Granny Square Hack

There are many ways to make a granny square, but let this hack change your life!!

See the above photo, do you notice anything?

Traditionally, when you finish a round on a granny square, you usually join with a slip stitch, then chain to begin the next round, giving you an obvious seam throughout the square.

But what if I told you that you could make a square without an obvious seam?! I know, too good to be true. No, too good not to be true! It’s a game changer and something that you can use for all of your future crochet squares.

Let’s dive in…

The written instructions first: US TERMS

Stitches and Abbreviations used:

MR – Magic ring

Ch – chain

Sp/s – Space/s

St/s- Stitch/es

Rnd - Round

3 dc groups – the groups of double crochet

Hdc – Half double crochet: Yarn over once, insert hook into st or sp indicated, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops

Dc – Double crochet: Yarn over once, insert hook into stitch or space indicated, yarn over and draw up a loop, (yarn over and pull through two loops) x 2

Pattern:

Round 1:

Make a MR or ch 4, join to 1st ch to form ring, ch 3 (counts as dc) 2 dc in ring, (ch 2, 3 dc in ring) x 3, join to top of ch 3 with hdc (this replaces the last ch 2 and slip st AND brings you into the correct position to begin the next rnd).
<12 dc, 3 ch-2 sp, 1 hdc>

Round 2:

Ch 3, 2 dc over hdc, sk 3 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next 3 ch-2 sps, join to top of ch 3 with hdc.
<24 dc, 3 ch-2 sp, 1 hdc>

Round 3:

Ch 3, 2 dc over hdc, sk 3 sts, 3 dc in sp between 3 dc-groups, <(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 sp, 3 dc in sp between 3 dc groups> around, join to 1st ch of ch 3 with hdc.
<36 dc, 3 ch-2 sp, 1 hdc>

Continue in this manner till you’ve reached the desired size.

See the following for photos.

Join with hdc into st where yarn needle is (top of ch 3)
Beg of Round 2: Work dc over hdc join
End of Round 2: Shows hdc join
End of Round 3: Join with hdc into top of ch 3
Shows hdc join
Join with hdc into st where yarn needle is (top of ch 3)
Beg of Round 3: Work dc over hdc join
Continue in this matter till desired size made

What do you think? Is it something you can use for your squares? It doesn't have to be used in traditional granny squares either. Anywhere on a square where you have to join the last corner. As long as you begin and end in corner, this will work and save ugly seams.

Have a go practicing and see what you think. I'd love to know how you go, feel free to share your work on Facebook in my groups. The Loopy Stitch Community or The Loopy Stitch CAL groups.