This is a very simple pattern for small, 3-round solid granny squares. These squares are perfect for stash busting all those oddments of DK yarn left over from other projects and take just minutes to make. You can pop a handful of small yarn balls in a bag, sling in a 4mm hook and a wee pair of scissors and take it out with you wherever you go, cos you just never know when a hooking opportunity might miraculously appear in your day!
I'd like to make it clear that I am not in any way claiming this pattern as mine - these solid granny squares have been around for donkeys years, and similar to the classic granny square pattern they are formed using a basic pattern that exists within the crochet community. There are many different ways to make and use them - you can make them as small or as large as you like (I made a large one for a cushion cover back in 2008 here), make each square in a single colour (a lovely example here) or change colour each round (beautiful multi colour ones here). They are versatile and easy to make.
My solid granny squares are small and neat (measuring approx. 7cm across) and can be used for pretty much anything you like (small blankets, throws, bags, cushions etc). Great for an eclectic patchwork look, mix and match your colours to your heart's content or colour-theme them for a more designed look.
Each square is made in 3 rounds, with a 30cm tail end left dangling at the end. In this tutorial I'll show you my method of stitching the squares together (using the tails ends) to create an almost invisible seam. It's a nifty solution to the joining dilemma and creates a very neat, tidy finish.
These are all oddments of Stylecraft Special DK left over from making blankets. I use a yarn winder
The thing I love most about making these squares is that they are insanely quick and satisfying, flying off the hook in a matter of minutes. You can play with colours, stacking them in little piles or lining them up in rows until you like what you see....
....cutesome rows of yummy patchwork colour, what's not to like?!
So here are some details before we begin....
Yarn :: oddments of DK weight yarn in a wide mix of colours. I'm using Stylecraft Special DK which is 100% premium acrylic yarn, but you can use any DK oddments you have left over from other projects.
Hook :: 4mm
Size of squares :: small (approx 7cm), but the size may vary according to tension.
Pattern :: written in 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.
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)
To begin, chain 4, then join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
:: Round 1 :: Round 1 will be worked out of the ring.
Chain 5 (counts as 1 tr plus chain-2 space), pic above.
Before you start making stitches, hold on to your tail end and make sure it is laying horizontally along the top of the ring. With each stitch you make in this first round, make sure your hook passes UNDER the tail end, which will effectively trap it underneath all your stitches as you crochet them. Hope that makes sense?!
Right, on we go...
Work 3 tr's into the ring, chain 2 (1st tr-group), pic above.
Work 3 tr's into the ring, chain 2 (2nd tr-group)
Work 3 tr's into the ring, chain 2 (3rd tr-group), pic above.
Now for the last tr-group, work 2 tr's into the ring, then insert your hook into the 3rd chain of the chain-5 from the beginning (see where my needle is in the above pic?), and make a slip stitch to close the round.
Your first round should look like the above picture.
You should have 4 lots of treble-groups. And four chain-2 corner spaces.
Now turn your little square over, get a hold of your tail end (which should have lots of stitches crocheted over it) and give it a firm tug - this will close up your central hole and give a nice neat finish. You can darn and snip it at the end.
:: Round 2 :: Round 2 will be worked out of the stitches.
Insert your hook into the corner space directly to the left of where you just finished round 1 (as in above pic). Yarn over and work a slip stitch - this will anchor you into the corner space and ensure you are starting off in the right place.
Chain 5 (counts as 1 tr plus chain-2 space), pic above.
Work 2 tr's into the corner space (above pic).
I've inserted my needle into the very first stitch to show you where to find it - it's easy to overlook this first stitch as it sometimes hides under the tr's you've just made! Once you've found it, work 1 tr into the top of it (pass hook under both loops of the stitch, just like my needle is showing you)....
....then work 1 tr into each of the next 2 stitches (as in above pic). That's your first side completed.
Into the next corner space, work the following ::
2 tr, chain-2, 2 tr. That's your corner group.
Work 1 tr into each of the next 3 stitches, then (2tr ch-2, 2 tr) into the next corner space. That's your second side and corner group made.
Work 1 tr into each of the next 3 stitches, then (2tr ch-2, 2 tr) into the next corner space. That's your third side and corner group made.
Work 1 tr into each of the next 3 stitches (as in above pic), and that completes your fourth side.
Work 1 tr back into the very first corner space (it should sit right next to the ch-5 that you made in the beginning). Now look at the ch-5 you made and find the 3rd chain up (my needle is there!), insert your hook and make a slip stitch to close the round.
Looking good! One more round to go.....
:: Round 3 :: Round 3 will be worked out of the stitches.
Insert your hook into the corner space directly to the left of where you just finished round 2. Yarn over and work a slip stitch - this will anchor you into the corner space and ensure you are starting off in the right place. Chain 5 (as in above pic)
Work 2 tr's into the corner space. Now find that elusive first stitch (my needle is there!)
Work 1 tr into that first sneaky stitch, then 1 tr into each of the next 6 stitches....
....so your first side should have 7 tr's in total (as in above pic).
Into the next corner space, work the following ::
(2 tr, chain-2, 2 tr). That's your corner group.
Work 1 tr into each of the next 7 stitches, then (2tr ch-2, 2 tr) into the next corner space. That's your second side and corner group made ( as in above pic)
Work 1 tr into each of the next 7 stitches, then (2tr ch-2, 2 tr) into the next corner space. That's your third side and corner group made.
Work 1 tr into each of the next 7 stitches, then 1 tr back into the first corner space so that it sits right beside the chain-5 you made at the start.
Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain-5 to close the round.
When you fasten off, CUT A LONG TAIL END - AT LEAST 30 cm LONG. You will need this to stitch up your squares.
And that's it! One solid granny square made. Give it a little tweak and a stretch in each of the four corners so that it sits flat and looks square-ish as it maybe a little bit wibbly at first.
I'll write out the pattern at the end of this tutorial so that you can make a copy of it and print it out to carry around with your yarn balls. But trust me, you will soon be making these without needing a pattern, they become easier and easier the more you do.
I love using these squares as a way of playing with colours, it pleases me hugely to spend time arranging them until the colours sing a very happy rainbow song! But I also think they look wonderful put together in a more random fashion, both are equally appealing.
Once you've piled up a fair little mountain of squares, you can begin to stitch them together. I'll walk you step-by-step through the stitching technique, it's pretty straightforward......
STITCHING SQUARES TOGETHER - AN INVISIBLE JOINING METHOD
For this project (a cushion cover) I've got 7 squares in each row. Before beginning to stitch, have a little play with the colours, moving the squares about until you are happy with the arrangement. When you've got the colours sorted, adjust the squares so that the tail ends are all positioned at the TOP RIGHT CORNER.
It will help if you understand the steps in advance of starting. We will be working in rows, working from left to right, and from the top down.
The first step is to join up the squares in the first row (seams 1, 2 & 3 in the above picture, which are all vertical seams)
We then move down to the second row. Seam 4 joins E to A and is a horizontal seam.
Seams 5, 6 & 7 are L-shaped seams. Don't let this confuse you, I'll explain it all as we go through!
Right first seam. It's the top left square and the one next to it. Thread a needle onto the tail end of your top left square (pale rose in my case).
You'll be stitching from the WRONG SIDE of the squares, so the first thing to do is place them RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER. Take the second square (in this case it's the red one) and flip it over to the left so that it sits directly on top of the first square....
....right, ready to stitch. Pick up the two squares together and hold them so that you'll be ready to stitch from right-to-left. The first square (with the needle attached) will be nearest to you and the second square will be behind it....
Your thread will already be in place, coming out of the corner of the square.
You'll be inserting your needle through the OUTSIDE LOOPS ONLY of each square, so with each stitch you are picking up two loops, one from each square.
Match up your crochet stitches and make even stitches along, passing your needle through the outer loops of each square. Don't pull too tightly, but try and keep an even stitching tension. Stitch all the way to the end, then open your squares out....
....you should have a neat, invisible seam joining your first two squares together. Now darn in your tail end by threading it down through the stitches (as above)....
....then darn one way.....
....then back the other way. This should secure your end and stop it poking out or coming unravelled. You can snip off your tail end now.....
....and admire your first neat seam! The above picture shows the wrong side, so flip the joined squares over to the right side and thread up your needle again ready to stitch....
...thread the tail end from the second square onto your needle. You will be joining the second square (the red one) to the third square (the gold one), a neat little vertical seam. Same as before, take the third square (in this case it's the gold one) and flip it over to the left so that it sits directly on top of the first square....
Hold them together so that you'll be stitching from right to left. The second square (the one with the needle attached) is closest to you, the third square is behind.
Just like before, match up your crochet stitches and pass the needle through the outer loops only. Neat stitches, even tension all along.
When you come to the end, open out the squares and darn in your tail end, back and forth to secure it, then snip off.
Is this all making sense??? I hope so!!
Keep going then, making your little vertical seams and joining up all the squares in your top row.
Remember you are picking up the square without the needle attached, flipping it over and placing it on top of the square with the needle attached....
...then picking up both squares together and holding them so that you are ready to stitch from right to left....
....stitching through outside loops only.
Eventually your top row will be all joined and should be looking very neat indeed???!!!
You will now be joining the second row. this will be a combination of horizontal and vertical seams. To begin, thread up the tail end on the first square in the second row. Pick up the squares in row 1 and flip the whole lot downwards (horizontally) so that the first square of the first row (in this case it's the pale rose one) sits on top of the first square of the second row (the one with the needle threaded).
It should look like the above picture. The needle is there attached to the square at the back, ready to stitch from right to left.
Pick them up and stitch the seam, matching up the crochet stitches and passing the needle through outer loops only.
When you reach the end, darn in the end securely just as you did before and snip off.
Now you will begin making L-shaped seams, stitching across, then down, as shown by the dotted arrow above. Thread up your needle, then flip the whole of row 1 downwards so that the squares sit on top of each other with right sides together.
Stitch your seam as before from right to left, stopping when you get to the end/corner....
...now open up your squares and make a few extra stitches to secure the corner join which should prevent any holes.
Now pinch the adjoining squares together and spin the whole thing round 90 degrees ANTI CLOCKWISE..........
......so that your needle is sitting ready to stitch from right to left. Complete the second part of the L-shaped seam.....
....then open the squares out and darn in the end neatly on the wrong side. The above picture shows how the seams should be looking from the wrong side....
....and from the right side. There should be no holes or gaps, and your stitches should merge with the crochet making them pretty much invisible.
Next L-shaped seam - thread up your needle, and flip the already-joined squares downwards on top of the square you are about to stitch with...
...stitch from right to left....
....nice even stitches all the way along, putting a few extra ones into the corners.
Now pinch the squares together and turn 90 degrees anti clockwise ready to make the rest of the L-shapes seam....
...off you go to the end....
....then darn in the tail end securely.
Are you getting the jist of it?It's pretty easy once you get going and fall into the rhythm of the stitching.
Keep going until the whole of row 2 is joined neatly to row 1.
The right side of your work should look as neat as the wrong side. Above is the right side....
....and the wrong side. Pretty neat eh?
Working in rows helps you to work neatly and methodically and hopefully stops you getting into a muddle with your tail ends. It really helps if you have a table to work at so that you can lay it all out in front of you. If you don't have the space, you can stack your squares to represent each row, remembering you will be assembling them from the left to the right.
I'm sorry for the rather hand-made nature of the above diagram, I find technical drawing things on the computer quite a challenge for my low-tech brain (!) but hope it helps to show you which way the seams go and in which order you should be working them.
Here is the pattern for you to copy/paste/print until you get it off by heart ::
:: SOLID GRANNY SQUARES ::
To begin :: ch 4, join with a sl st to form a ring.
ROUND 1 ::
ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + ch-2),
*3 tr's into the ring, ch-2*,
Repeat between ** twice more,
Work 2 tr's into the ring, sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-5 to close round.
ROUND 2 :: sl st into first corner space.
Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + ch-2),
Work 2 tr's into first corner space,
Work 1 tr into each of the next 3 sts,
*(2 tr's, ch 2, 2 tr's) into next corner space, work 1 tr into each of the next 3 sts*
Repeat between ** twice more.
Work 1 tr into first corner space, sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-5 to close round.
ROUND 3 :: sl st into first corner space.
Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + ch-2),
Work 2 tr's into first corner space,
Work 1 tr into each of the next 7 sts,
*(2 tr's, ch 2, 2 tr's) into next corner space, work 1 tr into each of the next 7 sts*
Repeat between ** twice more.
Work 1 tr into first corner space, sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-5 to close round.
Fasten off, leaving a long 30cm tail end for stitching later.
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At the time of sharing this pattern, I'm still in the process of making my cushion cover. When I've finished, I'll write up an additional tutorial to show you how to construct a cushion cover to incorporate button fastenings. In the meantime - what are you waiting for??? Dive into your stash and start stockpiling some squares!!
♥ I really hope you enjoy having a dabble with this little pattern and have fun turning your odds and ends into something beautiful. As with all my tutorials I am happy to provide them here on my blog for free, for you to use and enjoy. However, I'm hoping that if you do give this pattern a whirl then you might consider making a small donation to help support what I do here in the Attic ♥
THANK YOU, your support is wonderful and is truly appreciated
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thank you and you it look easy.xoxo
Posted by: patricia farghaly | June 16, 2015 at 02:30 AM
Thank you, Lucy for another great tutorial. Younger so talented at writing and picturing the instructions. I have learned so much from you. Thank you again.
namaste,
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | June 13, 2015 at 03:28 AM
Thanks Lucy for another great pattern I am left handed and always find your patterns with pictures easy to follow and at last have mastered this cute pattern with a list of projects it can be use for. Currently working on your Cosy Stripe Blanket
Posted by: Nikki Taylor | June 10, 2015 at 07:05 AM
Thanks Lucy for another wonderful, clear tutorial. I am currently,busy with your cottage ripple blanket and love the smooth texture of the stylecraft yarn and how you have put the colours together. Is there any chance of letting us know the colours you have used for,the gorgeous solid granny square blanket?
Posted by: Lydia | June 10, 2015 at 05:06 AM
One becomes in a good mood, seeing your happy colours.
Posted by: Hanne | June 09, 2015 at 09:21 PM
Thank you so much for the great tutorial, you explain things and have great pics for me to follow. im so inspired, I find written instructions so hard to follow as im a visual learner, but with you I can follow instructions no problem. keep your great ideas coming absolutely love Attic 24.
Posted by: Jayne Mcgregor | June 09, 2015 at 08:16 AM
Love love love!
Posted by: Donna | June 09, 2015 at 05:17 AM
Just made my first square and your instructions are so wonderfully clear and easy to understand. Thank you Lucy once again for another great tutorial :-)
Posted by: Justine | June 09, 2015 at 04:39 AM
Super clear instructions! And I love the shading look! Thank you!
Posted by: jenny o. | June 09, 2015 at 12:07 AM
thanks lucy..awesome.
Posted by: patricia farghaly | June 08, 2015 at 03:45 PM
i *love* *love* *love* this!!! cannot weight to try it. you've created a blanket with an amazing use of colour! u r really talented. thank you so much for posting!!
: )
Posted by: clare_uk | June 08, 2015 at 02:39 PM
Thank you so much, Lucy - can't wait to try this out! X
Posted by: Jools | June 08, 2015 at 08:14 AM
Thank you, Lucy. I think we have all been waiting with bated breath for this tutorial. And you have done a wonderful job of it. You are a great teacher. Your love of your craft shines through your writing.
Posted by: Anne | June 08, 2015 at 01:12 AM
Great post!!! Thank you so much for the detailed pictures :)
Posted by: Joyce Young | June 08, 2015 at 12:08 AM
Love it!! Thanks for sharing such a great idea for our odds and ends of leftover yarn!! :) xoxo
Posted by: Janet Tweedie | June 07, 2015 at 11:26 PM
Hello from California. I was wondering if you or any of your readers have ever tried to make these squares out of 100% cotton...like the kind used for cotton dish rags? I have lots of odds and ends that I can't part with. Love the vibrant colors! Thanks
Posted by: CA | June 07, 2015 at 11:15 PM
Thank you so very much , Lucy!!! I can't wait for the fun to begin!
Posted by: Elisa | June 07, 2015 at 04:17 PM
You're the best, Lucy! Thank you!
Posted by: Heather Estudinan | June 07, 2015 at 03:45 PM
Wow, Lucy, what a great in-depth tutorial. I am absolutely amazed at the time and patience you have to go to such lengths for us out here in cyber space. Thank you so much! Jackie x ps the sun is shining in Cumbria today, and Thursday and Friday are supposed to be a LOT warmer - yay!
Posted by: Jacqueline Ford | June 07, 2015 at 02:21 PM
Oh thankyou soooo much for this tutorial; I am(and this is all thanks to you!xx)just trying to learn myself how to crochet, because all I want to be able to do is squares just like these to make up into blankets! I shall put all this post somewhere safe to use just as soon as I can!!!!many many thanks again, I just love your blog xx
Posted by: Irene | June 07, 2015 at 02:09 PM
Awesome tutorial as usual. I love these solid grannies. A nice change from the original grannies. Thanks for you time. I so appreciate all of your tutorials. You rock Luce!! xxxxxx Enjoy the rest of your weekend. :)
Posted by: Robin Summers | June 07, 2015 at 01:09 PM
Fabulous!! Just did two squares and they look just like yours... Even the size. I am a beginner and have taught myself. Very easy to follow pattern. Thank you.
Posted by: Susan | June 07, 2015 at 01:02 PM
Beautiful colours and great tips. Thanks
Posted by: Sannie | June 07, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Great tutorial. Thank you
Posted by: Dianne | June 07, 2015 at 10:24 AM
Thank you so much for this tutorial. It's great info as I have lots of squares I want to piece together... One quick question, do you steam your squares before joining them together or do you just join them right away? Thank you again!
Posted by: Arlyna | June 07, 2015 at 10:22 AM