Classic Crochet Granny Square

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A classic granny square can be crocheted in a wide variety of ways. You can work in turned, joined rows, or crochet in one direction without turning and work in joined rounds. Do you add two chains into the corners or three? Crocheted granny squares are so fun to experiment with and you can choose the little details that work best for you and your granny square project.

I learned to make my granny squares in the round, using a half double crochet to complete the round, which is what I'm demonstrating here. I then work around the post of the half double crochet to start the first half of the corner for the next round. That might sound a little more complicated than it actually is – I find this one to be a very easy granny square pattern. For me, it's the simplest way to crochet a granny square. Let's take a look at how to make it.

BEGINNING RING

Ch 6. Sl st into first ch to form ring.

ROUND ONE

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in ring, (ch 3, 3 dc in ring) 3 times, ch 1, hdc in top of beg ch-3, do not turn, continue working in joined rnds.

ROUND TWO

For subsequent rounds, work the first two double crochets of each round by going around the post of the half double crochet and into the corner space. This is quite simple and makes a very nice and neat corner.

Rnd 2: Ch 3, 2 dc around post of hdc, [ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in ch-3 sp] 3 times, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, hdc in top of beg ch-3, do not turn.

ROUND THREE

Rnd 3: Ch 3, 2 dc around post of hdc, [ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in ch-3 sp] 3 times, ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, 3 dc in ch-3 sp, ch 1, hdc in top of beg ch-3, do not turn.

ROUND 4 & BEYOND

Rnd 4: Ch 3, 2 dc around post of hdc, [(ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp) to ch-3 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in ch-3 sp] 3 times, (ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp) to last ch-3 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in ch-3 sp, ch1, hdc in top of beg ch-3, do not turn.

Fasten off or continue working Rnd 4 to desired size.

ABBREVIATIONS

beg: beginning

ch: chain

dc: double crochet

hdc: half double crochet

rnd(s): round(s)

sl st: slip st

sp: space

U.S. Crochet Terminology was used for the granny square instructions. You can see a full list of abbreviations for my knit and crochet patterns here.

Once you've crocheted one granny square, you're likely going to want to make another (and another, and another). There are so many projects that you can make out of these motifs. Check out this this Granny Square Cardigan, available from WeCrochet. It's simple stunning and and made almost entirely out of granny squares motifs!

What's your favorite way to crochet granny squares?