Granny squares are a mainstay for a reason. You can make almost anything with them, like blankets, bags, dresses, skirts, and sweaters. They're perfect for any season. And you can customize them to fit your preferences or needs with the color(s) you use, the shape, yarn, and size. Many beginners even start learning crochet by making a blanket with one large granny square.
Image and crochet by The Hookshelf
Get some spring inspiration from these beautiful free patterns. They range from beginner to advanced, so everyone can find something they'd like to make, or challenge themself to make. Have questions, requests, or need crochet assistance? Let me know in the comments!
Image from How to Crochet a Classic Granny Square
Classic Granny Square
This is a really well-written and thorough tutorial of the basic granny square from Heart Hook Home including step-by-step pictures and a YouTube tutorial. You will need to know how to slip stitch, double crochet, chain, chain 4 and slip stitch into a circle, and/or begin with a magic circle.
Granny Triangle
If you're making something that requires your squares to line up like diamonds, or want a granny shawl or bandana, you need to know how to make the granny triangle. Triangles help fill in the gaps between angled squares to create a nice, even line on the sides of your projects. Mama in a Stitch has a great step-by-step written pattern tutorial, including a video tutorial, for this easy granny variation. Grab some cotton yarn and make yourself a beautiful wrap to wear all season long!
Granny Hexagon
Unless you're new to the internet, you've probably seen a lot of hexagon granny sweaters recently. This tutorial teaches you how to make a solid hexagon granny using double crochets, slip stitches and chains. From there, you can easily make a hexagon with the regular granny clusters simply by making a chain one between clusters and corner spaces instead of double crocheting in every stitch.
Solid Granny Square With Two Colors
As we move into the more advanced granny squares, this variation on the solid granny uses a technique called tapestry crochet. In order to get the split color effect, you'll carry the different yarn colors through, creating fewer ends to weave in at the end (thank goodness!). But, don't worry, the pattern includes a guide illustrating how to accomplish that effect. Since the only difference in this square is the color changes, you only need to use double crochet, chain, and single crochet stitches.
Image from Reinventing the Granny Square 2 by Crafty CC
Multi-Color Granny Square
Also from Crafty CC is this fun multi-color classic granny. In the example above, they used 4 different colors in 2 shades, aka 8 different yarn colors! If you'd like to make it a little simpler, just use 4 colors in one shade and save yourself a few more ends to weave in. This pattern also includes images to guide you through the colors changes. And, like the 2 color solid suare above, the color is the only deviation from the classic granny so you still only need to know double crochet, slip stitch, and chain stitches.
Crochet Flower Granny Square
The next few patterns are flowers - the best spring accessory! This first crochet flower pattern from Winding Road Crochet adds half double crochet, triple crochet, the cluster stitch, and double crochet two together to your repertoire. Multiple video tutorials throughout it make them very easy to learn so you can make yourself some bright and floral crochet projects!
African Flower Granny
This next floral variation on the granny square is this beautiful African flower. Building on the regular double crochet, chain, and slip stitch, this pattern also calls for a long single crochet, or a spike stitch. If you'd like to make this one a little easier, the color changes are not a requirement. These are just as beautiful in one color! Get the free African flower pattern from Craft Passion and brighten up your day with crocheted spring flowers.
Image from Summer Days Daisy Bag by All About Ami
Daisy Granny Square
These cheerful granny squares are too adorable for words and an easy pattern for more advanced beginners. This pattern is specifically for the Summer Days Daisy Bag, but you can use these daisy squares in other patterns as well. Stephanie of All About Ami even has multiple patterns available that use this motif, including a cardigan and a blanket. Special stitches used for theses daisies include clusters, half double crochets, half double crochet decreases, invisible single crochet decreases, and invisible slip stitch decreases, all of which have written instructions as well as a video tutorial.
Sunburst Granny Square
This floral square is a gorgeous archived pattern by Priscilla Hewitt written for both 6" and 7" variations. You need to be able to make chains, slip stitches, double crochets, and triple crochets, as well as the special puff and cluster stitches that she includes instructions for. The image above is from Adri Smit's Instagram and Ravelry project information. Those pastels are stunning.
Image from Spinosa Square Pattern by The Loopy Stitch
Spinosa Square
The Loopy Stitch's more advanced Spinosa Square creates an almost stained glass effect with triple crochets creating divisions in each round. The free pattern recommends using at least two colors to avoid losing the visual of those triples. Note that the page has the original pattern at the top and an updated version below, both of which make beautiful squares.
Image from Springtime Magic Granny by Hverdagsmagi
Springtime Magic Granny
The last recommendation on this list is the appropriately named Springtime Magic Granny. The version of this pattern that I've linked to is written in English using US crochet term and is also available in Norwegian. The elegance of this square is achieved with singles, doubles, half doubles, chains, clip stitches, spike stitches, and double crochet 2 together. Some of the difficulty comes from double crocheting in a chain 3 space, which can be finicky if you're not familiar with it. You also want to make sure you keep your tension even and in a solid middle ground between tight and loose.
If you make something from this list, tag @thehookshelf on instagram - I'd love to see your designs!