Tutorial: Basic granny square

I warn you, the risk of getting addicted is great! Soon you'll be crocheting away and wondering what to do with all the squares you have made :p

Pattern:

Chain 5, sl st to join into ring

Chain 3, 2 dc in the ring (= 1st block), chain 3 (= corner), *3 dc in the ring, chain 3*, repeat from * to * twice, sl st in top of the first 'chain 3'

You now have a square with 4 blocks:

Pick a new color and start in any one of the corners

Chain 3, 2 dc in chain space, chain 3, 3 dc in same chain space, chain 2, *3 dc, chain 3, 3 dc in same chain space, chain 2*, repeat from * to * twice, sl st in top of the first 'chain 3'

You now have a granny square two rounds big:

To continue the square, pick a new color and start in one of the corners (I do this because I crochet over the yarn ends, and it leaves less sewing)

Repeat the 2nd round, remember to chain 3 between the corner blocks and chain 2 between the blocks on the sides.

Alternatively you can chain 1 between the blocks and chain 2 for the corners. This is a very common method (I learned the first one from my grandma), and it saves you a few stitches :)

If you are making several rounds with the same color and don't want to cut the yarn for every round, there are two ways of starting the next round:

1: chain 5 instead of 3 (this counts as the 3rd dc in the last block, plus the chain space), when you make the last block of the round, dc 2, sl st in the 3rd chain of 'chain 5'. To begin the next round, make a sl st in the chain space, and then continue the round as usual...

2: sl st along the top of the block until you reach the chain space, start the new round as usual...

The square can made as big or small as you want. Experiment with yarn and felting, the possibilities are many :)