When I retired at 62, I promised myself one new granny square pattern every week. My grandkids now pick the animals, and the squares end up as blankets, cushions and the odd framed picture. These are my favorites from that year, and each is a free download from Creative Fabrica.
A solid granny square worked from the center out, with no holes and no gaps. Keep it small and join a stack into a blanket or cushion, or keep going until one square is the whole thing. A solid surface is also perfect for sewing an appliqué on top.
Scrolling is free. Choose one plain square to practice joining and one picture square to look forward to, and you'll have a habit by the end of the month. Or keep reading, because I've made almost every square below at least twice.
A sloth square about 8 inches across, in five DK colors with a 4 mm hook, written in US terms. Use it in a blanket, a cushion cover, or frame it for a nursery wall. My granddaughter's sloth hangs above her bed, slightly crooked, and she won't let me fix it.
A rabbit square about 6 inches across, in white, forest green, light grey, peach and black. The smaller size makes it a good first picture square. Four of them make a sweet baby cushion.
The eighth square in the designer's South African animal series, about 8 inches across in five DK colors. It looks wonderful framed in a child's room. My grandson calls his the funny monkey and laughs every time.
A panda square about 8 inches across, in white, blue and black only, using about 64 yards of DK yarn. With so few colors it's a calm, quick picture square. I made one for each grandchild's bedroom cushion.
A moose square about 6 inches across, in six DK colors from brown to forest green. It pairs nicely with the squirrel, badger and deer squares further down. Together they make a woodland blanket for a cabin bed.
A blanket pattern from a designer whose squares never came out square, until she found a way that works. She shares a method for perfectly square granny squares and a simple, neat join that doesn't hide the square's beauty. Every blanket of mine improved after this one.
The eleventh square in the South African animal set, about 8 inches across in five DK colors. It's charmingly ugly, and children adore it. Mine sits next to the lion in our safari blanket.
The first square of the South African animal series, about 8 inches across in six DK colors. The mane is the fun part. If you want a safari blanket, start with this one.
A clownfish square about 8 inches across, in orange, blue, white and black, using about 64 yards of DK yarn. It's cheerful and quick, and it brightens a bathroom or a beach-themed bedroom. My grandkids call it the Nemo square.
A tiger square about 8 inches across, in orange, forest green, white, black and pale yellow, with a 4 mm hook in US terms. The stripes are easier than they look. It sits right beside the lion on our safari blanket.
A squirrel square about 6 inches across, in six DK colors. It belongs with the moose, badger and deer in a woodland set. I made mine in October, while real squirrels raided my bird feeder.
A badger square about 6 inches across, in black, forest green, light grey, white and charcoal. The black and white face is striking on a plain cushion. My husband claimed this one for his reading chair.
A little detour. My grandson asked for a square with his own dog on it, a scruffy terrier, and of course no pattern looks like him. Studio AI is Creative Fabrica's separate image tool, and new accounts start with 25,000 free AI Coins. I described the dog, chose a flat cartoon style and downloaded the picture. It's clipped to my graph paper now, and his square is half done.
A crop top built from granny squares, with or without sleeves, in sizes XS to 5XL. If you can make a granny square, the designer says you can make this top. My daughter wears hers to summer concerts.
A jellyfish square about 8 inches across, in light pink, navy blue and raspberry, using about 67 yards of DK yarn. With three colors it's a fast picture square. It pairs with the clownfish for an ocean cushion.
A simple flower granny square for beginners, with a chart and written descriptions. The flower sits in a balanced, symmetrical tile that works in modern or classic colors. It's my favorite square to make when I want something calm.
A bold pixel heart built with classic granny square technique, with written steps and help with the color changes. Use it in blankets, bags and cushions. The layout is friendly, but you'll want basic crochet under your belt first.
A deer square about 6 inches across, in seven DK colors from camel to sage green. It's the gentlest of the woodland set. I gave one, framed, to a friend who loves to watch deer from her kitchen window.
A granny square strap that suits any bag, written for beginners with a video tutorial link in the PDF. It's worked in fine yarn with a 2.5 mm hook. I added one to an old canvas tote, and it looks brand new.
The seventeenth and final square of the South African animal set, about 8 inches across. The designer plans a blanket that brings all the animals together. Mine finished our safari blanket, and the grandkids count the animals on it every visit.
If granny squares are new to you, make the solid square first, then the perfect-square method, and only then try a picture square. The bigger picture squares take a few evenings, so alternate them with quick ones like the panda and the jellyfish, and the blanket still grows. Save this list for your Monday square.
The granny square section on Creative Fabrica goes far beyond twenty: flowers, hearts, stars, animals, seasonal squares and whole blankets. Scroll it with your morning tea and pin the ones your grandkids would pick.
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