How to Crochet a Granny Square

The written steps are a quick guide to the method. Anjali's exact stitch counts and colours are in the video.

What you need

• Yarn in one or more colours (cotton is good for bags)
• A crochet hook to suit your yarn
• Scissors and a yarn needle

Step by step

1. Start with a magic ring (or chain 4 and join into a ring).
2. Round 1: chain 3 (counts as a double crochet), then work clusters of double crochet with a chain-2 space for each of the 4 corners. Join to the top of the chain 3.
3. Round 2: slip stitch to a corner space and work a cluster, chain 2 and another cluster in every corner, with chain 1 between corners. Join.
4. Next rounds: keep working (cluster, chain 2, cluster) in each corner and a cluster in each side space, with chain 1 between clusters. In the video Anjali uses clusters of 4 double crochet (chain 3, 4 dc, chain 1, 4 dc).
5. Change colour at the start of a round for the classic look.
6. Join finished squares with slip stitch or a whip stitch to make bags, blankets and cushion covers.

Tips

• Always put the corner cluster in the chain-2 space so the square stays square.
• Block the squares (pin flat and lightly steam or wet) before joining.

Related: Crochet bags · Yarn for crochet bags