let’s get those colorful squares blooming! Here’s a detailed pattern for crocheting a 4-color granny square. We’ll work in rounds, changing color at the end of each round.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Worsted weight yarn in 4 different colors (let’s call them Color A, Color B, Color C, and Color D)
- Crochet hook (size H/8 or 5.0 mm is a good starting point, adjust based on your yarn)
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms):
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- dc = double crochet
- sp = space
- beg = beginning
Pattern:
Round 1: Color A
- Start: Make a slip knot with Color A.
- Foundation Ring: Ch 4, sl st into the first ch to form a ring.
- First Corner: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc into the ring, ch 2.
- Second Corner: 3 dc into the ring, ch 2.
- Third Corner: 3 dc into the ring, ch 2.
- Fourth Corner: 3 dc into the ring, ch 2.
- Join: Sl st into the top of the beginning ch-3 to join the round.
- Fasten off Color A.
Round 2: Color B
- Join New Color: Join Color B with a sl st into any ch-2 corner space.
- First Corner: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc into the same ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc into the same ch-2 sp.
- First Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the space between the next two 3-dc groups.
- Second Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next ch-2 corner sp.
- Second Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the space between the next two 3-dc groups.
- Third Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next ch-2 corner sp.
- Third Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the space between the next two 3-dc groups.
- Fourth Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the last ch-2 corner sp.
- Fourth Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the space between the beginning ch-3 and the next 3-dc group.
- Join: Sl st into the top of the beginning ch-3 to join the round.
- Fasten off Color B.
Round 3: Color C
- Join New Color: Join Color C with a sl st into any ch-2 corner space.
- First Corner: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc into the same ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc into the same ch-2 sp.
- First Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp.
- Second Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next ch-2 corner sp.
- Second Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp.
- Third Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next ch-2 corner sp.
- Third Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp.
- Fourth Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the last ch-2 corner sp.
- Fourth Side: Ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc into the space before the beginning ch-3.
- Join: Sl st into the top of the beginning ch-3 to join the round.
- Fasten off Color C.
Round 4: Color D
- Join New Color: Join Color D with a sl st into any ch-2 corner space.
- First Corner: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc into the same ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc into the same ch-2 sp.
- First Side: *Ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to the next corner.
- Second Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next ch-2 corner sp.
- Second Side: Repeat from * across to the next corner.
- Third Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next ch-2 corner sp.
- Third Side: Repeat from * across to the next corner.
- Fourth Corner: Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the last ch-2 corner sp.
- Fourth Side: Repeat from * across to the beginning of the round.
- Join: Sl st into the top of the beginning ch-3 to join the round.
- Fasten off Color D.
Finishing:
- Weave in all loose ends securely using your yarn needle.
- Block your granny square if desired to make it lie flat and even out the stitches.
Video tutorial
Tips and Variations:
- Color Placement: Feel free to change the order of your colors in each round for a different look.
- Joining New Colors: You can also use a standing double crochet to start a new round instead of a slip stitch and chain-3. This can create a cleaner look.
- Larger Squares: To make a larger granny square, simply continue adding rounds, alternating colors or using the same color for multiple rounds. Remember that each new round will add a 3-dc group separated by a ch-1 on each side of the square.
- Textured Rounds: You can introduce different stitches in later rounds for texture, such as half double crochet or treble crochet.
