Crochet Granny Square Pattern

This granny square pattern is one of the simplest basic crochet stitches to work on. This square project is perfect for beginners as it requires only small amounts of yarn. Hence, it is a great way to use up your scrap yarn lying around in the cupboard. There are plenty of different crochet square patterns online, but this particular free pattern is a variation of a classic granny square.

I remember the very first time this traditional granny square pattern caught my attention. At first sight, I was intrigued by the vibrant colors of the square pattern, yet it seemed oddly familiar to me. In my mind, I went through my figurative boxes of memory to retrieve where, when, and how have I seen these crochet patterns before? Was it from a craft magazine or website, or was it a design on an old, square blanket gifted to me by my great grandmother who was an avid crocheter herself? 

And then it hit me! I’ve seen it on countless American TV shows, the most recent one being The Big Bang Theory! You’ve probably seen these granny square crochet patterns too, most commonly as blankets, draped over the back of a sofa on set or on the bed.

With this realization, I went on a social media hunt to spot appearances of this unique design. The deeper I dug, the more I saw it everywhere. It has appeared both on the silver screen and on the small screen, in films such as Nanny Mcphee and Gone With the Wind and TV shows like Roseanne, Taxi, Mad Men, and even Breaking Bad.

GRANNY SQUARE THROUGH THE YEARS

The basic granny square pattern first debuted in 1891 in one of the pages of The Art of Crocheting. It wasn’t until 1897 that a written pattern was published in Weldon’s Practical Needlework.

In pop culture, afghan squares gained popularity in the 1970s. During the crochet bloom decade, these small squares were stitched together to make not just a crochet blanket, but clothing such as vests, hats, shorts, tops and many more.

Since then, crochet granny squares have found themselves a place on the runway and are a nostalgic fashion statement for the younger generation. While looking through articles on the history of granny squares, I was also inspired to start another crochet project. I made this haltered neck top for my daughter with different colors, color combinations and multiple square variations.

TYPES OF GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN

There are many types of different crochet square patterns, which include classic granny squares, solid granny squares, sunburst granny square pattern, granny square flower pattern, we have compiled a list of granny square variations that you might be interested in exploring more.

If you’re like me, you will start to wonder: what are the differences between these colorful squares? The most obvious difference is the pattern within the square. Some squares are of a single color, while others have a flower design in the middle. Furthermore, some may not even be a square shape. Thus, these crochet squares have remained a trend throughout the years as you will never run out of variations. 

HOW TO CROCHET A GRANNY SQUARE

At this point, I hope you are as eager as I am to start crocheting this simple pattern. As I have mentioned above, there are many different ways of making an easy granny square. This tutorial will demonstrate a variation of a classic crochet granny square.

This square crochet pattern utilizes double crochet stitches in between to reduce the gaps in between each dc cluster. In addition, this tutorial also shows how you can introduce a new color from the first round to the next round skilfully.

This free granny square pattern is suitable for avid beginner and intermediate-level crocheters. This humble pattern is a staple for all crocheters and is a starting point for many to try their hand at crocheting. It involves basic stitches such as chain (ch), double crochet (dc), and slip stitch (sl st).

Beginner crocheters may refer to my guide to crochet for beginners, which includes crochet basics, stitches, techniques, and more free patterns to try out.

Prior to crocheting, you should choose the type of yarn and crochet hook size to use. The correct size crochet hook is based on the yarn of your choice. Also, do keep in mind that this tutorial is written in US terms. Alright, friends, I think we are all ready to dive into the project now.

What’s Next:

• Start crocheting and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so we can see them.
• Pin it to Pinterest for a future To-Crochet List
• Share with your crochet groups for a crochet-along event.
• Browse more free crochet patterns to make, especially the free patterns for granny squares.