How to Crochet a Solid Granny Square

A classic granny square is made of clusters of 3 double crochets with gaps between them. A solid granny square fills those gaps: one double crochet goes into every stitch along each side, so the square is a closed fabric. It's warmer, sturdier and better for bags and cushions. The corners use the same idea as the classic square, with a chain 2 to make the turn.

Elise teaches it on her lilthings channel as a first square for complete beginners.

Video tutorial by Elise on her YouTube channel, lilthings: watch "☁️ how to crochet granny square as a complete beginner | crochet foundation basic" on YouTube.

Written from the video. If you'd prefer the lacy version, see our classic granny square pattern.

Materials

• 5-ply milk cotton in a pastel blue or cream
• 3.5 mm hook
• A stitch marker, scissors and a darning needle

Pattern

Round 1

Make a magic ring. Chain 4: this counts as 1 dc plus the first chain of a corner.

[3 dc, chain 2] three times into the ring, then 2 more dc and chain 1. Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the chain 4 to join. Pull the ring closed.

You have 4 sides of 3 dc each (12 dc) and 4 corner spaces of 2 chains.

Round 2

Chain 2. Work 1 dc into each dc along the sides, and [2 dc, chain 2, 2 dc] into each corner space.

Each side now has 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 dc (28 in total).

Round 3

The same again: 1 dc in each stitch along the sides and [2 dc, chain 2, 2 dc] in each corner.

Each side now has 11 dc (44 in total). Every round adds 4 stitches to each side.

Invisible join

Instead of a slip stitch, cut the yarn with a 15 cm tail and pull the last loop up and off the hook. Thread the tail on a darning needle, pass it under both loops of the first stitch of the round, then back down into the centre of the last stitch. The tail sits on top like one more stitch, and there's no bump.

Keep going

To make the square bigger, repeat round 3. Each round adds 4 to each side: 15, 19, 23 and so on. To plan a blanket, the granny square blanket calculator tells you how many squares you need.

Tips

• Count each side. If one side has a stitch too many or too few, the square comes out lopsided.
• Don't skip the corner chains. Without them, the square cups and won't lie flat.
• Turn the square over and check: in a solid square, there should be no holes along the sides.

Frequently asked questions