|DICASTIO|

Here is how "Granny" made a quick and simple crocheted blanket. It is something most beginners can learn quickly, as the technique is the same for each row. Using Granny squares, you can crochet a blanket without having to carry the blanket-in-progress with you. You make the squares individually, then stitch them together.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Getting the Best Supplies

Choose a color scheme. Yarn, of course, comes in a wide variety of colors. Which colors you choose vastly changes how your final blanket, pillow, or other creation will look. Carefully choose your colors to get the effect you want.
- Get the "gypsy" look by pairing red, dark purple, pink, yellow, bright blue and spring green.
- Get the "old country" look by making bright squares but putting them together with a black border.
- Get a classic American look by combining, white, red, blue, and pale yellow.
- If you don't want the granny square look but you want to still use the method to get a fast blanket, use only two colors (white and blue, for example) to create a more subtle look.
Obtain yarn of your choice. Once you know your colors, you'll want to pick out a good yarn in the best material for you. If you're making a blanket for a baby, use the softest yarn possible. If making something more durable, such as a pet-bed cover, use acrylic.
Obtain an appropriately sized crochet hook to use. The size of the hook should always be stated in the pattern you want to use or listed for the weight of yarn you purchased.
- If you're worried about the hook size, do a test patch with a few rows of double crochet.
- If you have thicker yarn, use a thicker hook, and if you have thinner yarn use a thinner hook.

[Edit]Making the Center Circle

Chain six. Form a slip knot around the hook, wrap yarn around the hook, and pull it through the loop in the knot--this is one chain stitch. After the yarn you pulled is wrapped around the hook, pull another loop through that, making a second chain stitch. Be sure to leave at least of yarn at the beginning in case you need it later.^[1]
Slip stitch into the first chain. This forms a ring. Pull a new loop through the loop already on the hook, as well as through the chain stitch.
Chain three. This is the same as if you were doing rows of double crochet stitch.^[2]
Double crochet. Make two double crochet^[3] into the center of the ring.
Chain and double again. Chain two then make three double crochet into the center of the ring. Do this 3 times, for a total of 4 groups of 3 dc (double crochet).
Slip stitch to finish. Slip stitch into the top of the three chain to finish the round.

[Edit]Making the Middle Row

Start with a new color. Add a new color for the next row if you like. Simply start crocheting with the new color from any ch-sp (chain space, the gaps left by the chain stitches between the bunches of double crochet).^[4]
Chain three again. Again, this is the same as if you were doing rows of double crochet stitch.
Double crochet in the corners. In the chain space described above, do 3 double crochet stitches (but don't forget that in your first set, the first dc is really the chain three that you did already).
Move to the next chain space. Chain two over the double crochet bunch and then make three more double crochet stitches into the next chain space. This begins to create the square.
Form the corner. Make 3 chain stitches to form the corner of the square and then double crochet 3 more into the same chain space.
- Change to 1 chain stitch between if you want a rounder, tighter square as shown in the pictures.
Continue until the row is complete. Do all 4 corners, and then slip stitch to the top of the ch-3 in the first corner to finish the round. Each corner should have two sets of three dc, each separated by three chain stitches.

[Edit]Completing the Square

Start the next row. Change colors again if you like.
Continue similarly to the previous row. Double crochet 2 bunches of three stitches (separated by three chain stitches) into each corner. Do only ONE bunch of three dc into each "flat side" chain space, with two chain stitches between the corner bunches and the middle bunches.
Make as many rows as you want. The number of side spaces will continue to increase.
- You can make a potholder by backing your square with sturdy cloth, make an ornamental doily by using a thinner yarn, or even a baby blanket by using soft yarn in baby-friendly colors. You can make an afghan by either making one huge square or by attaching a number of small squares together.
- Squares can be attached by sewing or by crocheting together using slip stitch or single crochet.^[5]
Finished.

[Edit]Tips

If you are making a potholder, be sure to use cotton or wool yarn, not acrylic. Acrylic will melt with heat.
When starting and ending alternating colors, always make sure that your ends are secure, tucked in, and hidden. You can do this by crocheting your ends into the square, or by weaving them in later with a tapestry needle. Do it carefully and be sure to leave long enough ends, as there is nothing worse than finishing a blanket and having it come apart, due to not securing ends and centers. But do not use knots, which feel hard and bumpy in your work and are not as secure as these other methods.
Darker yarns often make it harder to count your stitches. Try a lighter-colored yarn for your first try.
Using a bigger needle/hook and thicker wool make a bigger project quicker.
Granny squares can also make great scarves when sewn in a row - a project that requires fewer squares than a blanket.
Go slowly, so that you can prevent mistakes, and every few stitches check to make sure that's it's lined up properly.
Try alternating yarn colors, switching off after completing a row or two.
You can weave in ends later, but it is easier to lay them on the last row and crochet over them doing the next row, which seals them in... You can also weave them in when you are finished, but make sure to weave them in in two directions so they don't work themselves loose...
When making a granny square blanket, make sure that the tightness of the yarn is the same throughout the blanket.

[Edit]Warnings

British stitches and American stitches have different names for the same stitch, so be sure to keep an eye out for where a pattern comes from.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

Crochet hook-- any size, but size H is typically used for worsted weight yarn.
Use a larger hook for bulky weight yarn (use the suggestion on the yarn label).
Yarn-- Red Heart is a good name brand for beginners as it is cheap, great quality, and readily available.