.

4ch, 3dc,
1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 2dc}, sl st into 3rd ch of first 4ch.

3ch, 2dc,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, sl st to join in 3rd ch of first 3ch.

4ch, 3dc,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc},
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 2dc, sl st to join in 3rd ch of first 4ch.

3ch, 2dc,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 4, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch 3dc 1ch, sl st to join in 3rd ch of first 3ch.

Break yarn. Pull through last loop. Weave in ends.

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Granny Rectangle III (in dcs) Hook H8 5.0mm
Chain 6. Join into ring with a sl st into first ch.

3ch, 2dc into ring,
1ch, {3dc into ring, 2ch} * 2, 3dc into ring,
1ch, {3dc into ring, 2ch} * 2, sl st to join in 3rd ch of 3ch.

4ch, 3dc,
1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 2dc}, sl st into 3rd ch of first 4ch.

3ch, 2dc,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, sl st to join in 3rd ch of first 3ch.

4ch, 3dc,
1ch, 3dc, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc},
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch, 2dc, sl st to join in 3rd ch of first 4ch.

3ch, 2dc,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 4, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 3, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch 3dc 1ch, sl st to join in 3rd ch of first 3ch.

4ch, 3dc,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 2, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 4, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 5, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
{1ch, 3dc in ch space} * 4, 1ch, {3dc, 3ch, 3dc} in 3ch space,
1ch 3dc 1ch, 2dc, sl st to join in 3rd ch of first 4ch.

Break yarn. Pull through last loop. Weave in ends.

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Notes:
All patterns are crocheted in the round. The Granny Rectangles above are patterns I created. I’m sure there’s many out there but these are my versions.

My Traditional Granny Square pattern is a variation of the standard Granny Square pattern which is also available for free anywhere. I was looking to create a tighter looking texture for a stiffer granny square with smaller holes.

Design Your Own Granny Square! The traditional Granny Square method is quite simple. Everything is Crocheted in the Round. All you have to remember is this:

{1ch, 3dc} all the way around. Dc into Chain Spaces until you get to a Corner. And Corner (3dc, 3ch, 3dc) the Corners! That’s basically it. Replace the DC’s accordingly like I did with HDC’s (Half Double Crochets) or TR’s (Treble Crochets) or whatever you like!

The only critical thing is in the first round (when setting up the first set of corners). That dictates the shape of your piece. Once you set that, it’s smooth sailing from there on out.

Color Changes. The simplest way to customize your own Granny Square is to change colors! Try changing colors in every round. Or every 2 rounds etc. I weave in yarn tails as I go. It’s easy to just carry over the yarn where you break it by holding it against your work as you crochet. It saves some end weaving later on!

Google “granny square patterns” or “crochet blocks” to get a deluge of free patterns and examples!

Sample Swatch for Crochet Tote in Granny Squares (coming soon)!