How to Crochet the Perfect Granny Square | Yay For Yarn

Granny Squares, simplified! Learn to crochet flawless granny squares, without unsightly starting chains or slip stitch joins.

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Or, download the FREE Printable PDF version of the pattern here:

Click Here to see my favorite way to sew granny squares together -- with an Invisible Seam!

How to Crochet the Perfect Granny Square
by Yay For Yarn

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

You Will Need:
Yarn of your choice (any weight category can be used, thickness of yarn, number of colors, and desired size of square will determine the quantity of yarn needed)
Crochet Hook (in a size appropriate for the thickness of the yarn you are using)
Scissors
Yarn Needle or Blunt Tapestry Needle

This pattern is intended for your personal use only. You may not share it, copy it, sell it, give it away, or mass-produce the finished product. However, you may sell the finished items on a small scale, as long as you convey in your item description that you used a Yay For Yarn pattern.

Yay For Yarn Copyright© 2019 – Current. All patterns and photos are owned by Yay For Yarn.

See the Tapestry Needle I used here:

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00:00 Introduction
04:39 Solid color granny square
32:00 Multicolor granny square

[tamaradensmore]

I love this! Those are the things that bothered me about granny squares. I’m so glad that someone figured out how to ‘correct ‘ the problems!

[liliasawyer]

This is a great video, thank you so much! The slip stitch join just irritates me and doesnt look as good. Im so glad i found your video. I'm looking forward to trying your method.

[thedinabrooks]

Very nice job! Im changing over to your method. Thank you for sharing

[mlboone]

My grandma was a master crochet and she taught me when I was 8 I’ve been hooked my whole life and I love how you have changed this square

[Pitoonya]

#YayForYarn Yay!!! I finally mastered pulling up the loop, holding it down with my finger (I was having trouble with that part as I wrapped it around to finish the stitch) but I did it and it's so easy now! I just want to say that you are pretty much a genius to even be able to figure stuff like this out. Thank you. Also, you are very thorough with explaining everything, which is refreshing bc a lot of instructors do not explain everything. Thanks again for another great video!! P.S. You might need to get a patent on the stitches you invented so nobody else steals them from you. :) xoxo P.P.S. I gave you a thumbs up! :)

[lindamitchell]

Thank you for helping me make better granny squares💟💖💜☺

[kimm]

Thank you for this! Have you, or can you do a video on blocking. How do you block acrylics?

[SydMountaineer]

You are the absolute BEST crochet instructor! Thanks!

[HotaruTomoe]

Omg, thank you so much! I just made it my mission to find out how to make granny squares without unsightly chains and slip stitches. I almost hit it on the nail, though... had the idea to use CSDC, but I was trying to join with the invisible slip stitch to either the first or last DC of the shell stitch. Then, I would try working the CSDC either forward or backwards into the space (depending on the row). Even though, it was kinda on the right path, there was still a slight seam. Thank you thank you thank you for the idea of using a HDC to join. (Edit: However, instead of chaining 1 before joining with a HDC, I've decided not to chain. With my loose tension adding a chain there makes that corner space bigger than the other corners.)

[SydMountaineer]

Excellent! Could you explain the reason why you cut the yarn when changing colors in this granny square tutorial, vs changing your colors like you have shown in another video where you're working on a different type of project, where you change colors at the end of a round by pulling a loop of the new color onto the loop left on your hook when the last stitch is finished, then you tighten to make the chain of the previous color disappear into the work? I think some people might not understand the reason why. The other video is where you are working in a "tube" with 2 colors of green DC.

Thank You very much for your thorough tutorials - You are the BEST instructor all around! I am going to learn to knit soon, and looking forward to learning from your knitting tutorials.

[JeanneBahnson]

I cannot thank you enough for this video- for years the ending slip stitch on the border has driven me crazy and I was never able to find a good method until this demonstration. I will certainly be checking out your other videos, thank you again!!!!

[lynnem]

Love your work, you are so clever and your crochet magic always talks to me - Im just learning but dont like chains or ragged ends or noticeable joins 😊

[charlotteeardly]

Thanks for sharing! What I don't like is weaving ends so after doing your method for the first double crochet, I pick up the tail and crochet the 2nd double crochet with the working thread and tail and do my 3rd double crochet normally but finish it with the tail and the working thread. Happy granny square crocheting!

[SydMountaineer]

I had not done granny squares in years since I've recently started crocheting again, and was working on a really simple granny square potholder pattern from Garn Studios (Drops Design) - a company that has been around for years, sells their own yarn, and is popular for their knit & crochet patterns, etc, etc.

I was having such a hard time following their instructions, (even though they have translators from many different countries and "how to" videos for each pattern that do not necessarily show every part of the pattern), and the part that was most frustrating was how the pattern said to chain 3 at beginning of round (not on the corner), which caused an extra stitch, and then changing colors on top of that - it looked awful.

I watched their help video for the pattern, which did not help me, and it was taking me so long just to complete the first 2 rounds that I had to stop and look for another tutorial. I had done granny squares years ago, and knew that it should not be this hard to do, but you would think that such a popular company would know better ways to work a granny square.

I had watched Yay for Yarn tutorials in the past, and Thank Goodness, you had one for the granny square!!! Even though the pattern I'm working on does a variation of the traditional granny square, I was able to continue working on the pattern without even reading the instructions after watching this tutorial, and it went 5 times faster and looked great! Thank You!!!

[pammyers]

I love how your version of the granny square came out. I learned the old school way. I’m also trying to hold my hook the way you do. I seem to have more control over my tension but it’s a little awkward. I’ve been crocheting my way for 50 years. We will see if I can break my habit. 💜💜💜

[TheSuperDaddio]

So is the center of the ring the tiny hole? How do you get it all to fit? I can’t seem to make it look like anything but a jumbled circle

[heatheryarbrough]

I may start making granny squares now. Great tips thank

[annmariemurphy]

Thank you very much. Very kind of you to reply. I'll do that then I'll turn and then do your chainless double crochet. I've been doing an ordinary double crochet...then turning my Grandmother is no longer with us so she probably did teach me to turn and then do a double crochet.
Ann Marie xx

[valeriemcclelland]

I have trouble keeping edges straight. I started off with 29 chains and I now have 22 after about 6 rows. please advise me. Thanks

[yolandaespinosa]

Definitely will be trying this! Thanks for these tip tricks!👍🏼