How to Crochet the Perfect Granny Square

by Yay For Yarn

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

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This granny square pattern uses the Chainless Starting Double Crochet and an alternate join
technique to eliminate the starting chain ridge in the work. It can be made in any yarn, at any
gauge, and in any size.

You Will Need:

Yarn of your choice (any weight category can be used, thickness of yarn, number of colors, and
desired size of square will determine the quantity of yarn needed)
Crochet Hook (in a size appropriate for the thickness of the yarn you are using)
Scissors
Yarn Needle or Blunt Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations: st: stitch sts: stitches sp: space sk: skip nxt: nxt ea: each
beg: beginning ch: chain sl st: slip stitch sc: single crochet hdc: half-double crochet
dc: double crochet CSSC: Chainless Starting Single Crochet*
CSDC: Chainless Starting Double Crochet*
*This is a special stitch. See instructions below to learn how to work this stitch.

CSDC: Stretch loop on hook until it is slightly longer than a regular double crochet (see 1st
photo). Holding the top of the loop still with your finger, yarn over with the stretched loop on your
hook (not the working yarn) 1 time. (See arrow in 1st photo, see finished step in 2nd photo.) Insert
the hook into the same stitch the loop is coming from (see 3rd photo). Yarn over, pull up a loop of
yarn (see 4th photo). *Yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook* 2 times (see 5th & 6th photos).

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CSSC: Stretch loop on hook slightly (see 1st photo). Insert hook in the same stitch the loop is
coming from (see 2nd photo). Yarn over, pull up a loop (see 3rd photo). Yarn over, pull through 2
loops on hook (see 4th photo).

Granny Square
Ch 4. sl st in 4th ch from hook to form a ring (see arrow in 1st photo, finished step in 2nd photo).
Round 1: CSDC in ring, 2 dc in ring (see 3rd photo below). *ch 2, 3 dc in ring.* Repeat between
*and* 2 more times (see 4th photo below). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round (see 5 th
photo below). This hdc creates part of the corner ch sp, but makes the round end at the very center
of the corner ch sp. You should have 20 sts, counting each dc and each ch as a stitch and counting
the hdc as a stitch.

Round 2: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp (see 1 st photo below). *ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, (3
dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and * 2 more times (see 2 nd photo below).
Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt corner ch sp (same ch space we began the round from). Ch 1, hdc in
top of CSDC from beg of round (see 3rd photo below). This hdc creates part of the corner ch sp, but
makes the round end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You should have 36 sts, counting each
dc and each ch as a stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

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Round 3: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp (see 1 st photo below). *ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3
dc in nxt ch-1 sp. ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and *
2 more times (see 2nd photo below). Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc
in nxt corner ch sp (same ch space we began the round from). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg
of round (see 3rd photo below). This hdc creates part of the corner ch sp, but makes the round end
at the very center of the corner ch sp. You should have 52 sts, counting each dc and each ch as a
stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

Round 4: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp. *(ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 2
times. ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and * 2 more
times. (Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 2 times. Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt corner ch sp
(same ch space we began the round from). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round. This hdc
creates part of the corner ch sp, but makes the round end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You
should have 68 sts, counting each dc and each ch as a stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

Round 5: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp. *(ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 3
times. ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and * 2 more
times. (Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 3 times. Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt corner ch sp
(same ch space we began the round from). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round. This hdc
creates part of the corner ch sp, but makes the round end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You
should have 84 sts, counting each dc and each ch as a stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

Round 6: CSSC in same corner ch sp, sc in same sp. *sc in ea st and ea ch sp across to nxt corner
ch sp, 3 sc in corner ch sp.* Repeat between *and* 2 more times. Sc in ea st and ea ch sp across to
the same corner ch sp we began the round in, sc in that corner ch sp (see 3 rd photo below).

If you want to use the yarn tail to sew your granny squares together, you can join by slip stitching
into the CSSC from beg of round. Leave a tail long enough for your seam, cut the yarn and tie off.

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If you don't want to use the yarn tail to sew your granny squares together, use this invisible join
method. Cut the yarn, leaving about a 6 inch tail. Stretch the loop on your hook until the end of
the tail comes out (see 1st photo below). Thread that tail through your yarn needle.
Skip the CSSC from beg of round, and insert the needle from back to front through the nxt sc of the
round (the one after the CSSC, see 2nd photo below). Pull the needle through. Now, insert the
needle down through the top of the last stitch of the round, in the same place where the tail was
coming from (see 3rd photo below). Pull the needle through, and adjust the stitch you just made if
necessary. (Finished join shown in 4th photo below.) Take a small stitch on the back of the sc round
and make a knot, if desired. Weave in ends.

If you want, you can continue to make the granny square as large as you like. After you've
completed Round 5, all following rounds will be essentially the same. For each following round,
always work the sequence “(ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp)” one more time than you did on
the round before.

You can also make the granny squares multicolored, with as many or as few colors as you like.

To Change Colors:
Once you've finished the last round of the previous color, tie off. Insert the hook into the same
corner ch sp that you tied off in. Pull up a loop of the new color yarn. Ch 1, and pull that chain
stitch very tight. Work the chainless starting stitch for your round into the same corner ch sp, as
specified in the pattern. Pull the yarn tail to tighten the chain stitch again and make it disappear.
Continue around according to pattern instructions.

This pattern is intended for your personal use only. You may not share it, copy it, sell it, give it
away, or mass-produce the finished product. However, you may sell the finished items on a small
scale, as long as you convey in your item description that you used a Yay For Yarn pattern.
Yay For Yarn Copyright© 2019 – Current. All patterns and photos are owned by Yay For Yarn.

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How to Crochet the Perfect Granny Square
by Yay For Yarn
If you like this pattern, visit my blog, YayForYarn.com, for
more FREE Patterns & Tutorials!

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

You Will Need:
Yarn of your choice (any weight category can be used, thickness of yarn, number of colors, and desired
size of square will determine the quantity of yarn needed)
Crochet Hook (in a size appropriate for the thickness of the yarn you are using)
Scissors
Yarn Needle or Blunt Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations: st: stitch sts: stitches sp: space sk: skip nxt: nxt ea: each
beg: beginning ch: chain sl st: slip stitch sc: single crochet hdc: half-double crochet
dc: double crochet CSSC: Chainless Starting Single Crochet*
CSDC: Chainless Starting Double Crochet*
*This is a special stitch. See instructions below to learn how to work this stitch.

CSDC: Stretch loop on hook until it is slightly longer than a regular double crochet. Holding the top
of the loop still with your finger, yarn over with the stretched loop on your hook (not the working yarn)
1 time. Insert the hook into the same stitch the loop is coming from. Yarn over, pull up a loop of yarn.
*Yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook* 2 times.

CSSC: Stretch loop on hook slightly. Insert hook in the same stitch the loop is coming from. Yarn
over, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook.

Granny Square
Ch 4. sl st in 4th ch from hook to form a ring.
Round 1: CSDC in ring, 2 dc in ring. *ch 2, 3 dc in ring.* Repeat between *and* 2 more times. Ch 1,
hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round. This hdc creates part of the corner ch sp, but makes the round
end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You should have 20 sts, counting each dc and each ch as a
stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

Round 2: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp. *ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt
corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and * 2 more times. Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt corner ch sp (same
ch space we began the round from). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round. This hdc creates
part of the corner ch sp, but makes the round end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You should
have 36 sts, counting each dc and each ch as a stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

Round 3: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp. *ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp. ch 1,
sk nxt 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and * 2 more times. Ch 1, sk nxt
3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt corner ch sp (same ch space we began the
round from). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round. This hdc creates part of the corner ch sp,
but makes the round end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You should have 52 sts, counting each
dc and each ch as a stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

5
Round 4: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp. *(ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 2
times. ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and * 2 more times.
(Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 2 times. Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt corner ch sp (same ch
space we began the round from). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round. This hdc creates part
of the corner ch sp, but makes the round end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You should have 68
sts, counting each dc and each ch as a stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

Round 5: CSDC in same corner ch sp, 2 dc in same sp. *(ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 3
times. ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in nxt corner ch sp.* Repeat between * and * 2 more times.
(Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp) 3 times. Ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt corner ch sp (same ch
space we began the round from). Ch 1, hdc in top of CSDC from beg of round. This hdc creates part
of the corner ch sp, but makes the round end at the very center of the corner ch sp. You should have 84
sts, counting each dc and each ch as a stitch and counting the hdc as a stitch.

Round 6: CSSC in same corner ch sp, sc in same sp. *sc in ea st and ea ch sp across to nxt corner ch
sp, 3 sc in corner ch sp.* Repeat between *and* 2 more times. Sc in ea st and ea ch sp across to the
same corner ch sp we began the round in, sc in that corner ch sp.

If you want to use the yarn tail to sew your granny squares together, you can join by slip stitching into
the CSSC from beg of round. Leave a tail long enough for your seam, cut the yarn and tie off.

If you don't want to use the yarn tail to sew your granny squares together, use this invisible join
method. Cut the yarn, leaving about a 6 inch tail. Stretch the loop on your hook until the end of the
tail comes out. Thread that tail through your yarn needle. Skip the CSSC from beg of round, and insert
the needle from back to front through the nxt sc of the round (the one after the CSSC). Pull the needle
through. Now, insert the needle down through the top of the last stitch of the round, in the same place
where the tail was coming from. Pull the needle through, and adjust the stitch you just made if
necessary. Take a small stitch on the back of the sc round and make a knot, if desired. Weave in ends.

If you want, you can continue to make the granny square as large as you like. After you've completed
Round 5, all following rounds will be essentially the same. For each following round, always work the
sequence “(ch 1, sk nxt 3 sts, 3 dc in nxt ch-1 sp)” one more time than you did on the round before.

You can also make the granny squares multicolored, with as many or as few colors as you like.
To Change Colors:
Once you've finished the last round of the previous color, tie off. Insert the hook into the same corner
ch sp that you tied off in. Pull up a loop of the new color yarn. Ch 1, and pull that chain stitch very
tight. Work the chainless starting stitch for your round into the same corner ch sp, as specified in the
pattern. Pull the yarn tail to tighten the chain stitch again and make it disappear. Continue around
according to pattern instructions.

This pattern is intended for your personal use only. You may not share it, copy it, sell it, give it
away, or mass-produce the finished product. However, you may sell the finished items on a small
scale, as long as you convey in your item description that you used a Yay For Yarn pattern.
Yay For Yarn Copyright© 2019 – Current. All patterns and photos are owned by Yay For Yarn.