The Granny Square is the first pattern I learned as a girl of 10 years old. It’s remained one of my favorites for that very reason. For me, it’s a “must” for anyone who really wants to embrace the “crochet life”. As I’ve explored other patterns, I’ve found this wonderful stitch can be used in a variety of ways.
I’ve pulled together, and crafted blankets, in three distinct “Granny” patterns. I honestly LOVED creating all three. I hope you will too. These blankets are just perfect for us, since they can be made with small amounts of leftover yarn. By using lots of different yarn, the blankets come out very colorful, which is perfect for animal shelters. Please don’t be concerned about the “holes” created by this stitch, since the shelter will know which pets these blankets are appropriate for. Each creation will be loved by a pet and their family.
I hope a return to this stitch brings back fond memories for you, and that you enjoy making these colorful creations!
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The Granny Square
Getting Started! I suggest using 4-ply yarn and a “I” sized hook for best results. Grab whatever leftover yarn you have and put it to good use! If you’re going to change colors each row, as I did, just tie off at the end of each row, after “join to initial CH3.” Then use a SL to attach the new color into any CH3 space (these will form the corners). After the SL, just start with “CH3” as the pattern indicates.
To begin - CH4 and join with SL to form a ring.
Row 1 – CH3, 2DC into the ring, *CH2, 3DC into the ring. Complete 3 times from the *, CH2, SL to join to initial CH3.
Row 2 – CH3, 2DC into the same space, *CH1, 3DC, CH2, 3DC all into next space. Complete a total of 3 times from *. Then CH2, SC into the initial CH3 to join.
Believe it or not, row 2 is the foundation for the rest of your beautiful Granny Square blanket.
Row 3+ - For the rest of the rows, just attach a new color in the corner, using a SL, and CH2. Add 2DC, CH2, 3DC all into the corner (this makes a “cluster”). CH1, work a group of 3DC into next space between groups of stitches. As your rows increase, the number of spaces will increase as well. When you get to the next corner, work another corner “cluster” (3DC, CH2, 3DC). You can make your Granny Square as large as you like, but simply putting a cluster into each corner, and a set of 3DC (with a CH1 before and after) into every space between the groups of stitches. Easy enough!
Border – With colorful blankets, I always like to do a jet-black border. It’s like framing a work of art! I did a simple HDC all around the outside, going into the spaces between the groups of DC, and then also into the tops of two stitches of every 3DC group. Be sure to put 3HDC, as always, into every corner!
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Granny in the Round
Getting Started! I suggest using 4-ply yarn and a “K” sized hook for best results. Grab whatever leftover yarn you have and put it to good use!
To begin - CH 4 and join with SL to form a ring.
Row 1 – CH 3 (counts as DC), put 11 DC into ring, join with SL to first CH 3. (Start a new color for every row, by simply joining the yarn in any SP after a SGC!)
Row 2 – CH 3, DC into same SP, put 2 DC into next SP and into each SP around to the end. Join with SL to top of CH 3 from beginning.
Row 3 – CH 3, work 2 DC into same space, SGC into next SP and in every SP around to end. Join to beginning CH 3 with a SL.
Row 4 – CH 3, work 3 DC into same space, * SGC into next SP, LGC into next SP, repeat from * around to end. Join to beginning CH 3 with a SL.
Row 5 – CH 3, work 2 DC into same space, * LGC into SP in the middle of the previous rows LGC, then SGC in the next 2 SP, repeat from * around to the end, putting a LGC in the middle of the final LGC, a SGC in the last SP, and joining it with a SL to the top of the initial CH 3.
Row 6 – Repeat row 4.
Row 7 – Repeat row 3.
Row 8 – CH 3, work 3 DC into same space, * work SGC into next 2 SP, work LGC into next space, repeat from * around to end. Join to beginning CH 3 with a SL.
Row 9 – CH 3, 2 DC into same space, work a SGC into every SP and into every middle of the LGC around to end.
Row 10 – CH 3, work 3 DC into same space, * work SGC into next 3 SP, work LGC into next space, repeat from * around to end. Join to beginning CH 3 with a SL.
Row 11 – CH 3, 2 DC into same space, work a SGC into every SP and into every middle of the LGC around to end.
Row 12 – CH 3, work 3 DC into same space, * work SGC into next 4 SP, work LGC into next space, repeat from * around to end. Join to beginning CH 3 with a SL.
Row 13 – CH 3, 2 DC into same space, work a SGC into every SP and into every middle of the LGC around to end.
Row 14 – CH 3, work 3 DC into same space, * work SGC into next 5 SP, work LGC into next space, repeat from * around to end. Join to beginning CH 3 with a SL. Your blanket should now be a great size for a pet at around 21” across.
Border – You almost don’t need a border for this pattern, but I always like to add a touch of black to frame the piece. I added a simple SC in SP all around the perimeter.
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Striped Granny
Getting Started! For best results, use a 4-ply yarn and a “K” sized hook. If you decide to make your blanket a bit smaller or larger than the one this pattern creates, just be sure that your initial chain is a multiple of 3, plus 2!
To begin: CH 50.
Row 1 - Work 1 SC in 2nd CH from hook. Continue working SC into each chain till the end (turn).
Row 2 - Chain 2, then work 1 DC into first ST. *Skip 2 ST, work 3 DC all into next ST (makes a cluster) *. Repeat between * until you have just 3 ST left, skip 2 ST, then put a single DC into last ST. You will end up with a row that begins and ends with a DC, and has the “clusters” in between. (Change yarn color, if you like!)
Row 3 - From now on you'll be working in the spaces between the clusters of the previous row. CH 2, then work 3DC into each space between clusters. You’ll end the row with a single DC into the top of the final ST in the previous row. (Change yarn color, if you like!)
Row 4+ - Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you reach the desired size. You can change yarn every row, or every group of rows. Just be sure to weave in all the ends (arg!).
Border – A simple border is very nice for this stitch. For the example, I trimmed the entire piece in two rows of HDC, putting 3 HDC into each corner.
Key:
ST - stitch
CH – chain
SP – space
SL – slip stitch
SC – single crochet
HDC – half double crochet
DC – double crochet
SGC – small granny cluster (3 DC into same space)
LGC – large granny cluster (4 DC into same space)
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