The granny square is perhaps the most iconic motif in the craft of crochet. However, the square is just the beginning of what you can do with the granny stitch. Learn how to adapt the granny square to make granny circles, triangles, pentagons, hexagons, rectangles, hearts, and rows. Basics to Know About Granny Crochet What makes a motif a "granny" motif? The granny stitch consists of groups of 3 dc stitches separated by spaces. That'swhat you will find in common across all granny crochet motifs. Here are a few more things that are helpful to know about crocheting with the granny stitch: The sides of granny motifs are worked with sets of 3 dc stitches separated by spaces. The spaces are sometimes created using a ch-1 or ch-2 (and even occasionally a ch-3) but they may also be created by simply skipping stitches without a chain. This varies from pattern to pattern. It's helpful to know because if you find that a motif is too tight, youmight want to vary it by adding a chain between sets of dc stitches. Likewise, if the motif seems too loose, and the pattern has you doing a ch-2 then you should try a ch-1 or even no chain space. Corners of granny motifs are worked with two sets of 3 dc stitches separated by a space. In most corners, you will work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. As with sides, though, this can vary. You may find that you have a smaller or larger chain space between the two sets of 3 dc. You may occasionally find that it isn't even 3 dc but rather 2 dc. Pay attention to the pattern but feel empowered to fiddle with the corners to make the granny shapes look exactly like you want them to look. How to Crochet a Granny Square Let's begin with a classic crochet granny square, which is where this motif seems to have begun. Nowadays you may find people calling any crochet square a "granny square" but the fact is that the original granny square used the granny stitch as described above. Here's how to crochet a classic granny square: Round 1: Chain 4 2 dc in 4th ch from stitch; this creates your first grouping of 3 dc stitches Ch 2; this creates your first chain space, which is your first corner 3 dc in same stitch Ch 2, 3 dc twice more; this creates your second and third corners (and third and fourth sides) Ch 2 (for your final corner) and slip stitch to the top of your ch 4 to close the round Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) and work 2 dc into the same corner space Work the following into the next chain space (which is your next corner): 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc Repeat previous step twice Now it's time to complete the corner that you started in the beginning. To do this, you will 3 dc into the same corner where you started, ch 2 and sl st to the top of your chain 3 to close the round Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) and work 2 dc into the same corner space Work 3 dc into next space; (this is not a corner; you're working on the first side) Work a corner: 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc Repeat previous two steps Work 3 dc into space on final side Complete the first corner that you started: 3 dc in corner, ch 2, sl st to top of first ch 3 to close round From this point on, you'll basically be repeating round three. The only difference is that each round will have more groups of 3 dc stitches on each side, since it is growing larger. You will always work 3 dc into the spaces on the sides and 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc to create corners. Here's what round 4 looks like: Round 4 Ch 3 (counts as first dc) and work 2 dc into the same corner space Work 3 dc into each of next two spaces Work a corner: 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc Repeat previous two steps Work 3 dc into each of next two spaces Complete the first corner that you started: 3 dc in corner, ch 2, sl st to top of first ch 3 to close round This is how to crochet a classic granny square. There are variations on it, especially for how to start it (you can begin with a magic ring for example). There are also many advanced granny squares that incorporate a flower or other design in the center before creating the square. Begin by learning this basic version and you'll have the skills necessary to move forward with other square patterns. You can also learn how to square any crochet circle. How to Crochet a Granny Heart Let's look next at a crochet granny heart since it begins exactly like a crochet granny square. Note that there are several ways to make a granny heart; this one is a common three-round granny heart The crochet granny heart begins with the first two rounds as a granny square. As mentioned in the introduction, there are variations on granny stitch in terms of spacing. In the regular granny square, your sets of dc are separated by ch 2. You can do that when crocheting a granny heart, but it's recommended that you use a larger ch 3 space instead. Round 1 Chain 4 2 dc in 4th ch from stitch; this creates your first grouping of 3 dc stitches Ch 3; this creates your first chain space, which is your first corner 3 dc in same stitch Ch 3, 3 dc twice more; this creates your second and third corners (and third and fourth sides) Ch 3 (for your final corner) and slip stitch to the top of your ch 4 to close the round Likewise, this larger granny square works better if you have a ch-1 stitch between the sets of 3 dc. Here's how that looks: Round 2 Ch 3 (counts as first dc) and work 2 dc into the same corner space Chain one. Then work the following into the next chain space (which is your next corner): 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc Repeat previous step twice Chain one. 3 dc into the same corner where you started, ch 3 and sl st to the top of your chain 3 to close the round In the third round you will use treble crochet and single crochet stitches to turn your square into a heart. Round 3 Ch 4 (counts as first treble crochet). Work 11 more tr into the first ch 1 sp Slip stitch into next ch-3 sp 12 tr in next ch 1 sp Sc in next ch-3 sp Sc in each of next 7 stitches (includes the ch-1 sp between the sets of 3 dc) 3 dc in next ch-3 sp' this makes the "point" at the bottom of the heart Sc in each remaining st (including the ch-1 spaces) Sl st to top of ch-4 to close round How to Crochet a Granny Pentagon Once you know how to crochet a classic granny square, it's pretty easy to learn how to crochet motifs with more than just four sides. Let's begin with a pentagon -a five-sided shape. Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch-1) Dc in 5th ch from hook, ch 1 Repeat (dc, ch 1) for a total of 10 dc stitches separated by ch-1 spaces Slip stitch to 4th st of ch 5 to close round A pentagon is a five-sided motif. You will begin with 10 dc stitches, which is 5 x 2. If you want to make motifs with more sides, you will begin with dc in the amount of the number of sides x 2. For example, as you will see later, a 6-sided hexagon begins with 12 dc stitches each separated by ch-1. Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same sp, ch 1 2 dc, ch 1 in each sp around Sl st to top of ch 3 to close round Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same sp, ch 1 3 dc, ch 1 in each sp around; you might notice that this is where you've begun the classic granny stitch of 3 dc separated by spaces Sl st to top of ch 3 to close round Now it's time to turn the circle into a pentagon. This is done by creating your five corners. Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 2 dc into same sp Work 3 dc into next sp Work a corner into the next sp by doing the following: 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc Repeat previous two steps around; (you'll end with 3 dc on the last side) End by adding 3 dc, ch 1 to the same sp where you started and sl st to top of ch3 to close round Round Five and Up: You can grow your granny pentagon the same way that you would grow a granny square -working corners (3 dc, ch, 3 dc) in each corner and working 3 dc into each sp along the sides. For round five that looks like: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 2 dc into same sp Work 3 dc into each of next 2 sp Work a corner into the next sp by doing the following: 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc Repeat previous two steps all the way around; (you'll end with two sets of 3 dc on the last side) Finish byadding 3 dc, ch 1 to the same sp where you started and sl st to top of ch 3 to close round How to Crochet a Granny Hexagon The crochet granny hexagon is going to be very similar to the pentagon, but you begin with more dc in the center and that allows you to create more sides and corners. Seeing how to grow from a pentagon to a hexagon should give you a sense of how to make shapes with more sides as well, such as a granny octagon. Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch-1) Dc in 5th ch from hook, ch1 Repeat (dc, ch 1) for a total of 12 dc stitches separated by ch-1 spaces Slip stitch to 4th st of ch 5 to close round Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same sp, ch 1 2 dc, ch 1 in each sp around Sl st to top of ch 3 to close round Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same sp, ch 1 3 dc, ch 1 in each sp around Sl st to top of ch 3 to close round Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 2 dc into same sp Work 3 dc into next sp Work a corner into the next spby doing the following: 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc Repeat previous two steps around, ending with a set of 3 dc in the last ch sp on the side Finish by adding 3 dc, ch 1 to the same sp where you started and sl st to top of ch 3 to close round You should now have your six sides, and six corners. You can grow the motif by working "corners" in each corner and adding sets of 3 dc in each space on the sides. How to Crochet a Granny Circle You might have noticed that the crochet pentagon and hexagon begin with a circle in the first three rounds. You can grow that circle out to create a crochet granny circle. Let's look at one method. Rounds 1-3: Follow the instructions for rounds 1-3 on the granny hexagon pattern above. Round 4: Ch 3 and work 2 dc into same sp Ch 1,3 dc in next sp Repeat that pattern around End with ch 1 and sl st into the top of first ch 3 to close round Round 5: In this round, you will essentially work a "corner" into every ch-1 sp Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp Work 3 dc, ch 1, dc into next sp and eachsubsequent sp all the way around 3 dc, ch 1 in the same sp where you started, sl st to top of ch 3 to close round If you want to make a bigger circle, repeat round 4 twice then repeat round 5. Alternative Way to Start a Crochet Granny Circle As you beginto work with granny motifs, you will see that there are often different ways of beginning them that still lead to creating the classic granny style. Here is an example of a second crochet granny circle pattern that begins differently than the one above. Round 1: Chain 4, dc in fourth ch from hook, ch 1 2 dc, ch 1; repeat four more times Sl st to top of ch 3 to close round Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same sp, ch 1 dc2tog, ch 1, dc 2 tog all in next sp
