Sheep Granny Square

Sheep Granny Square by Alison Holloway

What Is Being Made

The Sheep Granny Square is a charming crochet square design created by independent designer Alison Holloway. This project produces a finished square measuring 14cm, making it an ideal building block for blankets, throws, and other larger crochet projects. The design features a sheep motif worked in contrasting colors, combining cream and darker accent shades to create visual interest within the traditional granny square structure.

Craft and Techniques

This is a crochet project suitable for beginner-level crafters. The design uses fundamental crochet techniques including working into a magic ring to establish the center, building rounds outward with increasing stitch counts, and strategic color changes to create the sheep design. The pattern demonstrates essential shaping methods such as increases (multiple stitches worked into single stitches) and decreases (using dc2tog technique) to form the square's structure and details.

Stitches Used

The Sheep Granny Square employs a focused selection of basic crochet stitches:

• Chain stitch (ch) – used for foundation and chain spaces
• Treble stitch (tr) – creates height and forms the primary fabric texture
• Double crochet (dc) – provides definition and detail work
• Double crochet 2 together (dc2tog) – used for decreasing stitches
• Slip stitch (sl st) – joins rounds and transitions between sections

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for Aran weight yarn, specifically Three Bears Affection Aran in 100% cotton. The recommended colors are Cuddles Cream for the main body and Shamrock Green and Pitch Black for accent details. Each 50g ball contains 85 meters of yarn, providing ample yardage for multiple squares. Construction requires a 4mm crochet hook and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming squares together when creating larger projects.

Pattern Structure

The square is constructed in four rounds, beginning with a magic ring foundation. Round 1 establishes 12 stitches using slip stitches and treble stitches. Round 2 doubles the stitch count to 24 stitches through increases. Round 3 continues building with 18 stitches using double crochet increases. Round 4 is a partial round that completes the square shape using chain spaces and slip stitches. The pattern concludes with fastening off and leaving a tail for sewing, allowing squares to be joined into larger blankets or throws.