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How to Crochet a Granny Square – Photo Tutorial

June 9, 2015

How to crochet a granny square with photo tutorial – a very easy, beginner crochet tutorial for a classic stitch pattern that can be used for many projects!

This post contains affiliate links for Lion Brand. If you make a purchase by clicking on them, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

I have always had quite a soft spot for granny squares and projects made from them. I think they are so classic, and versatile, and I really enjoy trying to use them in out of the box ways.

For this tutorial, I am using Lion Brand’s Coboo Yarn and an H8/5mm crochet hook. One five round square can be worked up in about 15 minutes. The main stitch of a granny square is a US double crochet (DC), and I have a photo tutorial HERE if you need a refresher.

I am not creating anything new here, but I did take the time to take the photos, edit them, and put this tutorial together, so please respect my work. Do not pin or share any of the tutorial images – just the main photo. Provide the link for others to find my page (help out me and my blog with the traffic). Do not copy and paste my work anywhere. Thank you!

What is a Granny Square?

A traditional granny square begins from the center, and is created by working rounds of US double crochet clusters followed by a chain to form a beautiful, lacy square. Work as many or as little rounds to create the perfect size square. This classic motif is most commonly associated with afghans, but really, the possibilities are endless!

What Can I Make with a Granny Square?

  • Middle, Left: Two Grannies Headband
  • Middle, Middle: Granny’s Patriotic Wreath
  • Top, Right: Granny Square Rectangle Shawl
  • Bottom, Left: Granny Square Phone Cozy
  • Bottom, Middle: Laceweight Gia Earrings
  • Bottom, Right: Chunky Granny Square Baby Blanket

Chain 1, or No Chain in Between?

You may see patterns written both ways. Sometimes, usually depending on your choice of yarn and/or tension, you may find your square takes on a wonky shape with or without a single chain in between clusters. It may take on a butterfly shape with a narrowed center, and widened top and bottom, or it may look rounded with the insides bulging. You may need to experiment a little to see what direction you will take in regards to what follows a double crochet cluster.

In this tutorial, we are working with a chain space in between clusters.

You are looking for a nice, crisp square. If you feel that your square takes on a more rounded look with the insides bulging, then that’s your cue to eliminate the chain one space.

If you were working a pattern that instructed you not to work a chain space, but then you notice your square takes on a butterfly look with the corners pointing out, and the insides caving, that would be your cue that you need to add a chain one space in between clusters.

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How to Crochet a 2 Round Granny Square Video Tutorial:

How to Crochet Round 1:

If you’ve haven’t yet, make a slip knot (photo tutorial), then work a foundation chain (photo tutorial) of 5…

Being careful not to twist the chain just created, insert hook into the 1st chain, yarn over…

… and pull through to complete a slip stitch join. Now you have a ring.

If this was an actual pattern, you would see it written in one of these ways:

  • Make a ring.
  • Ch 5. Join to form a ring.
  • Ch 5, sl st join.
  • Chain 5, slip stitch join to form a ring.

Chain 2 – this counts as our first DC of the round here and in each remaining round.

Holding the initial tail end against the wrong side of the ring (throughout all of round 1), insert hook into the center of the ring…

… and complete a DC making sure to work over that initial tail. HERE’s a photo tutorial if you need a refresher on how to work a DC. Insert hook into the center of the ring again, and complete another DC.

This is the first double crochet cluster, which consists of three double crochets together.

Chain 3 (which forms a corner), then work 3 more DC’s into the center of the ring. Make sure to keep holding the initial tail against the wrong side of the ring, and crochet over.

Chain 3 (to form the second corner), work 3 DC into the ring, chain 3 (to form the third corner), work 3 more DC into the ring.

For the last corner, I like to work it as a chain 2 because a chain 3 paired with the join we’re about to do, makes this corner stick out a bit weird. I do only the last corner chain space of round 1 this way.

Find the top chain of the beginning chain 2…

… insert hook into this chain, yarn over and pull through to complete a slip stitch join.

*You may also see makers join to the first DC, rather than the beginning chain. You can do this as long as this isn’t the last round that you are working (because the stitch count isn’t essential until the last round).

If this were an actual pattern, you may find this instruction written as:

  • Make a ring. Ch 2, 2 DC, (ch 3, 3 DC) 3x, ch 2. Join.
  • Ch 5. Join to form a ring. Ch 2, 2 DC into the ring, (ch 3, 3 DC into the ring) 3x, ch 2. Join.
  • Chain 5. Slip stitch join to form a ring. Chain 2, work 2 DC into the ring, (chain 3, 3 DC into the ring) 3x, chain 2. Join.

Either way, you will end up with four chain space corners, and 12 double crochets.

How to Crochet Round 2:

You can begin each new round one of two ways.

  • If working in the same color, slip stitch over, and begin as we will in this tutorial, OR
  • If changing colors for this round, fasten off the old color after the slip stitch join, then join the new color in the very next corner chain space, and chain 2.

To slip stitch over, insert hook into the next DC, yarn over and pull through, then insert hook into the next DC and complete another slip stitch, then insert hook into the corner chain space, and complete another slip stitch.

Chain 2…

… Work 2 DC, chain 3, 3 DC into the same corner chain space (this forms the new round’s corner).

… chain 1, then work (3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space to form the next corner.

Continue working around as follows: chain 1, [(3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space, chain 1] 2x. Slip stitch join to the top of the beginning chain 2.

If this were an actual pattern, you may find this instruction written as:

  • Sl st over. Ch 2, 2 DC, ch 3, 3 DC, ch 1, [(3 DC, ch 3, 3 DC) next ch sp, ch 1] 3x. Join.
  • Sl st over. Ch 2, 2 DC, ch 3, 3 DC into the same ch sp, [(3 DC, ch 3, 3 DC) into the next ch sp, ch 1] 3x. Join.
  • Slip stitch into the next 2 DC, then into the next chain space. Chain 2, 2 DC, chain 3, 3 DC into the same chain space, [(3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space, chain 1] 3x. Join.

Either way, you will end up with four chain 3 space corners, four chain 1 spaces, and 24 double crochets.

How to Crochet Round 3 & Remaining Rounds:

Begin each round by slip stitching over into the next chain space (or if changing colors, by fastening off, and joining the new color into the next chain space). You will work each remaining round in the same manner simply adding one more granny square cluster and one more chain one space to each side.

Round 3 may look like either of these:

  • Sl st over. Ch 2, 2 DC, ch 3, 3 DC into the same ch sp, [(3 DC, ch 3, 3 DC) into the next ch sp, ch 1, 3 DC next ch sp, ch 1] 3x. Join.
  • Slip stitch into the next 2 DC, then into the next chain space. Chain 2, 2 DC, chain 3, 3 DC into the same chain space, [(3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space, chain 1, 3 DC into the next chain space, chain 1] 3x. Join.

Written Pattern:

Chain 5. Slip stitch join to form a ring. Chain 2, work 2 DC into the ring, (chain 3, 3 DC into the ring) 3x, chain 2. Join. (12 DC)

R2: Slip stitch into the next 2 DC, then into the next chain space. Chain 2, 2 DC, chain 3, 3 DC into the same chain space, chain 1, [(3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space, chain 1] 3x. Join. (24 DC)

R3: Slip stitch into the next 2 DC, then into the next chain space. Chain 2, 2 DC, chain 3, 3 DC into the same chain space, chain 1, [(3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space, chain 1, 3 DC into the next chain space, chain 1] 3x. Join. (36 DC)

R4: Slip stitch into the next 2 DC, then into the next chain space. Chain 2, 2 DC, chain 3, 3 DC into the same chain space, chain 1, [(3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space, chain 1, (3 DC into the next chain space, chain 1) 2x] 3x. Join. (48 DC)

R5: Slip stitch into the next 2 DC, then into the next chain space. Chain 2, 2 DC, chain 3, 3 DC into the same chain space, chain 1, [(3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC) into the next chain space, chain 1, (3 DC into the next chain space, chain 1) 3x] 3x. Join. (60 DC)

And there you have it! A finished granny square.

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Filed Under: Crochet 101, Free Crochet Patterns Tagged With: 15 Minutes or Less, 5/H8, Crochet 101, Crochet How To, Crochet Technique, Double Crochet, Easy Crochet, Free Crochet Pattern, Granny Square, Green, Lion Brand, Lion Brand Coboo, Mint, Photo Tutorial, YouTube Video

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Comments

  1. Kimberly Curtis says

    June 10, 2015 at 10:51 am

    Thank you so much for doing this fantastic Tutorial! It is so easy to follow and I love the invisible join you did! I have purchased a pattern for a Lalylala, Kira the Kangaroo. That is what I have trying to work on, been hectic here. Have a wonderful week Alexandra!
    Hugs, Kim http://acitywithoutaswing.blogspot.com/

    Reply
    • knots1prime says

      June 11, 2015 at 5:42 am

      Sounds cute. I just love Kangaroos! Can't wait to see it 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ann says

    August 14, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.

    Reply
    • Alexandra says

      August 31, 2020 at 10:04 am

      Thank YOU Ann!

      Reply
  3. Pam says

    August 17, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    This is a great tutorial! This is the next best thing to having someone sit beside you. I like the way your instructions read. I’ve always been intimidated by the pattern language! I love granny squares and haven’t done any in a long time. Thanks for sharing it at TFT.

    Reply
    • Alexandra says

      August 31, 2020 at 10:08 am

      So happy to hear that! Always love getting feedback on my tutorials and patterns. Granny squares are one of my favorite things to make because they are so versatile. Who knew you could do so much with a tiny little square?

      Reply
  4. Michelle says

    August 18, 2020 at 11:20 pm

    Great tutorial! It will be featured on this week’s Creative Compulsions.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

    Reply
    • Alexandra says

      August 31, 2020 at 10:08 am

      Thanks so much, Michelle!

      Reply

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Welcome!

Welcome!

Hey! I'm Alexandra, the blogger and creator behind EyeLoveKnots and On Rockwood Lane! My passion is being creative. My favorite thing to do is crochet, and you will almost always find me having a cup of coffee and working on a new crochet project, but when I'm not doing that, you might find me out at a local park rollerblading, baking some fresh cookies, picking veggies in the garden or re-decorating for a new season or holiday. My two cats are great supervisors for all my adventures (minus the being outside because they think it's too hot in Florida to be anywhere but inside), and make sure I take plenty of breaks.

Meet the Team!

Meet the Team!

On the left, Abby is the maker behind A Stitch Shy of Normal, and on the right Jessica is the maker behind Nice and Knotty and Candace is the maker behind TandC Crafters.

Together, they help me bring awesome crochet projects to you! Click the image to learn more about them, and get their Instagram links, where they are constantly sharing tons of crochet inspiration.

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