Crocheted 6-inch Afghan Squares

Gauge is very important when the contributions of many individuals are combined to create an afghan. If the sizes vary too much, the stretching and easing required to sew the different-sized squares together will result in an afghan that will not lie flat.

Finished squares should be as close to 6 inches square as possible. Six inches plus or minus 1/8 inch is good. Six inches plus or minus 1/4 inch is OK. I keep a ruler handy and measure frequently when working on afghan squares.

Don't know how to make an afghan out of your squares? Here is a web page at Crochet Cabana that has different methods for joining granny squares. The site also has detailed instructions on how to make a granny square complete with photos. crochet.about.com has an illustrated page on joining granny squares.

Click on any small photo to see a larger image.


Squares Worked in Rows

If your squares are not working up to the right size, please change to a different size crochet hook and/or increase or decrease the number of stitches. I've included the number of stitches in the pattern repeat to facilitate that. For example: pattern is multiple of 6 stitches plus 4 ==> add or subtract 6 stitches to adjust the size.

Moss Stitch Square

Moss Stitch Square
Materials:
Size H crochet hook
Worsted Weight yarn
Instructions:
Chain 22 loosely. (Pattern is multiple of 2 stitches plus 0.)

Row 1. sc, dc in second ch from hook. * Skip next ch. sc, dc in next ch.* Repeat from * to * across.

Row 2. Ch 1, turn. * Skip next dc. sc, dc in next sc.* Repeat from * to * across.

Repeat row 2 until square is 6 inches long.

Double V-Stitch Square

Double V-Stitch Square
Materials:
Size H crochet hook
Worsted Weight yarn
Instructions:
Chain 24 loosely. (Pattern is multiple of 4 stitches plus 8.)

Pattern Stitch (Double V-Stitch):
I call this a Double V-stitch. If it has a more common name, please let me know.
Work 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in the same stitch.

Row 1: double V-stitch in 5th chain from hook, *skip 3 ch, double V-stitch in next ch; Repeat from * until 3 ch remain. Skip 2 ch, dc in last ch.

Row 2: ch 3, turn; double V-stitch in each ch 1 space on previous row. End with dc in top stitch of turning chain.

Repeat row 2 until square is 6 inches long.

Open Checkerboard Square

Open CheckerboardSquare
Materials:
Size G crochet hook
Worsted Weight yarn
Instructions:
Chain 28 loosely. (Pattern is multiple of 6 stitches plus 4.)

Row 1: dc in 4th chain from hook. dc in next 2 ch, skip 3 ch; *dc in next 3 ch, skip 3 ch; Repeat from * across. End with dc in last ch.

Row 2: ch 3, turn; *3 dc in ch 3 space, skip next 3 dc; Repeat from * across. End with dc in the top stitch of turning chain.

Repeat row 2 until square is 6 inches long.


Squares Worked in Rounds

These squares are commonly called granny squares.

Gauge is not a big a challenge for these squares. When your square is between 5 inches and 6 inches across, the following "tricks" will help you get to the correct 6-inch finished size.

If your square measures 5 1/4 inches across, work a round of half-double crochet (hdc). Work (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in the corner chain spaces. Down each side, work a hdc in each stitch or *hdc, ch 1 in next stitch, skip next stitch; repeat from * across row, ending with hdc in last stitch before corner chain space.

If your square measures 5 1/2 inches across, work a round of single crochet. Work 3 sc in the corner chain spaces and 1 sc in the other stitches.

Traditional Granny Square (single color)

Traditional Granny Square
Materials:
Size G or H crochet hook
Worsted Weight yarn
Instructions:
Chain 5 and join with sl st to form ring.

Round 1. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in ring. Ch 2. * 3 dc in ring, ch 2;* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 3. (You should have 4 groups of 3 dc and 4 ch 2 spaces.)

Round 2. Sl st to ch 2 corner space. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same space. * Work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 corner space.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 3.

Round 3. Sl st to ch 2 corner space. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same space. 3 dc in next space between groups for side. * Work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 corner space. 3 dc in next space between groups for side.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 3.

Round 4. Sl st to ch 2 corner space. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same space. 3 dc in each space between groups along side. * Work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 corner space. 3 dc in each space between groups along side.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 3.

Repeat Round 4 until square is desired size. Weave in yarn ends securely.

Traditional Granny Square (multiple colors)

Materials:
Size G or H crochet hook
Worsted Weight yarn in two or more colors.
Instructions:
The multiple color granny square is worked the same as the single color granny square except for the following.

To change colors, at the end of the round, finish off after joining to the beginning ch 3. Start the next round, by attaching 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.)

Weave in all yarn ends securely.

Lacy Granny Square (single color)

Lacy Granny Sauare
Materials:
Size H crochet hook
Worsted Weight yarn
Pattern stitch. V-stitch is worked as follows: dc, ch 1, dc.

Instructions:
Chain 5 and join with sl st to form ring.

Round 1. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in ring. Ch 2. * 3 dc in ring, ch 2;* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 3. (You should have 4 groups of 3 dc and 4 ch 2 spaces.)

Round 2. Sl st to ch 2 corner space. Ch 4, dc (this counts as first V-stitch), ch 3, V-stitch in same space. * Ch 1, work V-stitch, ch 3, V-stitch in next ch 2 corner space.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Ch 1, join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 4.

Round 3. Sl st to ch 3 corner space. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same space. 3 dc in space between V-stitches for side. * Work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 3 corner space. 3 dc in space between V-stitches for side.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 3.

Round 4. Sl st to ch 2 corner space. Ch 4, dc (first V-stitch), ch 3, V-stitch in same space. (Ch 1, V-stitch) in each space between dc groups along side. * Ch 1, work V-stitch, ch 3, V-stitch in next ch 2 corner space. (Ch 1, V-stitch) in each space between dc groups along side.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Ch 1, join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 4.

Round 5. Sl st to ch 3 corner space. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same space. 3 dc in each space between V-stitches along side. * Work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 3 corner space. 3 dc in each space between V-stitches along side.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Join with sl st in third ch of beginning ch 3.

Repeat Rounds 4 and 5 until square is desired size. Weave in yarn ends securely.