Granny Squares

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Granny Squares are a great way to use up all that left over yarn that has been lying around collecting dust. Granny Squares are very portable, convenient to start and stop at your leisure. There are many variations of Granny Squares out there today, but the great debate is still "How do I join them?". There are many different ways to join from single crocheting them together to whipstiching them together. I hope the information below can help you as much as it has helped me.

What is a Granny Square?
Well, a Granny Square is a unit of crochet worked up in a round using two different kinds of stitches, single and double crochet. The traditional Granny Square is made of five rounds and ends up as a square, nowadays you can add as many rounds as you like.
Joining Granny Squares.
You can sew grannies together using a yarn needle or by crocheting the pieces together. One method is by placing the edges together and weaving the yarn back and forth from edge to edge. Another method is by placing the edges together and whip stitching them. Doing it by either of these methods makes the seam near invisible to the untrained eye.
To crochet the squares together, use a slipstitch or single crochet. By doing either of these methods on the right side you will end up with a ridged effect.
For some decorative joinings to your granny squares you might try one of these methods below.
A.    Row 1: With RIGHT side facing, sl st in a corner of square, ch 3, dc in each st across edge to next corner; ch 3, turn.
    Row 2: (wrong side): Skip first dc, work dc around post of next dc (ridge formed on right side), work dc around post of each dc. Break Off.
Work across edge of adjoining square in same manner. Hold squares with wrong sides facing and joining edges matching. Work row of sc through matching dc across edge (ridge formed). Break Off.
B.    Row 1: Sl st in corner of a square, ch 3, dc in each st across to next corner. Break off. Work across adjoining square in same manner.
Hold squares right sides facing and joining edges matching. With yarn and tapestry needle, whip stitch pieces together, working through 1 lp only of each st (2 small ridges formed by unworked lps on right side). Break Off.
C.    Dc across 1 edge each of 2 squares as for joining B.
Hold squares wrong sides facing and joining edges matching. Crochet row of sl st through matching dc, working through 1 lp only of each st (heavy ridge formed by sl sts and 2 light ridges, one on each side of sl sts, formed by unworked lps.) Break Off.
D.   Row 1: Sl st in corner of square, ch 7, skip 3 sts, dc in next st * ch 3, skip 3 sts, dc in next st. Repeat from * to next corner; ch 5, turn.
    Row 2: Sc in center st of first sp, ch 2, dc in next dc, * ch 2, sc in center st of next sp, ch 2, dc in next dc. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in 3rd ch of ch 7; ch 7 turn.
        Row 3. Skip first dc, dc in next dc, * ch 3, dc in next dc. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in 3rd ch of ch-5; ch 5, turn.
        Row 4: Repeat row 2. Omit ch 7. Break Off
Work across side of adjoining square in same manner. Hold squares right sides facing and joining edges matching. With yarn and tapestry needle, stitch the first 2 matching dc tog, then stitch next 2 matching dc tog, leaving loose strand between stitches. Continue across in this manner. Break Off.
Changing Colors:
When changing colors, break off yarn after the joining at end of the round has been worked. Then make loop on hook with new color and sl st in the joining st of previous round or in the space specified in the directions.

Abbreviations.

Beg--Beginning sl--slip stitch

ch--chain st--stitch

cl--cluster tog--together

dc--double crochet tr--treble crochet

dec--decrease yo--yarn over

hdc--half double crochet *--repeat instructions from *

lp--loop ()--repeat instructions in () specified times

rnd--round sc--single crochet

Different types of "Granny Squares" with a twist.
Pentagon
Size: Pentagon measures approximately 6" across when worked with knitting worsted weight and size G hook.
Starting at center, ch 4. Join with sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, work 1 dc in ring, (ch 1, 2 dc in ring) 4 times; ch 1; join with sl st to top of ch 3. Break Off.
Rnd 2: Sl st in any ch 1 sp, ch 3, in same sp work 1 dc, ch 1 and 2 dc (first corner), * ch 1, in next ch 1 sp work 2 dc, ch 1 and 2 dc (another corner). Repeat from * 3 times more (5 corners); ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 3: Sl st in any ch 1 corner sp, work first corner in same sp, * ch 1, 2 dc shell in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, corner in next corner sp. Repeat from * 3 times more; ch 1, shell in next sp, ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 4: Sl st in any ch 1 corner sp, work first corner in same sp, * (ch 1, shell in next ch 1 sp) twice; ch 1, corner in next corner sp. Repeat from * 3 times more; (ch 1, shell in next sp) twice; ch 1; join. Break Off
Rnd 5: Sl st in any ch 1 corner sp, work first corner in same sp, * ch 1, shell in next ch 1 sp *. Repeat from * to * to next corner, ch 1, corner in corner sp. Continue around in pattern, ch 1; join. Break Off.
Repeat last round for desired size.

Hexagon
Size: Hexagon measures approximately 7" from a corner to opposite corner if worked with knitting worsted weight and a size G hook.
Starting at center, ch 6. Join with sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, dc in ring, (ch 1, 2 dc in ring) 5 times; ch 1; join with sl st to top of ch 3. Break off.
Rnd 2: Sl st in any ch 1 sp, ch 3, in same sp work dc, ch 1 and 2 dc (first corner), * ch 1, in next sp work 2 dc, ch 1 and 2 dc (another corner). Repeat from * 4 times more; ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 3: Sl st in any ch 1 corner sp, work first corner in same sp, * ch 1, 2 dc shell in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, corner in next corner sp. Repeat from * 4 times more (6 corners); ch 1, shell in next sp, ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 4: Sl st in any ch 1 corner sp, work first corner in same sp, * (ch 1, shell in next ch 1 sp) twice; ch 1, corner in next corner sp. Repeat from * 4 times more; (ch 1, shell in next sp) twice; ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 5: Sl st in any ch 1 corner sp, work first corner in same sp, * ch 1, shell in next ch 1 sp *. Repeat from * to * to next corner, ch 1, corner in corner sp. Repeat from * to * to next corner, ch 1, corner in corner sp. Continue around in pattern, ch 1; join. Break off.
Repeat last rnd for desired size.

Octagon
Size: Octagon measures approximately 6.25" when worked with knitting worsted weight and size G hook.
Starting at center, ch 6. Join with sl st to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, work 2 dc in ring, (ch 1, 3 dc in ring) 3 times; ch 1; join with sl st to top of ch 3. Break Off.
Rnd 2: Sl st in any ch 1 sp, ch 3, in same sp work 2 dc, ch 1 and 3 dc (first corner), * ch 1, in next ch 1 sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 3 dc (another corner). Repeat from * twice more (4 corners); ch 1; join with sl st in top of ch 3. Break Off.
Rnd 3: Sl st in any ch 1 sp, ch 3, in same sp work dc, ch 1 and 2 dc for first corner, (ch 1, in next ch 1 sp work 2 dc, ch 1 and 2 dc for another corner) 7 times (8 corners); ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 4: Sl st in ny ch 1 corner sp, in same sp work first corner as for 3rd rnd, * ch 1, 2 dc shell in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, corner as for 3rd rnd in next corner sp. Repeat from * 6 times more; ch 1, shell in next sp, ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 5: Sl st in any ch 1 corner sp, work first corner as for 3rd rnd in same sp, * ch 1, shell in next ch 1 sp *. Repeat from * to * to next corner, ch 1, work corner as for 3rd rnd in corner sp. Continue around in pattern, ch 1; join. Break Off.

Rectangle
Size: Rectangle measures approximately 3.75 x 5.75 using knitting worsted weight and a size G hook.
Starting at center, ch 6. Join with sl st to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 1, 3 sc in ring, ch 1, 3 dc in ring, ch 1, 3 sc in ring, ch 1; join with sl st to top of ch 3. Break Off.
Rnd 2: Sl st in first ch 1 sp made on last rnd, ch 4, work dc , hdc and sc in same sp (first corner made), ch 1, in next sp work sc hdc, dc, ch 1 and dc (2nd corner), ch 1, in next sp work dc, ch1, dc, hdc and sc (3rd corner), ch 1, in next sp work a 2nd corner, ch 1; join with sl st to 3rd ch of ch 4. Break Off.
Rnd 3: Work first corner as for last rnd, ch 1, 3 sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, work 2nd corner in next ch 1 corner sp, ch 1, 2 dc in next sp, ch 1, work 3rd corner in next corner sp, ch 1, 3 sc in next sp, ch 1, work a 2nd corner in next corner sp, ch 1, 2 dc in next sp, ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 4: Work first corner as for last rnd, (ch 1, 3 sc in next ch 1 sp) twice; ch 1, work 2nd corner in next ch 1 corner sp, (ch 1, 2 dc in next sp) twice; ch 1, work 3rd corner in next corner sp, (ch 1, 3 sc in next sp) twice; ch 1, work a 2nd corner in next corner sp, (ch 1, 2 dc in next sp) twice; ch 1; join. Break Off.
Rnd 5: Sl st in first ch 1 sp made on last rnd, ch 4, work 3 dc in same sp (first corner), * ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp *. Repeat from * to * to next ch 1 corner sp, ch 1, work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc in corner sp (2nd corner), ** ch 1, 2 dc in next sp **. Repeat from ** to ** to next corner sp, ch 1, work dc, ch 1 and 3 dc in corner sp. Repeat from * to * to next corner sp, ch 1, work a 2nd corner in corner sp, ch 1. Repeat from ** to ** to end, ch 1; join. Break off.
Repeat last rnd for desired size.

Triangle A (Half of a traditional granny square)
Row 1: Starting at center of one edge, ch 5; in 5th ch from hook work 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 2: Sl st in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, work 3 dc in same lp, ch 1, in next ch 1 sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 3 dc (corner), ch 1, in last sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 3: Sl st in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, 3 dc in same lp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, corner in next ch 1 corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next sp, ch 1, in last sp work 3 dc, ch 1, and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 4: Sl st in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, 3 dc in same lp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp) twice; ch 1, corner in ch 1 corner sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next sp) twice; ch 1, in last sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 5: Work sl st in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, 3 dc in same lp, * ch 1, 3 dc in next sp. Repeat from * to corner, ch 1, work corner in corner sp, ** ch 1, 3 dc in next sp. Repeat from ** to last sp, in last sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Repeat last row for desired size.

Triangle B (one quarter of a traditional granny square)
Row 1: Starting at one point, ch 5; in 5th ch from hook work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 2: Sl St in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, work 3 dc in same lp, ch 1, in next ch 1 sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 3: Sl st in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, 3 dc in same lp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, in last sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 4: Sl st in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, 3 dc in same lp (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp) twice; ch 1, in last sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Row 5: Sl st in first ch 4 lp, ch 4, 3 dc in same lp, * ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to last sp, ch 1, in last sp work 3 dc, ch 1 and 1 dc. Break Off.
Repeat last row for desired size.

Disclaimer: All information is to be used for educational purposes only. Information came from "Woman's Day Granny Squares 60 Great Designs...All Fun to Do" Copyright 1973
Updated January 2000
All Graphics Copyright By KC Computing and Design