Crochet King’s Flower Granny Square

This beautiful six-inch crochet motif features a highly textured, blooming floral center that seamlessly transitions into a classic granny square.

It is the perfect raised-stitch embellishment for constructing cozy blankets, decorative pillowcases, and stunning multi-block afghan projects.

Materials Needed

• Hook: 6.0 mm (US J/10) crochet hook.

• Yarn: Medium weight / Aran yarn (e.g., Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran).

• Tools: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and scissors.

• Finished Size: Approximately 6 inches (15.2 cm) square.

Special Notes & Techniques

• Turning Chains: The initial chains at the start of each round do not count as stitches unless explicitly noted.

• Popcorn Stitch: Work 4 double crochets into the same stitch. Drop the loop from your hook, insert your hook from front to back through the top of the first double crochet, grab the dropped loop, and pull it through to close the flower bud.

• Picot Stitch: Chain 3, then insert your hook into the front loop and vertical bar of the previous stitch, yarn over, and pull through all loops on your hook.

• Bracket Instructions [...]: Work all the stitches listed inside the brackets into the exact same stitch or space.

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Step 1: The Flower Core

Round 1: The Foundation Ring

Create a magic circle (magic ring) to begin.

1. Chain 2 (this acts as a height guide, not a stitch).

2. Work 12 double crochets directly into the magic circle.

3. Pull the yarn tail to close the ring firmly.

4. Slip stitch into the top of your very first double crochet to close the round.

• Total Stitch Count: 12 double crochets.

Round 2: The Texturing Popcorns

1. Chain 2.

2. In the very first stitch, work a Popcorn Stitch (see special notes), then chain 2.

3. Repeat this process in every stitch around: work 1 popcorn stitch followed by a chain-2 space into each remaining double crochet.

4. Join the round by making a slip stitch into the top of the first popcorn stitch.

• Total Stitch Count: 12 popcorn stitches and 12 chain-2 spaces.

Step 2: Building the Petal Base

Round 3: The Double Crochet Grid

1. Chain 1, then slip stitch directly into the first chain-2 space from the previous round.

2. Chain 5 (this serves as your first double crochet plus a chain-2 space).

3. Work 1 double crochet into that same chain-2 space.

4. For the remaining 11 spaces around, work the following sequence into each chain-2 space: [1 double crochet, chain 2, 1 double crochet].

5. To finish, slip stitch into the 3rd chain of your starting chain-5.

• Total Stitch Count: 24 double crochets and 12 chain-2 spaces.

Round 4: Back-Post Loops

Note: This round creates the anchors for your petals by working around the stems (posts) of the stitches.

1. Chain 1. Work a slip stitch around the post of the very first double crochet from Round 3.

2. *Chain 2, then work a slip stitch around the post of the next double crochet, and another slip stitch around the post of the following double crochet.*

3. Repeat the steps between the asterisks * a total of 11 times.

4. To complete the final repeat, chain 2, slip stitch around the post of the next double crochet, and join with a slip stitch into the first slip stitch of the round.

• Total Stitch Count: 24 slip stitches and 12 chain-2 loops.

Round 5: Blooming the Petals

1. Chain 1, then slip stitch into the first chain-2 loop created in Round 4.

2. In this loop, work the flower petal sequence: [1 single crochet, 1 half double crochet, 1 picot stitch, 1 half double crochet, 1 single crochet].

3. Repeat this exact sequence inside all 12 of the chain-2 loops around the circle.

4. Secure the round by slip stitching into the first single crochet you made.

• Total Stitch Count: 12 distinct flower petals.

Step 3: Transitioning to a Square

Round 6: Shaping the Four Corners

Note: For this round, you will push the petals forward and work strictly into the hidden chain-2 spaces from Round 3.

1. Chain 1, slip stitch into the first available chain-2 space from Round 3, and work 1 single crochet.

2. *In the next space, work: [2 single crochets, 1 half double crochet].

3. In the following space (this creates the corner): work [1 half double crochet, 2 double crochets, chain 2, 2 double crochets, 1 half double crochet].

4. In the next space, work: [1 half double crochet, 2 single crochets].

5. Repeat from * 3 times to form the square edges.

6. On your final repeat, finish by working [2 single crochets, 1 half double crochet] in the second-to-last space, the full corner sequence in the next space, and [1 half double crochet, 1 single crochet] in the very first space to balance the start. Join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.

• Total Stitch Count: 12 stitches along each of the 4 sides, plus 4 corner chain-2 spaces.

Round 7: Granny Stitch Clusters

Note: In this round, you will be crocheting into the spaces between the posts of specific stitches from the previous round rather than into the loops on top.

1. Chain 1, then slip stitch into the space between the posts of the first 2 single crochets. Chain 2.

2. *Work 3 double crochets into that same space between the posts.

3. Skip ahead to the space between the next 2 half double crochets and work 3 double crochets.

4. In the corner chain-2 space, work: [3 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets].

5. Skip to the space between the next 2 half double crochets and work 3 double crochets.

6. Skip to the space between the second and third single crochets of that side and work 3 double crochets.

7. Repeat from * 3 times around the square.

8. To finish the final side, work 3 double crochets between the next 2 half double crochets, complete the corner sequence, work 3 double crochets between the last 2 half double crochets, and join with a slip stitch to the first double crochet.

• Total Stitch Count: 15 stitches along each side, plus 4 corner chain-2 spaces.

Round 8: The Border Framing

1. Chain 1. Work 1 half double crochet into the top of every stitch across the sides.

2. When you reach each of the four corner chain-2 spaces, work: [1 half double crochet, chain 2, 1 half double crochet].

3. Continue this evenly around the square.

4. Slip stitch to the initial half double crochet to finish.

• Total Stitch Count: 17 stitches along each side, plus 4 corner chain-2 spaces.

Finishing

Fasten off your yarn, cut it leaving a short tail, and use your tapestry needle to cleanly weave in all loose ends on the back of the square.

Tip: Lightly block your finished square with steam or water to flatten out the texture and make your 6-inch dimensions perfectly straight!