How to Crochet a Granny Square

This pattern will explain to you without abbreviations how to crochet a granny square. The only assumption it makes is that you know how to crochet chain stitches, all other crochet stitches are described. Before you begin you will need a 3 mm crochet hook or something relevant to the yarn you are using and some double knitting yarn.

Foundation Row:
Using hook and yarn crochet 6 chain stitches in a row.

Now we are going to join the chains into a ring, to do this we use a slip stitch. Insert the tip of the hook into the front of the first chain you made, (at beginning of row) pick up the yarn and draw the hook back out, then draw the loop through the first stitch on the hook. This will join the work.

1st Round:
Work 3 chain stitches, [these stitches count as your first treble stitch and these will be worked into when joining this round. When crocheting we commence rows with chain stitches as it makes it easier and neater to begin rows.]

Now work 2 treble stitches placing your hook into the centre of the ring.

To form a treble stitch, wrap the yarn round the hook, then insert your hook into the middle of the ring, pick up the yarn and draw back out of the ring, leaving you with three loops on your hook, wrap the yarn round your hook again making a fourth loop. Now draw the hook through the second and third loops leaving you with two loops. Wrap the yarn round the hook again and draw the hook through these two loops.

Now work the following stitches (3 chain, followed by 3 treble stitches into the ring). Repeat the stitches in brackets twice more.

Lastly work 3 chain stitches. Then join your work together with a slip stitch into the third chain of the chains formed at the beginning of the row.

2nd Round:
Work 4 chain stitches. [this counts as one treble and one chain stitch] now working into the next 3 chain space of the previous round, work the following; (3 trebles, 3 chain, 3 trebles, 1 chain). Repeat this a further 3 times into the corner spaces.

Now work into the last 3 chain space; 3 trebles, 3 chains, then lastly 2 trebles.

Join the round with a slip stitch into the third chain from the beginning of the row.

3rd Round:
Begin with 4 chain stitches, [these count as one treble and one chain stitch] then work 2 trebles into the middle 1 chain space of the previous round.

Now work (1 chain, 3 trebles, 3 chain, and 3 trebles into the 3 chain corner space. Follow this with 1 chain stitch, then by 3 trebles into the next 1 chain space.)

Repeat the last two stages – corners and straight side - twice more. So that you are just coming round to work on the fourth corner

Complete the last corner with 1 chain, 3 trebles, 3 chain, and 3 trebles.

Now work 1 chain and 2 trebles into the last 1 chain space.

Join the round with a slip stitch into the third chain from the beginning of the row.

4th Round:
Work 4 chain stitches, then 3 treble stitches into the 1 chain space before the next corner, then work 1 chain space.

Now work the following (3 trebles, 3 chain, and 3 treble stitches into the 3 chain corner space, then work 1 chain and then 3 trebles into the next 1 chain space.

Work 1 chain and 3 trebles into the next 1 chain space).

Repeat the corner and sides from the two steps above, twice more.

Complete the last corner with 1 chain, 3 trebles, 3 chain and 3 treble stitches.

Complete the side by working 1 chain, then 3 trebles into the first 1 chain space and lastly work 1 chain and 2 trebles into the last 1 chain space.

Join the round with a slip stitch into the third chain from the beginning of the row.

Break yarn and pull it straight through the last stitch to fasten off.

This completes the instructions for a granny square. However you can continue to add rounds in this manner and make the granny square as large or as tiny as you wish. Join in extra colours at the beginning of rounds and experiment and have fun.

Video: Crochet Traditional Granny Square 5 Rounds