Free Circle Granny Square Pattern with a Flower Center

• LevelBeginner
• Time1-2 Hours
• Hook3.00 mm
• YarnDK / Sport

About This Pattern

Materials

Crochet Abbreviations

ch-sp

chain space

ch

chain stitch

rep

repeat

dc

double crochet

hdc

half double crochet

st

stitch

sl st

slip stitch

Free Circle Granny Square Pattern with a Flower Center

Main Pattern

1. Round 1

   5ch, slst to first ch.Step by step Step 1: Start with a knot, make 5 chain stitches, slip stitch to the first stitch to form a circle.

2. Round 2(16)

   ch3(count as 1dc), 15dc, slst to top of ch3, fasten off (16).Step by step Step 2: Make 3 chain stitches as standing stitch(count as dc), and then make 15 dc in the circle, slip stitch to top of ch3, fasten off.

3. Round 3

   add new yarn through any st, ch3(count as dc), ch, [dc, ch] rep 15 times, slst to top of ch3, fasten off.Step by step Step 3: Adding new color yarn through any stitch, ch3 as standing stitch(count as dc), ch1, [dc, ch] repeat 15 times, slip stitch to top of ch3, fasten off.

4. Round 4

   add same color yarn, pull the yarn through any st, ch3(count as 1dc), dc, ch, [2dc, ch] rep 15 times, slst to top of ch3, fasten off.Step by step Step 4: Add same color yarn, pull the yarn through any stitch, ch3 as standing stitch(count as dc), dc, ch, [2dc, ch] repeat 15 times, slip stitch to top of ch3, fasten off.

5. Round 5

   add new color yarn, pull the yarn through any ch-sp, ch3 as standing stitch, ch2, [hdc, ch2] rep 2 times, dc, ch5,[dc, ch2, *(hdc, ch2) rep* 2 times, dc, ch5] rep 3 times, slst to the top of ch3, fasten off.Step by step Step 5: Then we add new color yarn, pull the yarn through any chain space, make ch3 as standing stitch, ch2, [hdc, ch2] repeat 2 times, dc, ch5, after that, make[dc, ch2, *(hdc, ch2) repeat* 2 times, dc, ch5] repeat 3 times, slip stitch to the top of ch3, fasten off.

6. Round 6

   add same color yarn, pull the yarn through any corner sp, make ch3 as standing st, (2dc+ch3+3dc) in same ch-sp, *3dc in next ch-sp, rep* 3 times, [(3dc+ch3+3dc) in same ch-sp, *3dc in next ch-sp, rep* 3 times] rep 3 times, slst to the first of ch3, fasten off.Step by step Step 6: Add same color yarn, pull the yarn through any corner space, make ch3 as standing st, (2dc+ch3+3dc) in same ch-sp, *3dc in next ch-sp, repeat * 3 times.

   Step by step Step 7: [another (3dc+ch3+3dc) in same ch-sp, *3dc in next ch-sp, repeat * 3 times] repeat 3 times, slip stitch to the first of ch3, fasten off.
7. Round 7

   add same color yarn, pull the yarn through any corner sp, (ch3 as standing st +dc+ch3+2dc) in the same corner sp, 15dc, 2dc in next ch-sp,[ch3+2dc in same corner sp, 15dc, 2dc in next ch-sp] rep 3 times, slst to the first of ch3, fasten off, weave in ends.Step by step Step 8: Add same color yarn, pull the yarn through any corner space, (ch3 as standing stitch(count as dc)+dc +ch3+2dc) in the same corner space, 15dc, 2dc in next ch-sp, then [make another ch3+2dc in same corner space, 15dc, 2dc in next ch-sp] repeat 3 times, slip stitch to the first of ch3, fasten off, weave in ends. Now we finished a circle granny square.

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Important Notes

• 💡 The finished granny square measures 5 inches by 5 inches. The pattern is written for a 3.00mm hook with DK/sport yarn, which is slightly smaller than the usual DK hook on purpose — it keeps the stitches tight and the flower center crisp. If your square comes out larger or smaller than 5 inches, go down or up a hook size to match
• 💡 Block your finished square. A quick wet block — dampen, pin to a 5x5-inch square on a towel or foam mat, and let it dry — sharpens the corners and makes joining multiple squares far easier and neater
• 💡 With three colors in play, wind a small bobbin or make a center-pull mini-ball of each shade so the strands don't tangle. Weave in ends as you finish each color instead of saving them all for the end
• 💡 If you're making many squares to join, use the exact same hook and keep your tension steady across all of them. A pile of squares that are all truly 5 inches assembles into a flat, professional-looking blanket
• 💡 Place stitch markers in your four corner spaces on the round where the circle first becomes a square. They're your anchor points for every remaining round and the single best way to keep the shape true
• 💡 Any smooth DK or light-worsted yarn works for substitutions. Cotton gives crisp stitch definition and holds the square shape beautifully; acrylic is softer and more forgiving for cozy blankets. For worsted-weight, size up to a 3.5–4mm hook and expect a slightly larger finished square

Common Mistakes and Fixes

• Leaving the magic ring loose, so a hole

  Work your first round of stitches into the ring, then pull the short tail firmly to cinch the center closed before joining. Give the tail a final tug after weaving it in so it can't loosen with handling

• Losing track of the four corner chain

  As soon as you establish your four corners, drop a stitch marker into each corner chain space. Every following round, make sure your corner clusters land in those marked spaces so all four sides grow evenly

• Getting a visible 'jog' or messy step

  Join each new color with a slip stitch into the correct starting stitch, then work over the old and new tails for the first few stitches to lock them in. Keeping your join at the same corner each round hides it neatly

• Forgetting that the beginning chain-3

  Decide once whether your ch-3 counts as a stitch and stay consistent. When you reach the end of the round, skip the stitch at the base of that ch-3 and join into its top to keep your count exact

• The square cups (curls up like a bowl)

  Cupping usually means too few stitches or tight tension in the increase rounds, while ruffling means too many. Recount your corners, relax your grip, and wet-block the finished square to settle it into a flat five inches

• Uneven petals or background spacing

  Count the number of stitches (or granny clusters) along each side as you go and make sure all four sides match before joining the round. Fixing an off-count immediately is far easier than frogging back three rounds later

Variations

• The three-color setup makes this square a playground. For a soft, nursery-sweet version, try the source's lavender idea: a soft purple flower with a yellow center against a cream background. Want something more grown-up and graphic? Go with a bold teal flower, a pop of red at the center, and a neutral gray background — it reads modern and gallery-worthy. For seasonal spins, work an orange-and-brown bloom on ivory for autumn, a red-and-white flower on forest green for the holidays, or pastel pinks on mint for spring. To resize, keep working the granny-cluster pattern past round 7: each extra round adds roughly an inch, so two more rounds turns your 5-inch square into a chunky 7-inch cushion panel. Prefer smaller? Stop a round early and block firmly for a dainty 4-inch coaster. Yarn swaps open even more doors. Substitute a worsted-weight cotton like Lily Sugar'n Cream and bump up to a 3.5–4mm hook for sturdy, washable dishcloth squares. A budget-friendly DK acrylic such as Paintbox Simply DK keeps blankets snuggly and affordable, while a merino DK gives heirloom softness for baby gifts. You can also go monochrome-with-a-twist: three tonal shades of the same color (light, medium, dark) create an elegant ombré bloom that looks far fancier than the effort it takes
• I have a soft spot for motifs that surprise you, and this one does exactly that. You begin with a humble magic ring, build up a little flower in your center color, and then watch — almost magically — as those corner chain spaces pull a round bloom into a perfectly square edge. That moment when the circle 'squares off' never gets old for me. I also love how forgiving the three-color structure is: the flower center, the petals, and the background each get their own color, so you can play designer without changing a single stitch count. The double crochet clusters work up fast and rhythmic, which makes this my go-to for pattern-with-a-podcast evenings. And because each square finishes at a tidy five inches, the little wins stack up quickly — before you know it you've got a pile of blooms ready to join. It's satisfying, portable, endlessly repeatable, and genuinely relaxing to make. This is the square I keep coming back to when I want pretty results without the fuss

Frequently Asked Questions

• How big is the finished circle granny square?

  Worked in DK/sport-weight yarn with a 3.00mm hook, one square finishes at about 5 inches by 5 inches. Your exact size depends on your tension, so adjust your hook a size up or down if you need to hit that measurement

• Can I make the square bigger without changing the design?

  Yes. Simply continue the granny-cluster pattern beyond round 7, keeping four corner increases going. Each additional round adds roughly an inch, so two extra rounds turns the 5-inch motif into about a 7-inch panel

• What yarn weight should I use, and can I substitute?

  The sample uses DK/sport-weight yarn, which gives the neat 5-inch size. You can substitute any smooth DK, or move to worsted weight with a 3.5–4mm hook for a larger, sturdier square that's great for dishcloths or chunkier blankets

• How many squares do I need for a blanket?

  5 inches each, roughly 35 squares (5 across by 7 down) make a small lap blanket around 25 by 35 inches before edging. For a generous throw, aim for about 48 to 63 squares, then add a border round to finish

• Is this pattern good for beginners?

  It's very beginner-friendly as long as you can make a magic ring and a basic double crochet. The only round that needs a little extra attention is the corner transition that turns the circle into a square, so just slow down and count your corners there

About the Author

Marisol QuinteroWho runs Crochet Obsessed, why a stitch count sits at the end of every round, how a pattern gets written here, and the things this site will never do.