The Purl Bee is Purl Soho's craft blog where we publish ideas for you to knit, crochet, sew, stitch and more! You can view our projects below.

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Friday
Mar302007

Granny Squares

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You can make granny squares big, small, tight, loose, from a single color or many colors. The only guidelines are to find a beautiful, natural yarn you'll really want to cuddle, and have a fun time inventing each unique square.

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The Materials

natural fiber yarn
For a warm coverlet, try merino wool, cashmere, or alpaca.  For a light summer throw, try cotton and silk or bamboo. 

crochet hook in a size appropriate for your yarn.
For bulky weight yarn, try a 8 - 10 mm hook.
For worsted weight yarn, try a 4.5 - 5.5 mm hook.
For sport weight yarn, try a 4 mm hook.
For lace weight yarn, try a 2 - 5 mm hook.  

 
Notes

Visit our Crochet Basics Tutorial for help with the techniques used in this project. 

 
ABBREVIATIONS

dc     double crochet

sc     single crochet

sl st    slip stitch 

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Remember, you can add as many rounds as you like to your square.  Here is a pattern for up to 4 rounds.  You may want to make squares that are all one color, or a different color for each round.

Classic Granny Square Pattern

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Chain 4; join into a ring with a slip stitch.

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ROUND 1: Ch 4, (3 dc into center of ring, ch 1) 3 times; 2 dc into center of ring; join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch. 

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IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME COLOR:
Slip stitch from the end of the round until you reach the ch1 stitch at a corner. Continue with the next round. 

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE COLORS:
Cut yarn, leaving a tail, and draw it all the way through the slip stitch to secure it. Join the new color at a corner by drawing a stitch through a ch1 stitch. Continue with the next round.

ROUND 2: Ch 3, work corner (dc2, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch, work remaining corners: *ch1, skip over the 3 dc from the previous round, (dc3, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch; repeat from * two more times, ch1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.

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AGAIN...

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME COLOR:
Slip stitch from the end of the round until you reach the ch1 stitch at a corner.  Continue with the next round. 

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE COLORS:
Cut yarn, leaving a tail, and draw it all the way through the slip stitch to secure it.  Join the new color at a corner by drawing a stitch through a ch1 stitch. Continue with the next round.

ROUND 3: Ch 3,  work corner (dc2, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch, work remaining sides:* ch1, skip over the 3 dc from the previous round, dc3, ch1, work corner (dc3, ch1, dc3); repeat from * two more times, ch1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.

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AND AGAIN...

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME COLOR:
Slip stitch from the end of the round until you reach the ch1 stitch at a corner.  Continue with the next round. 

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE COLORS:
Cut yarn, leaving a tail, and draw it all the way through the slip stitch to secure it.  Join the new color at a corner by drawing a stitch through a ch1 stitch. Continue with the next round.

ROUND 4: Ch 3,  work corner (dc2, ch1, dc3) into the same stitch, work remaining sides: *ch1, skip over the 3 dc from the previous round, dc3, ch1, skip over the 3 dc from previous round, dc3, ch1, work corner (dc3, ch1, dc3); repeat from * two more times, ch1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch. 

gran3.jpg