It is no secret that I love granny squares. This is a simple blanket based on the granny square. It is suitable for a beginner. I receive many requests on social media for a written pattern – there are hundreds of tutorials, patterns and videos explaining how to make a granny square, but this pattern below is how I like to do it.

Materials

For this blanket I used 6 balls of Stylecraft Special DK in colours: Cream (1x100g), Lincoln (1x100g), Lemon (1x100g), Pale Rose (1x100g) and Denim (2x100g). You can purchase this yarn here.

You will need a crochet hook (I used a 3.5mm, but use what hook suits you), scissors and a darning needle.

Stitch Guide (UK terms)

Dc – double crochet: insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through the both loops.

Tr – treble crochet: yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through loop (three loops on hook), yarn over pull through two loops (two loops on hook), yarn over pull through two remaining loops.

Ch – chain

Sl St – slip stitch

Gauge

5 rounds of pattern = 10cm

Gauge is not critical for this project, but may affect yarn quantities.

Size

I chose to make this blanket in a small/baby size and measures 78cm square (I used a 3.5mm hook). You can add more or less rounds according to your preference.

Pattern

This pattern uses a traditional granny square.  It involves sets of granny clusters/granny stitch.  A granny cluster is a set of 3 trebles (UK terms) (or ch 3 and 2 trebles if it is the start of a new round).  Each granny cluster is worked in the spaces formed between the clusters of the previous round.

I do not include a chain between granny clusters – but some patterns and tutorials do include this.  For this pattern I have chained 1 to form each corner (some patterns will have 3 chains).  There are no rights or wrongs with this – it is personal preference, so you can choose.

I also turn the square over after each round – I think this helps to keep to the square nice and even.

Round 1. Using Pale Rose yarn ch4.  Sl St into the 4th chain from the hook to form a ring.  Instead of this you can form a magic ring if you prefer (there are several videos on the internet demonstrating how to do this).  Ch3 (counts as one treble), 2tr into the ring, ch1, *3tr into the ring, ch1*, repeat *to* twice more.  Join with a Sl St into the top of the first chain 3 to close.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Round 2. Turn the square over.  Join Lemon yarn with a Sl St in any ch1 corner space (I always like to start in a different corner space).  Ch3 (counts as one tr) and then 2tr into the space, *3tr into next corner space, ch1, 3tr*, repeat *to* twice more, then 3tr into the corner you started with, ch1 and the join with a Sl St into the top of the first ch3 to close.  Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Round 3. Turn the square over. Using Lincoln yarn join with a Sl St in any ch1 corner space. Ch3 (counts as one tr) and then 2tr into the corner space, *work 3tr into the space between two treble clusters from the round below, then work 3tr into next corner space, ch1, 3tr*, repeat *to* twice more, 3tr into next treble cluster space, 3tr into the corner that you started, ch1 and then join with a Sl St into the top of the first chain 3 to close.  Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Round 4. Turn the square over, using Lincoln yarn join with a Sl St in any ch1 corner space. ch3 (counts as one tr) and then 2tr into the corner space, *work 3tr in each of the spaces of the treble clusters from the row below, at the corner work [3tr, ch1, 3tr]*, continue from *to* until you get back to the corner you started, work 3tr, ch1 and Sl St into the top of the first chain to close. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Subsequent rounds – repeat instructions for Round 4. You can do whichever colour order that you prefer, but below is the order that I chose.

If you choose to do more or less rounds, ensure that you finish on a Denim round as this works with the border.

Border: The border is worked all in Denim. I did not turn the square over between rounds of the border.

Border Round 1: Start in a corner space, ch2 and work a dc in each stitch all the way around the blanket. At the corner work 3dc into the corner space. At the end of the round Sl St into the ch2 you formed at the start of the round.

Border Round 2: ch3 and then work 1tr in each stitch around the blanket, working 5tr in the corner space. At the end of the round Sl St into the Ch3 you formed at the start of the round.

Border Round 3. Ch2, *work [1dc, ch1, 1dc] into the next stitch, Skip 1 Stitch, 1dc in the next stitch, skip 1 stitch, [1dc,ch1,1dc] into the next, skip 1 stitch, 1dc in the next stitch*, and repeat from *to* until you have reached the start of the round, working 3dc in each corner. Sl St into first ch2. Fasten off and weave in ends.