How to crochet a loose granny square (easy step-by-step turials)

What is a loose granny square?

A loose granny square is a classic crochet square worked with relaxed tension to create an open, airy fabric. Unlike tightly stitched squares, a looser approach gives your work more drape and flexibility, making it ideal for blankets, garments, and lightweight accessories.

In this easy step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to crochet a loose granny square, how to maintain even tension, and how to shape clean corners without pulling your stitches too tight. This guide is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to achieve a softer, more relaxed granny square finish.

Step by step instructions

Materials you’ll need

• Yarn: DK (light worsted) yarn
  I recommend using a smooth, light-coloured yarn when learning this stitch, as it helps the texture stand out clearly. DK yarn works particularly well for practice swatches, scarves, and blankets. I can recommend West Yorkshire Spinners for this tutorial as it shows the texture clearly.
• Crochet hook: 4.0 mm
  I used a 4.0 mm hook for this tutorial. Ergonomic hooks like Tulip Etimo crochet hook are especially helpful for textured stitches like this one, as they keep your tension even and reduce hand fatigue during longer sessions.
• Scissors
  For cutting yarn neatly at the end of your work.
• Yarn needle
  To weave in your ends once your swatch or project is complete.

Tip: If you tend to crochet tightly or loosely, don’t be afraid to adjust your hook size slightly to achieve a fabric you’re happy with.

To crochet the overlapping shell stitch, you don’t need a specific brand of yarn. A smooth DK yarn works best, as it helps the texture and stitch definition stand out clearly.

Yarn options:

• UK gentle readers: A beginner-friendly DK yarn from Laughing Hen
• International readers: A wide colour selection of DK yarns from LoveCrafts

Crochet skills required

Crochet stitches standard: I am using the US / International standard crochet terms.

This stitch is suitable for confident beginners and above. Before starting, it helps to be comfortable with the following basic crochet skills:

• How to make a slipknot (youtube video)
• How to crochet a foundation chains
• How to crochet the double crochet stitch 

Let’s get started

Tension is very important, the yarn must be able to glide smoothly from your tension hand to the working hand, not too tight not too lose and follow the gauge of your hook.

Foundation Ring:

Start off with a slipknot, ch 4, sl st into the first chain to make a ring.

You can choose to use the open loop ring (also known as magic ring), it will also work as well.

Round 1:

• ch 3, this count as 1 dc. (dc into the ring) twice, ch 2.
• (dc 3, ch 2) into the ring 3 more times.
• sl st into the 3rd ch at the beginning of the round.

Round Check: You should have 12 dc and 4 (ch 2) chain spaces in total for this round.

Round 2:

• (sl st into the next dc) twice.
• sc into the next chain space, ch 3, sc into the same chain space, ch 3.
• Repeat the anchor item 3 more times.
• sl st into the first sc at the beginning of the round.

Round Check: You should have 8 chain spaces in total for this round

Round 3:

• sl st into the next corner ch space.
• sl st into the next ch space.
• ch 3 (count as 1 dc), dc 2 into the same ch space. ch 2. dc 3 into the same space. dc 3 into the next ch space.
• (dc 3, ch 2, dc 3) into the next corner ch space. dc 3 into the next ch space.
• Repeat the anchor item 2 more times
• sl st into the third chain at the beginning of this round

ound Check: Each corner should have (dc 3, ch2, dc 3) stitches and each side with (3 dc) for this round.

Round 4:

• ch 1, sc into the same stitch, ch 3.
• sc into the next corner ch space, ch3, sc into the same ch space.
• (ch 3, skip 3 dc, sc into the next gap) twice, ch 3.
• Repeat the (anchor and star items) twice.
• Repeat the anchor item one more time.
• ch 3, skip 3 dc, sc into the next gap, ch 3.
• sl st into the first sc at the beginning of this round

Round Check: You should have 4 corner chain spaces Each side should have 3 (ch 3) chain spaces for this round.

Round 5:

• sl st into the next ch space
• ch 3 (count as 1 dc), (dc into the next stitch) twice.
• (dc 3, ch 2, dc 3) in the next corner ch space,
  (dc 3 into the next chain space) 2 times.
• (dc 3 into the next chain space)
• Repeat the (anchor and star items) twice.​
• Repeat the anchor item one more time.
• sl st into the third chain of the (ch 3) at the beginning of this round

Round Check: Each corner should have (dc 3, ch 2, dc 3) stitches. Each side should have 3 sets of (dc 3) for this round.

Round 6:

• ch 1, sc into the same stitch.
• ch 3, skip the next 3 dc, sc into the next stitch, ch 3.
• sc into the next corner ch space, ch3, sc into the same ch space.
• (ch 3, skip 3 dc, sc into the next gap) 4 times, ch 3.
• Repeat the (anchor and star items) twice.
• Repeat the anchor item one more time.
• (ch 3, skip 3 dc, sc into the next gap) twice, ch 3.
• sl st into the first sc at the beginning of this round

Round Check: You should have 4 corner chain spaces. Each side should have 5 (ch 3) chain spaces for this round.

And there you have it. You should have your first Loose Granny Square final result. 

You can grow your granny square however size you wanted it by following 2 repeating rows (Rows 5 and 6), taking note that each repeats will give each side extra 2 sets of (dc 3)/ lacy chains consecutively.