The rejected square
As many of you, I love Granny squares. They are so satisfying to make. Within no-time you’ve got a piece of art in your lap. Last year I participated in the Granny Square CAL, organized by Knitcraft. I really enjoyed making all the squares and made some friends on the way. I immediately started designing a square that I wanted to enter the next year.
I really, really wanted to join the CAL as a designer this year, but alas, my square got rejected.
Of course one shouldn’t take things like this personally, and I didn’t, but it did hurt a bit. #onlyhuman
I forgot about my design and never seriously worked out the pattern.

Granny Square Day
When I told her this story, my friend Amy told me this square deserved to be published. Wouldn’t it be great to release the pattern on Granny Square Day??
Of course, it would! It felt great having found a new purpose for my Granny Spice square.
I looked up my notes and started working on the pattern. Although it’s a beginner friendly crochet pattern, it’s still quite intricate. I really had to play with the stitches to make my idea work.
The pattern
For my square I used Durable Cosy Fine yarn and a 4.5mm hook.
You can really play around with colours and make the square in your own style. The square itself is really versatile. You could use it for a bag, a pillow or even a blanket! (Please don’t forget to tag me!)
Round 1
Mr, ch3 (counts as dc), dc into mr, (ch3, 2dc) 3x into mr, ch3, slst into top of beginning ch3, fo.
Round 2
Join yarn in any corner ch-3 sp with a Stdc, (dc, ch2, 2dc) in same ch-sp, dc in next 2 sts, [(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in next ch-sp, dc in next 2 sts] 3x, slst in 1st dc, fo.
Round 3
Join yarn in any corner with a Stsc, (ch3, sc) in same ch-sp, sc in next dc, ch3, sc between 3rd and 4th dc, ch3, sk 2, sc, [(sc, ch3, sc) in next ch-sp, sc in next dc, ch3, sc between 3rd and 4th dc, ch3, sk 2, sc] 3x, slst, fo.
Round 4
Join yarn in any corner with a Stdc, (ch1, 2dc, ch1, dc ) in same ch-sp, dc in next sc, ch1, sk 1, (2dc in next ch-sp, ch 1) 2x, sk 1, dc in next sc, [(dc, ch1, 2dc, ch1, dc) in next corner ch-sp, dc in next sc, ch1, sk 1, (2dc in next ch-sp, ch 1) 2x, sk 1, dc in next sc] 3x, slst in 1st dc, fo.
Round 5
Join yarn in 1st dc of any first ch-1 sp of a corner with a Stdc, dc in same ch-1 sp, (dc in next dc, ch2, dc in next dc, 2dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next 11 sts, 2dc in next ch-sp) 4x, omit last 2dc on last repeat, slst in 1st dc, fo.
Round 6
Join yarn in any corner ch-3 sp with a Stsc, (ch2, sc) in same ch-sp, [sc in next dc, ch3, sk 1, sc in next dc (ch3, sk 2, sc in next dc) 4x, ch3, sk 1, sc in next dc, (sc, ch2, sc) in next corner] 4x, omit corner on last repeat, slst in 1st sc, fo.
Round 7
Join yarn in any corner with a Stdc, (ch2, dc) in same ch-sp, [dc in next sc, ch1, sk 1, (2dc in next ch-sp, ch1) 6x, sk 1, dc in next sc, (dc, ch2, dc) in next corner] 4x, omit corner on last repeat, slst in 1st dc, fo.
Round 8
Join yarn in any corner with a Stdc, (ch2, dc) in same ch-sp, [dc in next 23 sts, (dc, ch2, dc) in next corner] 4x, omit corner on last repeat, slst in 1st dc, fo.
Round 9
Join yarn in any corner ch-3 sp with a Stsc, (ch1, sc) in same ch-sp, [sc in next 25 sts, (sc, ch1, sc) in next corner] 4x, omit corner on last repeat, slst in 1st dc, fo. Weave in all ends.
Congratulations!
You’ve just made a very versatile square! What are you going to make with it? A bag, a blanket, a pillow? Please follow me on Instagram and share a photo of your work using #grannyspicesquare and #knotsosquare. That would make me spicefully happy!
Support me
If you’d like to support me, you could buy the PDF of the pattern for the price of a cup a coffee.
