Leo Granny Square

I designed this Leo 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 #grannysquareday2020 within Instagram and your phone screen will be filled with hundreds of granny squares, creating a virtual community blanket. 

I named my square Leo in celebration of the zodiac sign for mid August which is when Granny Square day takes place every year.

Materials

You can use any oddments of DK yarn - I've chosen 7 colours of Stylecraft Special DK. 

Pattern Information

Each square is made up of 7 colours/rounds, and measures approx. 12cm square.

You can make the square smaller by stopping after round 5. You can make the square bigger by repeating round 5 as many times as you like, adding extra tr-groups around the sides as the square increases.

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)

Round 1 : use Colour A

Chain 5; slip stitch in 1^st chain to form a ring.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 1 tr into ring; chain 1;

*2 tr into ring; chain 1;

Repeat from * 6 more times so that you have 8 x two-treble groups in total.

Slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain 3 to close round. Fasten off.

 

NOTE : all subsequent rounds will be worked in the spaces between stitches.

Round 2 : use Colour B

Insert hook into first chain-1 space and pull through a loop of new colour.

Chain 2 (counts as 1 dc); 1 dc in same space; chain 1; 

*2 dc into next space; chain 1; 

Repeat from * 6 more times so that you have 8 x two dc groups in total;

Slip stitch into 2nd chain of beginning chain-2 to close round. Fasten off. 

Round 3 : use Colour C

Insert hook into first chain-1 space and pull through a loop of new colour.

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

*Work (2 tr; chain 1; 2 tr) into next chain space;

Repeat from * 6 more times;

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

Round 4 - NOTE : you will begin round 4 in the space between tr groups just before the slip stitch join at the end of the previous round. This is NOT a chain-1 space, it's the slightly larger space that naturally sits directly above the dc stitches in the round below. I've indicated it in the above photo using my needle to help you visualise it.

You should make sure that the corner clusters are worked in these larger spaces (not the chain-1 spaces), as shown in the above photo.

OK......read on for the Round 4 pattern.............

Round 4 : use Colour D

Insert hook into space between tr groups just before the slip stitch join at the end of the previous round and pull through a loop of new colour.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 1 tr into same space; chain 1; 

*2 dc in next space; chain 1; 

Repeat from * twice more;

*(2 tr; chain 2; 2 tr) in next space; work (2 dc; chain 1) into each of the next 3 spaces;

Repeat from * twice more;

2 tr in beginning space; chain 2; slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round. Fasten off.

Round 5 : use Colour E

Insert hook into first chain-2 corner space and pull through a loop of new colour.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 1 tr into same space; 

Work 2 tr into each of the next 4 spaces along the side;

*(2 tr; chain 2; 2 tr) in chain-2 corner space; work 2 tr into each of the next 4 spaces along the side;

Repeat from * twice more;

2 tr in beginning space; chain 2; slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round. Fasten off.

NOTE : you can stop after this round if you prefer a smaller 9 cm square.

Round 6 : use Colour F

Insert hook into first chain-2 corner space and pull through a loop of new colour.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 1 tr into same space; 

Work 2 tr into each of the next 5 spaces along the side;

*(2 tr; chain 2; 2 tr) in chain-2 corner space; work 2 tr into each of the next 5 spaces along the side;

Repeat from * twice more;

2 tr in beginning space; chain 2; slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round. Fasten off.

Round 7 : use Colour G

Insert hook into first chain-2 corner space and pull through a loop of new colour.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr); 1 tr into same space; 

Work 2 tr into each of the next 6 spaces along the side;

*(2 tr; chain 2; 2 tr) in chain-2 corner space; work 2 tr into each of the next 6 spaces along the side;

Repeat from * twice more;

2 tr in beginning space; chain 2; slip stitch into 3^rd chain of beginning chain-3 to close round. Fasten off.

You can download a copy of the pattern by clicking on the following link >>

❤️ DOWNLOAD LEO GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN ❤️

If you would like to read more about the colours I chose for my Leo granny squares, there is a blog post HERE.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

Comments

[Alisa W Semmes]

Thank you so much for this pattern! I'm using it for a blanket where I'm tracking my reading and doing a square for each book. This pattern has been perfect for that.

[Jan Porter]

Love this granny square. Is there a method for crochet joining, as you go or after? I hate sewing my work after I finish. I like it when stuff grows as you go.

[Estela]

Does anyone know if there is a video for the Leo granny because unfortunately I’m a visual learner and Im not sure how to proceed????

[Kara Cleveland]

Can the Leo square be used in the sunny log blanket instead of the sunny square?

[Lynette Assange]

Love the Leo squares. 💖

[Caro]

I absolutely adore this square. It has a nice elemental/ Mother Nature feel to it. I did round 3 in Meadow and round 4 in Copper and it gives a lovely leafy effect . 🌿🌿🙏🏻❤️

[Sheri S.]

I'm making throws for all the of my sons for college. The oldest is getting a Moorland Strip in the ocean yarn palette, the middle will get the Leo Squares (middle name is Leo!)...still a while to wait on the youngest.

[Mónica]

Thank you so much Lucy !!!!. A great hug from Argentina

[Pip Haynes]

Thank you Lucy. It's great to have a new granny square to do.x

[Krstina C]

Thank you so much for this! I just taught my daughter how to make a granny square. Now we can try this new one together!