Generations 12-Inch Crochet Square | Granny Stitch CAL Pattern

 

Generations 12-Inch Crochet Square: A Story in Every Stitch

Some crochet projects are simply fun to make. Others have a little more meaning behind them.

The Generations 12-Inch Crochet Square is one of those projects for me.

This square tells the story of five generations of women in my family (from my grandmother to my granddaughter) and the connection between the women who came before us and the generations that follow. I love the thought that the flowers of a new generation begin with the roots planted by the generations before them.

We may grow in different directions, but we are still connected to those roots.

That idea became the inspiration for this 12-inch crochet square.

Granny Stitch with a Little Extra Texture

The Generations Square combines the classic granny stitch with textured crochet stitches, including popcorn stitches and front post stitches. I wanted the square to have that familiar granny-stitch feel while adding enough texture and detail to make it interesting to crochet.

If you enjoy projects that give your hands something to do while keeping your brain just a little bit engaged, this square should fit the bill.

And I think the granny stitch is especially appropriate for a square inspired by generations. It is one of those crochet techniques that has been passed from one crocheter to another for generations, with each person adding their own little touch along the way.

Part of the Granny Stitch CAL

The Generations 12-Inch Square is part of the Granny Stitch CAL hosted by Debbie of MadameStitch.

The CAL includes 12 different granny stitch-inspired square designs, giving you the opportunity to crochet a collection of squares and eventually turn them into a beautiful finished blanket.

And here's the good news: you can make the entire blanket for free!

The Generations Square is a forever free crochet pattern here on my blog, and the other CAL patterns will also be available for you to crochet along without purchasing a pattern.

I want you to be able to enjoy this project whether you have a pattern budget or not.

Want to Save Some Time?

While the patterns are free, I also know that sometimes convenience is worth paying for.

If you've ever found yourself scrolling through blog posts, trying to remember which square comes next, or hunting for the assembly instructions when you're finally ready to put everything together, you know what I mean.

That's where the PDF upgrade comes in.

For $17.99, you can get a convenient PDF that includes:

• All 12 granny stitch square designs

• Assembly instructions

• Border instructions

• Everything together in one place so you can crochet without jumping from page to page

If having everything organized in one place will save you time and make your crochet experience easier, consider investing in the e-book. You're not just paying for the patterns—you are investing in your time, your convenience, and your enjoyment of the project.

And honestly, our crochet time is worth something too.

Let's Crochet Some Memories

Whether you follow along with the free blog patterns or choose the PDF upgrade, I hope you'll join us for the Granny Stitch CAL.

I'm especially excited to see how everyone's finished blankets come together. Twelve crocheters can use the same patterns and the same basic instructions, yet every finished blanket will have its own personality because of the colors, yarn choices, and little differences each crocheter brings to the project.

That's one of my favorite things about crochet.

Just like the women who inspired this square, we all start with something that came before us and then make it our own.

So grab your yarn, pick out your colors, and let's get started on the Generations 12-Inch Crochet Square.

I can't wait to see what you create.

Materials List:

Yarn used for the sample:

Lion Brand Color Theory in

Color #1-Ivory
Color #2-Bee Pollen
Color #3-Himalayan Salt
Color #4-Beaujolais

Notions:

US H/5.0mm crochet hook

Yarn needle

Skill: Advance Beginner

Finished Size: 12” x 12”

Gauge:

US H/ 5mm hook- 14 sc x 17 rows = 4” x 4” (10cm x 10cm)

Special Stitches:

Popcorn Stitch (PC): 5dc in the indicated stitch, remove hook from the last loop and reinsert it into the first dc and the open loop, yo, pull through.

Standing Double Crochet (STdc): How to make a standing double crochet

Standing Single Crochet (STsc): How to make a standing single crochet

Abbreviations: US

CH- chain
CH- sp/s- chain space/s
CH-1 sp- chain 1 space (number denotes number of chains)
CTS- counts (personal abbrev)
DC- double crochet
FPdc- front post double crochet
FPdtr- front post double treble crochet
GS- granny stitch- 3dc in one sp
HDC- half double crochet
MR- magic ring
PC- popcorn stitch (see Special Stitches above)
RS- right side
SC- single crochet
SK- skip
SP- space
SL ST- slip stitch
ST/s- stitch/es

[ … ], { … }, * … *- work instructions between brackets/ asterisks the number of times stated, or as instructed

( … )- work instructions between parentheses in the indicated st or sp;

* … ; work instructions after * the number of times stated or as instructed

(…) number in parentheses at the end indicate number of stitches for the round unless otherwise noted

Notes:

1.     Similar #4 weight yarns may be substituted; please check gauge.

2.     The square is worked in the round with the RS facing throughout.

3.     Ch-3 at the start of the round does not count as a dc, unless otherwise indicated.

4.     Ch-2 at the start of the round does not count as a hdc.

5.     Ch-1 at the start of the round does not count as a sc.

 

 

Pattern:

Always have the RS facing you when joining new colors to your work.
Starting with Color 1.

Rd 1: (RS) MR, ch2, 12 dc in ring. (12 dc)

Rd 2: ch1, 2sc in the join sp and in the next dc, sc in the next dc, FPdc around the same dc, [2sc in the next 2dc, sc in the next dc, FPdc around the same dc] 3x, join. (20 sc, 4 FPdc)

Rd 3: ch2, dc in the join sp, sk 1 sc, 3dc (GS) in the next sc, sk 1 sc, dc in the next, FPdc around the next FPdc from Rd2, dc in FPdc from Rd2, FPdc around the same FPdc from Rd2, [dc in the next dc, sk 1 sc, GS in the next, sk 1 sc, dc in the next, FPdc around the next FPdc from Rd2, dc in the FPdc from Rd2, FPdc around the same FPdc from Rd2] 3x, join. (24 dc, 8 FPdc)

Cut Color 1.

At this point we are going to be creating corners and switching to counting our stitches per side. Using Color 2, Join in any dc between 2 FPdc with a STdc.

Rd 4: (2dc, ch2, 3dc) in the same join sp, *sk FPdc and the next dc, GS in the sp before GS from Rd3, sk 3 dc, GS in the next sp between GS from Rd3, sk dc and the next FPdc, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in the next dc; repeat from * 3 times, sk FPdc and the next dc, GS in the next sp between GS, sk 3 dc, GS in the next sp, sk dc and next FPdc, join. (12 dc, 4 ch-3 sp, per side)

Rd 5: ch2, sc in the join sp and the next 2dc, [(sc, ch3, sc) in the ch-2 corner sp, sc in 12dc] 3x, (sc, ch3, sc) in the corner sp, sc in the last 9dc, join. (14 sc per side)

Rd 6: ch2, FPdtr around FPdc below, sk join sp behind FPdtr, dc in the next 3, [*(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp, dc in 3, FPdtr around FPdc below, sk sc behind FPdtr, dc in 6*, FPdtr around FPdc below, sk sc behind FPdtr, dc in 3] 3x, repeat * to * once, join. (16 dc, 2 FPdtr, per side)

Cut Color 2. Using Color 3, Join in any corner ch-2 sp with a STdc.

Rd 7: (dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp, [*dc in 5, ch1, sk1, dc in 6, ch1, sk1, dc in 5* (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp] 3x, repeat * to * once, join. (20 dc, 2 ch-1 sp, per side)

Rd 8: sl st to the corner ch-2 sp, ch1, [(sc, ch3, sc) in the corner sp, sc in each dc, and ch-1 sp across] 4x, join. (24 sc, per side)

Rd 9: sl st to the corner, ch2, [(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp, {sk 2 sc, 3 dc in the next} 2x, *sk1, dc in the next, FPdtr around FPdtr below, do not sk the st behind the FPdtr-dc in the next, FPdtr around the same FPdtr from below, do not sk the st behind the FPdtr-dc in the next, *ch1, sk1, dc in 2, ch1; repeat * to * once, sk1, {3dc in the next, sk2} 2x] 4x, join.  (24 dc, 2 ch-1 sp, 4 FPdtr, per side)

Cut Color 3. Using Color 4, Join in any corner ch-2 sp with a STdc.

Rds 10: (dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp, [*dc in each dc and ch-1 sp across, skip all FPdtr*, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp] 3x, repeat * to * once, join. (30 dc, per side)

Rd 11: sl st to the corner sp, ch1, [(sc, ch3, sc) in the corner sp, sc in each dc] 4x, join. (32 dc, per side)

Rd 12: sl st to the corner sp, ch2, [(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp, {sk2, GS in the next} 10x, sk the last 2] 4x, join. (34 dc, per side)

Cut Color 4. Using Color 3, Join in any corner ch-2 sp with a STdc.

Rd 13: (dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp, [*ch2, sk2 dc, {PC in the next sp, ch3, sk3, dc in the next sp, ch3, sk3} 5x, PC in the next sp, ch2, sk2*, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp] 3x, repeat * to & once, join. (9 dc, 2 ch-2 sp, 10 ch-3 sp, per side)

Cut Color 3. Using Color 2, Join in any corner ch-2 sp with a STdc.

Rd 14: (dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner sp, [*3dc in the next ch-sp across*, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the corner] 3x, repeat * to * once, join. (40 dc, per side)

Cut Color 2. Using Color 1, Join in any corner ch-2 sp with a STsc.

Rd 15: (ch3, sc) in the corner sp, [*sc in each dc*, (sc, ch3, sc) in the corner sp] 3x, repeat * to * once, join. (42 sc, per side)

© Bizzy Crochet and Design, 2026