Welcome to the crocheter’s ultimate right of passage: the classic granny square!
No matter if you’re a seasoned crocheter, or this is your first attempt at this cozy craft, almost everyone finds their way to some form of the crochet granny square.
In fact, if you asked anyone off the street to imagine something crochet, it’s likely that this traditional motif is the first image that will pop into their head!
The next time you’re watching a movie, or bingeing some new TV show, I challenge you to keep an eye out for crochet afghans draped in the background of living room shots. More often than not, you’ll see a crochet granny square popping into the frame of your favorite scenes — once you start seeing them, you’ll never be able to stop!
And it makes sense why they’re so popular of a set piece! There’s truly little else that conveys so quickly and simply the feeling of coziness and a well lived-in home.
For many of us, the classic granny square is the one of the first things we ever learned to crochet. Even after 20 years of crochet, I still often find my way back to this timeless classic.
So, on that note, let’s not wait another 20 years — let’s just get right into it! Without further ado, welcome to our free crochet classic granny square pattern, including tutorials for 4 unique color ways!
Pattern Information | Free Crochet Granny Square
Supplies:
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- Size I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook
- Medium (4) weight yarn in 5 colors:
- Yarn A (solid and striped squares)– pink (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Persimmon)
- Yarn B (striped square)– navy (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Soft Navy)
- Yarn C (striped and diagonal squares)– lime (example uses Big Twist Value: Slime)
- Yarn D (striped and diagonal squares)– blue (example uses Big Twist Value: Sapphire)
- Yarn E (striped square)– magenta (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Mulberry)
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch Markers (optional)
Terminology:
This free crochet granny square pattern uses English (US) terminology:
- st (sts) = stitch (stitches)
- ch = chain stitch
- ch-sp = chain space
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- rep = repeat
Please note that this pattern is written so that each crochet stitch abbreviation is attached to a number, such as 1sc, 2sc, etc. This number denotes how many of that stitch is to be worked into the same stitch or chain space.
In other words, 1sc = one single crochet, whereas 2sc = two single crochet worked into one stitch or chain space.
Pattern Instructions | Free Crochet Granny Square
Before we begin, it is worth noting that our classic crochet granny square pattern uses a few alternative methods from other traditional instructions.
The first is that our pattern uses 2 chain stitches for turning chains and each corner chain-space, instead of the more common 3 chains.
This is purely a personal preference, as I find that adding a third chain can sometimes leave too large of gaps between stitches. Choose whichever method works best for you according to your unique tension and aesthetic preferences!
The second is that many classic crochet granny squares are worked without ever flipping the work over, and therefore result with a ‘right side’ and a ‘wrong side.’
If you prefer the look of this kind of granny square, you may omit the instructions for turning your work at the end of each round. The exceptions to this, however, is for the diagonal color block (which must be worked back and forth), as well as if you are planning to make a very large granny square.
The issue with large crochet granny squares, or working in the round in general, is that all stitches have a slight slant to them. This means that the bigger you crochet your work in the same direction, the more pronounced this slanting will become. The end result becomes a granny square that starts to spiral, instead of being a perfect square.
Our version of the classic crochet granny square, however, flips the work after every round. This eliminates the slanting issue altogether, as each round’s slant is simply canceling out the skew created in the previous round.
Using this method also creates a granny square with no right or wrong side, adding more versatility to the final pattern. This is especially ideal for projects that will be seen on both sides.
And finally, the third is that traditional instructions will have you chain 2 or 3 for the last corner, then slip stitch into the first stitch (or turning chain) of the round.
Our pattern, however, uses only 1 chain stitch, then finishes the round with a single crochet into the top of the turning chain at the beginning of the round.
The purpose of this alternative method is to shift the following turning chain (or surrogate first double crochet) to be closer to the true corner of the square.
When you reach the end of the next round, work over this single crochet as though it were just a normal chain space.
If you have chosen to work 3 chains at each corner (instead of 2), it may also be worthwhile to replace each single crochet with a half double crochet instead, to keep that last corner even with the others.
And lastly, you will notice, that our pattern omits the single crochet method on the very last round of each crochet granny square. Since we are not working further, this method becomes unnecessary and therefore is replaced with the traditional chain and slip stitch for a cleaner outer edge.
This is also true for each round of the striped granny square. As each color is only used for one round, then fastened off, this single crochet method does not add any benefit and is therefore omitted entirely.
Phew, and that’s it! Find your desired color way for your crochet granny square below, and let’s get right into it!
Crochet Granny Square | Solid Color
With yarn A, ch 4, sl st into first ch to form a ring, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc).
Rnd 1: 2dc into ring, [ch 2, 3dc into ring] 3 times, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (12 dc + 4 ch-sps).
Rnd 2: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (24 dc + 8 ch-sps).
Rnd 3: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [*ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp, ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp,* ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * to * 1 more time, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (36 dc + 12 ch-sps).
Rnd 4: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [*ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp,* rep from * to * 2 more times, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * to * 3 more times, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (48 dc + 16 ch-sps).
Rnd 5: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [*ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp,* rep from * to * 3 more times, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * to * 4 more times, ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc (60 dc + 20 ch-sps).
Fasten off yarn A and weave in ends.
If you want to extend your classic crochet granny square even further, replace the last “ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc” with the end instructions of the previous rounds, “ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn.”
Then, continue for as many rounds as desired by following the same instructions as round 5, except with adding one more repetition, per each additional round, of “ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp” on each side of your square.
Crochet Granny Square | Striped
With yarn A, ch 4, sl st into first ch to form a ring, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc).
Rnd 1: 2dc into ring, [ch 2, 3dc into ring] 3 times, ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc (12 dc + 4 ch-sps).
Fasten off yarn A and weave in ends.
With yarn B, sl st into any corner ch-sp and ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn.
Rnd 2: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp, ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc (24 dc + 8 ch-sps).
Fasten off yarn B and weave in ends.
With yarn C, sl st into any corner ch-sp and ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn.
Rnd 3: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [*ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp, ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp,* ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * to * 1 more time, ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc (36 dc + 12 ch-sps).
Fasten off yarn C and weave in ends.
With yarn D, sl st into any corner ch-sp and ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn.
Rnd 4: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [*ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp,* rep from * to * 2 more times, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * to * 3 more times, ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc (48 dc + 16 ch-sps).
Fasten off yarn D and weave in ends.
With yarn E, sl st into any corner ch-sp and ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn.
Rnd 5: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, [*ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp,* rep from * to * 3 more times, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * to * 4 more times, ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc (60 dc + 20 ch-sps).
Fasten off yarn E and weave in ends.
If you want to extend your classic striped granny square even further, use the same method as before for fastening on a new color. Start again with yarn A for the next round, then B, then C, and so on.
Continue for as many rounds as desired by following the same instructions as round 5, except with adding one more repetition, per each additional round, of “ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp” on each side of your square.
Crochet Granny Square | Diagonal Color Block
The diagonal color block granny square is worked just like the solid color granny square, except that you will be changing colors on the second corner of each round.
There are two color changing methods to familiarize yourself with for the diagonal color block granny square, as seen below.
The first color change, pictured above, is only used in round 1, when you are first introducing your second color at the second corner.
After completing your first chain, drop your first color and grab your second yarn. Chain 1 more by pulling up a loop of your second color instead of your first yarn, as shown.
To secure the tail of your second yarn, you may either knot it to another part of your work, or work it into your next stitch.
For the latter, simply yarn over using both strands (the working yarn and the tail) in preparation for your next double crochet. Insert your hook into the ring, yarn over using only the working yarn, and pull through.
Allow your beginning tail to be dropped and complete the stitch as normal, treating the doubled yarn over as one strand. Weave in any remaining tail after you finish the round.
The second color changing method will be used on all subsequent rounds, when changing colors at the second corner.
After completing your first chain, drop your current color and grab your next yarn from where you dropped it in the previous round. Chain 1 more by loosely pulling up a loop of the new color, as shown.
At this point, you will notice that the new strand you have just pulled up has left behind a loose length of yarn between where it was dropped previously and the chain you’ve just made. Make sure not to pull this strand too taut.
For the next double crochet, yarn over using both your working yarn and this new length of yarn that was just created.
Insert your hook into the same chain-space as your last 3 double crochet, yarn over using only the working yarn, and pull through. Complete the stitch as normal, treating the doubled yarn over as one strand.
With yarn D, ch 4, sl st into first ch to form a ring, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc).
Rnd 1: 2dc into ring, ch 2, 3dc into ring, ch 2 and change to yarn C, 3dc into ring, ch 2, 3dc into ring, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (12 dc + 4 ch-sps).
Rnd 2: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, *ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp, ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp,* ch 2 and change to yarn D, 3dc into same ch-sp, rep from * to * 1 time, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (24 dc + 8 ch-sps).
Rnd 3: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, *[ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp] 2 times, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp, [ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp] 2 times,* ch 2 and change to yarn C, 3dc into same ch-sp, rep from * to * 1 time, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (36 dc + 12 ch-sps).
Rnd 4: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, *[ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp] 3 times, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp, [ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp] 3 times,* ch 2 and change to yarn D, 3dc into same ch-sp, rep from * to * 1 time, ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn (48 dc + 16 ch-sps).
Rnd 5: 2dc into 1st ch-sp, *[ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp] 4 times, ch 2, 3dc into same ch-sp, [ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp] 4 times,* ch 2 and change to yarn C, 3dc into same ch-sp, rep from * to * 1 time, ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc (60 dc + 20 ch-sps).
Fasten off yarn both yarn C and D and weave in ends.
If you want to extend your diagonal color block granny square even further, replace the last “ch 2, sl st into top of 1st dc” with the end instructions of the previous rounds, “ch 1, 1sc into top of 1st dc, ch 2 (counts as next round’s 1st dc), turn.”
Then, continue for as many rounds as desired by following the same instructions as round 5, except with adding one more repetition per each additional round of “ch 1, 3dc into next ch-sp” on each side of your square.
You can also use this same method of color changing at the corners to achieve a 4-color block, as seen below.
Simply use the the chain-2 color change method on each of the first 3 corners of each round, instead of just the 2nd corner.
As before, do not color change on the last corner. You should be turning your work after each round, and therefore do not need to change colors when starting a new round.
Conclusion | Free Crochet Granny Square
Whether this was your first time circling around the classic crochet granny square, or a nostalgic return to a timeless tradition, we hope you’ve enjoyed your little slice of what is a long and beloved history of crochet granny square making.
If you’ve enjoyed this free classic crochet granny square pattern, check out our free and original Virkadia Square pattern, as seen in our Patchwork Cardigan and Patchwork Sweater patterns!
You can also explore the Cutie Collections and the Pocket Pets archives for our original and free amigurumi patterns, or our Home Decor Patterns for other homemade household goodies!
If you’re looking to cozy up with a longer project, check out our Clothing Patterns, or assemble your own designs from one of our Granny Square Patterns!
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