Read Crochet Patterns: Granny Squares – Overview

How to Read a Crochet Pattern for a Granny Square - Overview

A Granny Square is one of those really common crochet patterns that are usually featured in almost every crochet book or magazine that targets a beginner crocheter.

The most interesting thing about a Granny Square is that it is incredibly easy to crochet, yet reading the crochet pattern can result in just a bit of stress. This article will not go into the details of the pattern - it will just provide a high-level view of what is involved in making a Granny Square. (The links at the bottom of the page lead to the details.)

So, what is a Granny Square?

In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words. This photo shows a 7-round Granny Square, and being made out of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, it is just the right size and texture for a dishcloth.

The Granny Square in the photo was made out of some tail-ends of yarn: there are 4 rounds of a multi-colored variegated yarn, 2 rounds of a shaded-blues yarn, and the final round is a darker blue to frame the dishcloth.

Here are another few examples of Granny Square Projects.

A sweater:

A scarf:

A tote bag:

An a variation - a Granny Hexagon motif:

How does a Granny Square Work?

This closeup photo will help you to understand the explanation below:

The explanation will focus on the final round, the darker blue.

Notice that the round consists of groups of three double crochet stitches (trebles if you're a UK crocheter), with a chain between them. It's not really clear, but there are 2 chains in the corner.

(If you are a beginner crocheter, it would be useful to learn how to recognize double crochet stitches.)

Now, please focus on the corner. Notice that there are TWO groups of three double crochet stitches, all worked into the chain-2 space formed in the previous round. As mentioned above, there are 2 chains between those two groups of three double crochet stitches.

Now, please focus on either the side or the top. Notice that there several places where ONE group of three double crochet stitches is worked into the chain-1 space formed in the previous round. And there is 1 chain between each group of three double crochet stitches - and that 1 chain, of course, is going to used in the NEXT round, to hold a group of three double crochet stitches.

Is that all there is to a Granny Square Crochet Pattern

Well, not really.

The basic pattern is really like this:

• If you are working along a side: work 3 dcs in each ch-1 space.
• If you are working along a side: work 1 ch between each group of 3 dcs.
• If you are working a corner: work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in the corner space

By the way, notice the use of parentheses () in the line "work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) all in the corner space" - that is something that you will see a lot in crochet patterns. It is pointing out that ALL of the stuff in the parentheses is to be treated as a single unit.

So, why is there actually more to the crochet pattern than just those steps?

The main reason is that there is something special that has to happen at the beginning of the round: you have to get the hook up above the previous row far enough so that you can start to work double crochets without scrunching them. This usually involves working a "chain 3". This "chain 3" is considered to be equivalent to a double crochet, so after you work the chain 3, you would only work TWO double crochets to make something that is considered to be a group of THREE double crochets.

Another reason is that there is a "join" at the end of the row, usually done by a slip stitch into the top of the "chain 3".

But this leads to another problem: if you are going to start a round by working three double crochets (or equivalent) into a ch-1 space, you can't do that into the ch-1 space that you have just finished before doing the join - you have to get to the next ch-1 space. This is usually done by working slip stitches across the top of the group of three double crochets (or equivalents) that you worked at the beginning of the previous round.

This means that the crochet pattern for a round will usually have a fairly lengthy "beginning" section, then a part that's repeated THREE times (not four, as you might expect for a square), and then usually a short "ending" section. The "beginning" section usually contains an equivalent of a repeat - but it is DIFFERENT from the repeat.

Granny Square Variations

A Granny Square crochet pattern will be slightly different depending on whether the Granny Square is:

• One color only
• Each round is a different color
• Two rounds of one color alternate with two rounds of another color

There are also Granny Rectangles, Granny Triangles, and Granny Hexagons.

A Granny Rectangle has a different first round.

Granny Triangles and Granny Hexagons have different patterns for the corners.

By the way, there are some people that consider any square project worked in the round to be a Granny Square. At best, it could be called a Granny Square Variation. The true Granny Square is as described above.

Conclusion of Overview

Now, you should have some idea of what to expect when you see a crochet pattern for a Granny Square.

Check out these articles that explain a Granny Square pattern in detail:

• Getting Started with Granny Squares
• Working the first round of a Granny Square
• Working a one-color Granny Square (starting with Round 2)
• Working a Granny Square with a different color in each round (starting with Round 2)
• Working a Granny Square with a different color every second round (starting with Round 2)