The perfect beginner pattern for a new crocheter is the granny square! They are so incredibly versatile, meaning they have so many beautiful options available. The simple, basic granny square is the teal one in the below image. The name granny square refers to the working of the clusters into the spaces from the previous row.
Here are a couple of my simple creations, but there are so many out there. Check out my Pinterest Board for many examples of free patterns available for beautiful granny squares. When you've chosen one, there are so many different options, from single colours to stripes, to alternating, and so many flowers, or starbursts, etc. like the ones in the below collage.
So, let's create the teal on the right in the photo to the left and I'll include the modification for the pink and yellow ones in the tips below.
See the Daisy square here.
Basic Granny Square
We're using Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly in Teal, Lavender, yellow, pink and blue, and a 3.5mm crochet hook.
So starting with a magic ring, chain 2, loop your tail yarn around to form a ring, and crochet 11 more dc over both strands in the loop. Pull the tail to tighten, and slip to the chains from the beginning of the row (Step 1 in images below). Feel free to change colours at this point or at the end of any row going forward or keep going.
Row 2: chain 2, 5 dc in first st from row below. *skip 2 dc, dc 6 in next st* repeat 2 more times. Slip to the chains from the beginning of the row (Step 2-3 below).
Row 3: chain 2, skip 3, *dc 6 into corner, skip 3(other side of the corner), dc 3 into the space between the corners, skip 3(to the center of the next corner)*, repeat around, dc 2 over the slip stitch from the row below, and slip to the chains from the beginning of the row.
If this block is a good size for what you're looking for, you can stop there, or continue. If you continue, you want to start your row with the chain 2, and dc 2 into that first stitch, then skip to the next space between the clusters from the previous row, dc 3. When you get to the corner, dc 6 into the center of the corner. Continue around, and slip stitch to the chains from the beginning of the row.
Continue crocheting matching or contrasting squares that you'll eventually stitch together into a blanket. See 3 methods in that post!
Now, some tips for creating granny squares:
1. My best recommendation is to use all one type of yarn, like all Loops & Threads Impeccable, or Red Heart Super Saver, and choose different colours from that line. This way, when you make your blocks, they'll all be the same size making it easier to stitch together.
2. To make the solid square below: start with your chains, dc 3, ch2, dc 4, ch 2, dc 4, ch 2, dc 4 ch 2, and slip to the chains. Row 2: ch 2, dc in next 3 stitches, *in the chains (dc 2 ch 2, dc 2), dc in next 4 st*, repeat * to * then slip st to the chains. Continue Row 3, following the same pattern of dc in the previous row, and make the corner the same as in Row 2.
3. Use the same block pattern for all blocks in your blanket. If you begin choosing different styles of block in an attempt to make a scrappy or sampler blanket, I will caution you. This can seem awesome, and using the same colours could be really cool, but the sizing between different patterns can be very different. See my YouTube video below and see me compare the sizes of the flower one above, to the solid and teal ones.
So I would love to see what you're making with our tutorials and YouTube videos, so please tag us in your projects: www.Instagram.com/purple.rose.crafts and we'll share them to our stories! Don't forget to join our email list for the free crochet hat pattern, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel to come along with us as we create beautiful knit and crochet projects together.
Thanks for learning with me!
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