10 Free Granny Square Crochet Patterns (Easy, Step by Step)

Once you've made your first granny square, a whole world opens up. The same simple stitches — chains, slip stitches and double crochet — can make a lacy classic square, a closed solid square, a flower, a sun or a triangle. In this collection of free granny square crochet patterns, you'll find ten designs, from the very easiest to a few that add one new technique like the puff stitch.

Every pattern below has a short introduction, the steps round by round and the stitch count at the end of each round. Count your stitches: it's the fastest way to catch a mistake before it shows.

Before you start

All ten patterns use the same basic setup, so you can mix them in one blanket:

Yarn

Worsted weight (#4), cotton or acrylic

Hook

5 mm (US H-8)

Terms

US crochet terms (dc = UK treble)

Notions

Tapestry needle, scissors, a few stitch markers

Abbreviation	Meaning
ch	chain
sl st	slip stitch
sc / hdc / dc	single / half double / double crochet
dc2tog / dc3tog	2 or 3 double crochets worked together into one stitch (a cluster)
puff	(yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop) 4 times in the same stitch, yarn over and pull through all 9 loops
sp	space

Which free granny square should you make?

#	Pattern	Level	Best for
1	Classic granny square	Beginner	Everything
2	Solid granny square	Beginner	Bags, pillows
3	Mini granny square	Beginner	Coasters, garlands
4	Circle in a square	Easy	Blankets
5	Sunburst granny square	Easy	Colourful blankets
6	Sunflower granny square	Easy	Bags, cardigans
7	Half granny square	Easy	Necklines, shawls
8	Scrappy granny square	Beginner	Using leftovers
9	Giant granny square	Beginner	One-piece blanket
10	Picot border granny	Easy	Gifts, decor

1. Classic granny square

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This is the square every other pattern on this list is built on. It's quick, it's forgiving, and it uses up the smallest scraps of yarn. If you're brand new, start here — we have a full photo tutorial of the classic granny square with every round explained.

1. Ring: ch 4, sl st into the first ch.
2. Round 1: ch 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)
3. Round 2: sl st to the corner sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same sp, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner, ch 1] 3 times, join. (8 clusters)
4. Round 3 and up: corners get (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), every ch-1 sp on the sides gets 3 dc, always with ch 1 between clusters. (+4 clusters each round)

2. Solid granny square

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The solid granny square closes the gaps: instead of clusters and chain spaces, you work a double crochet into every stitch along the sides. The result is a firm, closed fabric that's perfect for bags, pillows and anything that shouldn't let small things slip through.

1. Ring: ch 4, sl st into the first ch.
2. Round 1: ch 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. (12 dc, 4 corners)
3. Round 2: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the corner sp, dc in next 3 dc; repeat from * 2 more times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the last corner, sl st to top of ch-3. (28 dc — 7 per side)
4. Round 3 and up: ch 3, dc in each dc to the corner, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in every corner sp, join. (+4 dc per side each round: 11, 15, 19…)

3. Mini granny square

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A mini granny square is simply the first two rounds of the classic square, finished with a neat single crochet edge. At about 2.5 in (6 cm) it's ideal for coasters, bunting, bag charms, appliqués and testing colour combinations before you start a big project.

1. Rounds 1–2: work rounds 1 and 2 of the classic granny square. (8 clusters)
2. Round 3 (edge): sl st into the next dc, ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp around, working (sc, ch 1, sc) in every corner sp, sl st to the first sc.
3. Finish: fasten off, weave in ends and press flat with your fingers.

4. Circle in a square

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This one starts as a flat circle and becomes a square in a single round by changing the stitch height: tall stitches at the corners, short ones in the middle of each side. It's a great first lesson in how stitch height shapes your work.

1. Round 1: magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in the ring, sl st to top of ch-3. (12 dc)
2. Round 2: ch 3, dc in the same st, 2 dc in each st around, join. (24 dc)
3. Round 3 (square up): ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same st, *dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st; repeat from * 2 more times, then dc, hdc, sc, hdc, dc in the last 5 sts, join. (4 corners, 9 sts per side)
4. Round 4 and up: sl st to the corner sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same sp, dc in each st along the sides, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in every corner, join. (+4 sts per side)

5. Sunburst granny square

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The sunburst is a favourite for colourful blankets. A round of 16 clusters creates the "rays", then two rounds turn the circle into a square. Use a different colour for each round to make the sun really pop.

1. Round 1 (colour A): magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in the ring, sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off. (16 dc)
2. Round 2 (colour B): join in a space between two dc, ch 2, dc2tog in the same sp, ch 2, *dc3tog in the next sp between sts, ch 2; repeat from * around, sl st to the top of the first cluster. Fasten off. (16 clusters, 16 ch-2 sps)
3. Round 3 (colour C): join in any ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, 3 dc in each ch-2 sp around, join. Fasten off. (16 groups of 3 dc)
4. Round 4 (colour D, square up): join in a space between two groups, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same sp, *3 dc in each of the next 3 sps, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next sp; repeat from * 2 more times, 3 dc in each of the last 3 sps, join. (4 corners, 5 groups per side)

6. Sunflower granny square

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The sunflower granny square adds one new stitch: the puff stitch, which makes soft, rounded petals. It looks impressive but follows the same logic as the sunburst — a round center, a round of petals, then two rounds to square it off.

1. Round 1 (brown): magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in the ring, sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off. (12 dc)
2. Round 2 (yellow, petals): join in any st, ch 2, puff in the same st, ch 2, *puff in next st, ch 2; repeat from * around, sl st to the top of the first puff. Fasten off. (12 puffs, 12 ch-2 sps)
3. Round 3 (green): join in any ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, 3 dc in each ch-2 sp around, join. (12 groups of 3 dc)
4. Round 4 (green, square up): sl st in the next 2 dc and into the space between groups, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same sp, *3 dc in each of the next 2 sps, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next sp; repeat from * 2 more times, 3 dc in each of the last 2 sps, join. (4 corners, 4 groups per side)
5. Round 5 (cream): work a classic granny round: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corners and 3 dc in each space between groups.

Sunflower squares look beautiful on a bag — make 8 and follow our free crochet bag pattern to turn them into a tote.

7. Half granny square (triangle)

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The half granny square is a triangle worked in rows instead of rounds. You need it more often than you'd think: for the neckline of a granny square cardigan, to straighten the edge of a diagonal blanket, or as the start of a granny triangle shawl.

1. Row 1: magic ring, ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), 3 dc in the ring, ch 2, 3 dc in the ring, ch 1, dc in the ring. Pull the ring closed and turn.
2. Row 2: ch 4 (dc + ch 1), 3 dc in the first ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in the last sp, ch 1, dc in the 3rd ch of the turning chain. Turn.
3. Row 3 and up: ch 4, 3 dc and ch 1 in every ch-1 sp, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the center ch-2 sp, ending with ch 1 and dc in the 3rd ch of the turning chain. Turn. (+1 cluster on each side every row)

8. Scrappy granny square

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The scrappy granny square is the classic pattern with a different leftover colour for every round — the best way to empty your yarn basket. The secret to making it look planned instead of random is one shared colour for the last round.

1. Choose: pick one "unifying" colour (cream, white or grey) for the last round of every square.
2. Rounds 1–3: work the classic granny square, changing colour every round.
3. Join each new colour in a different corner so the joins don't line up in a visible seam.
4. Crochet over the tails of the previous colour for the first few clusters — fewer ends to weave in.
5. Last round: work it in your unifying colour on every square.

9. Giant granny square (one-piece blanket)

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Don't like joining squares? Make one giant granny square and keep going until it's a blanket. It's the most relaxing project on this list: once you've done round 3, every round is the same.

1. Start: work rounds 1–3 of the classic granny square.
2. Keep going: repeat round 3 — corners (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc), sides 3 dc and ch 1 in every space.
3. Measure every 5 rounds: each round adds about 1 in (2.5 cm) to the width. A baby blanket of 30 in (76 cm) takes about 27 rounds; a 50 in (127 cm) throw about 45 rounds.
4. Finish: add 2 rounds of single crochet with (sc, ch 2, sc) in the corners for a straight edge.

10. Granny square with a picot border

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A picot border turns a simple granny square into something gift-worthy: a coaster, a doily, a sachet cover. Picots are little loops of chain that stand out along the edge.

1. Square: make a classic granny square of 3–4 rounds.
2. Border round 1: ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp around, with (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner sp, sl st to the first sc.
3. Border round 2 (picots): ch 1, *sc in the next 3 sts, ch 3, sl st into the 3rd ch from the hook (picot)*; repeat along each side, and in each corner sp work (sc, picot, sc). If a side doesn't divide evenly by 3, work 2 or 4 sc before the last picot of that side. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off.

How to mix different granny squares in one project

Combining several patterns from this list makes a beautiful sampler blanket or bag. Three rules keep it tidy:

• Same size: add or remove a round, or change hook size, until all squares measure the same. Block them before joining.
• Same last round: finish every square with the same colour — it ties different designs together.
• Same join: use one joining method across the whole project, like the slip-stitch join from our granny square tutorial.

Free granny square patterns FAQ