This is a cozy, customizable granny square cardigan made of beautifully patterned squares, assembled into a functional, warm layering piece with stylish ribbed edging and buttons.
A granny square cardigan is the perfect blend of cozy comfort and timeless style. Made by joining colorful crochet squares, this crochet cardigan stands out with its beautiful patterns. It’s ideal for chilly days when you want to stay warm but also look fashionable. Plus, it’s customizable; you can play with different colors to make it uniquely yours. If you’re staying in with a good book or heading out, this Crochet granny square cardigan will be your favorite go-to layer.
Crochet Granny Square Cardigan Tutorial
The process of making this crochet cardigan is simple and fun, even for beginners. All it takes is some yarn, a crochet hook, and a love for creating. You’ll start with square motifs, gradually joining them to form the body of the cardigan. The edges are finished off with a ribbed border, giving it a clean and polished look. With its soft, warm yarn and classic design, this Crochet granny square cardigan combines beauty and practicality seamlessly. Give it a try, you’ll adore the results.
Credit: Leonela Cevallos
Key Features & Construction Summary:
- Uses Drops Nepal (or similar worsted weight yarn) and a 5 mm crochet hook for a soft, warm fabric.
- Begins with floral granny squares worked in the round: magic ring, double crochets, and treble clusters forming petals.
- Squares are turned into classic grannies with corners using half double crochets and double crochets, then squared off with a final round.
- Dozens of identical squares are joined with single crochet seams to form the back panel and two front panels.
- Sleeves are built from square panels, then extended with a row of double crochets for extra width before attaching.
- The cardigan is seamed at the shoulders, sides, and underarms using whip stitch and single crochet joins.
- Front bands and neckline are finished with ribbed post-stitch edging (front post and back post double crochet), with built‑in buttonholes.
- Cuffs and bottom hem are shaped with double crochet two-together decreases and ribbing for a neat, fitted look.
- Buttons are added along one front band, using the spaces between rib stitches as natural buttonholes.
How To Make:
The cardigan starts with decorative granny squares that feature a floral center. You work a magic ring and fill it with 12 double crochets, then switch to a contrasting color to build the flower petals using treble clusters (treble three together) separated by chain spaces. This creates a pretty, raised flower motif at the center of each square. A third color frames the flower and transforms the circle into a square: you work sets of half double crochets along the sides and double crochet groups with chain-2 spaces at the corners to form the classic granny square shape. A final round of double crochets, with gentle corner shaping, finishes each square.
Once all your squares are made (54 for the medium size), you lay them out to form the back panel and two front panels. The back is arranged in five rows by four columns; each front panel uses two rows by four columns. The squares are first joined horizontally: placed right sides together, they’re joined with single crochet worked through both layers, including into the chain spaces and across 16 stitches per side. Then you rotate the piece and repeat the same joining method vertically, working single crochet along each column and adding a chain when you cross a square junction. This gives a tidy, flat join on the right side and a subtle ridge that frames each granny.
The sleeves are built from their own panels of squares, then refined for a better fit. Along the vertical edges of each sleeve panel, you add a row of double crochets in the joining color to increase the width and achieve the correct sleeve circumference. These sleeve pieces are folded to find the center and are matched to the shoulder seam of the body, right sides together. They’re sewn on with a whip stitch using a yarn needle. After that, the cardigan is folded along the shoulders, and the sides and underarms are joined with single crochet worked through both layers, which adds a little structure and durability to the seams.
With the main body assembled, you move on to the edging and neckline. Starting at the bottom corner of one front panel, you work up the front edge, around the neck, and down the other side using double crochets into each stitch, chain space, and join between squares. Stitch markers are used at the top of the fronts to mark the neckline area: there, the pattern switches to half double crochets and single crochets to gently shape and soften the neck. On subsequent rows, you turn this band into a ribbed edge using alternating front post and back post double crochet stitches. The neckline portion retains its half double and single crochet sections for comfort and shaping, while the rest of the band forms a stretchy rib. This ribbing is repeated for several rows, and the natural gaps between post stitches are used as buttonholes, so no extra buttonhole rows are needed.
To finish the cardigan, the cuffs and bottom hem get matching ribbed details. At the sleeve opening, you first work a round of double crochet two together (dc2tog) across the edge to gently decrease and draw the cuff in. Then you work multiple rounds of alternating front post and back post double crochets to form a snug, stretchy ribbed cuff. Along the bottom edge of the cardigan, with the right side facing, you attach the yarn and work the same post-stitch ribbing pattern for several rows, creating a cohesive, polished border that matches the front bands and cuffs. The last step is sewing on buttons along the left front ribbing, up to chest height, which creates a flattering V-neck when the cardigan is buttoned.
Video Tutorial
Step-by-Step Pattern
Materials
To make your granny square cardigan, gather the following:
- Yarn: Use a mix of wool and alpaca for warmth. The tutorial features Nepo by Drops yarn in 3 shades, with 75 meters per 50g skein.
- Crochet Hook: 5 mm crochet hook.
- Tools:
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Pair of scissors
Pattern Instructions
Step 1: Crochet Round Square #1
- Foundation Round:
- Begin with a magic ring and work 2 chains (do not count as a stitch).
- Crochet 12 double crochets (dc) into the ring.
- Pull the tail to close the ring and work a slip stitch into the first double crochet. Cut the yarn.
- Round 2:
- Attach a second yarn color (e.g., white).
- Start with 3 chains (count as part of the first treble three together).
- Create 12 treble three together stitches, separated by 2 chains, to form petals of a flower.
- Slip stitch into the first treble three together to close the round and cut yarn.
- Round 3:
- Attach pink yarn to any chain space.
- Work 3 double crochets into the space, followed by 3 half double crochets into remaining chain spaces.
- Create corner spaces at every fourth chain space by crocheting 3 double crochets, 2 chains, 3 double crochets into the same chain space.
- At the end of the round, secure the square with a slip stitch and cut yarn after completing four sides and corners.
Step 2: Assemble Squares to Form Panels
- Make 54 squares for medium size.
- Layout your squares:
- Back Panel: 5 rows of 4 squares.
- Front Panels: 2 rows of 4 squares for each side.
- Horizontal Assembly:
- Place two squares with the right sides together.
- Use the pink yarn to attach squares with single crochet stitches worked into paired stitches.
- Repeat for all rows.
- Vertical Assembly:
- Rotate your layout and repeat the process to join columns.
Step 3: Attach Sleeves
- Fold the sleeve panel (columns of squares) in half.
- Locate the center top edge and align it with the shoulder seam.
- Use whip stitches with a tapestry needle to sew together sleeves and body panels.
- Fold the cardigan along the shoulder edge and join side seams using single crochet stitches to form the underarm and sides.
Step 4: Add the Border and Neckline
- Attach pink yarn to the bottom edge.
- Work a row of front post double crochets (fpdc) followed by back post double crochets (bpdc) to create a ribbed effect.
- Continue for five rows.
- Insert five buttons along the left side rib. Use ribbing spaces as buttonholes for convenience.
Step 5: Create Sleeves Cuffs
- Attach yarn to the sleeve edges and work double crochet two together stitches to decrease the size of the cuff.
- Follow with front post/back post double crochet ribbing for six rows.
Step 6: Weave Ends & Final Touches
- Weave in all yarn ends for a clean finish.
- Add additional decorations like embroidery or tassels if desired.
Pattern Question:
Q: How many squares are needed to make the cardigan for a medium size?
A: You will need 54 squares (5 rows of 4 columns for the back and 2 rows of 4 columns for each front panel).
Troubleshooting and Suggestions
- Uneven squares or wavy edges
If your squares are curling or wavy, check your tension and hook size. Too tight? Go up a hook size. Try blocking a test square to see how it relaxes. Make sure you have 12 petals and the correct number of stitches along each side before joining. - Messy color changes and lots of ends
The tutorial cleverly crochets over yarn tails as you go—try to follow that habit. When changing colors for the flower center or square rounds, secure your new yarn with a small knot if you’re worried about unraveling, then work over the tails for at least a few stitches. This will drastically cut down on weaving in later. - Lumpy or twisted joins between squares
Always place squares right sides together and line up corners and stitches before joining. Count your single crochets (16 per side plus chain-space stitches) to keep the joins even. If a join looks twisted, it’s usually because the squares were oriented differently—double-check direction before fastening off. - Ribbing that’s too tight or too loose
Front post/back post stitches can tighten your tension. If the ribbing pulls in too much or flares, adjust your hook size just for the ribbing (up or down one size) or relax your tension. Keep an eye on your edges so you don’t accidentally skip the first or last post stitch in each row. - Cuffs or neckline feeling too snug
For looser cuffs, work fewer decreases (dc2tog) or add an extra plain round of double crochet before starting the ribbing. At the neckline, if it feels tight, you can work more half double crochets and fewer single crochets, or avoid tightening your tension around the neck area.
Creative Modifications:
- Color play:
Use one color for all flower centers, a second for petals, and a third for the square frame as in the tutorial, or try a “scrappy” look with different petal colors in every square. A monochrome version (all one color) will show off the texture of the petals and ribbing beautifully. - Edging variations:
Add a final round of crab stitch (reverse single crochet) around the bottom edge or cuffs for a decorative rope-like finish. You can also widen the front rib band by adding extra rows for a more dramatic collar. - Length and shape:
Add extra rows of squares at the bottom for a longer, coat-style cardigan, or remove a row for a cropped look. Slightly reducing the decreases on the cuffs will create a more relaxed, slouchy sleeve. - Embellishments:
Choose statement buttons (wooden, metal, or colorful) to change the vibe of the cardigan. You could also lightly embroider over some of the flower centers or around the petals for a unique, hand-finished touch.
