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Granny Squared Crochet Top

by | All Designs, Crochet, Free Patterns, Garments, My Favorites, Spring, Summer

I know it’s the middle/end of summer, so it was a bit hot wearing my new Granny Squared crochet top to work, considering it’s made from 100% Merino Wool, but I ended up having to wear a jacket anyways because of the crazy air conditioning in the office! This blouse worked up super quick and because of the texture, makes for an interesting basic shirt without it being boring!

Granny Square Short Sleeved Top

Ever since designing my first piece of clothing, the Summer Diamonds Kimono Cardigan, I’ve been intrigued by how our everyday clothes are constructed. My cardigan was constructed from side to side. The matching toddler dress was constructed as a tube. Actually, when I was thinking about how to design the Summer Diamonds Toddler Dress, I took inspiration from the basic pillowcase dress, which is just two rectangles sewn together, with holes for your head and arms. This granny square shirt uses the same idea.

Use basic granny squares to create this simple, modern crochet top!

I used Lion Brand’s LB Collection Superwash Merino yarn for this project. Their LB Collection is a line of yarn that features different natural fibers, with bamboo, silk and this washable merino wool. The yarn itself was thinner and lighter than I expected, although I’m not sure what I was really expecting, since I don’t work in wearable style yarns very often. At first I planned to make a blanket, but this yarn really lends itself to clothing and the shirt drapes really well. It’s also very warm. Very very warm. The yarn is light, but 3 balls of it made into a shirt, even with the looseness and the holes, results in a very warm cozy feel.

granny squares in charcoal gray

When I started with the idea of putting two granny squares together, the immediate problem was that I’d have two squares. My body type is long and lean and I don’t wear cut-offs, so two squares wasn’t going to do it for me. I needed to add length to my squares. I guess I could have used fringe, but I decided to add a textured block up at the shoulders instead. I’ve always liked the somewhat military look with emphasis on the shoulders (but not the 80’s shoulder pad trend). So I knew I wanted a strong texture up top, not just a row after row of stitches. After looking around at new stitches to learn, I fell in love with the modern geometric look of the waffle stitch. And the makings of this granny square shirt was as simple as putting those two ideas together!

Waffle stitch adds interest and texture to the basic granny squared crochet top

The basic construction of this shirt is to make two granny squares. Add the waffle onto each granny square to make two rectangular pieces. Then, seam the pieces together, leaving room for your arms and head. Finish off the arm holes by creating tiny little cap sleeves. The seams at the shoulders naturally creates a boatneck neckline so I didn’t have to worry about designing a collar. I also didn’t add any border to the bottom of the shirt – I kind of like it a bit raw at the bottom.

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Granny Squared Crochet Top

Would you believe this is the first time I’ve worked a basic granny square?! I’ve made a granny square quilt before, but used a slightly different pattern for each square. I love how simple this pattern is, and how quickly it works up. Once you get the general idea, you don’t need to constantly count stitches and the time just flies by!

Sizing

This pattern can be easily altered for sizing, since it consists of 2 main blocks – the granny square and the waffle motif up top. The number of granny square rounds will determine the width of the shirt, so increase the number of rounds to make a larger shirt, or decrease to make a smaller shirt. Once you have the square done, you can work the waffle pattern across one side of the granny square, regardless of the width of the square. Always work Row 1 of the waffle pattern, which is a row of double crochets. Then, work the next 2 rows described below in pairs for as many pairs as necessary to create the desired length of the shirt. The seams and the sleeves are dependent on the size of the two pieces and can also be adjusted accordingly.

Also remember that for my shirt, I used a lightweight, size 3 yarn. Using yarn of different thicknesses and different sized hooks will yield different results. The best part is you can just start and then compare to shirts from your wardrobe as you go!

Simple granny squares make a beautiful modern shirt

You can also purchase an inexpensive, ad-free and comment-free PDF version of the Granny Squared Crochet Top pattern on Etsy. The file will be available for download immediately after payment. Thank you for helping me continue to provide these fun free patterns!

UPDATE: The paid PDF available in my pattern shops have been edited to provide stitch counts for sizes from XS up to 2XL, a schematic for all sizes, and a stitch chart. You can use the free pattern below (size S) and extrapolate to the size you want, or purchase the PDF with the extra information. Thanks for always supporting me!

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Purchase the PDF on Etsy

Find this pattern on Ravelry

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Supplies

Abbreviations

  • sl st – slip stitch
  • ch – chain stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • fpdc – front post double crochet –  work a normal double crochet stitch, but around the post of the indicated double crochet stitch, not through the two loops at the top.

Pattern Notes

  • Gauge: 4 rounds of the granny square = 3.5 inches.
  • The chain stitches at the beginning of rows and rounds count as a dc stitch unless otherwise noted.
  • Stitches are worked into the chain 1 space in the granny square motif, not the actual chain stitch. The only place where the chain 1 stitch is treated as a stitch is when working the mattress stitch up the side of the shirt.
  • The length of the shoulder seams is adjustable and open to interpretation. Create a larger boatneck collar by working a shorter seam along the shoulders, and a tighter neckline with a longer seam along each shoulder.
  • The length of the side seams is also adjustable and customizable. Depending on your arm, you can make a larger or smaller arm hole by seaming less or more of the “fabric” together.
  • When using the mattress stitch to seam up the side of the shirt, you’ll see 4 loops because you’re holding two sides together. Work the mattress stitch into the 2 loops in the middle – the front loop of the back piece, and the back loop of the front piece.

granny-square-blouse-steps-16

  • Here’s a video to show how to work the mattress stitch!
  • The number of stitches in the cap sleeves is pretty arbitrary. The instructions say to work stitches evenly around the sleeve hole (or up one side, and down the other, however you want to think about it). I recommend not putting in too many stitches; rather, spacing them out pretty evenly. If you work in too many stitches, your sleeve will be ruffled, and I think it looks better when it’s a little tapered.

Granny Square Cap Sleeved Top Instructions

Round 1: Start with a magic circle. Ch 3, 2 dc into magic circle, [ch 2, 3 dc in magic circle] 3 times, ch 2, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3.(3 dc each side)

how to start a granny square with a magic circle

Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), {[3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1} 3 times, 3 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in last ch-2 sp, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4.  (6 dc each side) (Fig. 2)

Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, {[3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1} 3 times, [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3.. (9 dc each side)

Round 4: Ch 4, [3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1] to ch-2 sp, {[3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1, [3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1] to ch-2 sp} 3 times, [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in last ch-1 sp, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (12 dc each side)

Begin Pattern Repeat

Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, [3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1] to ch-2 sp, {[3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1, [3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1] to ch-2 sp} 3 times, [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1, [3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1] to beginning ch-3, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (3 dc inc’d each side).

Round 6: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), [3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1] to ch-2 sp, {[3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp, ch 1, [3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1] to ch-2 sp} 3 times, [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in ch-2 sp,[ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp] to last ch-1 sp, 2 dc in last ch-1 sp, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (3 dc inc’d each side)

Rounds 7-22: Repeat Rounds 5 & 6, 8 more times. There are 66 dc along each side after the final round.

Waffle Block

Row 1: Work a standing dc in the corner ch 2 space. Work 1 dc in each of the next 88 sts and sps, working the dc evenly across. The last dc is the corner ch 2 space. Turn. (89)

granny-square-blouse-steps-9

granny-square-blouse-steps-10

granny-square-blouse-steps-11

Row 2:  Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc made). *Work 1 dc in next st. Work 1 fpdc in each of next 2 st.* Repeat from * 28 more times. Work 1 dc in last st. Turn. (89)

granny-square-blouse-steps-13

granny-square-blouse-steps-14

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc made). *Work 1 dc in each of next 2 st. Work 1 fpdc in next st.* Repeat from * 28 more times. Work 1 dc in last st (which is the 3rd turning chain). Turn. (89)

Rows 4-13: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 as a pair, 5 more times. Cut a 1-1.5 ft long tail and fasten off.

With wrong sides facing, use the tail from the waffle section to seam up the shoulder. Use the mattress stitch to join a length of about 14 stitches. Repeat for the other shoulder, leaving 61 stitches unseamed for neck opening.

Side Seam

To seam up the sides of the shirt, start with a double knot worked through the corner ch 2 spaces of both pieces, wrong sides facing, at opposite edge of Waffle Block Yoke. Use the mattress stitch to join a length of about 73 (77, 81, 85, 89, 93) stitches, ending in the ch 1 sp just after the 18th (19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd) dc cluster.. Cut a tail, fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat for the other side seam.

granny-square-blouse-steps-15

Sleeve

Round 1: Work 1 standing sc into the last stitch where the the seam was joined. Work sc evenly (see pattern notes) around the arm hole and join with sl st to the first sc.

granny-square-blouse-steps-17

granny-square-blouse-steps-18

Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as stitch). Work 1 dc into same stitch, and 1 dc into each stitch around. Join with sl st to first dc.

Round 3: Ch 1. Work 1 sc into same stitch, and 1 sc into each stitch around. Join with sl st to first sc. Cut tail, fasten off and weave in ends.

All done!

Granny squares short sleeved shirt

Because the shirt features a granny square, with all the holes in it, I did need to wear something underneath. I mean, I guess you don’t have to…. I tried a nude colored tank at first, but it looks way better with something darker underneath. For the photos, I wore an olive green tank.

Texture blocked granny squares and waffle stitch crochet top

granny squared crochet top

It goes great with jeans, and with my more colorful and patterned Lularoe skirts as well. I didn’t feel I needed to add jewelry, since the focus is on the waffle weave right up at the neckline. (Plus, I didn’t want anything to snag!) I’m so excited to have a good looking basic staple added to my wardrobe!

I’d love to see how you make this shirt your own, either by using different colors or altering the size for different body shapes and age groups. Share your completed projects with me on Facebook (One Dog Woof) or Instagram (@1dogwoof), or just follow along to see what yarn shenanigans I’m up to!

I received product from Lion Brand Yarn for this project and post. The pattern, all notes, instructions, photos and opinions are 100% my own. 

Check out my pattern shops on Etsy and Ravelry where you can purchase printable PDFs of my latest crochet patterns. These PDFs are formatted without comments or ads, and have instructional photos at the bottom for optional printing.

I sometimes include affiliate links in my supply lists. Purchasing from these merchants earns me a small commission with no extra cost to you, and goes towards supporting One Dog Woof.

Please be respectful and do not sell or distribute this pattern in any way, especially as your own. Instead, share the original blog post link! You can sell finished products made from this pattern by giving credit to One Dog Woof as the pattern designer and linking to the blog post. If you have any questions regarding distribution or translation of this pattern, please see my Terms of Use. Thank you for your consideration!

36 Comments

  1. Margaret

    So smart of you to make the shirt longer with the waffle stitch. It makes this shirt special and beuatiful fitting.
    Thanks for sharing the pattern.

    Dear greetings, Margaret

  2. Julie

    Ah yes, I can see this in my future. I saw it on Instagram but now I’ve pinned so that means I’ll definitely be making it (I make everything I pin obviously!) it looks like the perfect thing to make whilst watching tv, something you don’t have to concentrate too hard on . Thanks.

  3. Phanessa Fong

    So in love with this! ♥

  4. Pal

    Beautiful!
    My next project 🙂

  5. Heather

    Sorry if this is a goofy question. But I have to make two pieces of the granny square section correct? I might have overlooked that direction. Thanks!

  6. Phanessa

    Hi! It’s Phanessa! For me (I don’t know if it’s because I had less rounds of granny squares, but round 3 of the waffle stitches didn’t line up to the other side. I figured it out after watching some video tutorials. I love the top and can’t wait to wear it during the winter. It was HOT 🙂 I probably should have went with cotton as you suggested LOL

  7. Karen

    Love this! Can you tell me approximately what size this turns out to be with the 900 yards that you used? Thank you!

  8. Willow

    I saw your pattern on the Moogly site (Hookin on Hump Day) and had to visit your site. I LOVE this shirt and so many of the items you’ve designed; I just had to subscribe to your mailing list. I look forward to lots of wonderful crochet ideas. Thanks for sharing your creativity!!!

  9. Shawnee

    Where can we purchase this yarn? Not seeing it at my local yarn or craft store.

  10. Ann Marie

    I’m currently working on this. I hope it turns out. I’m not good with directions. But I’m almost done with one granny square with no problem

  11. DELORES SMITH

    I love what people are doing with granny squares these days. In the 70s, we would have never thought to make something this beautiful with a granny square. I love it.

  12. Marwa

    Hi,
    It’s a beautiful top ,but I don’t understand “3dc,ch2dc,ch1” is it ch2 then 2dc or is it ch2 then 1 dc ..
    I noticed starting row 7 you switch between the two lines “3dc ,ch2,3dc,ch1″and “3dc,ch2dc,ch1” in the last corner chain 2 space..
    Does this has any significance..
    Thank you for all your work and creativity..

  13. ChiWei

    Hi! Thank you for pointing that out! I took a look and it looks like a typo that I copied and pasted wrong. I’ve made the fix now – instructions should be “3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1” in the corner spaces.

  14. ChiWei

    Thank you so much Delores!

  15. ChiWei

    Thank you!

  16. ChiWei

    Yes, you make 2 squares. Sorry if that wasn’t clear!

  17. Laura

    I love this pattern and I was wondering if you thought it would look nìce if I used the waffle stitch and made long sleeves instead? Since the yarn is so warm I thought it would make a nice winter sweater. Or I can just use cotton yarn and make it for summer. Thank you for your beautiful patterns!

  18. Caroline

    I see a lot of crochet top ideas that are not my style, but your crochet top is very fashionable and beautiful. I can’t wait to make one for myself. Thanks for the awesome shirt pattern!

  19. Mercy

    I think she said XS-S

  20. Astara

    Thank you I loved making this.

  21. Pegi

    Are the armholes big enough so that the top can be worn over another top? If not, how would I adjust the pattern? Thanks!

  22. ChiWei

    I wear mine over a tank top, but you can adjust the arm holes by just creating a shorter side seam.

  23. Clare Revell

    does row one of the waffle stitch go on the right or wrong side of the granny square?

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  25. Sheila

    Hi ChiWei, I would love to make Granny Squared top but would need to make it in Lg size. How many more rows would you suggest I do?

  26. Jodie

    I love this top! I made it in a variegated black/grey color and I made one little change with the last round of the sleeves. I used a reverse engineered single crochet stitch. I also used the reverse engineered single crochet stitch around the neck and also at the bottom. I don’t know if the way I did the stitch has been done by anyone else but it ends up laying very flat and finishes off the price beautifully. Thank you for the wonderful design. I really appreciate all the work you put into making a simple top look amazing!

  27. Annalea

    Hi Chiwei
    What are the measurements of the finished garment?

    Think mine is working up a bit larger so may drop round 22, but just wanted to know what size I should be aiming for.

    Thanks

  28. Rose

    I love this but afraid it might be too warm. Any suggestions for making it to wear all seasons?

  29. Lisa K Winkler

    Hi,
    I want to make this as my first crochet project. (I’m an avid knitter.) Can you tell me how to convert it to a larger hook size to use worsted weight yarn?

  30. ChiWei

    Hi Lisa,

    There’s nothing to convert! You can use any hook and any yarn with these instructions 🙂

  31. Jackie

    Hi.
    I bought a copy of your Granny Square crochet top a while ago and just wanting to start it now. Can’t remember where I bought it (I have made purchases at all of them). I saw the note above that you updated the pattern to include a chart and counts for all sizes. How do i get an updated copy, mine does not have that info. Thanks. Your patterns are beautiful!

  32. Brenda

    Hi , I did your pattern and am very happy with the result.

  33. WEB

    This is so cute! I would love to make it with a cotton yarn, (cooler), and with the option of sleeves. However, I am only a middle of the road crocheter, so wouldn’t have any idea on how to do that. I bought a similar one with long sleeves, and wear colored tank tops under it.

  34. Janet

    Cotton or crochet thread

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