Free Granny Square Crochet Pattern for Beginners

This free granny square crochet pattern teaches you the classic square that every crocheter starts with. If you can make a chain and a double crochet, you can make it — in about 15–20 minutes. Once you have a pile of squares, you can join them into blankets, pillows, cardigans or a granny square bag.

Below you'll find every round in a photo, the stitch diagram, a printable pattern card and a free PDF guide you can keep next to your yarn.

In this free pattern

1. Supplies
2. Abbreviations
3. How a granny square works
4. Make the ring
5. Round 1
6. Round 2: the corners
7. Round 3 and beyond
8. Changing colours
9. Stitch diagram
10. Printable pattern
11. Troubleshooting
12. Squares for a blanket
13. FAQ

Supplies for this granny square

Skill level

Beginner

Time

15–20 min per square

Finished size

≈ 4.5 in / 11.5 cm (4 rounds)

Yarn

Worsted weight (#4), cotton or acrylic

Hook

5 mm (US H-8)

Notions

Tapestry needle, scissors

Abbreviations (US terms)

Abbreviation	Meaning
ch	chain
sl st	slip stitch
dc	double crochet (UK: treble, tr)
sp	space — the gap made by chains
cluster	3 dc worked into the same space
[ ] x times	repeat the instructions inside the brackets

How a granny square works

Every granny square is built from just two things:

• Clusters — groups of 3 double crochets worked into the same space.
• Chain spaces — a ch-2 at each corner and a ch-1 between clusters along the sides.

You never work into the tops of the stitches — you always work into the spaces of the round before. Each corner gets (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), and every round adds one cluster to each side: round 1 has 4 clusters, round 2 has 8, round 3 has 12, and so on.

Step 1: Make the ring

Make a slip knot, chain 4, then insert your hook into the first chain you made and slip stitch to close it into a small ring.

Step 2: Round 1

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1. Ch 3. This counts as your first double crochet.
2. Work 2 dc into the ring. That's your first cluster.
3. Ch 2 — this makes the first corner.
4. Work [3 dc into the ring, ch 2] 3 times.
5. Join with a sl st into the top (3rd chain) of the ch-3.

Check: 4 clusters and 4 ch-2 corner spaces. It already looks like a tiny square.

Step 3: Round 2 — the corners

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1. Sl st into the next 2 dc and into the ch-2 corner space.
2. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then work (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into that same corner space.
3. Ch 1.
4. In the next corner space work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 1. Repeat in the last 2 corners.
5. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3.

Check: 8 clusters — two in each corner — with a ch-1 space on each side.

Step 4: Round 3 and beyond

From here on the rule is simple: corners get (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), and every ch-1 space on the sides gets 3 dc, always with a ch 1 between clusters.

1. Sl st across to the corner space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same space, ch 1.
2. 3 dc in the next ch-1 space, ch 1.
3. In the corner: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), ch 1.
4. Repeat steps 2–3 around, work the last side, and join to the top of the ch-3.

Round 3 has 12 clusters, round 4 has 16. Keep going until your square is the size you want, then fasten off and weave in the ends.

How to change colours

Finish the round, cut the yarn leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail and pull it through the last loop. Join the new colour with a sl st in any ch-2 corner space and start the round with ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in that same space.

Granny square stitch diagram

Classic Granny Square — Free Pattern

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Yarn: worsted (#4) · Hook: 5 mm (H-8) · Gauge: 4 rounds ≈ 4.5 in (11.5 cm) · US terms

StartCh 4, sl st into first ch to form a ring.

Round 1Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to top of ch-3.4 clusters · 4 ch-2 sps

Round 2Sl st in next 2 dc and into ch-2 sp. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1] 3 times, sl st to top of ch-3.8 clusters

Round 3Sl st in next 2 dc and into ch-2 sp. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, *3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1; rep from * 2 more times, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sl st to top of ch-3.12 clusters

Round 4+Work as round 3, placing 3 dc, ch 1 in every ch-1 sp along each side.Each round adds 4 clusters (R4 = 16)

FinishFasten off and weave in all ends. Block if needed.

Troubleshooting: common granny square problems

My square isn't square

Count your clusters. Round 1 has 4 and every round adds 4. If one side has fewer clusters than the others, you skipped a ch-1 space. Also check that every corner has two clusters with a ch-2 between them.

The corners are rounded or curling

Your corner chains may be too tight. Try ch 3 corners instead of ch 2, or go up half a hook size for the chains only.

The square twists slightly

Totally normal — granny squares lean because you always work in the same direction. Blocking fixes it: pin the damp square flat and let it dry. Some makers also turn the work at the start of each round.

There's a gap at the start of each round

Replace the starting ch 3 with a standing double crochet, or keep the ch 3 snug. A neat slip-stitch join into the top of the ch-3 also helps.

How many granny squares do you need for a blanket?

Using 6-inch (15 cm) squares — about 5–6 rounds in worsted yarn:

Blanket	Size	Layout	Squares
Baby	30 × 36 in	5 × 6	30
Throw	48 × 60 in	8 × 10	80
Twin	66 × 90 in	11 × 15	165
Queen	90 × 90 in	15 × 15	225

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Free granny square pattern FAQ

What to make with your granny squares

Make 8 squares and you're ready for our free crochet bag pattern — a granny square tote with wooden handles, written for beginners.