Things to Make: Granny's Flower Garden - Granny Square Pattern

As promised I'm sharing my Granny's Flower Garden Granny Square pattern today!

(This is the same pattern I used on the Mint and Coral blanket I shared last week!

I really wanted to use the mint and coral colors in an afghan, but I couldn't find a pattern that I really loved.

So, a couple of weeks ago, after trying a couple of other things out, I came up with this pretty Granny Square pattern!)

I've seen (and used) other fantastic floral granny square patterns in the past, but wanted to make something all my own. I use a cluster stitch (instructions on that below!) to form the petals and leaves of the flowers in each square. I really love the sort of puffed texture the cluster stitch gives to the petals and leaves in this pattern!

I've been testing it out and perfecting it...and now it's ready to share with you!

Don't you feel blessed? ;)

Here's my:

GRANNY'S FLOWER GARDEN - GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN

Materials Needed:

crochet hook (I used a size I/9 - 5.50 mm hook)

Yarn in various colors and amounts*

(*I used Red Heart With Love yarn in Pewter, White, Papaya, and Minty for my Mint and Coral version...I used about a skein of each color to complete my sample afghan.

The other squares pictured here are just random scraps of colors that I had leftover from other projects...so they are all sorts of crazy awesome!)

Yarn needle for weaving in ends when finished

Stitches Used:

All terms are written in US Standard abbreviations.

sl st = slip stitch

ch = chain stitch

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

yo = yarn over

beg = beginning

sp = space

st = stitch

sts = stitches

sk = skip

rep = repeat

Special Stiches:

These stitches may seem confusing, but are not difficult once you get the hang of them. Click here to see a great video tutorial about how to make a double crochet cluster stitch!

beg dc cl = beginning double crochet cluster

To complete the beg dc cl stitch: Ch 3, yo, insert hook in same sp as beg ch, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops (leaving 2 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same beg sp, yo draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops (leaving 3 loops on hook). yo, draw through 2 loops (leaving 4 loops on hook). Yo, draw through all 4 loops on hook. Beg dc cl made.

dc cl = double crochet cluster

To complete dc cl: Yo, insert hook in sp, draw up loop, yo draw through 2 loops (leaving 2 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same sp, yo draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops (leaving 3 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same sp, yo draw up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (leaving 4 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same sp, yo draw up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (leaving 5 loops on hook).Yo, draw through all 5 loops on hook. Dc cl made.

trc cl = treble crochet cluster

To complete trc cl: Yo twice, insert hook in sp, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo draw through two loops (leaving 2 loops on hook). Yo twice, insert hook in same sp, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo draw through two loops (leaving 3 loops on hook). Yo twice, insert hook in same sp, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo draw through two loops (leaving 4 loops on hook). Yo twice, insert hook in same sp, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo draw through two loops (leaving 5 loops on hook).Yo, draw through all 5 loops on hook. Trc cl made.

Note: These are the instructions for a SINGLE square. Squares can then be joined together using THIS JAYG method, or your favorite joining method of choice! Also, here is a great tutorial on weaving in ends, that I love!

Beginning: Ch 4, join w/ sl st to form a loop.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc 15 times in loop, join w/ sl st to 3rd beg ch. You can change color here, if desired, or continue in same color in rnd 2. (16 dc total)

Round 2: Insert hook into top of next dc. Beg dc cl in same stitch as join, ch 3, *sk next dc, dc cl in next dc, ch 3.* Rep from * to * 6 more times. Join w/ sl st to top of beg dc cl. Fasten off, weave in ends. (8 petals total)

Round 3: Change color. Join yarn in any ch3 sp, work beg dc cl, ch 2. *In next ch 3 sp, dc cl, ch 2, trc cl in same sp, ch 2, dc cl in same sp, ch 2, dc cl in next sp, ch 2.* Rep from * to * 2 more times. Join to top of beg dc cl. Fasten off, weave in ends. (12 dc cl, and 4 trc cl total)

Round 4: Change color. Join yarn in top of any trc cl, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc in same sp, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1 - corner made. *(2 dc, ch1) in each of the next 4 ch 2 sps, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc - corner made) in top of next trc cl, ch 1.* Rep from * to * 2 more times. (2 dc, ch1) in each of the next 4 ch 2 sps. Join w/ sl st to 3rd beg ch. Do not fasten off or change color. (24 2dc groups total)

Round 5: Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp. *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, 3 dc in each of the next 5 ch 1 sps.* Rep from * to * 3 more times. Join w/ sl st to 3rd beg ch. Fasten off and weave in ends.** ( 28 3dc groups total)

**You can continue from here repeating Round 5 as many times as you would like, increasing the number of 3dc groups between each corner as necessary.**

In my sample squares above I've stopped at the end of Round 5. (I'm just loving the way these crazy scraps are coming together!! I plan to join them all together with black yarn, using THIS method, when I have enough to make a complete afghan!)