One Big Granny Blanket
A single granny square that grows round after round until it’s a blanket. No joining, no seams.
- Yarn
- Worsted (4) in 4–8 colours.
- Hook
- H-8 (5 mm)
- Sizes
- Square throw 50 × 50 in (127 × 127 cm); stop at any size
- Example gauge
- 10 rounds = 11.5 in (29 cm) across
- Yarn needed
- About 2,400 yd (2,200 m) worsted. Use “Custom rectangle” 50 × 50 in and “Lace/openwork”.
US terms. The UK name follows in brackets the first time each stitch appears. Turning chains don’t count as stitches unless a step says so. See US vs UK crochet terms and crochet abbreviations.
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth per round | width after 10 rounds ÷ 10 | 11.5 ÷ 10 = 1.15 in | By hand |
| Rounds needed | target ÷ growth per round | 50 ÷ 1.15 ≈ 43 rounds | By hand |
Materials
- Worsted (4) yarn (see yarn needed)
- H-8 (5 mm)
- Tapestry needle
Gauge swatch
Make the first 10 rounds, then measure straight across. Divide by 10 to get your growth per round.
Instructions
Square
Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st (UK ss) to first ch to form a ring (or use a magic ring). Ch 3 (counts as dc (UK tr)), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, *3 dc in ring, ch 2; rep from * twice more. Sl st to top of ch-3. (4 clusters)
Rnd 2: Sl st in next 2 dc and into the ch-2 corner. Ch 3 (counts as dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same corner, *ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner; rep from * twice more, ch 1. Sl st to top of ch-3.
Rnd 3 and on: Sl st to the corner. Ch 3 (counts as dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, *(ch 1, 3 dc) in each ch-1 sp along the side, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner; rep from * around, ending ch 1. Sl st to top of ch-3.
Keep going round after round. Change colour every 1–3 rounds.
Keep it square
Each side gains one cluster per round. Count the clusters on each side every few rounds; they should all match.
Edge
Finish with 2 rounds of sc (UK dc) in one colour, 3 sc in each corner.
Finishing
- Weave in ends every few rounds as you go.
- Block by laying flat and pulling the corners square.
Designer’s notes
- Turn your work at the end of every round (and start from the other direction) to stop the square slanting.
- Weigh your yarn: late rounds use far more yarn than early ones. Round 40 uses about 4 times as much as round 10.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: rounds (goal from the math). Counter 2: rounds in the current colour.
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Tools for this pattern
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Size ChartsLook up the finished measurements for the size you are making.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.