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HodgePodge Crochet @hodgepodgecrochetcom.wordpress.com@hodgepodgecrochetcom.wordpress.com · 2026-07-09 · 08:00 UTC

Meet Your New Favorite Beginner Crochet Project: The Classic Granny Square

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to crochet but didn’t know where to begin, the Basic Granny Square is one of the best first projects you can make.

It’s simple, forgiving, relaxing, and teaches many of the foundational skills you’ll use in countless crochet projects. Best of all, by the time you’ve finished your first square, you’ll have learned techniques that can be used to make blankets, bags, scarves, pillows, garments, and so much more.

Why Start with a Granny Square?

There are hundreds of beginner crochet projects online, but the granny square has remained a favorite for generations—and for good reason.

As you work through the pattern, you’ll learn how to:

Create a starting ring
Make chain stitches
Work double crochet stitches
Form corners
Read a simple crochet pattern
Work in rounds
Finish and weave in your ends

Instead of learning just one stitch, you’re learning the building blocks of crochet itself.

Written for Absolute Beginners

Many crochet patterns claim to be beginner-friendly, but they’re often written for people who already know the language of crochet.

This pattern takes a different approach.

Every step is written in plain English with complete explanations instead of assuming you already know what to do. Rather than simply telling you to “work into the corner space,” the pattern explains exactly where that space is and why you’re working there.

Whether you’ve never held a crochet hook before or you’re returning after years away, you’ll be able to follow along with confidence.

A Video Tutorial at Your Fingertips

One of my favorite features of this updated pattern is the addition of a scannable QR code.

Simply scan the code with your phone, and you’ll be taken directly to the companion YouTube video tutorial. You can watch each step as you crochet, making it easy to pause, rewind, and work at your own pace.

It’s like having a crochet teacher sitting beside you whenever you need a little extra guidance.

Practice Without Pressure

One of the best things about granny squares is that they’re incredibly forgiving.

Made a mistake? Simply unravel a few stitches and try again.

Finished one square? Make another! Every square helps build your confidence, and you’ll quickly notice your stitches becoming more even and your tension improving.

Remember, nobody’s first granny square is perfect—and it doesn’t have to be.

What Can You Make?

Once you’ve mastered the basic granny square, the possibilities are almost endless.

Here are just a few ideas:

Cozy blankets
Pillow covers
Tote bags
Table runners
Coasters
Baby blankets
Cardigans
Shawls
Market bags
Wall hangings

It’s amazing how one simple square can become so many different projects.

A Few Beginner Tips

As you’re learning, keep these suggestions in mind:

Choose a light-colored yarn so your stitches are easier to see.
Cotton yarn is an excellent choice because it has great stitch definition.
Don’t rush. Crochet is meant to be relaxing.
Count your corners often—they’ll help you know you’re on the right track.
If you decide to make your square larger than five rounds, remember to turn your work after each round to help prevent the center from twisting.

Download the Free Pattern

If you’ve been looking for the perfect first crochet project, this is it.

The updated Basic Granny Square pattern includes:

Step-by-step written instructions
Beginner-friendly explanations
Helpful designer tips
A companion YouTube tutorial accessible with a scannable QR code
Ideas for turning your granny squares into future projects

Whether your goal is to make a cozy blanket or simply learn a new hobby, this pattern is designed to help you build confidence one stitch at a time.

So grab your favorite yarn, pick up a hook, and make your very first granny square. It just might be the beginning of a lifelong love of crochet.

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HodgePodge Crochet @hodgepodgecrochetcom.wordpress.com@hodgepodgecrochetcom.wordpress.com · 2026-06-13 · 08:00 UTC

Skull Granny Square Crochet Pattern

Few crochet motifs are as recognizable as the granny square.

Whether you’ve been crocheting for decades or picked up a hook last week, chances are you’ve encountered one. Granny squares have been used in blankets, clothing, bags, home décor, and just about every other crochet project imaginable. They’re simple, versatile, portable, and endlessly customizable.

But the granny square wasn’t always the colorful patchwork icon we know today.

A Brief History of the Granny Square

The origins of the granny square are somewhat debated, but crochet itself became increasingly popular during the nineteenth century. Early crochet publications featured motifs and lace designs, though the classic granny square as we recognize it today did not become widespread until much later.

By the 1970s, granny squares had exploded in popularity. Bright colors, scrap yarn projects, and handmade fashion were everywhere. Crochet enthusiasts began joining individual squares together to create afghans, vests, ponchos, purses, and even entire outfits.

One of the reasons granny squares became so beloved is their practicality. Small amounts of leftover yarn could be transformed into useful projects rather than being thrown away. The humble granny square quickly became one of the most accessible crochet motifs ever created.

The Evolution of the Granny Square

Over the years, crocheters have proven that a granny square can be much more than a simple cluster stitch design.

Today’s granny squares feature:

Flowers
Sunbursts
Animals
Seasonal themes
Geometric designs
Mandalas
Pop culture characters
Three-dimensional textures
Intricate colorwork

Modern crochet designers continue pushing the boundaries of what can fit inside a square.

Which brings us to skulls.

Why Skull Granny Squares?

Skulls have become surprisingly popular in the crochet world. While they are often associated with Halloween, many crocheters enjoy incorporating them into gothic, alternative, fantasy, and year-round spooky projects.

A skull motif adds personality and visual interest while still maintaining the practicality of a granny square. Once completed, skull squares can be joined together just like traditional motifs to create larger projects.

The result is something that feels both classic and modern at the same time.

Meet the Skull Granny Square

This Skull Granny Square combines a textured skull motif with decorative petal rounds and a traditional square finish.

The finished square measures approximately 5 inches and works up quickly, making it perfect for stash-busting projects or larger motif-based designs.

Use a single color for a dramatic silhouette or experiment with multiple colors to create a completely different look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S12ufbweIVU

Project Ideas

Not sure what to do with your Skull Granny Squares?

Try using them for:

Halloween blankets
Gothic afghans
Tote bags
Market bags
Pillows
Wall hangings
Table runners
Cardigans
Hooded scarves
Book sleeves
Decorative panels

Or simply make one square and enjoy the process. Sometimes that’s enough.

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HodgePodge Crochet @hodgepodgecrochetcom.wordpress.com@hodgepodgecrochetcom.wordpress.com · 2026-06-01 · 08:00 UTC

Why We Can’t Resist a Smiley Face (And Why I Turned One Into a Crochet Tote Bag)

Have you ever noticed that a smiley face can completely change your mood?

You can be having an average day, scrolling through your phone, running errands, or waiting in line at the grocery store, and then suddenly—there it is.

🙂

A simple smiley face.

For some reason, that little yellow circle with two eyes and a grin has the power to make us smile right back.

So when I started designing this crochet pattern, I knew exactly what I wanted to make: a tote bag covered in smiley faces.

The World’s Most Recognizable Face

Believe it or not, the classic smiley face has been around for more than 60 years.

In 1963, a commercial artist named Harvey Ball was asked to create a simple image to boost employee morale. He sketched a yellow circle with two dots and a smile in just a few minutes.

He was paid $45.

That’s it.

Today, that design is recognized around the world and has appeared on everything from T-shirts and coffee mugs to stickers, backpacks, and emojis.

Not bad for a doodle that took only a few minutes to draw!

Why Do Smiley Faces Make Us Happy?

Scientists have actually studied this.

Research suggests that seeing smiling faces can trigger positive emotional responses in our brains. Even a simple representation of a smile can influence mood and make us feel a little more optimistic.

In other words, your brain sees a smile and thinks:

“Well, things can’t be all bad.”

Honestly, I think we could all use a little more of that.

The Perfect Crochet Project

One of the things I love most about crochet is that it allows us to create useful items while still showing a little personality.

A tote bag is practical.

A smiley face tote bag is practical and impossible to ignore.

Whether you’re carrying yarn, books, groceries, beach supplies, or your latest crochet project, this bag brings a little fun wherever it goes.

And let’s be honest—people are probably going to ask where you got it.

Three Sizes for Every Adventure

I wanted this pattern to be as versatile as possible, so I included three different bag sizes:

Small Bag

Perfect for quick errands, lightweight projects, and everyday essentials.

Medium Bag

My personal favorite. Big enough to be useful without feeling bulky.

Large Bag

For yarn hauls, farmers market trips, beach days, and those moments when you swear you’re only buying one skein.

We all know how that usually goes.

Customize It Your Way

The pattern also includes:

Multiple square joining methods
Customizable handle lengths
Detailed assembly diagrams
Smiley face embroidery instructions
A recommended bag-lining tutorial

Because every crocheter likes to put their own spin on a project.

A Bag That Makes People Smile

At the end of the day, that’s really what this design is all about.

Crochet doesn’t always have to be serious.

Sometimes it’s okay to make something simply because it makes you happy.

And if it happens to make everyone else smile too?

That’s even better.

Ready to Make Your Own?

The Smiley Face Tote Bag pattern is now available in my Ravelry shop.

With three sizes included and endless possibilities for customization, you’ll be carrying a little handmade happiness wherever you go.

Happy crocheting!

❤️ Tanya
HodgePodge Crochet

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Dobviews @appagalcrochet · 2026-05-28 · 05:46 UTC

Daisy Blanket is finished. Really happy with the result.

Daisy Blanket

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Dobviews @[email protected] · 2026-05-28 · 05:46 UTC

Daisy Blanket is finished. Really happy with the result.

Daisy Blanket

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#fiberarts

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Dobviews @[email protected] · 2026-05-28 · 05:46 UTC

Daisy Blanket is finished. Really happy with the result.

Daisy Blanket

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#CrochetBlog
#fiberarts

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Dobviews @[email protected] · 2026-05-28 · 05:46 UTC

Daisy Blanket is finished. Really happy with the result.

Daisy Blanket

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#CrochetBlog
#fiberarts

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Dobviews @[email protected] · 2026-05-28 · 05:46 UTC

Daisy Blanket is finished. Really happy with the result.

Daisy Blanket

#crochet
#grannysquare
#grannysquareblanket
#daisycrochet
#CrochetBlog
#fiberarts

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Dobviews @appagalcrochet · 2026-05-26 · 16:59 UTC