STITCH ROUND Alternative granny square pattern for home decor crochet
4 rounds to tick off for a textured square ready for blankets, pillows, or bags.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Rounds
- 4 rounds
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Time
- 4-6 hours
Intermediate
What the original page called it. Nothing here is graded a second time.
4 rounds
Each one gets its own line, with a box beside it to tick as you go.
Worsted
What the sample was made in. Any weight works — the size moves with it.
About this pattern
This square builds in four rounds, each one closing with a slip stitch so the motif sits flat before the next round begins. It works as a standalone coaster-style piece or as a repeatable block for bigger projects like throws, cushion covers, or bag panels. Because the materials list stays open-ended, any yarn and matching hook combination will carry the pattern through its four rounds without a rewrite.
Shaping happens around the chain-1 spaces, where groups of double crochets land to build the corners and sides. Slow down at the start of Round 2, where a slip stitch travels through two double crochets before settling into the first chain-1 space — getting that placement right keeps the whole round symmetrical. Watch the stitch count in each cluster as the rounds build, since a missed stitch here throws off the square's edges later.
- Start with a small worked center and close the first round with a simple join.
- Move into the second round by repositioning the yarn through the chain-1 space.
- Build double crochet clusters into each chain-1 space to form the square's sides and corners.
- Continue the pattern of chains and clusters around the round to keep the shape even.
- Repeat the clustering logic through the remaining rounds to grow the square outward.
- Finish the final round and prepare the piece for weaving in and blocking.
What goes wrong
- Losing the chain-1 space Mark each chain-1 space with a stitch marker before starting a new round. This keeps the slip stitch travel accurate and prevents clusters from landing in the wrong spot.
- Uneven double crochet clusters Count stitches in each cluster as they're worked rather than after the round is done. Catching an extra or missing double crochet mid-cluster is far easier than unpicking a finished round.
- Skipping the join slip stitch Always close each round with the slip stitch into the top of the starting chain before moving on. Without it, the round stays open and the next round starts from the wrong point.
- Tight or loose chain-1 spaces Keep tension consistent on every chain-1 space across all rounds. Spaces that vary in size make the clusters sit unevenly and distort the square's overall shape.
Yarn, hook and the rest
Copied from the source pattern's own materials list.
- Yarn of your choice
- Crochet hook suitable for your yarn
Progress tracker
0 of the 4 rounds on this page are ticked.
The pattern, round by round
Kept in the order and the wording the source used. Tick a round as you finish it; the ticks stay on this device.
Main Pattern
Round 1
Start with a slip knot.Chain 4.Slip stitch into the first chain to form a loop.Chain 3 (this counts as your first double crochet).Make 2 double crochets into the loop.Chain 1.Make 3 double crochets into the loop.Repeat step 6.Repeat step 7 two more times (for a total of 4 sets of 3 double crochets and 4 chain-1 spaces).Chain 1 and slip stitch into the top of the initial chain 3 to join.
Round 2
Slip stitch through each of the next 2 double crochets and into the first chain-1 space to position the yarn correctly.Chain 3.Place 4 more double crochets into the same chain-1 space (for a total of 5 including the chain-3).Chain 1.Find the middle double crochet of the next set of 3 from the previous round, and place a double crochet right on top of it.Chain 1.In the next chain-1 space, place 5 double crochets.Repeat steps 4-7 around, ending with a chain-1 and joining with a slip stitch to the top of the starting chain-3.
Round 3
Slip stitch to the middle double crochet in the first set of 5 double crochets from the previous round.Chain 3.Make 5 more double crochets into the top of the middle (third) double crochet (for a total of 6 including the chain-3).Find the lone double crochet between this and the next corner, place 3 double crochets in the top of this double crochet.In the top of the middle double crochet of the next set of 5, place 6 double crochets.Repeat steps 4 and 5 around, ending with joining with a slip stitch to the top of the starting chain-3.
Round 4
Final Round Slip stitch into the space between the third and fourth double crochets in any corner. This is not a traditional step but helps in maintaining the structure of the square.Chain 3.Place 5 more double crochets into the same space (total 6 including the chain-3).Place a double crochet on top of the last double crochet in the group of six from the previous round.Double crochet in the top of the second double crochet of the group of three on the side.At each corner, work into the space between the third and fourth double crochet of the corner (from the previous round), creating 6 double crochets.Continue the pattern around and finish with a slip stitch into the top of the first chain-3. Fasten off.
Join
Step 1Weave in all ends.
Step 2Block your square to give it shape if desired.
Finish
- Weave in all loose ends from the starting chain and each round's join so the back stays tidy.
- Check the square lies flat and the corners sit square before setting it aside.
- Block the finished square if the edges need coaxing into a crisper, more uniform shape.
Bigger or smaller
- Smaller
- Use a finer yarn with a smaller hook so the same four rounds pull in tighter, giving a more compact square suited to smaller decor pieces.
Photographs of this one
Every photograph on this page was taken by whoever published the pattern, and they are printed in the order the source listed them.
FAQs
Asked and answered
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.
Can this square be made with any yarn weight?
Yes, the pattern is written to work with yarn of your choice paired with a suitable hook. The finished size will shift depending on the weight chosen, but the four rounds stay the same.
Is this square suitable for joining into a blanket?
It works well as a repeatable block for home decor projects like throws or cushion covers. Making multiple squares and joining them is a natural next step once the four-round pattern is mastered.
Why does Round 2 start with extra slip stitches?
Those slip stitches move the yarn into position at the first chain-1 space before the round's clusters begin. Skipping or miscounting them shifts where the round's pattern starts.
Does this square need blocking?
Blocking is optional and listed as a finishing step for shaping the square if desired. It helps square off the corners and even out any curling at the edges.