The Granny Circle in Crochet
Crochet Circular Grannies for a New Take on an Old Technique
Granny Circles are fabulously versatile. Here is a variation on granny squares for those who want a fresh look.
Crocheters are often eager to learn variations of the granny square, or even to design their own. This granny square variation is circular, and can be morphed into a square at the end, if so desired.
A Basic Granny Circle
The granny circle can be made with any type of yarn on any size hook. The illustrated examples below were all done on a J-hook with worsted weight cotton yarns.
Round 1: Make a slipknot. Chain 5, join with a slip stitch to make a ring. Chain (ch) 3, make 15 double crochets (dc) around the ring. Join with a slip stitch. The first chain of 3 is equal to one dc, so this round has made 16 dc--Figure 1.
Round 2: Ch 1, single crochet (sc) in same stitch, **ch2, skip next stitch, sc 1, rep from ** 7 more times. This round should have 8 spaces in it. Spaces are the holes in the round left by skipping a stitch, i.e. the holes made between the single crochets. Figure 2.
Round 3: Ch3, 2dc in closest space, ch2, **3dc in next space, ch2** repeat from ** 6 more times and join with sl st to make 24 dc and 8 spaces. Figure 3.
Round 4: Ch3, 2dc in same space, ch2, **3dc in next space, ch2** repeat from ** 6 more times and join with sl st to make 24 dc and 8 spaces. Figure 4.
Weave in ends.
More Ideas
- Use it in any way a circle would be used—as a potholder, as a rug, or connected to other pieces to make larger items, such as a scarf. It’s not necessary to stop at round 4; simply keep going to make a bigger circle.
- Change colors in each round as described in the pattern above or don’t change colors. Each way looks completely different from the other. A single colored granny circle is shown in Figure 5.
- Wouldn’t a single-yarned granny made of wool look gorgeous felted? It would be strong and fuzzy, as well as a bit lacy; something that would really turn heads could be made by attaching multiple circles.
- Make the final round square; don’t leave it circular. Do this by adapting Round 4 in the following way: Ch3, 2dc in same space, ch2, **3dc in next space, ch2, 3dc in same space, ch2, 3dc in next space ch2** 3 dc in next space, ch2, 3dc in same space, ch2 and join with slip stitch. In other words, complete it as you would any square granny and use it as such, too. Figure 5.
Make variations on the Granny Square and the Granny Circle, and have fun with them.
