Pattern Description:
This beginner-friendly pattern teaches you a modern, solid granny square with decorative spaces at the corners.
It is designed to disguise the turning chain “seam” by placing it near, but not directly next to, the corner chain-2-space, ensuring all four corner spaces are the same size and not visually distracting. I use simple stitches for beautiful results.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Yarn: Worsted-weight yarn, or yarn of your choice
- Yarn Weight: Category 4 (worsted weight)
- Hook: H (5.0 mm) crochet hook, or the appropriate hook to match your choice of yarn
- Notions: Yarn needle, stitch markers (if desired), ruler or tape measure (if desired)
- Measurements: Approximately 5″ square if using worsted-weight yarn and a size H hook.
Stitches & Abbreviations Used:
- st/sts: stitch/stitches
- ch: chain
- ch-2-sp: chain 2 space (which will be the corner space)
- dc: double crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
Instructions for Making the Solid Granny Square Crochet Pattern:
Foundation Ring
To start your granny square, you will first create a foundation ring:
- Chain 5 (ch 5).
- Join the chain with a slip stitch (sl st) into the first chain to form a ring. Alternatively, you may use the magic ring technique if you prefer.
Round 1
This round establishes the initial structure of your square:
- Chain 3 (ch 3). This chain-3 will count as your first double crochet (dc) stitch for this round and throughout the pattern.
- Into the center of the ring, work 1 double crochet (1 dc).
- Then, chain 2 (ch 2) to create the first corner space.
- Next, work 3 double crochet (3 dc) stitches into the ring, followed by chain 2 (ch 2). You will repeat this step two more times (for a total of three times).
- Work 1 double crochet (1 dc) into the ring.
- Finally, join the round with a slip stitch (sl st) into the top of your starting chain-3.
- To position yourself for the next round, make one more slip stitch (sl st) into the nearest chain-2-space (ch-2-sp), which is your corner space. At the end of Round 1, you should have 12 stitches (sts) and 4 chain-2-spaces (ch-2-sp).
Round 2
This round begins to define the sides and corners of your square:
- Chain 3 (ch 3). Again, this counts as your first double crochet (dc) stitch.
- Into the chain-2-space (ch-2-sp) you slip stitched into (your current corner space), work the following sequence: 1 double crochet (dc), chain 2 (ch 2), then 2 double crochet (2 dc). This forms the corner for this round.
- Now, you will work along the side of the square. Work 1 double crochet (dc) into each double crochet (dc) stitch from the previous round along the side.
- When you reach the next corner chain-2-space (ch-2-sp), work the corner sequence: (2 double crochet (dc), chain 2 (ch 2), 2 double crochet (2 dc)) into that corner space.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the next two sides and corners.
- For the last side, after working the last corner, work 1 double crochet (dc) into each double crochet (dc) stitch along that side.
- To complete the round, make 1 double crochet (dc) into the slip stitch (sl st) from the previous round. Then, make 1 more double crochet (dc) into the next slip stitch (sl st) from the previous round (this is the slip stitch that originally went into the corner space).
- Tip: If you are having trouble getting the correct stitch count, make sure you are not accidentally skipping the first dc stitch on each side. Sometimes this stitch can be hidden by the stitches made into the corner space. Pull back the stitches made into the corner to find the first stitch on each side.
- Tip: Work the last double crochet (dc) of the round here, into the slip stitch (sl st) from the previous round.
- Join the round with a slip stitch (sl st) into the top of your starting chain-3.
- To position yourself for the next round, make one more slip stitch (sl st) into the nearest chain-2-space (ch-2-sp), which is your corner space. At the end of Round 2, you should have 28 stitches (sts) and 4 chain-2-spaces (ch-2-sp).
Subsequent Rounds (Rounds 3-7 and Beyond)
To continue making your granny square larger, you will simply repeat the instructions for Round 2.
- Round 3: Repeat Round 2. You should have 44 stitches (sts) and 4 ch-2-spaces.
- Round 4: Repeat Round 2. You should have 60 stitches (sts) and 4 ch-2-spaces.
- Round 5: Repeat Round 2. You should have 76 stitches (sts) and 4 ch-2-spaces.
- Round 6: Repeat Round 2. You should have 92 stitches (sts) and 4 ch-2-spaces.
- Round 7: Repeat Round 2. You should have 108 stitches (sts) and 4 ch-2-spaces. Continue repeating Round 2 until your granny square reaches your desired size.
To Finish
Once your granny square is as large as you’d like it to be:
- Cut your yarn.
- Fasten off (pull the yarn tail through the last loop on your hook).
- Weave in all loose ends using your yarn needle.
- You can use the starting tail (from the foundation ring) to help close up the center hole if it remains open.
