How to Crochet a Granny Square

What supplies do I need?

Keep it simple for your first square. A short list of basics is all you need to start.

Light, solid colors make your stitches easier to see while you learn.

One note on terms before you begin. This guide uses US crochet names. In the UK, what Americans call a double crochet (dc) is a treble crochet (tr), so if you follow a UK pattern later, adjust accordingly.

1. Worsted weight yarn in one or two colors
2. A 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
3. Scissors
4. A yarn needle for weaving in ends

How do I make the center ring?

The center ring is the small loop that everything grows from. There are two common ways to start.

If you prefer, you can use a magic ring instead, which closes the center hole tightly. For a first square, the chain-4 ring is more forgiving, so start there.

1. Chain 4 with your hook.
2. Join the first and last chain with a slip stitch to form a ring.
3. Chain 3. This counts as your first double crochet.

How do I work Round 1?

Round 1 sets up four clusters and four corners. Work all stitches into the center ring, not into individual chains.

Take a moment to count: four groups of three stitches, four chain-2 corners. Getting the count right on Round 1 keeps every later round even.

1. You already chained 3 (this is stitch one of your first cluster).
2. Work 2 double crochet into the ring. Now you have your first cluster of 3.
3. Chain 2. This makes your first corner space.
4. Work 3 double crochet into the ring, then chain 2. Repeat this two more times.
5. You should now have four clusters and four corner spaces.
6. Join to the top of your beginning chain-3 with a slip stitch.

How do I change color and join a new round?

Granny squares look great with a color change each round, and this is where many beginners get stuck. You do not have to change color, but here is how when you want to.

If you would rather keep one color, skip the cutting. Slip stitch across into the nearest corner space and carry on.

1. Cut your old yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail.
2. Join the new color with a slip stitch into any corner chain-2 space.
3. Chain 3, then work 2 double crochet into that same corner space to begin.

How do I work Round 2 and beyond?

Every round after the first follows one rhythm: clusters go along the sides, and corners get a cluster plus chains plus another cluster.

Each new round adds one more cluster per side. Round 2 has two clusters per side, Round 3 has three, and so on. That steady growth is how a small motif becomes a blanket square.

1. In each corner space, work 3 dc, chain 2, then 3 dc. This turns the corner.
2. Along each side, work 3 dc into the chain-1 space between clusters.
3. Chain 1 between clusters as you move along a side.
4. When you reach your starting corner again, join with a slip stitch.

How do I keep my place?

Counting rounds matters more than it seems. Miss a corner or add an extra cluster and the square starts to lean or ruffle.

Many crocheters keep a simple tally on paper, use a row counter, or track rounds in an app like Worsted, which counts rows and stores pattern PDFs so you can find your spot again after a break.

Check your corners at the end of every round. All four should have the same cluster count, and the piece should lie flat.

How do I finish the square?

When your square reaches the size you want, cut the yarn and pull the tail through the last loop to fasten off. Thread the tail onto your yarn needle and weave it back and forth through a few stitches on the wrong side so it holds.

Block the finished square by lightly wetting it and pinning it flat to dry. Your first one may look a little uneven, and that is normal.

By the third or fourth square, the rhythm of clusters and corners will feel automatic, and you will have a stack ready to join into something bigger.