PurlbedCrochet › Motifs and stitch patterns
Granny square
A square motif worked from the centre out in groups of 3 dc, with a chain space between groups and a corner (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) at each of the four corners.
What you work it with
Crochet · Tools: A hook for the yarn; scraps in several colours suit it; a tapestry needle for the ends and for sewing squares together.
Symbol chart
One or two repeats of the stitch pattern, in standard crochet symbols.Steps
- Ch 4 and join with a sl st into a ring.
- Round 1: ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in the ring, ch 2, (3 dc, ch
- three times; join to the top of the ch
- Round 2: sl st to the corner space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same space, ch 1, then (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each corner space with ch 1 between; join.
- Round 3: as round 2, but with 3 dc and ch 1 in each side space between the corners.
- Repeat round 3 to the size you want; change colours at the start of a round.
The full card
- What it looks like
- A square motif worked from the centre out in groups of 3 dc, with a chain space between groups and a corner (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) at each of the four corners.
- How it behaves
- Flat and open; squares are joined into blankets, bags and cardigans.
- How it works
- Each round puts groups of 3 dc into the spaces of the round before, with 2 chains at the corners: the square grows by one group on each side every round.
- Tools
- A hook for the yarn; scraps in several colours suit it; a tapestry needle for the ends and for sewing squares together.
- Parameters
- Start ring: ch 4 joined (or a magic ring). Each round adds one 3-dc group per side. Join each round with a sl st.
- Steps
- 1) Ch 4 and join with a sl st into a ring. 2) Round 1: ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in the ring, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 2) three times; join to the top of the ch 3. 3) Round 2: sl st to the corner space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same space, ch 1, then (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each corner space with ch 1 between; join. 4) Round 3: as round 2, but with 3 dc and ch 1 in each side space between the corners. 5) Repeat round 3 to the size you want; change colours at the start of a round.
- Charting
- The chart is one quarter of the square, flattened: each round reads right to left from its number and ends with a sl st join. Chain ovals between the dc groups are the spaces; the two ovals together are a corner.
- Limits and common problems
- A square that twists or looks like a pinwheel: start each round in a corner space and do not turn, or turn every round, but do it the same way each time. Corners that flare or ruffle: too many chains in the corner (ch 3 where the pattern says ch 2); corners that pull in: too few.
- Combines with
- Double crochet, Shell stitch, Crab stitch edge (reverse single crochet)
- Pieces and assembly
- Blankets, bags, cardigans of joined squares. Join with sl st, sc or whipstitch through the back loops.
Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.