This is a little Beginner’s Guide to Granny Squares that I put together for my first Granny Square Workshop. I also passed it on to a friend who is learning to crochet to see what she thought of it and she found it very helpful. So I thought I’d share it on the blog with you guys too. Let me know what you think.

The tutorial is written in UK terms and the square in the pictures is made using a DK yarn and 4mm hook.
The stitches that you need to make are written in bold text and an explanation of the stitches is in italics.

I’ve tried not to use any abbreviations in this tutorial because it’s aimed at beginners.

FOUNDATION CHAIN AND RING
Start by making a slipknot on your hook.
(a) Chain 6

Holding the hook with the slipknot in your right hand, the tail end in between your thumb and middle finger and the working yarn in your left hand, wrap the working yarn over the hook.

Then bring the hook through the loop on the hook.

Repeat this to make a chain – when counting a chain, the loop on your hook doesn’t count.

(b) Slip stitch into the 1st chain (that is the chain furthest away from your hook) to form a ring

To make a slip stitch:
– put the hook through the stitch or space that you are working into. So, in this case, the 1st chain
– wrap the yarn over the hook
– bring the hook back through the two loops that are on the hook to close the ring.

ROUND 1
a) Chain 3
Use the same method that you used to chain 6 for the Foundation Chain.
This chain of 3 counts as 1 treble crochet and establishes the height of the stitches in this round

(b) Make 2 treble crochet stitches into the ring
Now, you will work your stitches into the ring that you formed from the Foundation Chain.
To make a treble crochet:

(i) Put the yarn over the hook and then put the hook through the centre ring that you made earlier – working from the front to the back.

(ii) Wrap the yarn over the hook again and then pull the hook back through the centre ring.
You’ll have 3 loops on the hook

(iii) Put the yarn over the hook again
(iv) and then pull the hook through the first 2 loops on the hook.

(v) You will then have 2 loops on your hook

(vi) Wrap the yarn over the hook again and then draw it back through the remaining 2 loops on the hook to finish your treble crochet stitch.

Repeat steps (i) to (vi) to make your 2nd treble crochet.

(c) Chain 3 (This will become the first corner of your square)

(d) Still working into the ring make 3 treble crochet stitches

(e) Chain 3 (This will be the second corner)

(f) 3 treble crochet into the ring

(g) Chain 3 (This will be the third corner)

(h) Repeat steps (f) and (g) (This will make your final group of trebles and your final corner)

(i) Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round
Now we need to make a slip stitch into the beginning chain 3 that we made right at the start of Round 1 – at stage (a). The stitch marked in the photo below by my very specialist piece of crochet equipment – yes, it is a cocktail stick (without cheese and pineapple thankfully!)

(i) put the hook through the stitch that you’re working into

(ii) wrap the yarn over the hook

(iii) draw the hook back through the stitch and the loop on the hook

Round 1 is almost complete!
Now we just need to make a few more slip stitches so that we start Round 2 in the correct place.

So, (j) Slip stitch into the next 2 treble crochet stitches AND into the next space

Make sure you put your hook under both of the loops of the treble crochet as shown in the picture below.

Completed Round 1 with yarn in position to start Round 2.

ROUND 2

(a) Chain 3
This chain of 3 counts as 1 treble crochet and establishes the height of the stitches in this round

(b) Make 2 treble crochet stitches into the corner space
Now, you will work your stitches into the first corner space that you formed in Round 1.

(c) Chain 3
This will be the first corner space of Round 2.

(d) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the same corner space

(e) Chain 1
This will make the first side space of Round 2

(f) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the next corner space
Now, you will work your stitches into the second corner space of Round 1.

(g) Chain 3
This will be the second corner space of Round 2.

(h) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the same corner space

(i) Chain 1
This will make the second side space of Round 2

(j) Repeat steps (f) to (i) two more times
This will make the third and fourth corner groups of Round 2.

(k) Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round
Make a slip stitch into the beginning chain 3 that we made at stage (a) of Round 2.

(l) Slip stitch into the next two treble crochet stitches and the next corner space from Round 1
This will get us into the correct starting position for Round 3

ROUND 3
(a) Chain 3
This chain of 3 counts as 1 treble crochet and establishes the height of the stitches in this round

(b) Make 2 treble crochet stitches into the corner space
Now, you will work your stitches into the first corner space that you formed in Round 1.

(c) Chain 3
This will be the first corner space of Round 3

(d) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the same corner space

(e) Chain 1
This will make the first side space of Round 3

(f) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the side space of Round 2

(g) Chain 1
This will make the second side space of Round 3

(h) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the next corner space of Round 2

i) Chain 3
This will be the second corner space of Round 3.

(j) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the same corner space

(k) Chain 1
To make the next side space

(l) Make 3 treble crochet stitches into the side space of Round 2

(m) Chain 1
To make the next side space

(n) Repeat from (h) to (m) two more times
(o) Slip stitch into the 3rd chain from the beginning chain 3 to close Round 3

You can continue building up your square in the same way. So, slip stitch into the first two treble crochet stitches and into the next corner spaces so that you are starting the next round in the right place. Or, fasten off your yarn and add a new colour. Take a look at the end of my Double Triangle Granny Square Tutorial for details of how to add a new colour.

As always, I really appreciate feedback – so please let me know if you find this tutorial helpful or if anything is unclear. And if you can do send me a picture through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter of by email.

Ta muchly x