Read Crochet Patterns: One-Color Granny Squares – Round 4

How to Read a Crochet Pattern for the Fourth Round of a One-Color Granny Square

This is the fifth in a series of articles on the details of how to make a Granny Square.

The first article on how to make a Granny Square talked about making the initial ring, into which the first round will be worked.

The second article on how to make a Granny Square talked about working the first round.

The third article on how to make a one-color Granny Square talked about working the second round.

The fourth article on how to make a one-color Granny Square talked about working the third round.

There is also an article giving an overview of what is involved in a Granny Square.

This article will explain how to work the fourth round. It will look like this when it is done:

Note: by this time, if you have been following along, you probably do not need the detailed explanations provided in the previous articles. This article will help you figure out how to continue to make your square as large as you want it to be WITHOUT reading the pattern! But first, we will read the pattern for Round 4.

It's time to get started on the instructions.

One Color Granny Squares: Round 4

Here are the instructions:

Rnd 4: Slip st to next ch-2 space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-2 space, ch 1,** 3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from ** to corner, * (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 space, ch 1, ** 3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from ** to corner, *. Repeat from * to * twice more; join.

This round of instructions introduces a new symbol - the double-star or **. This is used to denote a repeat, just like the single-star or * does. But it's a different repeat. (That makes this an educational pattern!)

In particular, for the single-star repeat, it says to "Repeat from * to * twice more." That means that you have to find BOTH single stars, and repeat whatever is between them.

But for the double-star repeat, it just says "repeat from ** to corner". So when you come to that phrase, you go back to where the double-star was, and start again from there until you get to this "repeat" statement.

Sometimes, you will see the instructions looking like this, using square brackets for a repeated sequence:

Rnd 4: Slip st to next ch-2 space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-2 space, ch 1, [3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1] to corner, * (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 space, ch 1, [3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1] to corner, *. Repeat from * to * twice more; join.

Remember, there are THREE ways to figure out what's happening, before picking up your hook and yarn.

First, here are the Whats and the Wheres:

As in previous rounds, you work groups of 3 dc's separated by either ch 1 or ch 2. And these are going to be worked in the ch-1 or ch-2 spaces formed from the previous round. Remember, the first 3-dc group is actually a "ch 3, 2 dc". And there are those slip stitches at the beginning, and a join at the end.

Second, here is the pattern broken down by Beginning, Repeat, and Ending. Notice the extra repeats!

The Beginning: Slip st to next ch-2 space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-2 space, ch 1, Repeat: ** 3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from ** to corner, The Repeat: * (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 space, ch 1, Repeat within Repeat: ** 3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from ** to corner, *. Repeat from * to * twice more; The Ending: join.

Third, here is another view of the instructions for both Round 2 and Round 3, in which the differences between the two sets of instructions are highlighted. This analysis shows you that FOR THIS PATTERN the new round is not that much different from the previous rounds.

In the above shot, there are highlighted periods or dots in Round 2, because that way I could clearly identify where the changes for Round 3 and 4 happened.

How to Crochet the Instructions

I am not going into detail here. I'm just going to tell you what to do.

The Beginning

Slip stitch to the next corner ch-2 space. Work a beginning corner group (the kind that starts with a chain 3) in that ch-2 space. Chain 1.

It is now time for that ** or [] Repeat within the Beginning section. Look at the ch-1 spaces along the side of the square (for Round 4, there are two of them). In each of those ch-1 spaces, work 3 double crochets. After each of the 3 dc, do another chain 1. When your next space is a corner ch-2 space, you're done the Beginning.

The Repeat

For the start of the main Repeated section (the one identified by single stars), work a corner group into the corner ch-2 space. Chain 1.

Now work the ** or [] Repeat within the Repeated section. In each of the ch-1 spaces along the side of the square, work 3 double crochets and a chain 1. When your next space is a corner ch-2 space, you have done ONE Repeat.

Do two more single-star Repeats (which includes the double-star repeat).

The Ending

As usual, the ending is to join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3.

And here is the result:

To Make the Granny Square Bigger

Just follow these guidelines:

• Slip stitch to the first corner ch-2 space, and make a beginning corner group (starting with a Chain 3).
• Work 3 double crochets in every side space, and a corner group of (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into every corner space.
• Work 1 chain between every group of 3 double crochets, except for 2 chains in the corner group.

That's it! You don't need to have each round spelled out for you. All you need to be aware of is when you have come to a corner space, so that you work a corner group there.

Round 5

Here's what it looks like after 5 rounds:

Do you notice that you can count the rounds by starting at the very center and working outward?

Round 6

And after the sixth round:

Round 7

For my dishcloth, I decided that 7 rounds was sufficient, so after the join at the end of the round, I fastened off. I still have to weave the ends in (but notice that I have left yarn tails of about 6 inches or 15 centimeters - that way there is enough yarn to thread my darning needle with).

Here is what the Wrong Side of this Granny Square looks like:

You might be curious about how to tell which is the Right Side (or Pretty Side) versus the Wrong Side (or Ugly Side). When you are working in Rounds, the Vees at the tops of the stitches are clearly visible on the Right Side. In fact, the square kind of cups upward at the edge. On the Wrong Side, it cups downward. Here are two closeups to demonstrate this:

Conclusion

That's it for a one-color Granny Square. Once you get the hang of what the pattern is telling you, you will not need to look at the pattern again - and you will find that crocheting Granny Squares is quite relaxing. Try it!

And if you want to expand your Granny Square horizons, check out these articles, each of which starts with Round 2 of the square:

• Granny Square with One Round per Color
• Granny Square with Two Rounds per Color