Today, I would like to share with you my go-to pattern for crocheting a Simple Circle Granny Square.
This round Afghan block is very easy and beginner-friendly.
The round-shaped center of this square makes it a really versatile pattern, and I have been modifying it in many different ways to create animals, flowers, and many fun squares with different themes:
- Halloween Granny Squares
- Christmas Granny Squares
- Spring Farm Granny Squares
- Summertime Granny Squares
- Valentine’s Day Granny Squares
When crocheting with DK acrylic, the final size of my simple circle granny square is 5.5” (14 cm), which I find a great size for crocheting baby blankets, pillows, and many other projects that use granny squares.
You can find a few ideas of patterns to crochet with granny squares HERE.
About the granny square construction and how to avoid the scar in the middle of the side
Rounds 1 to 4 of this simple circle square are obviously a circle! Then, from round 5 on, we’ll start squaring.
Initially, I designed the square so that the squaring part would start each new round in the middle of the side. The consequence of this choice is that one side of the granny square has a sort of scar, which is the point where you join each round.
One easy fix to avoid the scar in the middle of the side is to start each round at one corner.
You can see an example in the picture below. Even though the center is covered by my Bouquet of Roses applique, you can see that none of the sides of the granny square has a scar.
So, below, you’ll find both the original pattern with the squaring that starts in the middle of one side, and the new version with the squaring that starts from the corner.
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How to crochet a simple circle granny square Video tutorial
Materials
- 4.0-mm (G/6 USA, 8 UK) Hook
- DK Yarn in two different colors. For this tutorial, I used Paintbox Yarns Baby DK.
- Tapestry Needle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
Ch – Chain
Dc – Double Crochet
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Inc – Increase
MC – Magic Circle
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
St – Stitch
Yo – Yarn over
Special Stitches
Increase (Inc)
One increase consists of 2 sts crocheted in the same indicated st.
Magic Circle (MC)
To learn how to crochet the magic circle, please, check out this step-by-step tutorial.
Size
Find below a summary of the square size with different yarn and hook combinations!
Yarn | Hooks* | Finished Square Size | Yardage per square |
Cotton DK (3, Light) | 3.5 mm (E/4 US, 9 UK) | 4.75″ (12 cm) | 33 yds (30 m) |
Acrylic DK (3, Light) | 4.0 mm (G/6 US, 8 UK) | 5.5″ (14 cm) | 43 yds (40 m) |
Cotton Worsted (4, Medium) | 4.5 mm (G/7 US, 7 UK) | 5.9″ (15 cm) | Did not measure, sorry! |
Acrylic Worsted (4, Medium) | 5.5 mm (I/9 US, 5 UK) | 7″ (18 cm) | Did not measure, sorry! |
Gauge
Gauge is not too important for this pattern. Just keep in mind that the final size of your square will vary depending on your yarn, hook, and gauge.
Pattern Notes
- If the pattern says “hdc 2”, it means that you have to crochet 1 hdc into each of the next 2 sts.
- (…) – Repeat the instruction within brackets for the indicated number of times.
- The stitch count is indicated within brackets at the end of each round’s instructions.
- Join each round with a sl st between the last and first st of the round.
How to Change Color
When changing yarn color, my preference is to do it in the middle of a stitch.
Here’s how:
- Yo, insert your hook into the next st, yo, and pull up a loop.
- Drop your currently used yarn (CA in the case of Round 4), and hold the new color yarn (CB) behind your work. CB is now your working yarn.
- Yo with CB and pull yarn through all the loops on your hook.
Crochet Simple Circle Granny Square – Pattern
With CA, make a MC.
Round 1. Ch 1, hdc 11 in the MC. Join the round with a sl st into the first hdc. (11 sts)
Round 2. [CA] Ch 1, hdc inc 11. Sl st to join. (22 sts)
Round 3. [CA] Ch 1, (hdc inc 1, hdc 1) 11 times. Sl st to join. (33 sts)
Round 4. [CA] Ch 1, hdc 1, hdc inc 1, (hdc 2, hdc inc 1) 10 times, 1 hdc. Close the last st with CB. Sl st to join. (44 sts)
Squaring the Circle
Round 5. [CB] Ch 1, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 1, dc inc 1, ch 2, dc inc 1. (Dc 1, hdc 2, sc 3, hdc 2, dc 1, dc inc 1, ch 2, dc inc 1) 3 times. Dc 1, hdc 2, sc 1. Sl st to join. (13 sts on each side and ch-2 at the corners)
Round 6. [CB] Ch 2, dc 7. (In the ch-2 corner, [dc 1, ch 2, dc 1]. On the next side, dc 13) 3 times. [Dc 1, ch 2, dc 1] in the last corner, dc 6. (15 sts on each side and ch-2 at the corners)
Round 7. [CB] Ch 2, dc 8. (In the ch-2 corner, [dc 2, ch 1, dc 2]. On the next side, 15 dc) 3 times. [Dc 2, ch 1, dc 2] into the last corner, dc 7. (19 sts on each side and ch-1 at the corners)
Round 8. [CB] Ch 1, sc 10. (In the ch-1 corner, [sc 1, ch 1, sc 1]*. On the next side, sc 19) 3 times. [Sc 1, ch 1, sc 1] into the last corner, sc 9. (21 sts on each side and ch-1 at the corners).
*When working the corners, make sure not to skip the first dc of the next side, which might hide behind your last sc.
Fasten off and weave in all your ends.
Alternative pattern for rounds 5-8
This pattern avoids the “scar” in the middle of the side!
Round 5. Ch 4 (counts as a dc and a ch-2 sp), (dc inc 1, dc 1, hdc 2, sc 3, hdc 2, dc 1, dc inc 1, ch 2) 3 times. Dc inc 1, dc 1, hdc 2, sc 3, hdc 2, dc 1, dc 1 in same st as initial ch-4, sl st in third-made ch to join. (13 sts per side, 4 ch-2 corners)
Round 6. Sl st in first ch-2 sp, ch 4 (counts as a dc and a ch-2 sp), dc 1 in same ch-2 sp. (Dc 13, [dc 1, ch 2, dc 1] in next ch-2 sp) 3 times. Dc 13, sl st in third-made ch to join. (15 sts per side, 4 ch-2 corners)
Round 7. Sl st in first ch-2 sp, ch 4 (counts as a dc and a ch-1 sp), dc 2 in same ch-2 sp. (Dc 15, [dc 2, ch 1, dc 2] in next ch-2 sp) 3 times. Dc 15, dc 1 more in initial ch-2 sp, sl st in third-made ch to join. (19 sts per side, 4 ch-1 corners)
Round 8. Ch 1 (does not count as a st), [sc 1, ch 1, sc 1] in first ch-1 sp. (Sc 19, [sc 1, ch 1, sc 1] in next ch-1 sp) 3 times. Sc 19, sl st in first sc to join. (21 sts per side, 4 ch-1 corners).
Fasten off and weave in all your ends.
Your crochet Simple Circle Granny Square is ready!
I hope you liked this pattern and I’d love to see your version of it! Please, share it on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #raffamusadesigns
Looking for more granny square patterns? Take a look here!