The classic granny square is the project most of us learn right after the chain and double crochet. It uses groups of three stitches, a few chain spaces, and four corners. Once it clicks, you can turn it into blankets, bags, pillows, and almost anything else.
This list is for brand-new crocheters and for anyone who wants a second take on the basics. You’ll find traditional squares, gap-free solid squares, a no-twist version, and a few simple granny blankets. Every pattern is free to read on the designer’s site.
Classic Granny Square Free Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight acrylic or cotton yarn in a few colors
- 5 mm (H) crochet hook
- Ergonomic crochet hook set
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Small sharp scissors
- Locking stitch markers
- Blocking mats and pins
1. Classic Granny Square Pattern
Photo: Sarah Stearns / Sarah Maker
This is a great first square. It starts in a magic ring and builds round by round with clusters of three double crochets. The designer points out that the corners stay sharp and the square doesn’t skew, and the back looks good too. There’s a printable pattern card on the page, so you can keep it next to you while you learn. Make a stack of these in bright colors and you have the start of a blanket.
- Designer: Sarah Stearns / Sarah Maker
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. How to Crochet a Classic Granny Square
Photo: Joanne Loh / Craft Passion
This version uses the turning method. You turn your work at the end of each round, which keeps the square from slowly twisting and makes both sides look alike. The page has a written round-by-round pattern plus a stitch chart, which helps if you learn better from pictures. With worsted yarn, a 3 to 4 round square comes out about 3 to 5 inches across.
- Designer: Joanne Loh / Craft Passion
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: DK (#3) or worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Ultimate Granny Square
This is a full beginner guide to the traditional square, worked from the center out. You get three ways to make it: all one color, a new color every round, or a new color every two rounds. The sample is about 6 inches after five rounds. If you want photos and video next to the written steps, start here.
- Designer: Rhondda Mol / Oombawka Design Crochet
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. The Traditional Granny Square
Photo: Debbie Field / MadameStitch
This one starts each round with a stacked single crochet instead of a chain, so the join blends into the texture and you don’t see a line running up one side. A four-round square takes only about 20 yards of yarn and ends up close to 5 inches. It’s a tidy way to make a lot of matching squares for a blanket.
- Designer: Debbie Field / MadameStitch
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Basic Granny Square Pattern
Photo: Cheryl Bennett / Crochet 365 Knit Too
This is the iconic square in its simplest form: clusters of three double crochets with chain-2 corners. It uses just three stitches (chain, double crochet, and slip stitch), so it makes a good first project if you only learned to crochet last week. The designer says any yarn weight works. The sample was made in worsted.
- Designer: Cheryl Bennett / Crochet 365 Knit Too
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) used; any weight works
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Learn to Crochet a Basic Granny Square
Photo: Sarah-Jayne Fragola / Bella Coco Crochet
This basic square comes with video tutorials for both right- and left-handed crocheters, which is rare and very helpful. The pattern calls the main stitch a treble (tr), which is the UK name for the US double crochet. The designer suggests DK, aran, or chunky yarn for beginners because thicker yarn is easier to see.
- Designer: Sarah-Jayne Fragola / Bella Coco Crochet
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Yarn: DK used; any weight works
- Hook: 4 mm
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Perfect Granny Square (No Twisting)
Photo: Viv / VivCrochets
If your granny squares always lean to one side, try this one. It’s a two-color square that lies flat, works on both sides, and hides the color changes. It also leaves you with only four loose ends to weave in, which beginners will love. The finished square is about 5 inches.
- Designer: Viv / VivCrochets
- Skill level: See pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.5 mm
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Easy Closed Granny Square
Photo: Crystal Martin / Marching North
This square keeps the granny shape but has no holes at all, so it’s solid from edge to edge. It’s a good pick for pillows, bags, or a warmer blanket where you don’t want gaps. It uses double and treble crochet and finishes with an invisible join. There’s a free printable version too if you sign up with your email.
- Designer: Crystal Martin / Marching North
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.5 mm
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Solid Granny Square Crochet Pattern
Photo: Maria Weaber / Maria’s Blue Crayon
Each side of this square is one solid row of double crochet, so there’s no visible seam and it lies nice and flat. It starts from a circle and grows a little every round. The page includes a video, and the designer suggests a bigger J or K hook for 6 to 8 inch squares.
- Designer: Maria Weaber / Maria’s Blue Crayon
- Skill level: See pattern
- Yarn: See pattern
- Hook: 6 mm (J)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Solid Granny Square (Less Lacy)
Photo: Caitie / Thoresby Cottage
This square sits between the open classic and a fully solid square. Its corners are worked as 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc, and only a few chain spaces show. That gives you a denser fabric that still reads as a granny. It’s eight rounds and finishes at about 16 cm (a little over 6 inches) in DK yarn.
- Designer: Caitie / Thoresby Cottage
- Skill level: See pattern
- Yarn: DK / light worsted (#3)
- Hook: 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Continuous Granny Square Blanket
Photo: Jo / Jo to the World Creations
Once you can make one square, you can make a whole blanket by just keeping going. This blanket is one giant granny square worked round after round, finished with a shell border. There are yarn amounts for both light and medium weight, so you can make it airy or thick. No seaming, which is a big plus.
- Designer: Jo / Jo to the World Creations
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Light (#3) or worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H) or 5.5 mm (I)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
12. 6-Day Great Granny Blanket
Photo: Beth McKee Elliott / Betty McKnit
Here’s another one-big-square blanket, worked from the center outward with color changes that make the rounds pop. It ends with a delicate shell border and measures 40 x 40 inches as shown. The page lists yarn amounts for DK and worsted, and the designer says any yarn can be used.
- Designer: Beth McKee Elliott / Betty McKnit
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: DK (#3) or worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
13. Granny Square Blanket
Photo: Lauren Brown / Daisy Cottage Designs
This calm, striped blanket uses classic three-dc clusters in soft white, linen, and green, and finishes with a pretty picot edge. The finished size is about 29 x 29 inches, a good size for a baby or a lap blanket. The page also shows you how to make it bigger or smaller.
- Designer: Lauren Brown / Daisy Cottage Designs
- Skill level: See pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4), about 685 yards
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I-9)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- Never made a granny square? Start with #1 or #5. They use only a few stitches and have clear photos.
- Learn best from video? Try #3 or #6. #6 has a left-handed video too.
- Squares keep twisting? Go with #2 or #7. Both are built to stay straight.
- Want no holes? Pick #8 or #9 for a solid square that’s good for pillows and bags.
- Ready for a blanket without seaming? #11 and #12 are one big square that just keeps growing.
FAQ
How many stitches are in a classic granny square?
Each side of a classic square is made of groups of three double crochets, with a chain space between groups and a bigger chain space at each corner. The first round has four groups. Every round after that adds one more group per side, so the square grows evenly as you go.
What yarn is best for a classic granny square?
Worsted weight (#4) acrylic is the easiest for beginners. It’s cheap, soft, comes in lots of colors, and the stitches are easy to see. Use cotton if you want a crisper look for coasters or bags. Stick to one yarn weight in a project so all your squares come out the same size.
Why is my granny square not square?
Usually it’s because of a missed corner chain, an extra cluster on one side, or joining in the wrong stitch. Count your clusters on each side after every round. If the square slowly twists, try turning your work at the end of each round, like pattern #2 does.
Pick one square, make it three times, and you’ll have the classic granny down for good.
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