How to crochet a granny square
Use our step-by-step guide to learn to how to make a granny square – even if you've never picked up a crochet hook before!
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When it comes to making crochet squares, there are a few options, but by far the most popular way is the classic crochet granny square!
Granny squares can be used to make blankets, clothes, accessories and more! In fact, they’re are so popular, we even celebrate them online on the 15th August each year with Granny Square Day!
We’ll guide you through how to make a granny square, as well as teaching you some other ways to make solid crochet squares. You can use the handy links below if you would like to go to a specific section.
- How to crochet a grannny square
- How to crochet a square – Double crochet in rows
- Solid granny square pattern
How to crochet a granny square
If you want to get stuck in straight away, you can download a printable pdf of the basic granny square pattern used in this guide.
In this tutorial we’ll show you how to make a granny square with step-by-step instructions, or alternatively you can check out our how to make granny squares video tutorial!
You’ll only need some basic crochet knowledge to make a granny square, but if you’re completely new to crochet you might want to start with our crochet for beginners guide.
You can find a full list of all abbreviations we use in our abbreviations and conversions guide.
Our how to make a granny square tutorial is written in UK terminology but you can easily convert it to US terms using the guide.
How to crochet a granny square for beginners
You Will Need
- Yarn (Dk or chunky yarn is best for beginners)
- Crochet hook (a 3.5mm or 4mm is best)
- Yarn needle (For weaving in ends)
- Scissors
Step 1
Chain (ch) 4 and join with a slip stitch (ss) in the first ch to make a loop. (alternatively you can use a magic loop instead)
Round 1 (RS) Ch5 (this counts as a treble crochet (tr) and ch2 throughout), (3tr, ch2) 3 times, 2tr, ss to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5 to join. [12 tr]
Step 2
Round 2 (RS) ss into ch-2 space, ch5, (3tr, ch1) into same ch-space, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) into each of the next three ch2-spaces, 2tr in same place as ss from start of round 2, ss into third ch of beginning ch-5. [24 sts]
Fasten off (We’ll change colours in the next round using the slip stitch join method, but you can find more ways to change colours in our how to join yarn and change colours in crochet tutorial)
Step 3
Round 3 Using new colour ss into any ch-2 space, ch5, (3tr, ch1) in same space, *(3tr, ch1) in next ch-1 space, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in ch-2 space; rep from * another two times, (3tr, ch1) in next ch-1 space, 2tr in same place as ss from start of round 3, ss into third ch of beginning ch-5. [36 sts]
Fasten off (or change colour using your preferred method).
Step 4
Round 4 Using new colour ss into any ch-2 space, ch5, (3tr, ch1) in same space, *(3tr, ch1) in each ch-1 space across to next corner, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in ch-2 space; rep from * another two times, (3tr, ch1) in each ch-1 space across to last, 2tr in same place as ss from start of round 4, ss into third ch of beginning ch-5.
Fasten off (or change colour using your preferred method).
Step 5
Round 5. This is an optional round which will help to straighten your edges with double crochet (dc) stitches and make it easier to join squares together.
Join yarn with ss into any ch-2 space, ch1 (does not count as st), *(dc, ch1, dc) in ch-2 space, dc in each st and ch-1 space across to next corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ss to top of beg dc.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
That’s how to crochet a granny square! Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to make granny squares, you can effectively just repeat the same process and keep expanding from row 4 to make your granny square as big as you want!
Some people find that occasionally your granny square can start twisting slightly – but as we mentioned earlier, a simple way to fix this is to turn your work at the end of each round.
A note about starting granny squares
You may find that other granny square patterns start slightly differently. There are pro’s and con’s to each different method, but we find that the way shown in this tutorial is best for changing colour regularly and avoids having to slip stitch long stitches to reach specific positions.
P.S. If you want your finished granny squares to look super professional, you can finish them off by learning how to do the invisible crochet join.
If you’re new to crochet and are struggling to get your squares looking perfect, check out our crochet troubleshooting tips for some handy advice
How to crochet a square
Even if you’ve only learnt some very basic crochet stitches, then you have the capability of making a crochet square.
Working rows of simple stitches until the height matches the width is the simplest form of how to crochet a square.
To make a simple crochet square, just make chains to your desired width (remember to add one extra for your turning chain), double crochet in the second chain from your hook and in each chain across, then just continue working rows of double crochet stitches until your square reaches the same height as your width.
In fact, making a crochet square in this way is often done before starting larger patterns in the form of a tension square, which is where you create a simple square to ensure that your tension and yarn choice match that of the pattern designers.
You can find out more about this in our how to check your tension guide.
When it comes to making simple squares in rows, it’s unfortunately not just a simple case of working the same amount of rows as the amount of stitches that set your width.
Factors such as the thickness of your yarn, the size of your hook, how loose of tightly you crochet and which stitches you use can all make a difference to the height and width of your work. For example, if you made a square with treble crochet stitches it is going to require less rows than if you made it with double crochet stitches.
This is shown in the example above, where although the width of this square is made up of 27 double crochet stitches, it requires a height of 30 rows to achieve the perfect 15 x 15cm square.
Solid granny square pattern
Although working squares in rows is often used for checking tension, when crochet squares are used as motifs within patterns they are more commonly constructed by using crochet in the round. The reason for this is that when you crochet in the round, your square increases in size equally on all sides.
Most crochet squares that are constructed in the round usually get categorised as a type of granny square.
While you can make a solid granny square with treble crochet stitches, you’ll still get those holes in the corners. If you’re after a completely solid granny square pattern, here’s how to crochet a square in the round using simple double crochet stitches.
Simple double crochet solid granny square pattern
Round 1 Ch2, 8dc into second ch from hook,
ss to beg dc. [8 sts]
Round 2 Ch1, (dc in next st, ch2, dc in next st) 4 times, ss to beg dc. [8 sts, 4 ch-2 sps]
Round 3 Ss into next ch-2 sp, ch1, *(dc, ch2, dc), dc in each st to next ch-2sp; rep from * 4 times, ss into first dc to join.
Repeat Round 3 to desired size.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
This solid granny square pattern illustrates how squares made in the round work. Because you work two double crochet stitches into each corner, each side grows by two additional stitches with every round.
Some people find that their squares can sometimes start to twist or slant in one direction, which is often due to tension or the way people work.
If this becomes a problem for you, then a pro tip is to take the unconventional step of turning your work for each round (although you will need to essentially reverse the pattern for rows worked in the other direction).
Your crochet edges may naturally be a bit wobbly and not perfectly straight, but this can easily be rectified with blocking. Find out more about how to block crochet and get your squares looking nice and neat.
Granny square makes
Once you’ve mastered how to crochet a square, there’s a whole world of new and exciting patterns availbale to you. Have a browse of these 40+ granny square projects and get inspired!
Why are granny squares so popular?
One of the main reasons that people love granny squares so much is because they’re quick and easy motifs that you can make in one go, and that quickly build up to be joined into a larger project.
There’s also a huge range of variations of granny squares, so whether you enjoy trying new stitches or love experimenting with different colours, there’s a square to suit every crocheter!
Make a range of different granny squares
Now that you know the basics of how to make a granny square, there’s a huge range of other types of granny square patterns that you can try! Check out the free granny square patterns here on Gathered.
Authors
Matt Spiers is a crochet artist and designer who has been overseeing Gathered's crochet articles for over 2 years. He previously worked as Digital Assistant for Simply Crochet magazine and is our in house video editing pro. What started as a hobby a decade ago led to Matt developing a passion (and then a career) with crochet. As well as still regularly writing and designing for Simply Crochet magazine, Matt is a crochet artist in his own right, having displayed and created crochet installations at festivals and fibre events across the UK. You can keep up to date with Matt at @onemancrochet on Instagram.
