Textured Granny Square: A Bobble Stitch Pattern on a Solid Base

The simplest way to add texture to a granny square is to take a solid double crochet square and swap some of its stitches for bobbles. Each bobble sits in one stitch and counts as one stitch, so the square grows exactly like a plain one. This original six-round pattern alternates plain rounds with bobble rounds and staggers the bobbles like bricks.

US crochet terms are used throughout. The US double crochet (dc) is the UK treble.

Bobble, Popcorn and Puff: What Is the Difference?

All three pack extra yarn into one spot to raise a bump, but each is made differently.

Stitch	How It Is Made	Result
Bobble	Several dc worked into one stitch, each left unfinished, then all closed together with one yarn over	A firm, rounded bump, closed at top and bottom
Popcorn	Several complete dc in one stitch; the hook is removed, put through the first dc and the loop pulled through to gather them	The most raised bump, cup-shaped, always on the side facing you
Puff	Long loops pulled up in one stitch with yarn overs between, closed together	A soft, smooth, flatter cushion

This pattern uses the bobble because it is made in one motion without removing the hook. A popcorn or a puff can be substituted stitch for stitch.

Materials

• Worsted weight (4) yarn in one color. A smooth, plied yarn in a light or mid-tone shade shows texture best; see the notes on choosing yarn for granny squares.
• US H-8 (5 mm) hook.
• Yarn needle and scissors.

Six rounds should give a square of roughly 7 in (18 cm), but that is an estimate that depends on yarn and tension. Bobbles also use much more yarn than plain stitches, so make and measure one square before planning a larger project.

Abbreviations and Special Stitches

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• dc = double crochet
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sp = space
• rnd = round
• yo = yarn over

Bobble: [yo, insert the hook in the stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops] 5 times in the same stitch. There are now 6 loops on the hook. Yo and pull through all 6 loops. On the next round, work 1 dc into the top of the bobble as you would into any stitch.

Corner: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in a ch-2 corner space.

Beginning corner: (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in a ch-2 corner space. The ch 3 counts as a dc.

Stitches in parentheses go into one space; a sequence in square brackets is repeated the number of times stated after it.

Textured Granny Square Pattern

Every round starts in a corner, so all four sides read the same. Do not turn the work. The construction is the same as a solid granny square, with each side growing by 4 stitches per round.

Round 1

1. Ch 4 and sl st into the first chain to form a ring, or make a magic ring.
2. Ch 5 (counts as a dc plus a ch-2 corner space).
3. [3 dc into the ring, ch 2] 3 times, then 2 dc into the ring.
4. Join with a sl st to the 3rd chain of the beginning ch 5.

Count: 12 dc and 4 ch-2 corner spaces, 3 stitches per side.

Round 2 (Plain)

1. Sl st into the ch-2 space and work a beginning corner there.
2. [Dc in each of the next 3 sts, corner in the next ch-2 sp] 3 times.
3. Dc in each of the last 3 sts; the last one is the chain you joined into.
4. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3.

Count: 28 dc, 7 stitches per side.

Round 3 (Bobbles)

Side A, worked over 7 sts: dc in the next st, [bobble in the next st, dc in the next st] 3 times.

1. Sl st in the next dc and into the ch-2 space. Work a beginning corner in that space.
2. Work Side A, then [corner in the next ch-2 sp, Side A] 3 times.
3. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3.

Count: 44 stitches (32 dc and 12 bobbles), 11 per side with 3 bobbles on each side.

Round 4 (Plain)

1. Sl st in the next dc and into the ch-2 space. Work a beginning corner in that space.
2. Dc in each of the next 11 sts, then [corner in the next ch-2 sp, dc in each of the next 11 sts] 3 times.
3. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3.

Count: 60 dc, 15 per side.

Round 5 (Bobbles)

Side B, worked over 15 sts: dc in each of the next 2 sts, [bobble in the next st, dc in the next st] 6 times, dc in the next st.

1. Sl st in the next dc and into the ch-2 space. Work a beginning corner in that space.
2. Work Side B, then [corner in the next ch-2 sp, Side B] 3 times.
3. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3.

Count: 76 stitches (52 dc and 24 bobbles), 19 per side with 6 bobbles on each side.

Round 6 (Plain)

1. Sl st in the next dc and into the ch-2 space. Work a beginning corner in that space.
2. Dc in each of the next 19 sts, then [corner in the next ch-2 sp, dc in each of the next 19 sts] 3 times.
3. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Count: 92 dc, 23 per side.

Getting the Bobbles to Stand Out

A bobble surrounded by double crochet can settle toward either face of the fabric. After closing each one, push it forward with a fingertip so it sits on the side facing you, and work the following dc snugly to hold it there. If your bobbles keep slipping to the back, use a popcorn in the same position instead: 5 dc in the stitch, remove the hook, insert it from front to back through the top of the first of the 5 dc, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through.

Finishing and Uses

Textured squares should be blocked gently. Pin the square to size, dampen it lightly and let it dry; do not press it or steam it flat, which would crush the texture. The guide to blocking granny squares covers methods by fiber.

Several squares joined make a thick front for a granny square pillow cover. For a lighter blanket, alternate them with plain solid squares worked to the same six rounds, which have the same stitch count on every side.