How to Crochet a Spike Stitch Granny Square (Free Pattern + Step-by-Step Tutorial)
If you’re looking to add bold texture and eye-catching detail to your crochet projects, the Spike Stitch Granny Square is a must-try! This modern twist on the classic granny square uses simple stitches with a striking spike stitch technique to create a beautifully layered design that really stands out. Whether you’re a beginner ready to level up your skills or an experienced crocheter looking for a fresh new pattern, this tutorial has you covered. In this post, you’ll find a complete written pattern, step-by-step photo tutorial, and a full video walkthrough to guide you every step of the way, so you can confidently create your own stunning spike stitch granny square.
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Why You’ll Love Crocheting Granny Squares
Granny squares are one of the most versatile and beginner-friendly ways to crochet, making them a favorite for crafters of all skill levels. They’re perfect for creating everything from blankets and bags to garments and home décor, all by simply joining small, manageable pieces together. Because they’re worked in sections, granny squares are ideal for on-the-go projects and great for using up leftover yarn from your stash. Plus, they offer endless opportunities for creativity! Whether it’s mixing colors, textures, and stitch patterns (like the spike stitch!), granny squares allow you to create truly unique designs while building your skills along the way.
Materials Needed for the Spike Stitch Granny Square
Yarn in 4 different colors (I used a Caron Cotton Cake yarn in the color Beach Glass and Lion Brand The Cottony One yarn in Lychee White)
Crochet Hook (I used a size G 4.0mm crochet hook)
Scissors
Yarn Needle
Optional: Blocking Board
Crochet Stitches Used in This Tutorial
Magic Circle (MC) or Double Magic Circle (DMC)
Round 1 of the Spike Stitch Granny Square
Please note that I prefer the use of either a Magic Circle or a Double Magic Circle. If you do not care for using these techniques, you could start this square by chaining 4, joining with a slip stitch to the 1st chain to create a circle, and then proceed to work the round into that instead of using a Magic Circle.
Step 1
Start with COLOR 1 and begin by creating a Magic Circle and then Chaining 3 (this ch 3 counts in the stitch count as a double crochet stitch). Into the Magic Circle place 2 more DC and then chain 1.
Step 2
Now repeat (3DC, Ch 1) 3 times.
Round 1 Step 3 Spike Stitch Granny Square
Next we close the round by unwinding the yarn tail from the Magic Circle. This will allow the circle to close smoothly. Close the circle by gently pulling on the yarn tail. Pull until it is fully closed.
Step 4 Round 1
Now to finish Round 1 of the Spike Stitch Granny Square join and close the round by Slip Stitching to the top of the 1st DC that was worked into the Magic Circle. Do not cut the yarn!
Round 2 Spike Stitch Granny Square
Stitch placement is key for this round. See the photos below for where to work the stitches for Round 2. Also, note that this round uses the SAME yarn color as the previous round.
Step 1
To begin Round 2, start by slip stitching backwards into the chain 1 gap you just finished in for Round 1. After you are in the Chain 1 gap, chain 3.
Now place 2 more DC into the same chain 1 gap.
Spike Stitch Granny Square Step 2
Next repeat (In the corner chain 1 gap place: 3 DC, Ch 1, 3 DC) 3 times.
Step 3
Now into the SAME chain 1 gap that we started the round with, place 3 DC and Chain 1.
Final Step for Round 2
Finally to close the round join with a slip stitch to the top of the 1st double crochet stitch for the round. Cut the yarn free and then fasten off your yarn (or complete an INVISIBLE JOIN). Weave in your yarn tails and you have just completed Round 2 of the Spike Stitch Granny Square.
Spike Stitch Granny Square Round 3
Stitch placement is key for this round. See the photos below for where to work the stitches for Round 3. This round brings in yarn COLOR 2.
Now also note how and where the stitches for the Granny Spike Stitches are worked. This is key to the unique look of the Spike Stitch Granny Square.
Step 1
First begin by bringing in color 2 by Slip Stitching to any of the corner Chain 1 gap spaces. After joining with a slip stitch, chain 3 with the new yarn color. This chain 3 acts like a double crochet and is counted in the stitch count.
Now place 2 more DC into the same chain 1 gap.
Round 3 Step 2
Next we are going to work a Granny Spike Stitch into the gap in between the corner spaces. To do this start by placing a double crochet in the gap. Then we will work a double crochet into the top of the middle DC from the Round 1 DC cluster. Make sure to work this double crochet more loosely. To finish the Granny Spike Stitch, double crochet into the gap again.
Step 3 Spike Stitch Granny Square Round 3
Now we get into the repeat for this round. Repeat (First move to the next chain 1 gap. Into that corner chain 1 gap place: 3 DC, chain 1, 3 DC. Go to the next gap in between corners and work a Granny Spike Stitch cluster.) 3 times.
Final Step for Round 3
Finally, when you get back to the same chain 1 gap that this round started in, place 3 double crochets and then chain 1. To close the round, join with a slip stitch to the top of the 1st DC for the round. Finish by cutting the yarn free, fastening off (or completing an INVISIBLE JOIN), and weaving in the yarn tails.
And that is a completed Round 3 of the Spike Stitch Granny Square!
Round 4 Spike Stitch Granny Square
Now stitch placement is key for this round. See the photos below for where to work the stitches for Round 4. This round brings in yarn COLOR 3.
Step 1
First begin by bringing in color 3 by Slip Stitching to any of the corner Chain 1 gap spaces. After joining with a slip stitch, chain 3 with the new yarn color. This chain 3 acts like a double crochet and is counted in the stitch count.
Spike Stitch Granny Square Step 2
Now repeat (in the next gap between clusters place a DC into the gap, DC into the middle DC from the previous round, and DC into the gap) 2 times.
Step 3 Round 4
Next repeat (Create a corner by working 3 DC, Ch 1 3 DC into the chain 1 corner gap from the previous round. Then into each of the next 2 spaces in between clusters work a Granny Spike Stitch Cluster [DC into gap, DC into the top of the middle DC from the previous round, DC into the gap]) 3 times.
Round 4 Spike Stitch Granny Square Final Steps
Now, to finish Round 4 place 3 DC and then chain 1 into the same space we started this round in.
Next, slip stitch to the top of the 1st double crochet to close the round.
Finally, cut the yarn free, fasten off (or complete an INVISIBLE JOIN), and weave in your ends to complete Round 4 of the Spike Stitch Granny Square.
Round 5
Now stitch placement is key for this round. See the photos below for where to work the stitches for Round 5. This round brings in yarn COLOR 4.
Step 1 Round 5
First begin by bringing in color 4 by Slip Stitching to any of the corner Chain 1 gap spaces. After joining with a slip stitch, chain 3 with the new yarn color. This chain 3 acts like a double crochet and is counted in the stitch count.
Spike Stitch Granny Square Round 5 Step 2
Now place 2 double crochets into the same space. After that, into the next 3 gaps place a Granny Spike Stitch Cluster (DC into the gap, DC into the top of the middle DC, and DC into the gap).
Step 3
Next repeat (Into the corner chain 1 gap place 3 DC, chain 1, and DC. Then place a Granny Spike Stitch Cluster [DC into the gap, DC into the top of the middle DC, DC into the gap] in the next 3 gaps) 3 times.
Finishing Round 5
Finally to finish Round 5 of the Spike Stitch Granny Square join with a slip stitch to the top of the chain 3 that we started the round with.
Finishing the Spike Stitch Granny Square
Now to finish the Spike Stitch Granny Square cut the yarn free, fasten off (or complete an INVISIBLE JOIN), and weave in ends.
And that is how to crochet a Spike Stitch Granny Square! I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do! Happy Crocheting!
Video Tutorial
Spike Stitch Granny Square Written Pattern Only:
To begin, make sure you know where you are working your stitches, in particular your Granny Spike Stitch Clusters.
Round 1
First with Color 1, begin with a Magic Circle (or Double Magic Circle).
Next chain 3 (counts as a DC). Put 2 DC into the circle, then chain 1. Repeat (3DC into the circle, chain 1) 3 times.
Finally tighten the circle. Join with a Slip Stitch to the top of the 1st DC.
DO NOT CUT YARN!
Round 2
Now with same color (Color 1), Slip Stitch back into the closest chain 1 gap. Chain 3. Put 2 more DC into the same space.
Next repeat (Skip to next Chain 1 gap and then Place 3 DC, Chain 1, and then place 3 more DC) 3 times.
Now when you are back to the original gap we started in, place 3 more DC in that 1st gap and chain 1.
Finally Slip Stitch to the top of the 1st DC for the round. Cut Yarn free. Fasten off. We are done with color 1.
Round 3
First with Color #2, join with a slip stitch to any of the chain 1 gaps from the previous round. Chain 3 (this counts as a DC). Into the same gap place 2 DC.
Next repeat (Into the space between corners [not the chain 1 gap], work a Granny Spike Stitch [Dc into the gap, DC into the middle DC from the cluster from the previous round, DC into the gap]. Go to the next Chain 1 gap [corner space] and place: 3 DC, Ch 1, 3DC) 3 times.
Now Granny Spike Stitch into the next space in between corners. Into the same Chain 1 gap we started in, place 3 more DC and then chain 1.
Finally Slip Stitch to the top of the 1st DC for the round. Cut yarn. Fasten off. We are done with color 2.
Round 4
First with Color #3, join with a slip stitch to any of the chain 1 gaps from the previous round. Chain 3 (this counts as a DC). Into the same gap place 2 DC.
Next repeat (Into the 1st space between corners [not the chain 1 gap], work a Granny Spike Stitch [Dc into the gap, DC into the middle DC from the cluster from the previous round, DC into the gap]. Into the NEXT gap [not chain 1 gap] work another Granny Spike Stitch. Go to the next Chain 1 gap [corner space] and place: 3 DC, Ch 1, 3DC) 3 times.
Now Granny Spike Stitch into each of the next 2 spaces in between corners. Into the same Chain 1 gap we started in, place 3 more DC and then chain 1.
Finally Slip Stitch to the top of the 1st DC for the round. Cut yarn. Fasten off. We are now finished with Color 3.
Round 5
First with Color #4, join with a slip stitch to any of the chain 1 gaps from the previous round. Chain 3 (this counts as a DC). Into the same gap place 2 DC.
Next repeat (Into the 1st space between corners [not the chain 1 gap], work a Granny Spike Stitch [Dc into the gap, DC into the middle DC from the cluster from the previous round, DC into the gap]. Into the NEXT 2 GAPS [not chain 1 gap] work Granny Spike Stitch Clusters. Go to the next Chain 1 gap [corner space] and place: 3 DC, Ch 1, 3DC) 3 times.
Now Granny Spike Stitch into each of the next 3 spaces in between corners. Into the same Chain 1 gap we started in, place 3 more DC and then chain 1.
Finally Slip Stitch to the top of the chain 3. Cut yarn. Fasten off.
Finishing the Spike Stitch Granny Square
Finally to finish the Spike Stitch Granny Square, either finish and fasten off the square how you normally do, or work an Invisible Join.
Next weave in all yarn tails.
Now you can block the squares if needed.
Note: The Finished size of these squares is approximately 5″ x 5″. Note the yarn and hook sizes chosen will affect the finished size of your square.
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Loved this pattern? Try these crochet favorites!
If you enjoyed making the Beginner-Friendly Spike Stitch Granny Square Pattern, here are a few more free crochet patterns you might love! Explore the bold and cozy Large Crochet Granny Hexagon, add some texture with the Crochet Puff Stitch Granny Square, bring sunshine to your stitches with the Crochet Sunflower Granny Square, or get creative with the charming Crochet Flower Granny Square. Each one is beginner-friendly and perfect for mixing and matching in your next project!