Mark your calendars because August 15th is officially Granny Square Day! It is the one day of the year when the global crochet community takes over Instagram to build the biggest virtual blanket the internet has ever seen. Want in on the action? Grab your hooks and follow these simple steps to join the party:
How to Join the Fun: Celebrate Granny Square Day!
- Hook Your Square: Whip up a gorgeous granny square using your favourite yarn scraps. A classic design works brilliantly, but unique patterns like our Petal Pop Square are always a massive hit.
- Snap a Pic: Lay your square flat against a clean, neutral background and snap a well lit photo in natural daylight. Make sure your entire square is in frame so it can be featured.
- Share and Tag: Head over to Instagram on August 15th and post your masterpiece. Be sure to tag
@simplycrochetmagso they can add your square to their legendary virtual blanket collage. - Use the Hashtags: Pack your caption with the official tags like
#GrannySquareDay2026and#PetalPopSquareto join the worldwide conversation and connect with fellow makers.
Get those hooks moving and let us flood the internet with colour!
I love the look of this square because it’s floral but modern. It has a lot of great texture and the center flower puffs out nicely, giving it a really velvety look. It’s retro, it’s modern, it’s also traditional, and there are so many different colourways you can use. Why not make monochrome ones for a really modern look? (That’s next on my list.) Go pastel for a traditional look, or really make your squares pop with neons. It’s really up to you, and it’s such an addictive pattern!
Table of Contents
Yarn Spotlight: Ricorumi and Great Alternatives
Just a heads-up: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I receive a small percentage back to help support the blog, with zero extra cost to you. You are amazing for supporting independent creators!
For this design, I used adorable little oddments of Ricorumi cotton yarn. Ricorumi is a fantastic DK weight cotton that offers incredible stitch definition, wonderful structure, and a massive rainbow of colors in cute mini balls.
If you cannot find Ricorumi in your local yarn shop or online stash, click the link here for some stellar alternatives that will give you a similar finish:
Pattern Details:
Pattern Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
| Finished Size | Approximately 4 inches square |
| Hook | US size E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook |
| Yarn | Ricorumi cotton yarn oddments (DK weight) |
| Notions | Yarn needle, scissors |
Abbreviations & Special Stitches:
Abbreviations (US Terminology)
| Abbreviation | Stitch / Term |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| tr | treble crochet |
| sp | space |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
Special Stitches
Long Treble Crochet (Long TR): Yarn over twice, insert hook into the designated stitch or space in the round below, pull up a long loop to match the height of the current working round, (yarn over and draw through two loops on the hook) three times to complete the treble crochet.
Treble Crochet (tr): Yarn over twice, insert hook into the designated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop, (yarn over and draw through two loops on the hook) three times to complete the treble crochet.
Standing Stitches: How-To Guide & Video
Pro Tip: Why Use Standing Stitches?
If you are used to starting a round with a chain 3, switching to a standing stitch is a total game changer. Traditional starting chains often leave a noticeable gap or a bumpy vertical seam where you join. Standing stitches start right on your hook and mimic the exact height, width, and tension of a real stitch. The result is an invisible join and a flawlessly flat motif!
Video Guide: Mastering the Standing Double Crochet
Quick Step-by-Step:
- Place a slip knot on your hook, leaving a short tail.
- Yarn over and hold the working loop securely against the hook with your thumb.
- Insert your hook into the target stitch or space, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
- Yarn over and draw through two loops twice to finish your double crochet.
Pro Tips
Pro Tips
Why Break and Reattach Yarn? Fastening off and starting fresh at the beginning of each round offers several major benefits for granny squares:
- Prevents Seam Lean: Working continuously in the round often causes your beginning slip stitches or seams to slant sideways. Starting in a designated corner keeps your alignment straight.
- Crisp Colour Changes: It allows you to introduce new shades cleanly without awkward float lines or colour bleeding across rounds.
- Maintains Symmetry: Starting fresh in a specific location ensures that your stitch counts and geometric proportions remain perfectly balanced on all four sides.
Why Cotton and Wool Yarn Are Best
Using cotton or wool yarn yields the best results for granny squares. Cotton provides exceptional stitch definition, durability, and a crisp structure that holds its shape over time. Wool adds natural elasticity, bounce, and warmth, helping your stitches relax and fill out gaps evenly. Sticking to these natural fibres prevents your squares from stretching out or sagging.
Why Blocking Is Important
Blocking is an essential final step that relaxes the yarn fibres, flattens curled edges, and forces every granny square to match the exact same dimensions. Taking the time to block your pieces ensures that joining and seaming go smoothly, resulting in a polished and professional finished project.
Step-by-Step Instructions · Petal Pop Granny Square · Free Crochet Pattern
Diagram
Note: Change colours at the beginning of each new round where appropriate.
Foundation and Round 1 (Centre)
- Foundation: Using your centre colour, chain 5. Join with a slip stitch to the first chain to form a secure ring.
- Round 1: Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch). Work 8 single crochets directly into the centre ring. Join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet, and fasten off.
Round 2 (Petals)
- Reattach: Reattach your second colour in any stitch.
- Petal Sequence: Work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc) all into the same stitch.
- Transition: Slip stitch into the next stitch.
- Repeat: Repeat the petal sequence and slip stitch around the entire round to create 4 complete petals. Join with a slip stitch and fasten off.
Round 3
- First Corner: Reattach your yarn in the centre double crochet of any petal. Chain 3 (counts as your first double crochet) or make a standing double crochet. Work 2 double crochets, chain 1, and work 3 double crochets all into that same centre stitch to form your first corner.
- Side: Work 2 double crochets across the remaining stitches of the current petal. Work 1 long treble crochet down into Round 1, dropping behind the slip stitch from Round 2. Work 2 double crochets across the first stitches of the next petal.
- Next Corner: Work (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) into the centre double crochet of the next petal.
- Repeat: Continue the side and corner sequence around the square. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain.
- Don’t worry if your work starts to pucker or flare out at this point. The following rounds of granny clusters and blocking later will iron out any wonky bits.
- Fasten off and break yarn.
Round 4
- Reattach yarn in the next colour.
- Corner: Insert hook into any corner space and work a standing double crochet (or chain 3, which counts as your first double crochet). Work 2 double crochets, chain 1, and work 3 double crochets in the same corner space.
- Side: Chain 1, work 3 double crochets into the top of your extended treble crochet from the previous round, then chain 1.
- Repeat: Work the corner sequence in each corner space and the side sequence across each side around.
- Finish: Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning stitch, and slip stitch across to the next corner space to prepare for the final round. Fasten off and break yarn.
Round 5
- Reattach yarn in the next colour.
- Corner: Chain 3 (counts as your first double crochet) or make a standing double crochet. Work 2 double crochets, chain 1, and work 3 double crochets in the same corner space.
- Side: Work 3 double crochets in each space along the sides.
- Repeat: Work (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in each corner space and 3 double crochets in each side space around the entire square.
- Finish: Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain, fasten off your yarn, and weave in all remaining ends securely.
Finishing
- Block your square carefully and neatly until completely dry.
- Blocking is essential as it evens out stitches and helps your piece lie flat, making it easy to sew to other squares and giving a clean, sharp finish.
I cannot wait to see your Petal Pop Squares come to life! Be sure to share your gorgeous creations on Instagram, Pinterest, and your favourite crafting groups using the hashtags #GrannySquareDay and #PetalPopSquare, and don’t forget to follow and tag me on Instagram!
Happy crocheting!
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