Flora Granny Square

I designed this Flora square especially for "Granny Square Day" which happens on Instagram every year on 15th August. It's a beautiful celebration of the vibrant online crochet community and love for the traditional granny square. The idea is that you can click on the hashtag #grannysquareday2021 within Instagram and your phone screen will be filled with hundreds of granny squares, creating a virtual community blanket. 

I've created a full photo tutorial for making this square to encourage beginners to give it a try. If you'd like to download the pattern without the step-by-step photos, click on the following link >>

DOWNLOAD FLORA GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN

I named my square Flora as I adapted an existing flower pattern ((see Flora's Flowers) for the centre three rounds, adding a further three rounds to create a very pretty and versatile granny square block.

Materials

I'm using a DK weight cotton yarn for my squares (Stylecraft Naturals Organic Cotton), but you could use any DK weight yarn eg Stylecraft Special DK.

4mm hook (or a hook size to suit your yarn and tension)

Pattern Information

Each square is made up of 6 colours/rounds, and measures approx. 10cm square.

You can make the square bigger by repeating round 6 as many times as you like, adding extra tr-groups around the sides as the square increases. You can also use the join-as-you-go method in the final round if you are making squares for a project, eg a blanket, cushion, bag etc

Choosing Colours

Colours A, B and C : these form the flower, so choose 3 complimentary “Flora” colours.

Colour D : I like to think of this round as “greenery” so choose a leafy green colour.

Colour E and F : these rounds form the granny square and should contrast with the first 3 rounds to allow the flower to stand out.

Abbreviations

The pattern is written using UK crochet terms as follows:

sl st [slip stitch] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.

dc [double crochet] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US sc stitch)

tr [treble] :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops (note :: this is equivalent to the US dc stitch)

FLORA GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN

Round 1 : Use Colour A

Chain 4; slip stitch into 1st chain to form a ring; chain 1 (counts as 1 dc); 7 dc into ring;

Slip stitch into beginning chain-1 to close round; fasten off. [8 stitches]

Round 2 : Use Colour B

Join new colour in first stitch; chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 1 tr into same stitch; chain 1;

*2tr into next stitch; chain 1*

Repeat between ** 6 more times;

Slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round; fasten off. [8 2-tr groups, 8 chain-1 spaces]

Round 3 : Use colour C

Join new colour in first chain-1 space (as shown by my needle above)

Chain 2; 3 tr in same space; chain 2; slip stitch in same space; chain 1 (first petal made, as shown above);

*In the next chain-1 space, create a petal as follows:

(slip stitch; chain 2; 3 tr; chain 2; slip stitch; chain 1;)*

Repeat between ** 6 more times (eight petals in total);

Slip stitch into 1^st chain of beginning chain-2 to close round; fasten off and darn in ends. [8 petals, and 8 chain-1 spaces]

Round 4 : Use colour D

Join new colour in the back loop of any chain-1 in between petals (as shown by my needle in the above photo);

Chain 5 (counts as 1 tr, plus chain 2); 1 tr in same back loop as joining; chain 2; (as shown above)

*(1 tr; chain 2; 1 tr) in back loop of next chain-1 in between petals; chain 2; (as shown above)*

Repeat between ** 6 more times;

Slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-5 to close round (as shown by my needle in the above photo);

Fasten off and darn in ends. [16 chain-2 spaces]

Round 5 : Use Colour E

Join new colour in last chain-2 space made in previous round - note: this is the space directly to the RIGHT of the slip stitch you made to close up round 4, as shown by my hook in the above photo.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 2 tr in same space;

Work 3 tr in each of the next 3 spaces (as shown above)

 Work (3 tr; chain 2; 3 tr) in next space to form a corner (as shown above);

Work 3 tr in each of the next 3 spaces;

Work (3 tr; chain 2; 3 tr) in next space to form 2nd corner;

Work 3 tr in each of the next 3 spaces;

Work (3 tr; chain 2; 3 tr) in next space to form 3rd corner;

Work 3 tr in each of the next 3 spaces;

Work 3 tr into the same space as the beginning tr's (shown by my needle above) to complete the last corner; 

Slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round; fasten off.

Round 6 : Use Colour F

Join colour in any chain-2 corner space;

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 2 tr in same space;

Work 3 tr in each of the next 4 spaces;

Work (3 tr; chain 2; 3 tr) in next space to form a corner (as shown above)

Work 3 tr in each of the next 4 spaces;

Work (3 tr; chain 2; 3 tr) in next space to form 2nd corner;

Work 3 tr in each of the next 4 spaces;

Work (3 tr; chain 2; 3 tr) in next space to form 3rd corner;

Work 3 tr in each of the next 4 spaces;

Work 3 tr into the same space as the beginning tr's to complete the last corner; 

Slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round; fasten off.

Darning in ends

When it comes to darning in ends, my best advice is to do it in two stages. So darn in the ends after the flower is complete (after round 3), then darn in the remaining tail ends once the square is complete.

To ensure that your ends don't wiggle free, the best thing to do is to "double darn". This involves weaving your needle into the stitches in one direction (image 1 above), then weaving a second time back in the opposite direction (image 2 above). You don't need to take the needle very far, but going one way and then the opposite way makes a very secure finish. In my experience, it's well worth taking the time to darn in ends securely, especially if you are making something like a blanket or bag which will get a lot of wear/use. It can be truly heart breaking to see a granny square project fall apart simply because the ends weren't tucked away with enough care. Just saying!

Blocking

Cotton yarn responds exceptionally well to a quick bit of steam treatment with an iron - it really transforms the overall neatness and finish of a square. Simply pin out the four corners (as shown above, I pin mine directly onto my bed mattress) and hold an iron a few centimetres above the surface of the crochet so that hot steam puffs down into the stitches. It only takes a few seconds, and you can unpin it straight away if the crochet feels dry to the touch.

This steaming process kind of "sets" the stitches in place and gives you beautifully perky corners and straight sides, it's sooooo satisfying!

If you'd like a written copy of the pattern, please click on the following link >>

DOWNLOAD FLORA GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN

I hope you enjoy having a play with this pattern, it's great for using up stash yarn and lots of fun coming up with different colour combinations.

For more photos, colour inspiration and granny square chat, you can find my blog post ((HERE))

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Comments

[Guiliana]

I have just been introduced to your page and blog.. so great full for your patterns easy to follow step by step. Love it. From Australia 🦘🌏🌷🌸

[Sharon Griffin]

Hi Lucy,
I hope you don’t mind me reaching out to you…
I shop share with a Chiropractic friend and try to sell Beads, Crafty Bits & Local Handmade Gifts. Due to the pandemic and rising costs I’m trying to do a few more get together sessions to raise awareness of my little shop (I’m on a quiet road away from the town centre) and bring people together (I suffer with depression too) to craft.
I’ve been looking on the internet for easy and well written free patterns to share within the group and am writing to a few different people to find out if they’d mind if I share their free patterns within in the group?. We’d run through your pattern(s) together and I’d share the link to which ever I use, would you’d be happy for me to do this?
Sorry couldn’t work out how to contact you other than posting a comment. Hope to hear back from you.

[Jill Ruddick]

Just finally getting round to having a go at the Flora and I LOVE it. So very pretty. May I ask, as I am a little confused, is there meant to be 2 ch at the end of both round 5 and round 6? You know, to make the corner space before you slip stitch to the starting ch 3? Thank you again for your brilliant blog and all the beautiful patterns. I did vote for you in the recent awards, and thrilled you got first place as you are our icon.

[Raenell McCool]

Can you please list the colors used for the Flora granny squares? I love them all! Thank you so very much

[Iris]

Hi Lucy! Super awesome pattern :) <3

End of row 5, small error: Work 3 tr into the same space as the beginning tr's (shown by my needle above) to complete the last corner;

Slip stitch into 3rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round; fasten off.

You're missing the 2 chain for the corner, between the ; and the slip stitch.

[Aunt Colors]

I wish there was a woolwatehouse kit for this I absolutely love it!

[Julie Sit]

I love this website, and I love the flora granny square pattern. Does the wool warehouse have the yarn pack, or where can I purchase it? Thank you for your time. I can’t wait for the next CAL to start in January.

[Sue Martin]

I have just finished 16 floral granny squares and I am sorry to be thick here but how do I join them together, each square has a different colour border.

[Lee Lawson]

I have followed your blog for years and years.You are clearly a very talented lady.You are also so generous and kind in sharing,and taking so much time doing tutorials for us.A Huge Thank you Lucy,I have bought a few of your projects through Wool Warehouse.You are very much appreciated.

[Mónica]

So lovely !!! Thank you Lucy ❤

[Carol Rawlinson]

I am a crochet novice and managed this granny square easily with your pattern and diagrams, thank you for sharing and making the steps so clear.

[sue richardson]

Oh these are so pretty. I am going to make a rug! thank you!

[Jo Fonseca]

These are simply beautiful. I'm quite new to crocheting so I hope I can do your pattern justice. thank you so much for sharing x

[Rachel]

Thank you Lucy for another great pattern and tutorial 😊

[Linda]

You are so generous and kind. I love this and I love you for sharing it with everyone.