I’m sharing the first pattern in the 2026 You’ve Got Options Crochet Along with CAL Central Crochet. The Athena Squares are a set of unique granny squares with the option for 6″ or 12″ versions. Each Athena Square variation has loads of texture and color!
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Yarn for the sample was generously provided by Lion Brand.
Long-time readers know that crocheting motifs is one of my favorite relaxation activities, and I love to create unique granny squares. The Athena Squares are fun to crochet because the look is pretty different for the 6″ and 12″ variation.
I used three colors but you could use more (or even just two). I think the Athena Squares would be underwhelming in one color because of the overlaid stitches, but you know your preferences better than I do!
Scroll down for the free patterns for both Athena unique granny squares. This pattern is part of the You’ve Got Options Crochet Along with CAL Central Crochet. To follow the crochet along…
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Athena Squares
Crochet Patterns for Unique Granny Squares by Underground Crafter
This set of unique granny squares includes the option for 6″ or 12″ versions. Each Athena Square has loads of texture and lots of color!The Athena Squares are the first patterns in the You’ve Got Options Crochet Along with CAL Central Crochet.
Finished Sizes
- Square: 6″ (12″)/15 cm (30.5 cm).
Materials
- Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn (100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 170 yd/156 m) – 1 skein each in 180E Cranberry (CA), 101A Pink (CB), and 100 White (CC), or approximately 15 yd (36 yd)/14 m (33 m) in CA, 25 yd (65 yd)/23 m (59.5 m) in CB, 25 yd (40 yd)/23 m (36.5 m) in CC in any medium weight yarn.
- Vanna’s Choice is available online at Lion Brand | Herrschners | Mary Maxim | WeCrochet
- KnitPro Waves 2.0 (available online at LoveCrafts | Amazon) US Size I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- Locking stitch marker or scrap yarn (optional).
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- Through Round 3 = 4″ (10 cm) square in pattern. Exact gauge is not critical for this project.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- BL – back loop only – Fiber Flux has a helpful video tutorial demonstrating how to identify the back loop in crochet here.
- bob – 5-repeat bobble – [Yo, insert hook into st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] 5 times in the same st, yo and draw through all 6 loops on hook. A helpful video tutorial for this stitch is available below.
- If you can’t see the video for the bob above, watch it on YouTube.
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- CC – Color C
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- pf – 3-repeat puff stitch – [Yo, insert hook into st, yo and draw up a loop] 3 times in same st, yo and draw through all 7 loops on hook. A helpful video tutorial for this stitch is available below.
- If you can’t see the video for the pf above, watch it on YouTube.
- rep – repeat
- RS – right (front) side
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- tr – treble (triple) crochet
- yo – yarn over
- [] Repeat instructions within brackets as indicated.
- () Work stitches between parentheses into same stitch or space.
- * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- If you have trouble “reading” your stitches, place a stitch marker or scrap yarn on the front of Rnd 1 to indicate the Right Side.
- There are several ways to crochet into chain spaces. For this project, I used the first version shown in the video below.
- If you can’t see the video above showing how to crochet into chain spaces, watch it on YouTube.
Pattern Instructions
Athena Square (All Sizes)
- With CA, ch 4, skip 3 ch, sl st to next ch to form ring.
- Round 1: (RS) Ch 1, 12 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of first dc (see Pattern Notes), fasten off CA. (12 sts)
- Round 2: Turn to WS, join CB with sl st to any st, ch 1, starting in same st *bob in next st, ch 1, bob in next st**, ch 3, skip 1 st; rep from * around, ending last rep at**, ch 1, join with hdc (counts as last 2 ch in ch-3 sp) to first bob. – 3 sts (2 bob + ch-1 sp) on each side + 4 ch-3 sp
- Round 3: (WS) Ch 1, bob in same ch-3 sp, *ch 2, skip next st, bob in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, skip next st,** (bob, ch 3, bob) in corner ch-3 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, bob in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, join with hdc (counts as last 2 ch in ch-3 sp) to first bob. – 5 sts (3 bob + 2 ch-2 sp) on each side + 4 ch-3 sp
- Round 4: (WS) Ch 1, sc in same ch-3 sp, *[2 sc in next bob, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp] twice, 2 sc in next bob,** (sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner ch-3 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in first ch-3 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off CB. – 12 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 5: Turn to RS, join CC with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp, ch 2, sc in same ch-2 sp, *pfBL in next st, [scBL in next st, pfBL in next st] across side to last st, (scBL, pfBL) in next st,** (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, join with sc (counts as second ch in ch-2 sp) to first sc. – 15 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 6: (RS) Ch 1, 2 sc in same ch-2 sp, *sc in next 15 sts,** (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, 2 sc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off CC. – 19 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- 6″ SQUARE ONLY: CONTINUE ON TO FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS.
Add the Athena 6″ Square to your favorites or queue, or buy the ad-free PDF on Ravelry.
- Round 7: (RS) Join CA with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, *ch 1, skip 3 sts, [3 dc in next st, ch 1, skip 3 sts] across side,** (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, 2 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to first dc, fasten off CA. – 21 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 8: (RS) Join CB with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-2 sp, *scBL in next 2 sts, [working over ch-1 sp, tr in center (second) of next group of skipped sts on previous Round, scBL in next 3 sts] 4 times, working over ch-1 sp, tr in center (second) of next group of skipped sts on previous Round, scBL in next 2 sts,** (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, join with sc (counts as second ch in ch-2 sp) to first sc. – 23 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 9: (RS) Ch 1, sc in same ch-2 sp, *[sc in next st, pf in next st] across side to last st, sc in next st,** (sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off CB. – 25 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 10: (RS) Join CC with sl st to any ch-2 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same ch-2 sp, ch 1, *[skip 3 sts, 3 dc in next st, ch 1] 6 times, skip 1 st,** (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, 2 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to first dc, fasten off CC. – 29 sts (22 dc + 7 ch-1 sp) on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 11: (RS) Join CA with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-2 sp, *scBL in next 2 sts, [working over ch-1 sp, tr in center (second) of next group of skipped sts on previous Round, scBL in next 3 sts] 6 times, working over ch-1 sp, tr in center (second) of next group of skipped sts on previous Round, scBL in next 2 sts,** (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, join with sc (counts as second ch in ch-2 sp) to first sc. – 31 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 12: (RS) Ch 1, sc in same ch-2 sp, *sc in next st, [sc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] across side to last 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts,** (sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off CA. – 33 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 13: (RS) Join CB with sl st to any corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, dc in same ch-2 sp, *ch 1, dc in first 2 sts, [ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in ch-1 sp] across to last 3 sts, ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next 2 sts, ch 1** (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, dc in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, join with sc (counts as second ch in ch-2 sp) to first dc. – 37 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- Round 14: (RS) Ch 1, hdc in same ch-2 sp, *hdc in next 37 sts and ch-1 sp across,** (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, hdc in first ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st to first hdc, fasten off CB. – 39 sts on each side + 4 ch-2 sp
- 12″ SQUARE ONLY: CONTINUE ON TO FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS.
Add the Athena 12″ Square to your favorites or queue, or buy the ad-free PDF on Ravelry.
Finishing
- With yarn needle, weave in yarn tails on WS of square.