Rectangular Granny Square

This afghan block works up quickly and is good for charity projects. I got the idea from one of the crochet email lists, but didn't like the center of the rectangle produced by the instructions shared by a list member. So I experimented until I came up with something that I liked.

Materials needed:

Yarn of your choice.
Crochet hook size G or H for 4-ply worsted weight yarn.
Crochet hook size F for 3-ply sport weight yarn.
(Increase or decrease your hook size if you crochet tightly or loosely.)

Gauge:

In 4-ply worsted weight yarn with a G hook, 4 stitches are approximately 1 inch wide.

Instructions:

Loosely chain a multiple of 4 stitches (minimum of 8 stitches).
For a rectangle that is 2 inches longer than it is wide, start by chaining 12 stitches with a G hook and worsted weight yarn.

Round 1: Work 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, in fourth ch from hook. Ch 1. *(Skip 3 ch, 3 dc into next ch, ch 1).** Repeat from * until 4 ch remain. Skip 3 ch. Work 3 dc ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into last ch. Ch 1. Working in the back loops of the beginning chain, repeat from * to ** until you reach the chain into which you made the first 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. Make 3 more dc into this ch. Ch 2, join with sl st in top of ch 3.

Round 2: Sl st to ch 2 corner space.^† Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into ch 2 space to form corner. Ch 1. *Work 3 dc, ch 1, in each ch 1 space across the side. 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into corner ch 2 space; ch 1.** 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into next corner ch 2 space; ch 1. Repeat from * to **. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Round 3: Sl st to ch 2 corner space.^† Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into ch 2 space to form corner. Ch 1. *Work 3 dc, ch 1, in each ch 1 space across the side. 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into corner ch 2 space; ch 1.** Repeat from * to ** two more times. Work 3 dc, ch 1, in each ch 1 space across the last side. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Repeat Round 3 until rectangle is desired size.

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^†To sl st to ch 2 corner space, sl st into next 2 dc and into ch 2 space (for a total of 3 sl st).

Changing colors

The rectangular granny square can be made in more than one color.

To change colors, at the end of a round, finish off after joining to the beginning ch 3. Start the next round by attaching the new color with a slip stitch in any ch 2 corner space. (This replaces: sl st to ch 2 corner space at the beginning of a round.)

Leave 3 to 4 inch ends of yarn to weave in.

Finishing

Weave all yarn ends in securely.