Beautiful Crochet Evil Eye Granny Square

This striking evil eye granny square is a bold little motif that’s perfect for blankets, bags, and protective-themed projects.

The Evil Eye Granny Square is a colorful and unique crochet creation. This pattern stands out for its bright, layered design shaped like an “evil eye,” a popular symbol believed to bring protection and good luck around the world. It’s not just visually striking; it’s versatile too! You can turn this design into blankets, bags, pillows, or even stylish decor for your home or personal space.

Evil Eye Granny Square – Crochet Pattern

Once your Crochet Evil Eye is complete, you can gently stretch it on a foam board or a piece of cardboard, and sprinkle a little water on it to keep its shape. This will help your squares to look neat and even. You can then use these granny squares to create a variety of designs that can brighten up any room or wardrobe. It’s a great way to practice your crochet skills and make something special at the same time.

Credit Hook & Loop Crochet Tutorials

Key Features and Construction Summary:

This striking evil eye granny square is a bold little motif that’s perfect for blankets, bags, and protective-themed patterns .

• Worked from the center out, starting with a magic ring and building concentric circles for the “eye.”
• Uses four colors of 100% cotton yarn and a small (2 mm) hook for a crisp, defined look
• Builds the pupil and iris with rounds of double crochet and half double crochet in the round
• Expands into a larger eye shape using treble crochet for a smooth, flat circle
• Transitions from circle to square with strategic stitch changes and corner increases
• Finished with a simple single crochet border and an optional blocking step to neaten and stretch the square
• Ideal for assembling into bags, blankets, afghans, or any evil-eye-inspired decor

The Evil Eye Granny Square:

This square begins right at the center of the eye with a magic ring, worked in your first color to form the pupil. You’ll chain up and work double crochets into the ring, closing the round with a slip stitch to create a neat, dense circle. This gives the middle of the evil eye a solid, bold look that really pops against the surrounding colors. The magic ring also helps the center close tightly, so there’s no hole in the middle.

Next, you’ll switch to your second color using a standing double crochet, which keeps the color change clean and seamless. This round is all about increasing evenly with double crochet stitches in each stitch around, doubling your stitch count to keep the circle flat. The use of standing stitches instead of chaining up adds a professional finish and avoids that little “step” you sometimes see at the start of a new round.

The third and fourth rounds continue building the eye with your third and fourth colors. In round three, you move into half double crochet, working a gentle increase pattern that keeps the motif smooth while subtly changing texture. Then, in round four, you switch to treble crochet and increase again to get a larger, airy circle that will become the foundation for the square shape. These taller stitches help the “eye” open up visually and give you enough size to form a well-proportioned granny square.

After the circular eye is complete, you’ll transform it into a square. Using the third color again (or another color of your choice), you establish the four corners with sets of double crochet stitches separated by chain spaces, and fill in the sides with a mix of double crochet, half double crochet, and single crochet. This gradual shift in stitch height is what turns the round eye into a square without warping or bumping. Subsequent rounds build on this square shape: first with double crochet corners and straight sides, then with half double crochet to add a softer, slightly denser outer band.

To finish, you’ll add a final round in your fourth color, working single crochet stitches all the way around with simple chain-1 corners. This creates a clean, polished border that frames the evil eye nicely. The designer recommends stretching and lightly blocking the squares—pinning them to foam board or cardboard and spritzing with water—so they dry flat and even. Once blocked, these evil eye granny squares are ready to be joined into bags, blankets, afghans, or any pattern where you want a bold, protective motif.

Video Tutorial

Step-by-Step Pattern

Materials

To create the Evil Eye Granny Square, you’ll need the following:

• Yarn: 100% cotton yarn in four colors of your choice (e.g., white, black, blue, and a contrasting color for the outer border). Cotton yarn is recommended for its durability and neat finish.
• Crochet Hook: Size 2 mm crochet hook (adjust based on the yarn thickness and your tension).
• Scissors: For cutting yarn.
• Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends.
• Foam Board or Cardboard (optional): For stretching and blocking the square.

Pattern Instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions to create the Evil Eye Granny Square:

The Evil Eye

Round 1

• Begin with a magic ring.
• Chain 3 (counts as 1 double crochet).
• Crochet 11 double crochets (dc) into the ring (12 dc total, including the chain 3).
• Slip stitch into the top of the chain 3 to close the round. Pull the ring tightly and cut the yarn.

Round 2

• Attach the second color yarn with a slip knot.
• Crochet a standing double crochet (dc) into one of the stitches.
• Work 1 more double crochet into the same stitch (increase).
• Continue working 2 dc into each stitch around (24 dc total).
• Slip stitch into the top of the last stitch to close the round. Weave in tails.

Round 3

• Attach the third color with a slip knot and work 1 standing half double crochet (hdc).
• Increase by crocheting 1 hdc, then 2 hdc in the next stitch (alternate as 1, 2, 1, 2).
• Continue the pattern until you have 36 hdc total. Slip stitch at the end and weave in the tails.

Round 4

• Attach the fourth color using a slip knot and crochet 1 standing treble crochet (tr) followed by 1 treble crochet (increase).
• Alternate as 1 tr, 1 tr, 2 tr, working all the way around (48 tr total).
• Slip stitch to close the round. Weave in the tails.

The Square

Round 5

• Switch back to the third color (or any yarn color of your choice).
• Create the first corner: Crochet 1 standing double crochet, chain 3, and work 2 double crochets into the same stitch.
• Work the following sequence: 1 dc, 1 hdc, 7 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc.
• Create the next corner: Crochet 2 dc, chain 3, 2 dc into the corner stitch.
• Continue this pattern all around. Slip stitch at the end to finish the round.

Round 6

• Slip stitch into the next stitch and another into the space.
• Create the first corner: Chain 3 (counts as 1 double crochet), work 1 dc, chain 3, and crochet 2 dc into the corner space.
• Crochet 1 dc into each stitch.
• Repeat the corner pattern (2 dc, chain 3, 2 dc) and continue around. Slip stitch at the end.

Round 7

• Slip stitch into the next stitch and into the space.
• Create the first corner: Chain 2 (counts as 1 half double crochet), work 1 hdc, chain 2, and crochet 2 hdc into the corner.
• Crochet 1 hdc into each stitch, working the corner (2 hdc, chain 2, 2 hdc) on each turn.
• Slip stitch, chain 1, and cut the yarn.

Round 8

• Attach a fourth color (or any yarn color of your choice).
• Create the first corner: Work 1 single crochet into the space, chain 1, and crochet another single crochet.
• Crochet 1 single crochet into each stitch around, forming the corners as before.
• To finish: Cut the tail, pull it through, and work one seamless stitch to secure the edge. Weave in the tails.

Finishing Touches

1. Stretch the square to ensure it lays flat and evenly. Use a foam board or cardboard for blocking.
2. Lightly spray the square with water to set the shape. Allow it to dry completely.
3. Your Evil Eye Granny Square is now ready to use! Combine multiple squares to create larger pattern like bags, blankets, or wall art.

Pattern Question:

Question: Can I adjust the size of the Evil Eye Granny Square for different patterns?

Answer: Yes! To adjust the size, you can use heavier or lighter yarn with corresponding hook sizes, or add border rounds to make your square larger.

Troubleshooting and Suggestions

• Wavy or curling circle: If your circle ruffles, you may be adding extra stitches; recount each round to match the intended totals (12, 24, 36, 48). If it cups or curls, you may be crocheting too tightly—try loosening your tension slightly.
• Messy color changes: Use standing stitches (standing dc, standing hdc, standing tr) as shown in the pattern instead of chaining up; this helps avoid gaps. Weave in ends securely on the wrong side as you go to keep the back neat.
• Uneven corners or wonky square: Make sure your corner formula (stitches + chain space + stitches) is consistent on every corner. If your square pulls in at the corners, check you’re not skipping stitches right after the corner cluster.
• Gaps between stitches: With a small 2 mm hook and cotton yarn, tension matters. Aim for even, moderate tension—too tight will make it stiff; too loose will leave visible holes.

Creative modifications:

• Color play: Try a classic evil eye look with black (pupil), royal blue, light blue, and white, or invert the colors for a more modern twist. You can also go completely non-traditional with neon or pastel “eyes.”
• Embellishments: Add a round of surface slip stitch around one of the circles for extra definition, or lightly embroider eyelashes on one side of the square for a whimsical touch.
• Different yarn weights: While the original uses 100% cotton and a 2 mm hook, you can scale up with DK or worsted yarn and a larger hook to make bigger squares for throws or cushion covers.
• pattern ideas: Join multiple squares for a statement afghan, line and assemble them into a tote or pouch, or use a single square as a coaster, wall hanging, or applique on a bag or jacket.