It’s no secret that I love gifting granny square baby blankets. If you feel the same, or if you’re just looking for a variation on the granny square to add to your next project, you’ll love the Circle in a Square Granny Square Blanket pattern! This is a simple variation on the traditional granny square that is easy to customize.
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The Circle in a Square Baby Blanket was originally published in the April, 2014 issue of I Like Crochet, my favorite digital crochet magazine. I used four different colors for the centers in my version, but you could use just one color or even make it scrappy.
This granny square baby blanket pattern is designed so you join the squares as you go and then add a 3 color border in the round at the end. It has a very cute look once it’s finished and makes a great baby shower gift. Most doctors recommend against letting babies sleep under blankets these days, but baby blankets still make great room decor or mats for tummy time.
If you make your own Circle in a Square Baby Blanket, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Circle in a Square Baby Blanket
Granny Square Baby Blanket Pattern by Underground Crafter
This simple motif is easily customized, making it a great go-to pattern. This version includes pastel circles against white for a colorful baby blanket.
Finished Size
- Baby blanket: 38” (96.5 cm) square.
Materials
- Red Heart Super Saver yarn (100% acrylic, 7 oz/198 g, 364 yd/333 m) – 3 skeins in 316 Soft White (MC), and 1 skein each in 724 Baby Pink (CA), 505 Aruba Sea (CB), 322 Pale Yellow (CC), and 381 Light Blue (CD), or approximately 1,040 yd (951 m) in MC; 115 yd (105 m) each in CA, CC, and CD; and 55 yd (50 m) in CB in any medium weight yarn.
- US Size I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- 1 square = 6” (15 cm) in pattern. Exact gauge is not critical for this project.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- CC – Color C
- CD – Color D
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- FPdc – front post double crochet – Yo, insert hook from front around back to front of st in previous round, yo and draw up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops] twice. A video tutorial for this stitch is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above for the FPdc, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
- MC – Main Color
- rep – repeat
- Rnd(s) – Round(s)
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- sphdc – spike half double crochet – Yo, insert hook in next skipped st from previous Rnd, yo and draw up a loop to height of current Rnd, yo and draw through 3 loops.
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- tr – treble crochet
- yo – yarn over
- *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
- [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
- () Stitches in parentheses are worked into same stitch or space.
Pattern Notes
- Blanket is crocheted in the round with right side up. After first square is crocheted, each additional square is joined to rest of the blanket in final round. Border is crocheted around the entire blanket after assembly.
Pattern Instructions
Blanket
Center Circle – Make 9 each in CA, CB, CC, and CD
- Ch 5, sk 4 sts, join with sl st to first ch to form ring.
- Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout), 11 dc in ring. (12 sts)
- Rnd 2: Ch 3, FPdc around same st in previous rnd, *dc in next st, FPdc around same st from previous rnd; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch 3. Fasten off. (24 sts)
First Square
- With right side facing, join MC with sl st to any FPdc from Rnd 2 of Center Circle in CA.
- Rnd 3: Ch 4 (counts as tr, here and throughout), 2 tr in same st, *ch 1, skip 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 1, sk 2 sts,** (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next st; rep from * twice more, then from * to ** once more, 3 tr in first st, (ch 1, sc to top of first ch 4) to join (counts as ch-2 sp, here and throughout). (44 sts)
- Rnd 4: (Ch 4, 2 tr) in same ch-2 sp, *[ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] twice, ch 1,** (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next ch-2 sp; repeat from * twice more, then from * to ** once more, 3 tr in beginning ch-2 sp, (ch 1, sc to top of first ch 4). (68 sts)
- Rnd 5: (Ch 3, 2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, *[ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] 3 times, ch 1,** (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp; rep from * twice more, then from * to ** once more, 3 dc in first ch-2 sp, (ch 1, sc to top of first ch 3), fasten off. (84 sts)
Joining Additional Squares to First Row of Blanket
- Following color placement chart, join MC as for first square. Follow instructions for first square through Rnd 4.
- Rnd 5: (Ch 3, 2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, [ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] 3 times, ch 1. With wrong side of finished square facing, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, ch 1, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square, 3 dc), [sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, 3 dc] 3 times, sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square, ch 1, 3 dc), *[ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] 3 times, ch 1,** (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp; rep from * once more, then from * to ** once more, 3 dc in first ch-2 sp, (ch 1, sc to top of first ch 3), fasten off. (84 sts)
Joining Additional Squares (Blanket Rows 2-6)
- Following color placement chart, follow instructions for Joining Additional Squares to First Row of Blanket to attach first square of each row to prior row.
- Following color placement chart, follow instructions for joining additional squares through Rnd 4.
- Rnd 5: (Ch 3, 2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, [ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] 3 times, ch 1. With wrong side of finished square facing, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, ch 1, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square, 3 dc), [sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, 3 dc] 3 times, sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square in row above, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square on same row, 3 dc), *[ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] 3 times, ch 1,** (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp; rep from * once more, then from * to ** once more, 3 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc to top of first ch 3, fasten off. (84 sts)
Border
- Rnd 1: With right side facing, join CA with sl st in any corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, 2 sc in same ch-2 sp, *sc in each dc and ch-1 sp across side,** (2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * twice more, then from * to ** once more, (2 sc, ch 1) in first ch-2 sp, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off.
- Rnd 2: With right side facing, join CC with sl st in any corner ch-1 sp, ch 1, (sc, ch 1, sc) in same ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st** around to next corner ch-1 sp, [ch 1, sc] twice in corner ch-1 sp; rep from * twice more, then from * to ** once more, ch 1, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off.
- Rnd 3: With right side facing, join CD with sl st in any corner ch-1 sp, ch 1 (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner, *ch 1, sk 1 st, sphdc in next skipped st from Rnd 2,** around to next corner ch-1 sp, [ch 1, sc] twice in corner ch-1 sp;* rep from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once, ch 1, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off.
Finishing
- With tapestry needle, weave in ends on wrong side of blanket. Spray block if necessary.