Crochet Granny Square Blanket

Instructions

Tap a section when you finish it.

1. 1Rounds 1 and 2 (color A)Round 1: Make a magic ring; ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc into ring, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2* 3 times; pull the ring tight and join with a sl st to the top of ch-3 (12 dc, 4 corners). Round 2: Sl st into the first corner sp. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner sp, ch 1* 3 times, join with sl st (24 dc, 8 clusters).
2. 2Rounds 3 and 4 (color B)Join B in a corner sp. Round 3: Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, then *along the side work 3 dc in each ch-1 sp with ch 1 between clusters; (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the corner sp* to complete the round (36 dc, 12 clusters). Round 4: Work the same way (48 dc, 16 clusters). Each round adds one cluster to every side.
3. 3Rounds 5 and 6 (color C)With C, work two more rounds the same way: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corners, 3 dc in side spaces, ch 1 between clusters. Round 5: 60 dc, 20 clusters. Round 6: 72 dc, 24 clusters.
4. 4Round 7 (color D)Work the last round with D (84 dc, 28 clusters). Each side has 21 dc including the corner clusters. Join, cut the yarn leaving 15 cm. Make 48 squares in total.
5. 5Laying out the squaresArrange the squares on a flat surface in 6 columns and 8 rows, swapping them around until the colors look balanced. Weaving in ends before joining makes the rest much easier.
6. 6JoiningPlace two squares side by side, RS up. With D, starting in the corner sp, sl st along the edge through the outer (back) loops only of both squares; finish in the corner sp. Join all horizontal rows first, then the vertical rows. Joining through back loops leaves a neat thin line on the RS.
7. 7BorderJoin D at one corner of the blanket. Round 1: Work 1 sc in each st and each ch-1 sp, 1 sc at each point where squares meet, and 3 sc in each of the four outer corners. Round 2: 1 sc in each sc, 3 sc in the center sc of each corner. Round 3: Work reverse single crochet (crab stitch, sc worked left to right) all around.
8. 8FinishingWeave the remaining ends into the border. Dampen the blanket and dry it flat, straightening the corners; the squares will look much neater.