Joining Granny Squares – Join-as-you-go method

The join-as-you-go method of joining granny squares is my go-to method of joining. In essence, you work the final round of the granny square and join to the adjacent square with a slip stitch at corresponding points. In the example below I have done this all with a single joining colour, but the method also works when joining each square using a different colour for the final round for each square – you can see an example where I did this here.

Abbreviations/Crochet terminology: 

UK terms are used throughout. 

Ss  – slip stitch

Tr  – treble crochet

Ch – chain

Method:

  • Fig 1. Take the first square (purple) and complete the whole round in the joining colour
  • Fig 2. Take the second (yellow) square and complete one side in the joining colour
Fig 3 Arrow indicates where to join with a slip stitch
  • Fig 5. SS into corner space of square above (purple)
  • Fig 6. 3tr into corner space of yellow square
  • Fig 7. summary of how to work the join at the corner
  • Fig 8. continue working along with 3tr in the yellow square and ss into the purple square between the treble clusters
  • Fig 9. In the corner work 3tr in yellow square corner and then ss into purple square
  • Fig 10. Work 3tr in the yellow square corner and then continue with 3tr in spaces along side
  • Fig 11. complete the round
  • Fig 12. Continue to add squares so that you have a strip
  • Fig 13. Adding a second strip – work 2 sides of green square, join to the purple square on the third side
  • Fig 14. When reaching the corner, work 3tr in the green square’s corner space
  • Fig 15. SS into the corner of DIAGONAL square (yellow)
  • Fig 16. 3tr in the corner of the green square
  • Fig 17. Complete the round on the green square
  • Fig 18. The next square added (Purple#2) will join to two other squares
  • Fig 19. Work along one side of Purple#2
  • Fig 20. Join with a SS to green square
  • Fig 21. Work along the Purple#2 square whilst slip stitching into the green square
  • Fig 22. Needle indicates where to work the slip stitch, which is into the DIAGONAL square (the first Purple square in this case)
  • Fig 23. Continue working back down Purple#2, now slip stitching to the yellow square
  • Fig 24. At the corner add the SS into the DIAGONAL square (Grey)
  • Fig 25. Needle indicates position of the SS
  • Fig 26. Complete the square
  • Continue adding strips of squares