The following instructions are for the easiest & most consistent One colour Granny Square that I know &, although there are many variations, this is the one I use because I know my squares will be square & the corners open & even &, no matter how many rounds are I work, the square stays flat without ruffling or pulling in…..
The instructions are in written form & I have also included stitch drawings & stitch diagrams (for those of you who would like to learn how to read pattern graphs)…..
For your first attempts I recommend working in a light coloured 8 ply (US worsted) yarn & using the hook size you are comfortable with – 4.50 (US 6/G) or 5.00 (US 8/H)
Stitch Diagram Symbols
One Colour Granny Square:
Foundation Ring:
begin by making 5 chains (ch), join with a slip stitch (ss) to the 5th ch from hook to form a ring,
Round 1:
1) make 3 ch ((beginning ch) count this 3 ch as your first tr (US dc) of this round & throughout the entire pattern) & for this round you will be working into the ring
2) into ring work (2 tr (US dc), 3 ch) once,
3) then, continue working into ring, make (3 tr (US dc), 3 ch) three times,
4) join with ss into top of beginning ch (3rd ch of beginnging ch) – this join completes the first shell of round.
you should have - 4 shells = 12 tr (US dc) & 4 x 3-ch spaces (sps)
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Round 2:
1) make 4 ch ((beginning ch) count this 4 ch as your first tr (US dc) plus 1 ch of this round & throughout the entire pattern)
2) then * in the next 3-ch sp work (3 tr (US dc), 3 ch, 3 tr(US dc), 1 ch), repeat from * around to last 3-ch sp,
3) in last 3-ch sp work (3tr (US dc), 3 ch, 2 tr (US dc))
4) join with ss to 3rd ch of beginning ch – this join completes the last shell of round
you should have – 8 shells = 24 tr (US dc) – 4 x 3-ch sps – 4 x 1-ch sps
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Round 3:
1) make 3 ch, then into same sp work (2 tr (US dc), 1 ch), you have made the first shell of this round


2) in next corner sp work * (3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, 1 ch),


3) in next 1-ch sp work (3 tr, 1 ch),
4) now, repeat from * around to beginning ch, join with ss to top of beginning ch (3rd ch of beginnging ch) – this join completes the first shell of round
you should have 12 shells = 36 tr (US dc) – 4 x 3-ch sps -8 x 1-ch sps
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Round 4:
1) make 4 ch
2) in the next 1-ch sp work (3 tr (US dc), 1 ch),
3) * in the next 3-ch sp work (3 tr (US dc), 3 ch, 3 tr (US dc), 1 ch),
4) then in each next 1-ch sp work (3 tr (US dc), 1 ch), repeat from * around to last 1-ch sp,
5) in last 1-ch sp work (2 tr (US dc))
6) join with ss to 3rd ch of beginning ch – this join completes the last shell of round
you should have – 16 shells = 48 tr(US dc) – 4 x 3-ch sps – 12 x 1-ch sps
Rounds 3 & 4 are the repeat rounds, but you can finish off on any round or just keep going to any desired size
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Adding colours to your Granny Square:
The following drawings shows colour changes on every round… however, how many rounds per colour you work is entirely up to you – experiment with these colour changes & amaze yourself with the creativity you may never have thought you had….
Basically you follow the above instructions except that you finish off each colour round before starting a new colour round
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1) Bring in your new colour in any 3-ch sp with a slip stitch & make 3 ch ((beginning ch) count this 3 ch as your first tr (US dc) of this round & throughout the pattern), in the same space work (2tr (US dc), 3 ch, 3 tr (US dc)),
Tip: leave generous tail ends & wherever possible work over tail ends as you work
2) then, depending on the round, work as for one colour Gr/square instructions
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Edging your Granny Square: is entirely optional but personally, I prefer to work 2 rounds of dc (US sc) around each square mainly because the squares look more finished & they are so much easier to join into projects later – the main thing to remember when edging your square is to work your dc (US sc) stitch for stitch across to corner stitches & you must work 3 dc (US sc) in each corner stitch.
There are many variations, but the following the 2 methods are the ones I use most often for edging Granny Squares:
Example No 1. Round 1:
1a) after finishing your last round with a slip stitch do not finish off but continue with this last colour in use (working colour) & make 1 ch, & dc (US sc) in same stitch,
1b) now * work dc (US sc) in each 1-ch space & in each stitch across to next 3-ch space, work 3 dc (US sc) in 3-ch space, then repeat from * around & join with a slip stitch to the first dc (US sc) but do not finish off
Tip: I like to place a marker in the middle stitch of the 3 corner stitches for easy identification on the next round & I leave these markers in so that when it comes to joining my squares later I only have to match them corner marker to corner marker
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Example No 1. Round 2:
1c) make 1 ch, & dc (US sc) in same stitch,
1d) now * work dc (US sc) in each stitch across to next middle corner stitch, work 3 dc (US sc) in middle corner stitch, then repeat from * around & join with a slip stitch to the first dc (US sc) & finish off
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2a) finish off your last colour of square & bring in your new colour with a dc (US sc) in any corner 3-ch space, work 2 dc in same space (this makes your first 3-corner stitches)
Tip: joining with a dc (US sc) – start with the slip knot on hook, insert hook into space indicated by pattern & draw up a loop (2 loops on hook), YO & draw through both loops on hook (this counts as the first dc (US sc)) then continue as pattern instruction
2b) now * work dc (US sc) in each stitch & in each 1-ch space across to next 3-ch space, work 3 dc (US sc) in 3-ch space, then repeat from * around & join with a slip stitch to the first dc (US sc) but do not finish off
Tip: I like to place a marker in the middle stitch of the 3 corner stitches for easy identification on the next round & I leave these markers in so that when it comes to joining my squares later I only have to match them corner marker to corner marker
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Example No 2. Round 2:
2c) make 1 ch, & dc (US sc) in same stitch,
2d) now * work dc (US sc) in each stitch across to next middle corner stitch, work 3 dc (US sc) in middle corner stitch, then repeat from * around & join with a slip stitch to the first dc (US sc) & finish off
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Congratulations! you have completed your Granny Square… once you have made a few more you will need to join them & make what ever your heart desires – you will find a number of different ways of joining your squares on the Joining New Yarn, Fabric, Squares & Motifs page – enjoy!

































































Designer
ETSY DUST
You’re most welcome, Maria…. glad I was of help
Thank you soo much for the detailed instructions! I am a beginner and a lefty so this is very very helpful.
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You’re very welcome… glad it’s been helpful
Very helpful! I am a beginner and this is easy to follow. Thank you:)
Hi Pat, that must be so frustrating… I’m not entirely sure why this is happening but here are some ideas…
~ are you always finishing off each round with a slip st & then making 3 or 4 ch (depending on which round you’re on) before continuing with the new round
~ are you working from a corner (each round a different col for example), if so… bring your new col in with a slip st, then work, 3 ch (count as 1st tr (US dc), 2 tr (US dc), 3 ch, 3 tr (US dc) all in the same corner space, this = 2 shells separated by 3 ch (corner made)
“I do sl st at end of each row to corner and then ch 3 to start another corner.” I’m not sure what you mean here
are you actually sl st in each st to each corner, regardless of where you’ve finished off?
I hope this has been somewhat helpful… it’s hard to know when I can’t see it & it’s probably something very simple…. don’t get too frustrated I always suggest putting your work down for a while.. sometime when you come back with a fresh eye it all falls into place
Thank you for your tutorial on a granny square. My problem is my square will not keep straight after about 6 rows and the centre has moved and is no longer in the middle. I do sl st at end of each row to corner and then ch 3 to start another corner. how can I avoid this. It happens every time I undoe my work and try again. My square is never square. thankyou Pat
gertyau@optusnet.com.au
You’re very welcome
Thanks for sharing this – I’ve been slip stitching across and hated the way it looks but this way is so much better and easier
Wonderful! So pleased I could help you with your crochet adventure
So excited I have just completed my first ever crochet project all with your help!! Still room for improvement but now buzzing!!
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That’s wonderful & you’re most welcome… I’m really happy I could help & thank you for your lovely compliment… much appreciated
After 2 years of trying to master the granny square, with countless videos and websites – you have helped me so much! The instructions were perfect and now I can finally make them! I’ve even been able to teach other people by showing them your blog!
Thankyou so much!
You’re very welcomed, Adrienne… glad I helped
Yeah, I did it! I’ve tried several instructions/patterns none as concise as yours, and I am so pleased with how nice the granny square turned out. Thank you very much!!!
Hi Audrey, I’m glad you found the instructions helpful, without seeing your project I can only guess that you are working your rounds continuously & not finishing each round with a slip stitch before making a beginning chain for the next round… if this is the case then your work will not remain square & will go more out of square with each round – I can only suggest that you pull back to where the mistake started & place in a marker in the beginning chain to remind you where to join the round before starting the next… hope that helps
Thanks so much for the easy directions, they are very helpful. I decided to make a giant granny square afghan and I have continued the pattern. Im on my 9th round, and its coming along nicely, however I just realized I am no longer joining rounds with a ss. I think it has been for the last 2-3 rounds. Its working and getting larger, but did I mess something up? Or is this just how it works out? Thanks!
You’re welcome, Rose… glad I could help
I am so happy to have found these instructions – thank you, for explaining it so clearly.
That’s wonderful, Shauna, I’m really glad I could help
I have been trying to learn how to make a granny square for over a year, and no tutorial worked for me! I can usually catch on so easily! This tutorial helped me to make my very first one!! THANK YOU!
WOW!
That’s wonderful, knowing that I got you started again.. Yay!!! enjoy & thank you for your comment…..
Wow! Thank you for this tutorial – it’s excellent! I love that you teach not only the pattern, but also the chart. I haven’t even tried a granny square in probably 20 yrs, because never being able to get one right got too frustrating. No more! As soon as I find my hooks, it’s time to use up a boatload of yarn. Christmas throws all around!
So glad the instructions are helpful – as for the solid granny square, I not sure which one you mean – sorry can’t help you with that one
These instructions are fantastic. I made my first granny square today. Do you have similar instructions for the “solid” granny square that just has the “holes” up the corners? I would like to make them the same size as this type here and alternate them in a blanket.
You’re welcome
merci beaucoup! Enfin j’ai reussis du premier coup avec des explications aussi simple que vous donnez. J’ai du plaisir a faire des granny!!!Merci encore
Thank you, Gail, I’m really happy so many people are finding this useful
I have to say this is the very clearest and best tutorial I have seen for the humble granny square. Thank you so much.
Blessings Gail
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you’re welcome, Catherine…. small world indeed – enjoy!!!
Thank you Ren – been wanting to remember how to do this, and you make it easy! Funny, a friend here in Istanbul posted it on Pinterest, which is how I saw it. Small world…
Thank you very very very match
Thank you so very much for this tutorial!!! Now I understand, how I have to chrochet the beautiful Granny Square.
Many greetings to you,
Katja
Thank you so much, it’s lovely to know that the tutorial has helped – happy crocheting
Super helpful! Thank you so much for posting this.
Because of you I actually made my first Granny Square last night, and it looks nice even!
Thank you again! You are brilliant!
Absolutely fantastic diagrams and really clear instructions – thanks for sharing!
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EXCELLENT!!!
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thanks Jess, & yes.. link away, I’m happy that I can help
Hey Ren, this is awesome!
Would you mind if I linked to this post from my blog and took a few pictures to put in the post – to encourage people who want to learn to come over here and have a look?
Jess
Thanks so much Ren. This is a great post with easy to follow instructions.
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