I came out with the Crossways Granny Square when Debbie from MadameStitch invited me to join the Granny Stitch Sampler CAL.
This unusual granny square crochet pattern is made using cable stitches to create diagonal lines across the square’s corners. The design is based on the classic granny square pattern, but the result is a beautiful alternative granny square pattern.
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If you already mastered the classic granny square and love the look of it, but want to take your granny square crochet blanket to the next level, then you should definitely try out the Crossways Granny Square!
In this unusual granny square crochet pattern, the puffs and cables in this pattern create interesting diagonal lines from the center of the square.
If you want to crochet a granny square blanket with this pattern: you can either use this square pattern and keep enlarging it to make a big square. Or you can make as many squares as needed and join them together (I like to join with slip stitch through back loops).
Well, that’s a big question! There is a range of different granny square patterns, while the classic granny square pattern is made out of double crochet stitches and chains, there is also a solid granny square (without holes).
There are also many different granny square patterns that feature different stitches, such as lacey stitches, and granny squares with flowers in the middle. Even modern granny squares like my Iris in a Square pattern.
You can find more unusual granny square patterns on these round up posts:
20 Granny Square Patterns
18 Flower Granny Square Patterns
You can start a granny square in 3 different ways.
The first way and my favorite, is by making a magic ring, then chain 5 chains which count as 1 dc & ch-2 space, and start working into the ring. This method creates a tidy and tight center.
The second way is by working into a single chain. You start by chaining the beginning chains for the first round, plus 1 chain. Then work the first round into the first chain you made.
The third way to start a granny square, is by creating a loop of chain and working into that loop. But this will make the whole much more noticeable.
What is a CAL and How Does it Work?
CAL stands out for crochet along. It’s an event where different crocheters around the world are working together on a pattern at the same time.
The pattern is released in parts, over a period of time. The Granny Stitch sampler is a free crochet along that starts October 2023, where every Monday, Wednesday and Friday a new square is released and is available as a free pattern on the designer blog.
If you want to skip the blog hoping and work on the blanket at your own pace, you can purchase all 12 squares at a discounted price as a pattern bundle for only $12.99.
Gauge – Working rounds 1-4 will result in a 4” (10 cm) square.
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
FPdc–front post double crochet: Yo, insert hook from the front to the back and then to the front of the indicated stitch (working around the post), yo and pull up a loop, continue working as a regular double crochet.
FPtr–front post treble crochet: Yo twice, from the front to the back and then to the front of the indicated stitch (working around the post), yo and pull up a loop, (yo and pull through 2 loops) x twice, yo again and pull through 2 remaining loops.
puff – (yo, insert hook into indicated st/sp, yo and pull up a loop) x4times working into same st/sp, yo and pull through8loops, yo again and pull through2remaining loops.
sc – single crochet
sp – space
ss – slip stitch
st – stitch
yo – yarn over
** See photo tutorial for special stitches below
How to crochet the Front Post Double Crochet Around Puff St (FPdc)
Yo, insert hook from the front to the back and then to the front of the indicated stitch (working around the post), yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on the hook), yo again and pull through 2 remaining loops.
How to crochet the Front Post Treble Crochet (FPtr)
Yo twice, from the front to the back and then to the front of the indicated stitch (working around the post), yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops remain on the hook), yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on the hook), yo again and pull through 2 remaining loops.
Make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc & ch-2 sp here and throughout the pattern), working into the ring: (1 dc, 1 puff, 1 dc, ch 2) x 3 times, 1 dc, 1puff, ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. Pull the ring tight. (8 dc, 4 puff, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 2: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPdc in next puff, ch 1, 1 FPdc around the same puff you made the previous FPdc, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPdc in next puff, ch 1, 1 FPdc around the same puff you made the previous FPdc, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (16 dc, 8 FPdc, 4 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 3: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPdc (pic 2), ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp (between the 2 FPdc), ch 1, 1 FPtr in next FPdc, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPdc, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 1 FPtr in next FPdc, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (28 dc, 8 FPtr, 8 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 4: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (40 dc, 8 FPtr, 12 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
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Round 5: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x 3 times, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x 3 times, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (52 dc, 8 FPtr, 16 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 6: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x 4 times, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x 4 times, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (64 dc, 8 FPtr, 20 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 7: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, [1 dc, 1 puff, 1 dc] in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, [1 dc, 1 puff, 1 dc] in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (72 dc, 8 FPtr, 4 puff, 24 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 8: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, 1 FPdc in next puff, ch 1, 1 FPdc around the same puff you made the previous FPdc, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, 1 FPdc in next puff, ch 1, 1 FPdc aound the same puff you made the previous FPdc, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (80 dc, 8 FPtr, 8 FPdc, 28 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 9: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPdc, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp (between the 2 FPdc), ch 1, 1 FPtr in next FPdc, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPdc, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 1 FPtr in next FPdc, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (92 dc, 16 FPtr, 32 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Round 10: Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 5.
* 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x in each ch-1 sp until FPtr, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 2; Repeat from * 2 more times.
2 dc in same ch-2 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x in each ch-1 sp until FPtr,
1 FPtr in next FPtr, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) x twice, 1 FPtr in next FPtr, 1 dc in initial ch-2 sp (corner), ss to 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (104 dc, 16 FPtr, 36 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp)
Rounds 11-12: Repeat round 10. At this point your square should measure approx. 11.5” (29.21 cm) after blocking.
** Block your square before adding the border and measure it. If your square is smaller, keep working round 10, until you reach approx. 11.5” (29.21 cm).
If your square is bigger, frog 1 or 2 rounds to reach 11.5” (29.21 cm).
Continue to work the border.
Border For Granny Square
Ss into next ch-2 sp (corner), ch 1 (doesn’t count as a st), [1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc] in same ch-2 sp.
* Work 1 sc in each stitch and ch-1 sp until ch-2 sp (corner), [1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc] in next ch-2 sp (corner); Repeat from * 2 more times.
Work 1 sc in each stitch and ch-1 sp until beginning ch-1, ss to 1st sc. (196 sc, 4 ch-2 sp)
Fasten off, soak and block if needed.