The Berry Patch Granny Square

What you'll need

You need small amounts of DK cotton in four colors, a 4 mm (G/6) hook, and a yarn needle. That's genuinely it — this is a great pattern for using up leftovers.

• Yarn: DK-weight cotton in Raspberry, Honey, Cream, and Sage (about 20g of each). Any DK yarn works; cotton just shows the stitches most crisply.
• Hook: 4 mm (G/6). If your squares tend to curl, size up to 4.5 mm.
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends.
• Scissors.

Abbreviations (US terms)

This pattern uses US crochet terms. If you normally follow UK patterns, note that our "double crochet (dc)" is the UK "treble."

How to make it

Work four rounds in the round, changing color each round. Every round adds four 3-dc groups, so your stitch count grows predictably: 12, 24, 36, then 48 dc. Start each round by joining the new color to any corner ch-2 space.

To begin, make a magic ring (or ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring).

Round 1: Raspberry center

Round 1 makes the four corner clusters of the square. Work these steps into your ring with Raspberry:

1. Ch 3 (counts as your first dc), then work 2 dc into the ring.
2. Ch 2 to form the first corner space.
3. Work (3 dc into the ring, ch 2) three more times.
4. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3, then fasten off Raspberry.

Round 1 count: 4 groups of 3 dc (12 dc) and 4 corner ch-2 spaces.

berry-patch-granny-square-round-1.webp

Round 2: Honey

Round 2 splits each corner into two clusters. Join Honey to any corner ch-2 space, then:

1. Ch 3, 2 dc into that same corner space, ch 2, 3 dc into the same space (first corner made).
2. Ch 1.
3. Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next corner space.
4. Repeat steps 2–3 around, working a full corner cluster into each remaining corner.
5. Ch 1, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3, and fasten off Honey.

Round 2 count: 8 groups of 3 dc (24 dc), 4 corner ch-2 spaces, and 4 side ch-1 spaces.

Round 3: Cream

Round 3 adds the first stitches along each side. Join Cream to any corner ch-2 space, then:

1. Work (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into that corner.
2. Ch 1, 3 dc into the next ch-1 side space, ch 1.
3. Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next corner.
4. Repeat steps 2–3 around — one 3-dc group in every side space, a full cluster in every corner.
5. Join with a sl st and fasten off Cream.

Round 3 count: 12 groups of 3 dc (36 dc).

berry-patch-granny-square-round-3.webp

Round 4: Sage border

Round 4 works the same way — there are now two side spaces per side. Join Sage to any corner ch-2 space, then:

1. Work (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into that corner.
2. Ch 1, 3 dc into the next side space; repeat once more so both side spaces have a 3-dc group (ch 1 between them).
3. Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next corner.
4. Repeat steps 2–3 around.
5. Join with a sl st and fasten off Sage.

Round 4 count: 16 groups of 3 dc (48 dc). Your square is done.

Fastening off

1. Cut a 15 cm (6 in) tail and pull it through the last loop to secure.
2. Weave in all ends with the yarn needle.
3. Wet or steam block, pinning the corners out to a right angle.

Common mistakes

• The square curls into a cup. Tension too tight — size up your hook and keep the yarn feeding loosely.
• The corners go wonky. You missed a corner ch-2 space, or worked a side group into a corner. Recount your groups against the numbers above.
• Ruffly, wavy edges. Too many stitches — you probably added an extra 3-dc group in a side space. The side count should grow by exactly one group per side, per round.
• A gap at the join. Normal on Round 1; it closes up once you pull the magic ring tight and weave the tail through the first stitches.