3 Ways To Join Granny Squares | LillaBjörn's Crochet World

• Home
• About Me
• Patterns/Tutorials
  • Pattern Shop
  • CAL's and Free Patterns
  • Tutorials
  • Reviews
  • Overlay Crochet
• Shops
  • Etsy
  • Ravelry
  • Lovecrochet
• Policy
• Copyright

3 Ways to Join Granny Squares There are many ways to join the grannies. I think everyone has its own one. Maybe you were taught by your grandmother or maybe you tried something before and now you prefer a particular method. I don’t crochet granny squares very often, I never make blankets of them (and if I do, then I prefer to join “as-I-go”). But I like to make not very big decorations for pillow covers from squares – something like I made for Circles of the Sun Mystery CAL. And then I need to join them. I have tried different ways and in this post I would like to share my own experience with you.

Copyright LillaBjornCrochet 2014-2015. All rights reserved. This tutorial is for unlimited personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell it. The tutorial may not be copied in any way (print or digitally), in part or in full. Please, read Copyright page for more information.

Joining with single crochet (US)

Joining with single crochet stitches is probably the easiest way to connect squares together. The idea is that you just put two grannies facing with the wrong sides and start crocheting through both layers on the sides of the squares with single crochet. It’s fast, easy and it also gives extra texture to the whole crocheted piece. I used this method for my Chocolate Lotus Pillowcase. I called it “Lotus” because of a small flower in the center of each square. And “chocolate” because joined squares remind me of a chocolate bar – thanks to joining with single crochets. I’ve made four sample squares to illustrate every method. Please, follow a photo-tutorial to see how the squares should be joined with single crochet stitches. The most safe way to start is to make a slip knot first. Usually there are chain-spaces in each corner of a granny square (in my example there are ch2-spaces), so to join them I start in the 2nd chain in the corners (marked with arrows in the first picture below). Also you may insert the hook into each space in the corner, but I prefer to do it in back loop of each chain. I also prefer to work in back loops on the side of each square. When you come till the end of the square’s side (make the last sc in the 1st ch in the corner - picture 1 and 2 on the last collage), take another pair of grannies and continue to join them. And when all the lines of squares are connected, you can start to crochet across. Here the most important thing (for me) is to make ch 1 on the “crossroad” (when you finish to crochet on one side of the square and start to join next two) - pictures 5-6. This is not obligatory – this is just something I like to do very much, because in my opinion one chain stitch on every crossroad prevents the joining rounds from pulling.

“Zip” Method

Zip method is probably my favorite because it helps to make the joining section completely flat. It’s a little bit more complicated than joining with single crochet, but it’s for sure worth learn it! I used this method for example to make my Frozen Flowers Pillowcase and I am very happy with the results. You will use slip stitches (US) to join by this method and you should work in back loops on sides of each square including ch-spaces in the corners. To start joining insert a hook in BL of 2nd chain in the corners of both squares, yo, draw up yarn, insert a hook in BL of next st of both squares, yo, draw up yarn. Now you have two lps on a hook. Pull second lp through the first one. Repeat for every st till the next corner. Don’t pull the stitches too tight, otherwise it will warp your work! As was described before you can make one chain on every “crossroad” to prevent your joining sections from pulling (picture 3 on last collage - here you should make ch1).

"Wide joining"

“Wide joining” is not a professional crochet term, it’s just how I call it because the joining sections are a bit wider than when using other methods. For me the advantages of this method are that the joining is flat, and also that you get a nice decorative element and not just connect squares together. I used this method to make a Pinky Mood Pillowcase for example. I will give you a detailed instruction of how to use this method (with pictures) in next paragraph. But to make it easier for understanding – you should make a slip stitch on the side of one square and ch1, and then a slip stitch in a st on the side of another square and ch1. And you should repeat it for every stitch on both squares. So you never work through both layers. You always make a slip stitch on a side of ONE square. And here are the instructions: To join two motifs put them together facing with the wrong sides. To start joining insert a hook inside a ch-space in the corner of upper square, yo, draw up yarn, make a ch; then *insert the hook through ch-space in the corner of the (bottom) square, yo, draw up yarn, pull 2nd lp on the hook though the 1st, make a ch. Repeat from * for every st on the sides of both squares until you come to the next corner. On this side you will finish with a ch1 after slip stitch on the bottom square and then you will start to join another pair of squares (picture 1 on last collage). And when you crochet across using this method, you should NOT make an additional ch1, because you already made one after slip stitch in the corner. I am sure you know more methods. These three are just my favorites. But I am sure that in the future I will discover and use more of them. Remember to subscribe to a weekly newsletter not to miss a single pattern and tutorial. And you can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. 7 Comments Categories: crochet, granny square, join You may also like:

7 comments

1. Lu9 January 2016 at 09:11

   I am loving the posts you make, Lilla. The photos are excellent too and one day, I might do the Circles of the Sun but for now, I'll just drool over it. Lu x

   ReplyDeleteReplies
   Reply
2. Pauline L12 February 2021 at 19:28

   Would you recommend the sc or zip method to join your coral story blanket?

   ReplyDeleteReplies
   Reply
3. Kiss Marianne4 March 2022 at 19:11

   I'm happy with all your patterns, Tatsiana!Thank you very much.Best wishesMarianne

   ReplyDeleteReplies
   Reply
4. T. Arispe4 June 2022 at 05:33

   Thank you so much for posting this! I have seen the wide join method before, and I wanted to use it for my niece's blanket, but I was getting pretty frustrated trying and failing to figure it out myself. Your instructions were very helpful and now I can make progress!

   ReplyDeleteReplies
   Reply
5. Sweet Stella27 July 2022 at 17:27

   This is helpful!I can't wait to explore all the ways to use this stitch

   ReplyDeleteReplies
   Reply
6. Sherry12 September 2022 at 17:38

   Thank you for these tutorials. I've been searching for ways to connect my first granny squares. I was going to make an afghan, but now, seeing you have made covers for pillows, I may do that. Best Wishes

   ReplyDeleteReplies
   Reply
7. Anonymous10 July 2024 at 21:41

   Hello, do you have a video for the final method? Or a more official name?

   ReplyDeleteReplies
   Reply

Add commentLoad more... Newer Post Older Post Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Sign up to our newsletter and stay in touch with Lilla Bjorn Crochet!

About me

Hello! My name is Tatsiana and Lilla Björn means "little bear" in Swedish. I live in the Czech Republic... But I love cold and grey sea, fresh windy air, and I like to crochet little bears. Read more...

Categories

Christmas Circles of the Sun Overlay crochet amigurumi applique bag brooch coaster crochet pillow cover crocheted strap decoration felted bag flower free pattern testers group garland handmade loop stitch mandala motif overlay pattern pillow pillow cover pillowcase ravelry rug square tutorial wool yarn

Translate

Blog Archive

Blog Archive December 2025 (4) November 2025 (1) October 2025 (1) September 2025 (1) August 2025 (2) June 2025 (1) May 2025 (1) April 2025 (1) March 2025 (2) February 2025 (1) January 2025 (1) December 2024 (2) November 2024 (3) October 2024 (1) July 2024 (1) June 2024 (1) May 2024 (1) April 2024 (1) March 2024 (1) January 2024 (1) December 2023 (3) November 2023 (2) October 2023 (1) September 2023 (1) August 2023 (1) June 2023 (1) May 2023 (2) April 2023 (3) March 2023 (2) February 2023 (1) January 2023 (1) December 2022 (2) November 2022 (2) October 2022 (2) July 2022 (1) June 2022 (1) May 2022 (2) April 2022 (3) March 2022 (1) February 2022 (2) January 2022 (2) December 2021 (4) November 2021 (1) October 2021 (2) September 2021 (3) August 2021 (2) June 2021 (1) May 2021 (1) April 2021 (4) March 2021 (2) February 2021 (4) January 2021 (3) December 2020 (3) November 2020 (4) October 2020 (3) September 2020 (2) August 2020 (5) July 2020 (2) May 2020 (3) April 2020 (1) March 2020 (3) February 2020 (3) January 2020 (5) December 2019 (3) November 2019 (6) October 2019 (7) September 2019 (3) August 2019 (2) July 2019 (4) June 2019 (2) May 2019 (6) April 2019 (4) March 2019 (4) February 2019 (3) January 2019 (5) December 2018 (2) November 2018 (5) October 2018 (4) September 2018 (4) August 2018 (5) July 2018 (4) June 2018 (6) May 2018 (4) April 2018 (3) March 2018 (5) February 2018 (6) January 2018 (8) December 2017 (6) November 2017 (8) October 2017 (7) September 2017 (4) August 2017 (3) July 2017 (3) June 2017 (3) May 2017 (5) April 2017 (4) March 2017 (5) February 2017 (6) January 2017 (6) December 2016 (4) November 2016 (6) October 2016 (8) September 2016 (8) August 2016 (6) July 2016 (6) June 2016 (7) May 2016 (7) April 2016 (8) March 2016 (8) February 2016 (5) January 2016 (6) December 2015 (6) November 2015 (9) October 2015 (4) September 2015 (5) August 2015 (7) July 2015 (7) June 2015 (5) May 2015 (5) April 2015 (4) March 2015 (4) February 2015 (2) January 2015 (3) December 2014 (2) October 2014 (1) September 2014 (1) July 2014 (2) June 2014 (1)

Write me

Name Email * Message *

Popular Posts

• Nya Mosaic Blanket: FREE crochet pattern Nya Mosaic Blanket is made in a special crochet technique with only basic stitches involved. It can be crocheted either by following ch...
• Nya Mosaic Blanket - Infinity version (FREE crochet pattern) My mosaic crochet journey began two years ago, when Nya Mosaic Blanket pattern was released. It has become very popular and pi...
• How to do Tapestry Crochet: step-by-step photo tutorial If you haven’t tried tapestry crochet technique yes, you definitely should. You have probably come across lots of wonderful pictures of proj...
• Circles of the Sun Mystery CAL - General Information Only five days are left till the official beginning of my summer Mystery CAL 2015 (as the first pattern will be published next Friday, on 2...

Powered by Blogger. © LillaBjörn's Crochet World. Design by MangoBlogs.