Quick & Invisible Join for Granny Squares

You’ve spent hours crocheting a beautiful collection of granny squares. Now what? The final and most crucial step is joining them all together to create a finished blanket, pillow, or garment. While there are many ways to join squares, this tutorial will teach you a beautiful and seamless method that results in a clean, professional finish. This technique works for any squares where the last row ends with a single crochet, half-double crochet, or double crochet, making it a versatile skill for all your crochet projects.

Materials You’ll Need

Crocheted Granny Squares: The squares you want to join. Ensure they are all the same size for a uniform project.
Yarn: A small amount of yarn for joining. It’s best to use the same weight as your squares. You can choose a contrasting color for a decorative join or a matching color for a more seamless look.
Crochet Hook: A hook in a size that corresponds to your yarn weight. The video uses a 2.20 mm hook.
Scissors
Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): For weaving in ends.

The Joining Technique: A Step-by-Step Guide

The video demonstrates a method of joining squares as you crochet the final round, which is an efficient and clean way to assemble your project. This technique creates a strong, flat seam that won’t detract from the beautiful texture of your squares.

Part 1: Preparing and Starting the First Square

Work the First Edge: Take your first granny square. With your joining yarn, join with a slip stitch in one of the corner spaces. Chain 3 (this counts as your first double crochet). Work 2 more double crochets in the same corner space. This is your first corner cluster.
Continue Along the Side: Work 3 double crochets in the space between the next cluster of stitches from the previous round. Continue this across the entire side of the square. When you reach the next corner, work 3 double crochets in that corner space.
Work the Second Edge: Repeat the process from Step 2 along the second side of the square. When you get to the corner, work another 3 double crochets in the corner space. You should now have two sides of your first square complete with a new round of double crochet clusters, with the last cluster in the second corner.

Part 2: Joining the Second Square as You Work

Start the Second Square: Take your second granny square. You will now join it to the first one as you work. Begin with a slip stitch in a corner space of the second square. Work a double crochet group (3 double crochets) in this corner space.
Join with a Slip Stitch: Now, you will connect the two squares. Insert your crochet hook into the corresponding corner space of the first square. Yarn over and pull a loop through both the square and the stitch on your hook. This is a slip stitch, and it creates a neat, flat join.
Continue the Join: Work 3 double crochets in the next space of the second square. Then, insert your hook into the corresponding space of the first square and work a slip stitch to join.
Repeat: Continue repeating this pattern all the way down the side of the squares, working 3 double crochets in a space on the second square, and then joining with a slip stitch to the corresponding space on the first square. When you reach the corner, join with a slip stitch in the corner space of the first square. This completes the first joined strip of two squares.

Part 3: Joining Multiple Squares to Create a Strip and Rows

Create a Longer Strip: To continue your strip, simply repeat the process from Part 2. Take a third square, start with a corner cluster, and join it to the second square with slip stitches. You can continue this to create a strip as long as you need.
Joining a Second Row: Now you’ll join the strips together. Take your first strip of joined squares and lay it down. Take your second strip of squares and lay it on top. You will now join the two long strips together in the same manner. Use the same joining technique, working along one edge of the second strip and joining with slip stitches to the corresponding edge of the first strip. The key is to make sure your slip stitches are going through the corners and the spaces between the clusters.

Part 4: Finishing the Edges

Once all your squares are joined, the final step is to finish the outer edges of the blanket. You can use a simple border of single crochets or a decorative edge to give your blanket a polished look. Weave in all your loose ends with a yarn needle for a clean finish.