Unlock the Beauty of Crochet: Mastering the Elegant Willow Granny Square

Tired of the same old, basic crochet motifs? It’s time to elevate your craft with something truly special! The willow granny square is a breathtaking crochet motif that allows your skills to shine, offering a lacy, ornate alternative to traditional squares. It’s surprisingly easy to incorporate this stunning motif into your designs, resulting in projects that look incredibly impressive and unique.

If you’re a confident beginner who’s comfortable with standard granny squares, you’re perfectly poised to tackle the willow granny square – we’re confident you can master it!

Why Choose the Willow Granny Square?

The willow granny square stands out for its delicate, openwork design, making it a favorite for adding a touch of elegance to any crochet creation. Its intricate appearance belies its approachable construction, making it a rewarding project for those looking to expand their skills beyond the basics. Perfect for blankets, garments, or decorative accents, the willow granny square brings a sophisticated flair to your handmade items.

Materials Needed

For this comprehensive guide on creating your elegant willow granny square, you will need:

• DK weight cotton yarn
• A 4mm crochet hook

Getting Started: The Foundation of Your Willow Granny Square

Every beautiful willow granny square begins with a solid foundation: a center chain ring. Here’s how to create it:

1. Make a slip knot and place it on your hook.
2. Chain four stitches.
3. To join this chain in the round, simply slip stitch into the first chain you made. This completes your small chain-four ring, ready for the next steps.

Crocheting Your Willow Granny Square: Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed rounds to bring your exquisite willow granny square to life.

Round 1: Building the Core

1. Chain up three (this counts as your first double crochet).
2. Make a double crochet into the center of the ring.
3. Continue making double crochets into the ring until you have a total of 16 double crochets in your chain-four ring, counting your starting chain three.
4. Slip stitch to the top of that starting chain three to complete the round.

Round 2: Creating Openness

1. Chain up three.
2. Turn your work (this helps your granny square maintain an even appearance without distinct right/wrong sides).
3. Chain one more stitch (this chain four now counts as a double crochet and a chain one space).
4. Into the very next stitch from the previous row, make a double crochet and chain one again.
5. Continue working one double crochet into the next stitch and then chaining one.
6. Repeat this ‘double crochet, chain one’ pattern in each stitch around your circle.
7. Finish by slip stitching into the third chain of your starting chain four to complete the round.

Round 3: Expanding the Circle

1. Chain three (this counts as a stitch) and turn your work.
2. Into the chain-one space below, make two double crochets.
3. Into the top of the next double crochet stitch, put one double crochet.
4. Repeat this pattern: two double crochets into the chain-one space, and one double crochet into the top of the next stitch from the previous round.
5. Continue this pattern all the way around your circle.
6. Slip stitch to the top of your starting chain three to complete the round.

Round 4: The Unique Scaffold Row of the Willow Granny Square

This is the most unique and defining round for your willow granny square, creating a series of chain loops that act as a scaffold for later rounds.

1. To start Round 4, chain six and turn your work. This chain six counts as a single crochet and a chain five.
2. Note the stitch from the previous row directly under your chain six. After that stitch, count one, two, and three stitches, then work a single crochet into that third stitch of the round.
3. Next, chain three and work a single crochet into the third stitch from your last single crochet.
4. Then, chain four, skip two stitches, and work a single crochet into the third stitch.
5. As you work this row, you can remember the sequence “five, three, four, three” – this is the sequence of chain numbers you’ll work, always making a single crochet into every third stitch. So, if you lose count, you can go back to your last loop and determine the next chain count (e.g., if your last was a four, the next is a three). The sequence begins again with a chain five.
6. Continue working your series of chain loops (five, three, four, three) all the way around, always with a single crochet in every third stitch.
7. When you work your last chain three loop, make one single crochet into the first chain of your starting chain six (or into the stitch right next to it, the exact placement isn’t critical here).
8. To prepare for Round 5, slip stitch into the center of that next chain five loop.

Round 5: Shaping the Petals and Corners

This pivotal ‘scaffold’ row is what gives the willow granny square its distinctive, airy appearance.

1. Chain up three. For this round, we are not turning our work.
2. Into that chain five loop you just slipped into, work four more double crochets. You can gently push them down as you work.
3. Now, chain two, and work five more double crochets into the same chain five space. When complete, this creates one corner of your willow granny square, totaling ten double crochets (counting the starting chain three) with a chain two in between.
4. Next, you’ll encounter a chain three space. Work one single crochet into this chain three space.
5. The next is a chain four space. Work a total of seven double crochets into this space, forming a lovely shell that will be a “petal” at the top of your willow granny square.
6. Into the next chain three space, work a single crochet.
7. And into the next chain five space, you will work another corner: five double crochets, chain two, and five more double crochets.
8. Continue this pattern around the entire round: one single crochet in the chain three spaces, seven double crochets in the chain four spaces, and five double crochets, chain two, five double crochets into the chain five corners.
9. After you work your last single crochet in your last chain three space, slip stitch into the second chain of your starting chain three to complete the round. You’ll begin to see the beautiful outlines of your willow granny square take shape.

Round 6: Another Scaffolding Layer

Now you have a charming, flower-like shape! This round adds another layer of scaffolding and prepares your willow granny square for its final, elegant border.

1. Chain one, turn your work, and slip stitch into that very first single crochet stitch from the previous round.
2. Chain six (counts as a single crochet and chain five).
3. Make one single crochet into the center of your seven-double-crochet shell (specifically, into the fourth double crochet from the previous row).
4. Chain three and make one double crochet into the next single crochet from the previous row.
5. Chain four and make one single crochet into the corner chain two space. Then, chain two, and make another single crochet in the same corner space. This creates a new, smaller corner space.
6. Chain four and make one double crochet into the next single crochet from the previous row.
7. Now, chain three and make one single crochet in the center of your seven-double-crochet shell from the previous row.
8. Continue this pattern: chain three, double crochet in the next single crochet; chain four and work that one single crochet, chain two, one single crochet corner, all into the next corner chain space.
9. Keep going until you’ve come to your starting chain. Slip stitch into the second or third chain of that starting chain six to complete the round.

Round 7: Final Shaping and Definition

With each stitch, the intricate beauty of the willow granny square comes to life.

1. For Round 7, chain three and turn. This chain three counts as a double crochet.
2. Work four more double crochets into the center of the first chain four space from the previous row (making a total of five double crochets including the starting chain three).
3. Now, you’ll create a corner into the small corner space you made in the previous round: work three double crochets, chain two, and then work three more double crochets right into that tiny corner chain space.
4. Into the next chain four space, work five double crochets.
5. Into each of the next two chain three spaces, work three double crochets with no spaces between them.
6. Then again, work five double crochets into the next chain four space.
7. And as you did before, the next corner will be: three double crochets, chain two, three double crochets, all into that corner space.
8. Continue this pattern for all corners and each of the chain four and chain three spaces.
9. When you’ve worked your last set of three double crochets, slip stitch to the top of your starting chain three to complete the round.

Finishing Touch: The Perfect Border (Round 8)

Your willow granny square is nearly complete! To truly finish it off and give it a polished edge, we’ll add a simple single crochet border.

1. To begin, chain one and turn.
2. Make one single crochet in the next stitch, and continue working one single crochet in each stitch around the square.
3. When you reach the corner chain spaces, here’s what to do: work two single crochets, chain one, and then two more single crochets into that corner space. This creates a neat, defined corner.
4. Continue working one single crochet in each stitch along the sides, and repeat the corner pattern for the remaining corners.
5. Finally, slip stitch into that first single crochet you made to complete the round and your beautiful willow granny square!

Beyond the Basic: Creative Uses for Your Willow Granny Square

Now that you’ve mastered creating the elegant willow granny square, the possibilities for incorporating it into your crochet projects are endless! Here are some ideas to inspire you:

• Stunning Blankets & Throws: Join multiple willow granny squares together to create a lightweight, intricate blanket or throw that adds a touch of sophistication to any living space.
• Fashion-Forward Garments: Use them as focal points on tank tops, cardigans, or even as decorative patches on jeans and jackets. Their openwork design is perfect for warmer weather garments.
• Stylish Accessories: Transform a few squares into a unique market bag, a chic clutch, or even a cozy scarf.
• Home Decor Accents: Turn a single willow granny square into a coaster, or join a few for an ornate pillow cover or a table runner.

Experiment with different yarn weights and colors to see how the willow granny square transforms! Lighter yarns will give it an even more delicate, airy feel, while thicker yarns will create a bolder, more pronounced texture. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors within your squares for a vibrant, personalized look.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully learned how to crochet the elegant willow granny square. This beautiful and versatile motif is sure to become a favorite in your crochet repertoire. Enjoy using this fancy little square in a myriad of different ways in your next project. Try it out in place of a regular granny square for an instant upgrade, or even make an entire blanket out of them for a truly impressive heirloom piece. Enjoy creating stunning pieces with your newly acquired willow granny square skills!