Granny’s Favourite Crochet Pattern by Hookloopsarah: The Timeless Square You’ll Want to Make Again and Again
There is something deeply comforting about a crochet pattern that feels like it was made just for you. The kind of pattern you pick up on a quiet Sunday afternoon, work through with a cup of tea at your elbow, and find yourself finishing before you even realised how much time had passed. Granny’s Favourite by Hookloopsarah is exactly that kind of pattern. It sits at the intersection of classic and contemporary, drawing on the beloved tradition of the granny square while giving it a fresh, polished finish that feels completely at home in a modern handmade wardrobe or home.
Whether you are a seasoned crocheter who has made hundreds of granny squares or someone who has just picked up a hook for the first time and wants to learn the foundational stitch pattern that has defined crochet for generations, this pattern has something to offer you. In this post, we are going to take a close look at everything Granny’s Favourite is, what makes it special, how to approach it, and why it deserves a permanent spot in your project queue.
What Is Granny’s Favourite?
Granny’s Favourite is a crochet pattern designed by Hookloopsarah, a crochet designer known for creating patterns that balance simplicity with beautiful results. The pattern centres on the iconic granny square — a small, modular unit of crochet worked in the round from a central ring outward — but brings to it a refinement and clarity that makes the experience of crocheting it genuinely enjoyable from the very first stitch.
The granny square itself has a history that stretches back well over a century. It is one of the oldest and most recognised crochet motifs in the world, used across generations to make everything from blankets and throws to bags, clothing, and wall hangings. The name refers partly to its association with the kind of thrifty, make-do-and-mend crafting that grandmothers of past eras were famous for — using up small scraps of yarn to create something practical and colourful. But the granny square has never really gone out of fashion. It has been reimagined countless times, and each new designer who takes it on adds their own voice to that long tradition.
Hookloopsarah’s version, Granny’s Favourite, honours that tradition while making the pattern approachable for today’s crocheter. The instructions are clear, the stitch counts are reliable, and the finished squares have that satisfying, structured look that makes you want to keep going and make another one the moment you finish.
Why Crocheters Love the Granny Square
Before diving into the specifics of this pattern, it is worth pausing to think about why granny squares hold such a special place in the crochet community. Part of it is nostalgia — many people learned to crochet on granny squares, guided by a parent or grandparent who worked with well-worn hooks and balls of wool from a basket beside the armchair. There is a tactile memory in the motion of working a cluster of double crochets into a corner space that many crafters carry with them their whole lives.
But granny squares are also genuinely clever as a construction method. Working in modular units means you can carry your project anywhere without dragging a large, unwieldy piece of fabric with you. You can work a square on your commute, finish it in a waiting room, and tuck it away in your bag until you are ready for the next one. When you have enough squares, you join them together and suddenly you have something much larger and more impressive than any individual piece suggested.
There is also an almost infinite creative flexibility in the granny square format. You can make each square the same colour for a graphic, monochrome look. You can use a different colour palette for every square, turning leftover scraps into a riot of colour. You can arrange your squares in patterns, play with orientation, mix square sizes, and combine your granny squares with other motifs. The format is a framework, not a constraint.
Granny’s Favourite by Hookloopsarah taps into all of this potential. It gives you a solid, well-constructed square to work with and then leaves the creative decisions — colour, yarn weight, scale, project type — entirely up to you.
Getting Started: What You Will Need
One of the things that makes Granny’s Favourite such an accessible pattern is that it does not require any specialist tools or unusual materials. The basics are all you need.
Yarn: The pattern works beautifully in a wide range of yarn weights. Many crocheters reach for a DK or worsted weight yarn to begin with, as these weights are easy to handle and produce a square that is satisfying in size without taking too long to complete. That said, the pattern scales up and down gracefully. Working in a chunky weight yarn gives you a larger, cosier square with a lovely rustic texture, while working in a fine or fingering weight yarn produces something delicate and intricate. As a stash-busting pattern, it is also an ideal way to use up those small balls of yarn you have been saving for the right project.
Hook: Match your hook size to your yarn weight and to your personal tension. If you tend to crochet tightly, go up a hook size from the yarn’s recommended size. A relaxed tension will give your squares a more open, airy feel, while a tighter tension will produce a denser, more structured fabric. Neither is wrong — it is a matter of the look and feel you want to achieve.
Scissors and a tapestry needle: You will need these for finishing, weaving in ends, and joining your squares if you are making a larger project. It is worth investing in a good tapestry needle with a blunt tip, as this makes weaving in ends through crochet fabric much easier.
Stitch markers: Optional but useful, particularly if you are new to working in the round. Placing a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round helps you keep track of where each round begins and ends.
Understanding the Stitch Pattern
The traditional granny square is built from clusters of double crochet stitches (or treble crochet stitches, depending on whether you are working in US or UK terminology) separated by chain spaces. These clusters are grouped in sets of three, with corner spaces worked with extra chains to allow the fabric to turn the corner neatly and lie flat.
Granny’s Favourite follows this classic construction, but Hookloopsarah’s pattern instructions are written with particular care for clarity. Each round is broken down step by step, with clear notation for stitch counts and corner instructions. This is genuinely helpful when you are first learning, because one of the most common frustrations with granny square patterns is losing your place and ending up with an extra cluster or a lopsided corner.
The rhythm of the pattern is one of its great pleasures. Once you have worked through the first couple of rounds and have the construction logic in your hands and in your muscle memory, the subsequent rounds flow with an almost meditative ease. Work the clusters, work the corners, join the round, turn the colour if you are changing — it becomes a cycle that is deeply satisfying to repeat.
Colour Choices: Where the Magic Happens
If there is one place where Granny’s Favourite really comes to life as a creative project, it is in the colour choices. The granny square format is one of the best canvases for colour play in all of crochet, and Hookloopsarah’s pattern lends itself beautifully to both careful colour planning and joyful spontaneity.
A classic approach is to work each round in a different colour. Start with a bright centre, work the second round in a neutral or complementary tone, add a bold contrast on the third round, and finish with a tidy border in a harmonising shade. This gives you a square that reads as a cohesive whole while still showing off multiple colours.
For a more contemporary, design-led look, consider limiting your palette to two or three carefully chosen tones. A square worked in soft sage green, warm cream, and a dusty terracotta has a very different feeling from the same square worked in neon yellow, cobalt blue, and hot pink — but both are made from exactly the same stitches. This is one of the wonderful things about crochet: the same pattern can produce wildly different results depending purely on the colours you choose.
If you are using Granny’s Favourite as a stash-busting project, embrace the eclecticism. Work each square in whatever combination of yarns catches your eye from your stash. The result will be a joyfully mismatched collection that, when joined together, has a cheerful energy all of its own. Keeping the border colour consistent across all your squares is a simple trick for pulling a scrappy colour palette together into something that looks intentional and cohesive.
Project Ideas: What to Make with Granny’s Favourite
One of the most frequently asked questions about granny square patterns is simply: what should I make with them? The answer, happily, is almost anything. Here are some of the most popular and satisfying projects you can build from Hookloopsarah’s Granny’s Favourite squares.
A throw or blanket: This is the classic granny square project, and for good reason. A blanket made of granny squares is infinitely manageable — you work it one small square at a time, so it never feels overwhelming, and the joining stage has a satisfying puzzle-like quality as you lay out your squares and work out the arrangement. A lap blanket might take 25 to 36 squares depending on your square size, while a large throw could require 80 or more.
A tote bag: Granny squares joined together make a surprisingly practical tote. Work enough squares to form the front and back panels, join them along three sides, and add a simple chain handle or a crocheted strap. The result is sturdy, characterful, and genuinely useful.
A cushion cover: A set of four squares arranged in a two-by-two grid makes a lovely cushion cover front. Back it with a piece of fabric, add a zip or button closure, and you have a handmade cushion that looks effortlessly stylish.
A garment: Granny squares translate beautifully into wearable crochet. A simple cardigan can be constructed from squares joined at the shoulders and sides, with minimal additional shaping. A poncho, a festival-style vest, or a beach cover-up are all achievable projects for someone comfortable with the basic square.
A small decorative piece: Not every project needs to be large. A single Granny’s Favourite square, worked in fine yarn and stiffened slightly with blocking spray, makes a delicate coaster or pot holder. A handful of squares stitched together in a strip makes a table runner or a bunting garland.
Tips for a Perfect Finish
Even the most experienced crocheter benefits from a few reminders about finishing technique, because how you finish a crochet project has an enormous impact on how it looks.
Weave in your ends carefully. The granny square involves a lot of colour changes, which means a lot of yarn tails to weave in. Take the time to weave each end in at least two directions through the fabric, working it back over itself so it is secure. A tail that is woven in quickly and carelessly will work itself loose over time.
Block your squares. Blocking is the process of wetting or steaming your finished crochet and pinning or shaping it while it dries. For granny squares, blocking is transformative. It relaxes the fibres, opens up the stitch pattern, and — most importantly — evens out any irregularities so that all your squares end up the same size. If you are making a blanket or any project that involves joining multiple squares, blocking them before joining will make the joining process much smoother.
Choose your joining method thoughtfully. There are several ways to join granny squares: a slip stitch join, a flat slip stitch join, a single crochet join (which creates a visible ridge that some people love as a design feature), or a sewn mattress stitch join. Each gives a slightly different look and feel. If you are unsure which to use, make a small test join with a couple of practice squares before committing to your finished project.
Finding the Pattern
Granny’s Favourite by Hookloopsarah is available through Hookloopsarah’s pattern shop. If you are not already familiar with Hookloopsarah’s work, her pattern shop is well worth a browse — she has a lovely range of designs that share the same quality of clear instruction and beautiful aesthetic that makes Granny’s Favourite so enjoyable to work.
When you purchase the pattern, you will receive a downloadable PDF that you can save to your device or print out. Many crocheters like to print their patterns and keep them in a folder or binder alongside yarn samples and project notes — there is something very satisfying about having a physical record of a project you have loved making.
A Pattern for Every Stage of Your Crochet Journey
What makes Granny’s Favourite genuinely special as a pattern is its ability to meet crocheters wherever they are. If you are a beginner, it teaches you the fundamental skills of working in the round, managing colour changes, and constructing a flat, even fabric — skills that will serve you in almost every other crochet project you ever attempt. If you are an intermediate crocheter, it gives you a reliable, satisfying motif you can use as a building block for larger and more ambitious projects. If you are an experienced maker, it is a meditative, low-effort pattern that gives your hands something beautiful to do while your mind rests.
The granny square has been part of crochet culture for well over a hundred years, and it shows no sign of going anywhere. Hookloopsarah’s Granny’s Favourite is a worthy addition to that long and joyful tradition — a pattern that is easy to love, easy to share, and easy to return to again and again, season after season, project after project.
Pick up your hook, choose your favourite yarn, and get started. Your granny square journey is just beginning.
