Strawberry Granny Square Blanket

Easy Worsted-Weight Crochet Pattern

Finished Square Size: 5 × 5 inches (12.5 × 12.5 cm)
Difficulty: Easy
Construction: Individual granny squares joined after completion (or join-as-you-go). Optional border.

Description

A cheerful blanket made of classic granny squares featuring a sweet strawberry motif in the center. Each square begins with a round red berry, simple green leafy top, and is squared off with cream granny rounds. Perfect for beginners comfortable with double crochet and color changes. Make as many squares as desired and join.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) acrylic or cotton
  – Color A (Berry Red): approx 15 yd (14 m) per square
  – Color B (Leaf Green): approx 8 yd (7 m) per square
  – Color C (Cream/White): approx 20 yd (18 m) per square
  – Color D (Seed Yellow or Black): small amount for embroidery
  (Example throw 30" × 40" / 76 × 102 cm uses 48 squares: ~720 yd A, ~385 yd B, ~960 yd C)
• Hook: US H/8 (5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers (optional)

Gauge

One finished square = 5" × 5" (12.5 × 12.5 cm) after light blocking.
Work a swatch square; adjust hook up or down if your square measures differently.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• beg – beginning
• rep – repeat
• FO – fasten off
• MR – magic ring (or ch 4 and join)

Notes

• Squares are worked in joined rounds, right side always facing.
• Ch 3 at start of dc round counts as first dc.
• Change colors on the last yarn-over of the final stitch of the old color.
• Weave in ends as you go for neater finishing.
• Block squares lightly before joining for best 5" accuracy.

Strawberry Granny Square (make any number)

With Color A (Red):
Rnd 1: Make MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 7 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (8 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join. (16 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around, join. (24 dc)
FO Color A.

With Color B (Green) – Leaf Top:
Join Color B with sl st in any st.
Rnd 4 (leaves): *Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, dc) in same st (leaf point made), ch 3, sl st in next st, sl st in next st; rep from * 7 more times (8 leaves), join with sl st to first sl st. (8 leaves)
FO Color B.
(Note: Leaves sit on the upper half of the berry; arrange so 3–4 leaves cluster toward what will be the “top” of the strawberry when squared.)

With Color C (Cream) – Square Off:
Join Color C with sl st in any ch-2 sp of a leaf.
Rnd 5: Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-2 sp (first corner), ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1,* (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp (corner); rep from * twice more, then rep from * to ** once, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
(4 corners of 3 dc + ch-2 + 3 dc; 8 side groups of 3 dc; total 12 groups of 3 dc = 36 dc + 4 ch-2 sps)
Stitch-count check: 4 corners × 6 dc = 24 dc + 8 side × 3 dc = 24 dc → 48 dc + ch sps. Perimeter ready for next round.

Rnd 6 (final): Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp, dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, dc in each of next 3 dc; rep from * around, omitting last 3 dc on final rep, join.
(Each side now has 3 groups of dc separated by ch-1; corners solid.)
FO Color C.
Finished square measures 5" × 5".

Seeds (optional embroidery): With Color D and yarn needle, make 8–12 small straight stitches or French knots scattered on the red berry for seeds.

Joining Squares

Method 1 – Whip Stitch (recommended for beginners):
Block all squares. Hold two squares with right sides together (or wrong sides for a ridge). With Color C and yarn needle, whip-stitch through back loops only along one edge. Join in strips, then join strips together.

Method 2 – Join-As-You-Go (JAYG):
On final round (Rnd 6) of each new square, when working a side, replace each ch-1 with a sl st into the corresponding ch-1 or corner of the adjacent finished square. At corners, sl st into the corner ch-2 sp of the neighboring square before completing the (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc). Work first square completely; subsequent squares join on one or more sides as needed.

Optional Border

Join Color C (or contrasting color) in any corner ch-2 sp of the assembled blanket.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in each st and ch-1 sp across to next corner,* (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, join.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each dc around, working 3 sc in each corner ch-2 sp, join.
FO. Weave in all ends.

Finishing

Weave in remaining ends. Block blanket gently to measurements.

Example Sizes (before border):

• Baby lovey: 4 squares (2×2) ≈ 10" × 10"
• Small throw: 48 squares (6×8) ≈ 30" × 40"
• Lapghan: 64 squares (8×8) ≈ 40" × 40"

Enjoy your strawberry patch blanket!