Free Granny Square Pattern – Just Breathe
In this post will find all the information you need to make a beautiful, large, free granny square! There is a full list of materials, a crochet stitch key, a list of speciality stitches with links to photos tutorials, additional notes, and full written step-by-step instructions for this intermediate-level crochet pattern in US terminology, with photos.
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About the Just Breathe Granny Square Pattern
A forever-free crochet granny square pattern first published in October 2024 as part of the much-loved annual Moogly CAL.
You can also purchase an ad-free, low-cost PDF copy of this pattern, which includes all the speciality stitch photo tutorials and step-by-step pattern pictures; thank you for supporting indie design ♥ CLICK TO BUY LOW-COST PDF VERSION ON RAVELRY ♥
Also now available on Etsy; click here ♥
This free 12 inch granny square pattern was originally designed in Red Heart With Love and Caron One Pound yarn, with a 6mm/J hook especially for the 2024 Moogly Crochet Along. I am delighted to be involved in this annual CAL for a second time; you can find my forever free 12 inch granny square from the 2022 Moogly CAL right here!
As I explained last time I participated, I learned so much about crocheting in general, and granny squares in particular, from Tamara when I was learning to crochet over a decade ago. And I’m just as excited here in 2024 to be featured by her as a designer!!
All the squares in the annual Moogly CAL are forever free and I highly recommend you check them out. So much variety, so many talented people, so many new stitch combos to learn and colours to experiment with!
Just Breathe is designed per CAL specifications: 100% acrylic and 6mm hook. But of course, you could use any type of yarn, in any weight with the appropriate hook size; just be aware of course that changing materials impacts size and effect! Personally, I love cottons, as you can see in the pattern tutorial photos below.
Since 2021, I’ve been including stitch photo tutorials in all the crochet patterns I sell on Etsy and Ravelry. You can now access those very same handy tutorials by clicking the links in the Specialty Stitches section below. So you don’t need to Google if you don’t know a specialty stitch; you can just get straight to hooking 🙂
Materials – Yarn
- Any 100% acrylic worsted (no. 4) weight yarn, approx. 85g in total. I have used oddments of Red Heart With Love (Worsted, 100% acrylic, 364yds/333m, 7 oz/198g) in 5 colours (A) Bluebell, (C) Lettuce, (D) Iced Aqua, (E) Petal Pink, (F) Bubble Gum, and Caron One Pound (Worsted, 100% acrylic, 812yds/742m, 16oz/454g) in 1 colour (B) white
- I have also made this square with Bendigo Woollen Mills Cotton 10 ply (Australian brand) with a 4.5mm/7 hook and I highly recommend other cottons that are Aran weight (10ply, #4) such as Paintbox Cotton Aran and Scheepjes Cahlista, both of which are just lovely yarns that are available in a great range of vibrant colours (you know me and colour!🌈🌈😍).
Materials – Other
- 6mm/J crochet hook; I only use Clover Amours or Tulip Etimos
- Yarn needle; I prefer a bent tip
- Scissors
Gauge
Gauge is not important. Finished crochet mandala using recommended yarn and hook size measures 12″ (30.5 cm)
Stitch Key (US terms)
- yo = yarn over
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- sl st = slip stitch
- sk st = skip stitch
- ch = chain
- ch-sp(s) = chain space(s)
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
Specialty Stitches
- Adjustable Loop (or ch4, join with sl st to form loop)
- Standing stitches
- Invisible joins
- BPsc = back post single crochet
- Fan = (4tr, ch1, 4tr) in round 5
- Tr Cluster = 3 treble cluster
- BLOsc/dc/tr cluster = back loop only single crochet/double crochet/treble cluster
- FPdc = front post double crochet
- 2Cdc = 2 crossed double crochet
Free Granny Square Pattern Notes
- Experience Level: Intermediate; read the pattern through carefully before you begin
- Slip stitch joins may be used throughout, but invisible joins are recommended where indicated, for a neater finish
- Traditional chain starts may be used throughout, but standing stitches are recommended for best results
- From Rnd 8 your square has 4 sides; therefore stitch counts are given per side for ease of counting
- Have questions? Email support is available: pam@bestcrochetlife.com
Free Granny Square Pattern Instructions
Round 1: Colour A: make adjustable loop (or ch4 and sl st join), ch3 (counts as first dc), 11dc into loop, make invisible join (12 dc)
Round 2: Colour B: standing dc in any st, dc in same st, [2dc in next st] 11 times, make invisible join (24 dc)
Round 3: Colour C: standing sc in any st, sc in next st, 2sc in next st, [sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in next st] 7 times, make invisible join (32 sc)
Round 4: Colour D: standing sc in second sc of any group of 2sc, ch5, sl st into same st, sc in next 3 sts, [sc in
next st, ch5, sl st into same st, sc in next 3 sts] 7 times, join with sl st to first st, do not fasten off (32 sc, 8 sl sts,
8 ch5-sps)
Round 5: sl st into ch5-sp, ch4 (counts as first tr), (3tr, ch1, 4tr) into same ch5-sp, sk 5 sts, [(4tr, ch1, 4tr) in next ch5-sp, sk 5 sts) 7 times, join with sl st to fourth ch of starting ch, fasten off (8 fans)
Round 6: Colour E: standing BPsc in first tr of any fan, BPsc around next 63 sts, make invisible join (64 BPsc)
Round 7: Colour F: standing sc in any Rnd 5 ch1-sp, (ch2, sc) into same ch1-sp, [BLOsc in next 4 sts of Rnd 5, BLOtr cluster across first 3 sc of Rnd 4, BLOsc in next 4 sts of Rnd 5, (sc, ch2, sc)] 7 times omitting final (sc, ch2, sc), join with sl st to first st, fasten off (8 BLOtr clusters, 64 BLOsc, 16 sc, 8 ch2-sps)
Rounds 8-10 may be a little tricky, but they’ll be worth it! Take your time, read the instructions carefully and make use of the photos. Tips: be careful when you count your skipped stitches in round 8 in particular – there is no stitch into the tr cluster in this round – and keep your ch4 spaces to the back of your work.
Round 8: Colour B: standing sc in any ch2-sp, (ch2, sc) in same ch2-sp, [BLOsc in next 5 sts, ch4, sk 5 sts, sl st through the back of the next 2 Rnd 7 sc (see photo p7), ch4, sk 5 sts, BLOsc in next 5 sts, (sc, ch2, sc) in next ch2-sp] 4 times, omitting final (sc, ch2, sc), join with sl st to first st, do not fasten off (2 sc, 10 BLOsc, 2 ch4 sps, 1 sl st per side + 4 corner ch2-sps)
Round 9: sl st into ch2-sp, ch2 (counts as first hdc), (hdc, ch2, 2hdc) into same ch2-sp, [hdc in next 5 sts, FPdc around cluster, hdc in next st (see photo p7), 3 sc in ch4-sp, sl st in Rnd 8 sl st, 3 sc in ch4-sp, hdc in next st , FPdc around cluster, hdc in next 5 sts, (2hdc, ch2, 2hdc) in ch2-sp] 4 times, omitting final (2hdc, ch2, 2hdc), join with sl st to second ch of starting ch, do not fasten off (6 sc, 16 hdc, 2 FPdc, 1 sl st per side + 4 corner ch2 sps)
Round 10: sl st into next st, sl st into ch2-sp, ch1, [(2sc, ch2, 2sc), sk st, sc in next 11 sts, sc in Rnd 7 ch2-sp, sk sl st, sc in next 12 sts] 4 times, join with sl st to first st, do not fasten off (28 sc per side + 4 corner ch2-sps) Tip: count your stitches carefully!
Round 11: sl st into next st, sl st into ch2-sp, ch2 (counts as first hdc),(hdc, ch2, 2hdc) in same ch2-sp, [sk st, hdc in next 27 sts, (2hdc, ch2, 2hdc) in ch2-sp] 4 times, omitting final (2hdc, ch2, 2hdc), make invisible join (31 hdc per side + 4 corner ch2-sps)
Round 12: Colour C: standing dc in any ch2-sp, (2dc, ch2, 3dc) in same ch2-sp, [sk st, BLOdc in next 30 sts, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in ch2-sp] 4 times, omitting final (3dc, ch2, 3dc), make invisible join (6 dc, 30 BLOdc + 4 corner ch2 sps per side)
Round 13: Colour A: standing dc in any corner ch-sp, (dc, ch2, 2dc) in same ch-sp, [make 18 x 2Cdc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch-sp] 4 times, omitting final (2dc, ch2, 2dc), make invisible join (4dc, 18 2Cdc per side + 4 corner ch2 sps)
Round 14: Colour F: standing dc in any corner ch2-sp, (dc, ch2, 2dc) in same ch2-sp, [BLOdc in next 40 sts, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch2-sp] 4 times, omitting final (2dc, ch2, 2dc), make invisible join (4 dc, 40 BLOdc per side + 4 corner ch2-sps)
Weave in your ends, and your Just Breathe Granny Square is complete!
You can also purchase an ad-free, low-cost PDF copy of this pattern, which includes all the speciality stitch photo tutorials and step-by-step pattern pictures; thank you for supporting indie design ♥ CLICK TO BUY LOW-COST PDF VERSION ON RAVELRY ♥
Also now available on Etsy; click here! ♥
What will you do with your beautiful work; are you participating in the 2024 Moogly CAL? Let me know in the comments; and if you have any questions, I’m here 🙂
Want more crochet in your life? Free Little Pattern Booklet PDF!
