Granny Square Join-As-You-Go ::Tutorial::

Hello friends! Today I’m excited to share a tutorial with you that will make granny square blankets a little easier and faster to make.

I am not a fan of sewing. I can not remember the last time I seemed something together by sewing. Even my Emoji Blanket was joined with slip stitches.

So this tutorial is going to walk you through how to join your granny squares together as you work. It’s really easy once you get the hang of it!

First you need to gather your granny squares and the yarn you chose for your border. You can get my granny square pattern HERE.

I am going to show you how to join after having a row already completed. Once you learn this, you will understand how to join your first squares together. Again this is easy once you understand the idea.

Next I like to lay out the order I would like the squares in. When joining your squares, you will work your squares from left to right.

Let’s get started!

-At the beginning of your blanket,  you need to choose your first square. Grab your border color and we are going to start the border of the square.

-The border around the first square of your whole blanket will be made just like the last round of the granny square pattern. After this square, you will be joining onto the squares as you go.

First, start with a slip stitch on your hook. (You can decided how you want to join your yarn but this is how I like to do it.)

In the top right corner (chain 2 space) of your square, make a slip stitch

Chain 3

Now you will make a corner, just like the pattern.

work 2 dc’s, chain 2  (Ch 3 counts as first dc)

Make 3dc’s in same space. You have now made the first corner. Chain 1

In next Ch 1 space, make 3 dc’s

Do this all of the way along the top of your square.

In the next corner ch 2 space, make 3 dc’s, ch 2, 3 dc’s

Chain 1

Work along the next side of your square until you get to the next corner. This is where we will be joining your square.

For the next corner, work 3 dc’s then STOP

Instead of chaining 2 here, you will instead slip stitch into the corner (ch 2 space) of the square you are joining to.

I like to put my hook in through the top of the stitch to join but you can do whichever you are comfortable with.

Make a slip stitch

Next you need to finish the corner.

Chain 1, work 3 dc’s in same corner you are working in.

What you have done is replaced one of your chains for a slip stitch.

Now we are joining this whole side to the square below.

Instead of a ch 1 after your corner made, you will slip stitch into the ch 1 space of the joining square.

After the slip stitch, work your 3 dc’s into ch 1 space of the unfinished square.

Slip stitch in to the next ch 1 space of the joining square, work 3 dc’s in next ch 1 of unfinished square.

Do this all of the way across.

When you get to the next corner, you will work your 3 dc’s in the ch 2 space. Do not chain.

Slip stitch into the ch 2 space of the joining square.

Then chain 1, make 3 dc’s to finish the corner of the unfinished square.

Chain 1

Now finish the last side of the square using the pattern of 3 dc’s, ch 1 in each ch 1 space.

Slip Stitch into the top chain of the beginning ch 3

Your first square is complete! What do you think? Easy? Or is your head spinning?

You are doing the same pattern all of the way around for each square. You just have to pay attention to when and where you are joining. When you are joining the squares together, you will do a slip stitch into the previous square instead of a chain 1. I promise it’s simple once you get the hang of it. Just think ahead and get used to the pattern.

Let’s join another square!

Remember if you are right handed, you will be working counter clockwise. You will now be joining two sides together.

Go ahead and start the border of your next square

Join yarn with a slip stitch in top right corner. Ch 3, 2 dc’s, ch 2, 3 dc’s all in your corner stitch. Chain 1

Then work along the top doing 3 dc’s, ch 1 in each space.

Now we will join in the top left corner of your square.

In the corner make 3 dc’s. Don’t chain, instead slip stitch into the corner (ch 2 space) of the square you are joining to. Chain 1, finish the corner with 3 dc’s.

Work along the left side now. Instead of chain 1, slip stitch into the ch 1 space of the square you are joining to. Then 3 dc’s in next ch 1 space of the unfinished square.

Do this all of the way down until you get to next the corner

Now we will join the corner. This will be slightly different because we are joining to two corners this time.

In the corner of the unfinished square, make 3 dc’s. Do not chain

Instead of chaining, we will be doing a slip stitch into the current square we are joining to AND into the next square we are joining to. You will not slip stitch into the square kiddy corner from your unfinished square. 

Take a look at this picture

So make a slip stitch into the first square you are joining to. Insert you hook into the ch 2 space and make a slip stitch.

Now make a slip stitch into the next corner of the square you will be joining with

Those two slip stitches have now replaced the ch 2 for your corner.

Finish your corner by doing 3 dc’s

You are now joining along the square below. Do the same pattern across as the previous rounds. Slip stitch into ch 1 space of joining square, 3 dc’s in ch 1 space of the unfinished square.

When you get to the next corner, this is just like the first square we joined. You start your corner stitch of 3 dc’s. Slip stitch into the ch 2 space of the joining square. Chain 1 and finish your corner with 3 dc’s.

Chain 1

Finish your pattern across the last side. Making 3 dc’s, ch 1 in each space.

Slip stitch into the top of the beginning ch 3. Finish off

There you have it! Another square joined without having to sew. What do you think?

I know this tutorial is a bit wordy but try to take the time to step back and see how simple it is.

This can be done with most basic granny square patterns. You can use my Granny Square Tutorial HERE or use your own.

I hope you like this tutorial! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me a message (Go to “Contact” on the top menu of the blog)

Happy Crocheting

-Mary