Crochet a Classic: The Empty Granny Square Pattern

Welcome, Crochetto makers! Are you ready to dive into a fun and rewarding crochet project? Today, we’re bringing you the detailed pattern for our charming Empty Granny Square. This versatile design is perfect for creating blankets, bags, garments, or even decorative elements. With clear instructions and helpful notes, you’ll be able to master this square in no time. Let’s gather our hooks and yarn and get started on this delightful creation!

Pattern at a Glance

Project Details

• Difficulty: 1/5 (Beginner-Friendly)
• Estimated Time: 30 minutes
• Final Size: 15 cm / 5.9 in (Width), 15 cm / 5.9 in (Height)
• Yarn Usage (Square): 35 g / 35 yds / 30 m
• Suggested Colors: Brown (for the Square), Green (for Plants, if adding)

Materials You’ll Need

• This pattern
• Yarn or cord of your choice
• Crochet hook
• Scissors

Yarn Used in Sample: YarnArt Macrame Cotton 788 – 2mm

Hook Used in Sample: 3.5 mm

Yarn Description:

• Fiber: 85% Cotton | 15% Polyester
• Thickness: Worsted/Aran
• Yardage/Meterage: 246 yds | 225m
• Grams: 250g

Abbreviations and Terms

This pattern uses US crochet terms.

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• tc: treble crochet
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• mc: magic circle
• fpslst: front-post slip stitch
• fptc: front-post treble crochet
• inc: increase (e.g., inc(dc) – increase with dc, inc(sc) – increase with sc)
• blo: back loop only
• flo: front loop only
• tlo: third loop only
• ij: invisible join
• mij: modified invisible join

Special Stitches

• tc3cluster: 3 treble crochets with the same base and top
• dc3cluster: 3 double crochets with the same base and top
• dc2cluster: 2 double crochets with the same base and top

Essential Crochet Notes

• A single crochet (sc) and chain (ch) at the beginning of a round are equivalent to a double crochet (dc) stitch.
• The slip stitch back loop only (sl st blo) at the end of the round is made into the first double crochet (dc) of the round (skipping the sc, ch).

Special Stitch Tutorials

Understanding Loops (BLO, FLO, TLO)

• Back Loop Only (blo): Work your stitch into the loop furthest from you.
• Front Loop Only (flo): Work your stitch into the loop closest to you.
• Third Loop Only (tlo): When looking at the right side of your work, the third loop is typically found behind the front and back loops of a half double crochet stitch. Work your stitch into this horizontal loop.

Invisible Join (IJ)

1. Cut the yarn and pull the loop to make one string.
2. Pull the cut yarn through the loop and insert your hook in the first loop of this round.
3. Pull the yarn to the other side.
4. Insert your hook into the last chain’s back loop only and pull the yarn to the other side. Weave in the rest of the yarn.

Modified Invisible Join (MIJ)

1. Start the modified invisible join by pulling the working yarn and creating a bigger loop.
2. Insert your hook from the back into the first loop from this round.
3. Pull the loop through the stitch to the other side of your work.
4. Insert your hook into the last back loop of this round.
5. Pull the loop to the other side. Make a chain.

Creating Cluster Stitches (tc3cluster, dc3cluster, dc2cluster)

To create a crochet cluster, begin by initiating a basic crochet stitch such as a treble crochet, but refrain from finishing the stitch. Instead, proceed to make two more partial crochet stitches, all within the same stitch base. Once three partial stitches are formed on your hook, complete the cluster by performing a final yarn over and drawing it through all the loops on the hook. This method applies similarly to dc3cluster (3 dc with the same base and top) and dc2cluster (2 dc with the same base and top).

For a tc3cluster with chains at the top:

1. Chain 3.
2. Work your tc3cluster.
3. Chain 3, then slip stitch to the marked loop.

The Empty Granny Square Pattern

Round 0: mc

Round 1: sc, ch, dc, [tc, dc 3] x3, tc, dc, sl st blo [total 16]

Round 2: sc, ch, dc in the same stitch, ch 2, [fptc, ch 2, inc(dc) in the next stitch, dc in the next stitch, inc(dc) in the next stitch, ch 2] x3, fptc, ch 2, inc(dc) in the next stitch, dc in the next stitch, sl st blo [total 24 (chains not included)]

Round 3: sc, ch, dc 2 into ch sp, ch 2, [fptc, ch 2, dc 2 into ch sp, dc in the next stitch x5, dc 2 into ch sp, ch 2] x3, fptc, ch 2, dc 2 into ch sp, dc in the next stitch x4, sl st blo [total 40(chains not included)]

Round 4: sc, ch, dc in the next stitch, dc 2 into ch sp, ch 2, [fptc, ch 2, dc 2 into ch sp, dc in the next stitch x9, dc 2 into ch sp, ch 2] x3, fptc, ch 2, dc 2 into ch sp, dc in the next stitch x7, sl st blo [total 56 (chains not included)]

Round 5: sc, ch, dc in the next stitch x2, dc 2 into ch sp, ch 2, [fptc, ch 2, dc 2 into ch sp, dc in the next stitch x13, dc 2 into ch sp, ch 2] x3, fptc, ch 2, dc 2 into ch sp, dc in the next stitch x10, ij [total 64(chains not included)]

Adding Your Crochetto Details

If you’re making this granny square as a base for additional elements like succulent leaves, here’s how to seamlessly attach them:

Joining Succulent Spiky Ends

While making Round S2 of your succulent pattern, you can pin the leaves to the square. Yarn over through the last back bump of the chain of the petal before finishing the double crochet stitch, then yarn over through the three loops on your hook. With 40 stitches in Round S2 and 5 leaves, you may pin in the following stitches: 2, 10, 18, 24, 32, 40.

Attaching a Little Plant

Attaching leaves to the base of a “Little Plant” is similar to pinning petals. Yarn over through the last back bump of the chain of the petal before finishing the double crochet stitch, then yarn over through the three loops on your hook.

And there you have it – your beautiful Empty Granny Square, ready to be incorporated into your next crochet masterpiece! We hope you enjoyed creating this timeless piece. Don’t forget to share your finished projects with us on social media using #CrochettoCreations. We love seeing what you make! Happy crocheting!