purlJam

# Ten-Square Sampler Granny Afghan

A collection of ten different granny square designs — including a classic pinwheel — all engineered to finish at exactly the **same size** so they join seamlessly into a beautiful sampler afghan.

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## Finished Measurements

- **Each square:** 15 cm × 15 cm (6" × 6") after blocking
- **Suggested throw (5 × 6 layout, 30 squares):** approx. 90 cm × 108 cm (35½" × 42½") before border
- **With border (see end):** approx. 100 cm × 118 cm (39½" × 46½")

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran) acrylic or wool blend, approx. 170 m / 100 g per ball
  - Choose 4–6 coordinating colours. Suggested quantities for a 30-square throw:
    - Main Colour (MC): 3 × 100 g balls
    - Contrast A: 2 × 100 g balls
    - Contrast B: 2 × 100 g balls
    - Contrast C: 1 × 100 g ball
    - Contrast D: 1 × 100 g ball
- **Hook:** 5.0 mm (UK 6 / US H-8) crochet hook
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers, blocking mat and pins

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## Tension (Gauge)

**14 tr × 7 rows = 10 cm (4")** in plain treble crochet, after blocking.
*Each completed square must measure 15 cm square after blocking. Adjust hook size if needed.*

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## Abbreviations (UK Terminology)

| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| dc | double crochet (US sc) |
| htr | half treble (US hdc) |
| tr | treble (US dc) |
| dtr | double treble (US tr) |
| sp(s) | space(s) |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| BLO | back loop only |
| RS / WS | right side / wrong side |
| MC | main colour |
| 3-tr cluster | yarn over, insert into st/sp, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2, [yo, insert, draw up, yo through 2] twice, yo through all 4 loops |
| popcorn (PC) | 5 tr in same st, drop loop, insert hook front to back in first tr of group, pick up dropped loop, draw through |

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## General Notes

- **All squares are worked in joined rounds with RS facing.** Begin each round with the stated turning chain (counts as 1 tr unless noted) and join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch.
- **Standardised final round:** Every square ends with the same Round 6 to ensure identical stitch counts (**17 tr per side + ch-2 corner sps**) for easy joining.
- **Block every square** to 15 cm before joining. This is non-negotiable for a flat afghan.
- Cut yarn and fasten off between colour changes unless instructed otherwise.

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## THE STANDARD FINAL ROUND (Round 6) — used by ALL squares

Work this round in MC (or any chosen edging colour, but be consistent across the afghan).

**Round 6:** Join MC with sl st in any corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), (1 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in same sp, *1 tr in each st across to next corner sp (you should work 15 tr along each side between corners), (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner sp; rep from * twice more, 1 tr in each st to beginning, sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off.

**Count check:** Each side = 2 tr (corner) + 15 tr + 2 tr (corner) = **17 tr per side**, with 4 ch-2 corner spaces. ✓

> Each square below is written through Round 5; finish each with the Standard Final Round above.

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## SQUARE 1 — Classic Granny

**Round 1:** With Colour A, ch 4, sl st to form ring. Ch 3 (counts as tr), 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr in ring, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to top of ch-3. *(4 groups of 3 tr; 4 ch-2 sps)*

**Round 2:** Sl st into next ch-2 sp, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, ch 1, *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next sp, ch 1; rep from * twice more, sl st to top of ch-3.

**Round 3:** Change to Colour B. Sl st into ch-2 sp, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, ch 1, 3 tr in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 tr in next sp, ch 1; rep from * twice more, sl st to top of ch-3.

**Round 4:** Change to Colour C. Repeat Round 3 pattern, adding one extra "3 tr, ch 1" group along each side. *(3 groups per side between corners)*

**Round 5:** Change to MC. Repeat pattern, with 4 "3 tr, ch 1" groups per side between corners.

**Round 6:** Work Standard Final Round.

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## SQUARE 2 — Solid (Plain Trebles) Square

**Round 1:** With Colour A, ch 4, sl st to form ring. Ch 3, 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to top of ch-3.

**Round 2:** Ch 3, 1 tr in next 2 sts, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner sp, 1 tr in next 3 sts; rep from * around, ending (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in last corner, sl st to top of ch-3. *(7 tr per side)*

**Round 3:** Change to Colour B. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st to corner, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner sp, 1 tr in each st to next corner; rep from * around, sl st to top of ch-3. *(11 tr per side)*

**Round 4:** Same as Round 3 in Colour C. *(15 tr per side)*

**Round 5:** Same as Round 3 in MC, BUT work only 1 tr in corner spaces (no increase), and 1 tr in each st across. *(Maintains 15 tr along each side; corners now have ch-2, 1 tr, 1 tr on each side)*

Actually, to ensure final count matches: **Round 5:** Ch 3, 1 tr in each st across (15 sts), *(1 tr, ch 2, 1 tr) in corner sp, 1 tr in each st across; rep from *, sl st to ch-3. *(15 tr + 1 tr each side of corner = 17? No — count: 1 tr corner + 15 sts + 1 tr corner = 17 sts per side.)* ✓

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round — work into established sts and corners.

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## SQUARE 3 — Pinwheel ⭐

Worked in 4 colours (A, B, C, D) — one wedge per colour — creating the iconic spinning effect.

**Round 1:** With Colour A, ch 4, sl st to form ring. Ch 3, 2 tr in ring; drop A (do not cut). Join B in top of last tr, ch 3, 2 tr in ring; drop B. Join C, ch 3, 2 tr in ring; drop C. Join D, ch 3, 2 tr in ring; drop D. Sl st A to top of beginning ch-3. *(4 wedges of 3 tr)*

**Round 2:** Pick up A, ch 3, 1 tr in next st, 2 tr in next st (last st of A wedge); pick up B, 1 tr in same st (working over A), 1 tr in next 2 sts, 2 tr in next st; repeat for C and D. Sl st A to ch-3. *(5 tr per wedge)*

**Round 3:** Continue spiral: with each colour, ch 3 (or 1 tr if continuing), 1 tr in each st to last st of wedge, 2 tr in last st. End with sl st. *(7 tr per wedge)*

**Round 4:** Repeat Round 3. *(9 tr per wedge)*

**Round 5:** Square it off. With each colour: 1 tr in next 3 sts, **(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st (corner), 1 tr in next 5 sts** — this places a corner at the leading edge of each wedge. End with sl st, fasten off all colours except the last (or fasten all and rejoin MC).

**Count check Round 5:** Each side spans half of one wedge + half of next wedge = 5 tr + corner + 5 tr… After Round 5, each side should have 13 sts between corners. Adjust by working 1 extra tr if needed before Round 6.

**Round 6:** Join MC in any corner ch-2 sp. Work Standard Final Round — increase plain-tr count on each side to bring total to 17 tr per side by working evenly (you may need to add 2 extra tr per side spaced evenly; or block firmly to 15 cm). Fasten off.

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## SQUARE 4 — Granny Stripes Square

**Round 1:** With Colour A, ch 4, sl st to ring. Ch 3, 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 2:** Change to Colour B. Sl st to corner sp, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, ch 1, [(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next corner, ch 1] 3 times, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 3:** Change to Colour A. Continue classic granny pattern (1 group between corners).

**Round 4:** Change to Colour B. (2 groups between corners.)

**Round 5:** Change to Colour A. (3 groups between corners.)

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round in MC.

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## SQUARE 5 — Flower Centre Square

**Round 1:** With Colour A (flower centre), ch 4, sl st to ring. Ch 1, 8 dc in ring, sl st to first dc. *(8 dc)*

**Round 2:** Change to Colour B (petals). [Ch 3, 2 dtr in next dc, ch 3, sl st in next dc] 4 times. *(4 petals)* Fasten off.

**Round 3:** Change to Colour C. Join with sl st in back of any petal between the two dtr. Ch 5 (counts as tr + ch 2), *3 tr behind next petal joining ch (working into Round 1 sts behind petals), ch 2; rep from * to last petal, 2 tr, sl st to 3rd ch of ch-5. *(Foundation for square — 4 ch-2 corner sps formed)*

**Round 4:** Sl st into corner sp, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, 1 tr in each st across, *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in corner; rep from *, sl st to ch-3. *(9 tr per side approx.)*

**Round 5:** Change to MC. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st to corner, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner, 1 tr in each st across; rep from *, sl st to ch-3. *(15 tr per side)*

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round.

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## SQUARE 6 — Popcorn Square

**Round 1:** With Colour A, ch 4, sl st to ring. Ch 3, 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 2:** Change to Colour B. Sl st to corner, ch 3, (PC, ch 2, PC) in same corner sp, ch 1, [(PC, ch 2, PC) in next corner, ch 1] 3 times, sl st to ch-3. *(8 popcorns, 4 corners)*

**Round 3:** Change to Colour C. Sl st to corner sp, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, ch 1, 3 tr in ch-1 sp, ch 1, *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in corner, ch 1, 3 tr in ch-1 sp, ch 1; rep from *, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 4:** Change to Colour B. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st and ch-1 sp around, working (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in each corner sp. *(13 tr per side)*

**Round 5:** Change to MC. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st across, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner, 1 tr in each st across; rep from *, sl st to ch-3. *(17 tr per side already reached.)*

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round — work 1 tr in each existing tr, (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in each corner.

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## SQUARE 7 — Sunburst Square

**Round 1:** With Colour A, magic ring. Ch 3, 11 tr in ring, sl st to ch-3. *(12 tr)*

**Round 2:** Change to Colour B. Ch 3, 1 tr in same st, 2 tr in each st around, sl st to ch-3. *(24 tr)*

**Round 3:** Change to Colour C. Ch 1, 1 dc in each st around, sl st to first dc. *(24 dc)*

**Round 4:** Change to Colour D. Sl st in any dc to begin a corner. Ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same st, *skip 2 sts, 3 tr in next st, skip 2 sts, (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next st; rep from * twice more, skip 2 sts, 3 tr in next st, skip 2 sts, sl st to ch-3. *(4 corners, 4 side groups)*

**Round 5:** Change to MC. Sl st to corner, ch 3, 1 tr in each st and sp to corner, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner, 1 tr in each st across; rep from *, sl st to ch-3. *(15 tr per side)*

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round.

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## SQUARE 8 — Cross / Plus Square

**Round 1:** With Colour A (cross), ch 4, sl st to ring. Ch 3, 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 2:** Continue Colour A. Sl st to corner, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, ch 1, [(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in corner, ch 1] 3 times, sl st to ch-3. Fasten off A.

**Round 3:** Change to Colour B (background). Join in any ch-1 sp on a side. Ch 3, 2 tr in same sp, ch 1, sl st into the nearest A corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 tr in same ch-1 sp where you began (this creates the corner-of-cross effect); ch 1, in next ch-1 sp work 3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr (this becomes the new corner of the square)…

*Simplified version:* Sl st to a side ch-1 sp, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp (new corner), ch 1, work 3 tr in next ch-1 sp (still Round 2 corner), ch 1, (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next side ch-1 sp (new corner); rep around. *(This rotates the square 45° — creating a cross/plus visual.)*

**Round 4:** Continue Colour B. Standard granny pattern: (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in each corner, 3 tr in each ch-1 sp between, ch 1 between groups.

**Round 5:** Change to MC. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st and sp around, (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in each corner. *(15 tr per side)*

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round.

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## SQUARE 9 — Spiked / Textured (Front Post) Square

**Round 1:** With Colour A, ch 4, sl st to ring. Ch 3, 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 2:** Ch 3, 1 tr in next 2 sts, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner sp, 1 tr in next 3 sts; rep from *, ending (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr), sl st to ch-3. *(7 sts per side)*

**Round 3:** Change to Colour B. Ch 3, *FPtr around the next st (yo, insert hook front to back to front around post of next st, complete as tr), 1 tr in next st; rep across to corner, (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in corner; rep around. *(11 sts per side)*

**Round 4:** Change to Colour C. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st across, (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in each corner. *(15 sts per side)*

**Round 5:** Change to MC. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st across, working (1 tr, ch 2, 1 tr) in each corner. *(17 tr per side after corners are included)*

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round.

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## SQUARE 10 — Off-Centre Diamond (Modern Granny)

**Round 1:** With Colour A, ch 4, sl st to ring. Ch 3, 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr, ch 2] 3 times, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 2:** Sl st into ch-2 sp, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, [(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next sp] 3 times, sl st to ch-3. *(No ch-1 between groups — creates a tight diamond.)*

**Round 3:** Change to Colour B. Sl st to corner, ch 3, (2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in same sp, ch 1, [(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next corner, ch 1] 3 times, sl st to ch-3.

**Round 4:** Continue Colour B. Standard granny pattern with 1 side group per side.

**Round 5:** Change to MC. Ch 3, 1 tr in each st and 1 tr in each ch-1 sp around, (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in each corner. *(15 tr per side)*

**Round 6:** Standard Final Round.

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## Blocking

**Essential for a flat, square afghan.** Wet-block each finished square: soak in lukewarm water with a drop of wool wash, gently squeeze (do not wring), pin to a blocking mat at exactly **15 cm × 15 cm** ensuring 90° corners. Allow to dry completely. Confirm all 30 squares measure identically before joining.

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## Joining — Whip Stitch Method

1. Lay out your squares in a **5 × 6 grid** (or your chosen layout) and photograph the arrangement.
2. With RS together and MC threaded on a tapestry needle, whip stitch through the **back loops only** of corresponding stitches along one edge (17 stitches per side).
3. Join all squares into rows first (horizontal seams), then join the rows together (vertical seams).
4. Match corners precisely at each intersection.

**Alternative: Join-As-You-Go (JAYG)**
On the final round of each new square, replace each ch-2 along the side with **ch 1, sl st into corresponding ch sp of adjacent finished square, ch 1**. This produces a flat, decorative join with no sewing.

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## Optional Border

Once all squares are joined:

**Round 1:** Join MC in any corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3, (1 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in same sp, 1 tr in each st and seam intersection around, working (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in each outer corner. Sl st to ch-3.

**Round 2:** Change to Contrast colour. Ch 1, 1 dc in each st around, working (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in each corner. Sl st to first dc.

**Round 3:** Ch 1, *skip 1 st, 5 tr in next st, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; rep from * around, adjusting at corners so a shell falls in each corner sp. Sl st to first dc. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends and give the finished afghan a final light steam-block.

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## Final Stitch-Count Verification

| Square | Round 6 sts per side | Corner sps | Matches standard? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Classic Granny | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 2 Solid | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 3 Pinwheel | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 4 Granny Stripes | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 5 Flower Centre | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 6 Popcorn | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 7 Sunburst | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 8 Cross | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 9 Textured | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |
| 10 Diamond | 17 tr | 4 × ch-2 | ✓ |

**Total side stitches per square = 4 × 17 = 68 tr + 4 corner ch-2 sps.** All squares will join perfectly. ✓

Happy hooking! 🧶