Crocheting a Granny Square - Tutorial

Ah, the Granny Square, simple to do,  very useful, and ubiquitous -  a great way to learn to crochet. This little square,  usually made one at a time  and joined to more granny squares can actually turn into something useful., like an afghan or blanket, if you work at it a bit. 

Granny Squares can be crocheted out of just about any kind of acrylic, cotton, or wool yarn of just about any thickness.   The thicker the yarn, the bigger the squares, the thinner the yarn, the smaller the squares.

The crochet granny square is primarily used for afghans and baby blankets now, which is really where it belongs.  The squares can be multicoloured - i.e. changing colour every round, using up scraps of left over yarns or yarns specially picked to match your decor,  or they can be made using all one colour. 

Traditionally granny squares are four or five crochet rounds each and then joined together.  However,  it is possible to make one gigantic granny square by repeating the pattern - just keep on going round and round, making sure you keep your corners square til your creation is the size you want.

  

 I guess it was in the 1970’s that granny squares went completely berserk and started showing up in all the wrong places.  Because they were so simple to do, and so versatile, and there was a whole new crop of crocheters learning the craft,  those granny squares were turned into hats, belts, purses, skirts, tops, and sweaters. You name it, the granny square was there, front and centre with some unfortunate consequences.  

 These images are from a 1974 copy of Family Circle Magazine.  As the accompanying story said brightly, Granny Squares were big news in the '70's.  I especially love number 24.

Things have calmed down slightly since then. 

And that brings us to the lesson.  

So, you want to learn to make a granny square.

The stitches are simple.  You need to know how to make a chain,, slip stitch,  and a double crochet stitch - that's it.

Match the yarn and hook size - check your ball band which is a font of great information - for instance, if you use heavy worsted weight yarn, your ball band will recommend a 5-6 mm hook. 

On to the instruction part of this tutorial:

Chain 10 and then join into a circle with a slip stitch.

Into this circle make three double crochets, chain three, three more double crochets, 3 chains, three more double crochets, 3 more chains, and 3 more double crochets, and 3 chains and join the last chain to the top of the first double crochet.  Your first round is complete - see how it looks like a circle?  That is about to change.

Your second round, which we are about to make, will start to shape your work into a square.  Here we go.

Chain 4, and now move your hook over to the next chain 3 space you made below going clockwise, and make 3 double crochets, three chains, and three more double crochets into that chain 3 space, chain one and move to the next chain 3 space. Repeat what you did in the first chain three space two more times which will bring you  to the last empty chain three space.

 In this last space, make 3 double crochets , chain 3 and make 2 double crochets.  Now slip stitch into the 3rd chain from the bottom on that first chain 4 you made at the beginning of the round to close this round.

You will have noticed that your double crochets are usually in threes, with chains between, and are always made in the chain spaces in the rounds below.  

Notice on the picture where we are - right in the middle of the round.  Make 3 double crochets in this chain one space and chain one.  This brings you to the corner where you will make three double crochets, chain three and then 3 more double crochets.  Repeat this around to where you started.  Chain one and join this chain one to the top of the first double crochet you did.  This round is complete.  

Now that we've established the pattern, it is a simple matter to continue on for one or two more rounds and complete the square.

 Note that the corners  always have two sets of double crochets with a chain three between.   The middle spaces have three double crochets and one chain.  Below is a completed granny square.

And that is all there is to it.  

Granny squares are fun and relatively easy to construct.  When you have made as many as you want, you can either slip stitch them together in the pattern of your choice, or sew them together.  Either method works.

This winter when the snow is blowing against your window, cozy up underneath your new crochet afghan and smile.