How to Crochet a Solid Granny Square (No Holes)
The granny square is the most iconic motif in crochet, and the solid version, with no holes, is perfect when you want a dense, warm fabric that shows off colors clearly. A solid granny square is worked in rounds from the center out, with the four corners shaped by increases to keep it square. Once you can make one, you can join many together into blankets, bags, and more. This guide shows you how to crochet a solid granny square. It is part of the crochet shapes guide.
What Is a Solid Granny Square?
A solid granny square is a square motif worked in rounds, with stitches worked into every stitch along the sides so there are no gaps, and increases at the four corners to keep it square. This makes it different from the classic granny square, which has open spaces between little groups of stitches for a lacy look. The solid version gives a dense, gap free fabric that is warm and shows off color changes and designs sharply. It is built on the same round working and corner increases as many motifs.
How the Corners Make It Square
The secret to a square, rather than a circle, is what you do at the corners. On every round, you work an increase at each of the four corners, usually a group of stitches worked together with a small corner space, which fans the fabric out at those points. Between the corners, you work evenly along each side. This concentration of increases at four points, with even sides between, is what forces the round shape into a square. It is the same idea as shaping any motif, using increasing in specific places to control the form.
Step by Step: How to Crochet a Solid Granny Square
Step one: start with a magic ring or a small chain ring. Round one: work a starting chain, then double crochets into the ring with a corner space between each group, making four corners, and join. Round two: in each corner space work a corner group with a small space, and work double crochets into each stitch along the sides between corners, then join. Round three and beyond: keep working a corner group into each corner space and a double crochet into every stitch along the sides, so the square grows one round at a time. The sides get longer each round while the corners stay square.
Keeping It Flat and Square
A solid granny square lies flat and stays square when the corner increases stay consistent and the sides are worked evenly. If it ruffles, the corners have too many stitches, and if it cups, they have too few, so keep the same corner increase every round. Work into every stitch along the sides so you do not accidentally lose stitches. Counting each round helps, and a gentle block at the end evens everything out, as covered in how to block crochet squares, which is especially useful when you need many squares the same size.
Changing Colors
Solid granny squares look wonderful in multiple colors, with each round a different shade, and the solid fabric shows the color changes crisply. To change color, join the new color at the start of a round, usually in a corner, using the method in how to change color in crochet. You can work each round in a new color, or keep sections in one color for a different effect. Leaving long tails or weaving in as you go keeps the back tidy, since color changes create ends to deal with.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistakes are inconsistent corner increases, which make the square ruffle or cup, and missing stitches along the sides, which pulls the square out of shape. Keep the same corner increase every round and work into every side stitch. Making a set of squares different sizes is another common issue when you plan to join them, which blocking each square to the same size solves. If your square will not lie flat, the crochet shape troubleshooting guide has fixes.
What You Can Make
Solid granny squares are joined together to make blankets, cushions, bags, and garments, and their dense fabric makes them warm and great for showing off color designs, including pixel style pictures. For a rectangular version of the motif, see how to crochet a rectangle granny square. To join your finished squares, see how to sew crochet pieces together. Find granny square projects in the beginner pattern hub.