Up next in 10
Beginner-Friendly Crochet | Whip Up a Zippy Square | Step-by-Step Guide
3K views
May 17, 2024
Free square pattern https://www.jspcreate.com/beginner-friendly-whip-up-a-zippy-crochet-square Basic Stitch How To Dictionary https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkhR0EY1e2xlthQfDuTHKjKo0buZ4Ginj Join As You Go https://youtu.be/cBesoBbrA0w Working Ends In https://youtu.be/lAPWn2p0ZeM All my patterns are available with full symbol charts in my shop https://www.jspcreate.com/patterns/ Beginner-Friendly Crochet, Whip Up a Zippy Square, Step by Step Guide #beginnerfriendlycrochet #zippysquare #stepbystepguide contains affiliate links at no cost to you Find more Classes from me over on Skillshare https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/jspcreate?gr_tch_ref=on
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hey gang, Jane here and I'm back today with another crochet granny square tutorial
0:05
Today we're making a beginner friendly square that I call the zippy square
0:09
I've had a few of you request a nice and slow tutorial of a simple square that you could
0:14
work right along with me from start to finish, all repeats included
0:18
So if you're new to crochet or just picking it back up, this is a good one to get you started
0:23
There are so many awesome granny square patterns out there so I try to get a little more inventive
0:27
and sometimes silly with my square names these days. I name this one zippy for its speedy construction as well as the feeling of zippity do da when
0:34
they work up so quickly and my scrap basket gets smaller. This is a great square for me to make when I'm in between projects to use up all my scraps
0:42
and just let the colors speak to me. It doesn't take much yarn at all, in fact one square uses in total approximately 5 grams
0:49
of yarn. Great for portable projects too. It's also a great square for new crocheters who want to explore the different basic stitches
0:57
We use a single crochet, a half double crochet, a double crochet and a treble crochet in there
1:03
and we also use chain stitches. The Venice square measures 4 inches by 4 inches
1:09
It's 5 rounds total and I'll be making it in 3 colors today
1:13
A green, a white and a purple. I'll be using worsted weight yarn and a 5.5 mm crochet hook
1:19
Other tools you'll need are a pair of scissors and a darning needle to work in your ends
1:23
You can find more information and the free pattern for the zippy square over on my blog
1:28
I'll leave the link in the description below. So gather your supplies and your favorite colors and let's get making the zippy square
1:36
So we're going to start with our green yarn and we're going to do a magic ring
1:40
So we take the yarn and we lay it over the palm of our hand, opposite hand to the one
1:46
with the hook, with the cut end facing you. You're going to hold it in place with your thumb and then you're going to wrap it around
1:53
your first two fingers, pulling it back underneath and holding it in place with your thumb again
2:00
You are crossing it over the yarn that's already there. Then you're going to come back up and wrap it around three fingers so it's on this side
2:10
of the first wrap. Then you're going to hold it in place with your baby finger
2:16
So everything is being held in place. Then you're going to take your hook and you're going to go under the first one, over the
2:25
second one, pulling it underneath. So now you're going to rotate your hook so that you can twist it onto the hook
2:34
You're rotating your hook clockwise so the hook end goes to the top and now it's twisted
2:42
on that hook. Then I want to go ahead and do my first chain to lock it in place
2:48
So we go under the yarn that goes over the third finger, pull it through your loop, so
2:53
pull down on this hand and up on the hook to create that space and pull it through and
3:00
that's your chain one. Slide your fingers out and there is your magic ring
3:07
This is the ring that we'll be working our round one into
3:11
So starting in a round one, we want to chain three. The chain three is going to represent our half double crochet and a chain one space
3:19
because your entire round one will be half double crochets and chain one
3:24
So go ahead and finish a chain three. So this counts as your first chain
3:28
Now we go chain two and chain three. So now you have three chain to start with and again that's your half double crochet
3:37
and chain one. That's what it represents and it counts as that
3:42
So now we want to do half double crochets into this. So we do a yarn over the hook, insert the hook into this nice big loop, yarn over again
3:54
and pull up a loop and now you have three loops on the hook
4:00
Yarn over and pull through all three loops. That's your half double crochet
4:05
Then you chain one. This is what we're going to work into this loop
4:10
We're going to have 12 half double crochets and 12 chain ones all together
4:15
So the loop feels kind of floppy. So you're just kind of working with it, making sure that it stays
4:21
Keep this cut end over here and we'll go ahead and continue to work our round one
4:29
So yarn over, insert your hook into the loop, yarn over, pull up, three loops on the hook
4:38
and we complete our half double crochet, pulling it through all three loops
4:43
Then we chain one and again yarn over, insert your hook into the big loop, yarn over, pull
4:50
up a loop, three loops on the hook, yarn over, pull through all three and a chain one
4:58
And again we're going to want 12 of these. So we count this first chain as our first half double crochet chain one
5:05
So that's one, two, three and four so far. So let's continue on and I'm going to zoom in so you can see it a little better
5:17
So again we're going to go yarn over, insert into our loop, yarn over, pull up a loop
5:27
one, two, three, yarn over and pull through all three. And then we're going to do a chain one
5:35
So that gives you a close up of what we're doing. So keep on working like that and you can watch me do this and we're aiming for 12
5:45
As you add more of these into your loop, your loop is going to start to use up the end of
5:51
this yarn. You don't want to lose that end. Sometimes if we didn't leave enough of an end, we'll need to pull it up just a little
6:00
And if you feel that it's starting to disappear, we'll do that now
6:04
So take your finger and your thumb and place it at the base of your last stitch and then
6:08
give a little tug on that cut end. See how it's pulling the loop up just a little bit and you have a little more end to work with
6:16
Don't pull it up tight yet. We need to still work into it
6:20
So let's work some more half double crochets, chain one, half double crochet, chain one
6:31
Let's do another one and then we'll count. And a chain one
6:35
Also make sure that you have enough yarn over here loose because that will affect your tension
6:40
if you're pulling too tight on the yarn. So what do we have here
6:45
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. I need two more
6:53
So yarn over and a half double crochet, chain one, and one more half double crochet and
7:03
a chain one. This will feel kind of floppy. Make sure you have that end still
7:09
And we've completed our first round. So the next thing I want to do before I join is cinch this up so that I can get to that join
7:17
So holding my finger and my thumb on my hook end on the base of that stitch, we're going
7:24
to pull on the cut end. So push that working yarn away and you're going to pull on the cut end
7:32
See how it's cinching it up? And then you can readjust, place your thumb and finger again, pull a little more
7:40
You don't need to pull it all the way up. You can do that right before you darn it in
7:45
But as long as we have it fairly closed up there. So now we're ready to join
7:50
We take the working yarn again, dropping that cut end at the back for later
7:56
And now we want to join. We ended with a chain one and we want to join in the second chain of that beginning chain
8:03
three because that represents the top of our half double crochet. So count up one, two, insert your hook, yarn over, pull a loop through and through the
8:16
loop on the hook. And you've now done a slip stitch join
8:22
At this point we can cut the yarn because we'll be using a different color on round two
8:27
I cut my yarn about four to five inches because I want enough to darn in and I'd rather go
8:34
longer than shorter. I want it to be secure. Now go ahead and pull that yarn all the way through
8:43
Kind of creates a little bit of a knot where your slip stitch is and we're finished round one
8:48
At any point in time you can continue to cinch this up
8:52
Doesn't matter at this point. If you want to give it a little tug
8:56
Just make sure you always hold it and stabilize it with your thumb and your finger
9:01
So let's move on to round two. Now in round two I want to use my off-white
9:08
So we're going to join our off-white in any one of the chain one spaces that we created
9:15
So we will not be working in a direct stitch. We're only going to be working in the chain one spaces
9:21
So find one that you want to join and I usually go a little further away from where I finished
9:26
so that when I darn all my ends in they're not all in one place
9:33
So I'm going to go up here and you'll go into a chain one space
9:37
Make sure that it's a chain one space that you're going into and not a stitch
9:42
And you're going to leave a nice end on your white and you're going to pull up a loop
9:50
Then we're going to go ahead and chain one. And now we want to single crochet in the same stitch that we just joined in
10:00
So insert your hook, wrap your yarn over your hook, pull up a loop, two loops on the hook
10:07
yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. That's your single crochet
10:13
And then we're going to chain one. This is what we're going to do all the way around round number two
10:21
So we're going to go into the next chain one space, skipping over this half double crochet
10:28
Insert your hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, two loops on the hook, yarn over, pull through
10:36
both loops on the hook. That's a single crochet. And then a chain one
10:45
So I'm going to go ahead and start working that all the way around and you can work with me
10:51
Into the next chain space, work a single crochet and then a chain one
10:58
Skipping over this next half double crochet and go into the chain space, pull up a loop
11:04
complete your single crochet and chain one. Moving along into the next chain space, single crochet, chain one
11:16
We're going to continue this around and what you're going to end up with is 12 single crochet
11:23
and 12 chain one. And again, keep this yarn loose at the side so that your tension stays nice and even
11:33
If this yarn, the working yarn pulls, you may find your stitches get tight
11:38
And then when you look at your final work, you'll wonder why certain areas seem tighter
11:43
and certain areas seem looser. That comes with time, but always make sure that you have lots of give on your working yarn
11:53
So we're going to continue to work around, always making sure we work a chain one in
11:57
between each of our stitches. And here I'm back to where I joined for the green
12:04
Just hold that to the back and continue along. We're almost there
12:13
Chain one. Don't forget that chain one. We need that for the space because our circle will increase as we add rounds to it
12:25
And we end with a chain one and we're back to where we started
12:28
So let's count our stitches to make sure that's where we should be. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
12:42
And there's 12 chain one spaces as well. When we're ready to join our round, we want to join in the first single crochet of the round
12:52
So putting our hook under both of the loops of that stitch, wrap the yarn over, pull a
12:58
loop through and pull it through the loop on the hook as well
13:02
So you kind of use your fingers to help maneuver that yarn to go where you want to
13:08
And that's round number two. So what we want to do is because we're going to join another color for round three, we're
13:15
going to cut our yarn about four to five inches. Then we're going to go ahead and pull the yarn through, creates a little bit of a knot
13:24
there where we slip stitched and we've completed two rounds of our square
13:29
And again, you'll see this is open. Again you can close it when you go to darn that end in or you can leave it open for a
13:36
lacy effect. So you can see here I cinched it in just a little bit more, but it really won't stay
13:42
like that until I darn these ends in. I do like working my ends in as I go, but for this square, I'm not going to focus on that
13:51
We're just going to focus on the stitches. I have other tutorials that specifically cover working your ends in as you go
13:56
So we're going to join purple for round number three. So take my purple yarn and we're going to join in any one of these chain one spaces
14:06
Whichever one you want, I again move a little bit further over from where I finished off
14:12
So I'm going to join it in here. Insert your hook into a chain one space, leave a nice end to darn in later and pull up a loop
14:21
Then we're going to chain one. Now we've joined our yarn. We want to work a single crochet into that same space
14:32
So insert the hook again, yarn over, pull up a loop, two loops on the hook, yarn over
14:39
and pull through both. That's your single crochet. And then we're going to chain two this time
14:47
Now working the same as before, only working into the chain one spaces, we're going to
14:51
work a single crochet into the next chain one space. And then chain two
14:59
So we're skipping over the single crochet stitches and only working into the chain one spaces
15:06
So again into the next chain one space, single crochet, chain two
15:13
And we're going to keep working around our piece in exactly that way
15:20
Single crochet in a chain one space and chain two
15:30
And again, you're going to have 12 single crochets and 12 chain two spaces when we get
15:37
to the end of this round. Keeping the yarn that I'm working with loose and flowing so that my tension stays even
15:52
And here's where I join. So we just hold that to the back and we keep working around
16:03
And we're almost there. Single crochet in this last chain one space, chain two
16:12
And we've worked all the way around. We have 12 single crochets, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
16:24
And 12 chain two spaces. So now we want to join our round
16:29
We're going to go into the first single crochet stitch under both loops, wrap the yarn over
16:37
pull it through there, holding on with my thumb and finger, we're going to continue
16:40
to pull it through the loop on the hook. And now we've done a slip stitch join, but we are not cutting the yarn because we're
16:48
going to continue with purple to the end of the square. So you can see in the finished square, we are now going to be squaring off our circle
16:58
This is the second last round and it is probably the most complicated round of the square
17:06
So we'll walk you through this one, one step at a time
17:09
Because we're going to continue with the purple, I don't need to join it again, but I want
17:14
to get it in the right space. And the right space is going to be this next chain space
17:19
So the way that I do that is I take my hook, I insert it into that chain space, wrap my
17:26
yarn around, pull up a loop and pull it through the loop on the hook
17:31
So what I've done there is I've just slip stitched into the next chain space and this
17:35
is where I can start this round. So the round starts with a corner and the corner has a double crochet, chain one, treble
17:44
chain one, double crochet all into the same space. So to start with, I'm going to chain four
17:51
So one, two, three and four. And my purple is getting a little tight, so I'm going to pull out some yarn
18:01
Okay, now I have nice loose yarn. So this chain four, the first three chain represent your first double crochet and the
18:12
fourth chain represents your chain one space. So that is the first stitch of the corner
18:18
Then we're going to do a treble stitch. Treble stitch requires you to wrap the yarn twice around your hook
18:25
So see before I even go into the space, I have three loops on there, two wraps and a loop
18:32
Take your hook and insert it into the space that we just joined in and wrap your yarn
18:38
around and pull it up. Now you're going to have four loops on the hook and you're working into that same space
18:44
that we slip stitched into. And we're going to do two at a time
18:49
So yarn over, pull through two, yarn over, pull through two, yarn over, pull through two
18:58
That's a treble right there. Then we do a chain one. This is the center stitch of your corner
19:05
And now we want to work a double crochet into that same space. So still working in that same space that we slip stitched into
19:13
Yarn around, insert into that space, yarn over, pull it up, three loops on the hook
19:20
and we're going to go yarn over, pull through two, yarn over, pull through two
19:26
And there you have your first corner. We have the chain four, which represents a double crochet chain one
19:35
We have a treble, a chain one and a double. Then we do a chain one and we're going to start to work across our top edge
19:44
So the first stitch we're going to do is a half double crochet into the next chain space
19:48
You're only working into the chain spaces. So wrap your yarn around, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop
19:58
yarn over and pull through all three. That's your half double crochet chain one
20:04
And let's do it again. Yarn around your hook or yarn over, insert into the next chain space, yarn over, three
20:13
loops on the hook, yarn over, pull through all three and a chain one
20:21
That's the two stitches that go across the top edge and we're back to the next corner
20:26
So the next corner will be worked the same way, except you don't start with the chains
20:30
you start with a double crochet. So yarn over, insert into the next chain space, yarn over, pull up three loops on the
20:38
hook, yarn over, pull through two and yarn over, pull through two
20:45
Then we do a chain one and now we want to work a treble
20:51
So twice around your hook, insert into the same space, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn
20:59
over, pull through two, yarn over, pull through two and yarn over, pull through two
21:06
That's your treble. Chain one and now work a double into that same space
21:14
Yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, three loops on the hook, yarn over, pull through
21:21
two and yarn over, pull through two and chain one. So now let's take a look at this
21:30
We have our first corner, our top edge and our second corner and we've turned the corner
21:37
and we're going to work across our next edge. Again we're working only into the chain spaces and a half double crochet
21:46
So we have three loops pulling through all three, chain one and we do another half double
21:54
crochet, half double crochet in the next chain space and a chain one and we're back
22:02
to the next corner. So see how we've worked up this edge across the top
22:08
Now we do another corner which is a double crochet into the next chain space, chain one
22:18
Now we're going to work a treble into that same space. See how you have four on the hook
22:25
Yarn over two at a time until you get to the last two and you've completed that stitch
22:33
Chain one and now a double crochet in the same space. So three stitches into that space and then a chain one and we've worked another corner
22:47
So at this point we've worked half our way around the round
22:51
We still want to work across here, another corner and down. So let's do that
22:56
Yarn over into the next chain one space, half double crochet, chain one and then a half
23:05
double crochet into the next space and a chain one. I'm going to take a break because my yarn wants to knot
23:13
Bear with me while I do some detangling. Alright all detangled and ready to go
23:19
So we are at the top edge and we've reached another corner
23:23
This will be the last corner before we get back to where we started
23:27
So we want to do a double crochet into this space and then you want to work a chain one
23:38
and you want to work a treble into that same space. And then a chain one and then a double into the same space that we just worked in
23:54
And a chain one. So now we just have to finish this last edge and get back to where we started
24:04
So we want to do a half double crochet in this chain space, chain one and a half double
24:12
crochet in this chain space and a chain one. And now we want to join a round
24:21
So we want to join in the third chain of that beginning four chain because we want to join
24:28
in what would be considered the top of the double crochet that it represents
24:32
So count up three. One two three. Insert your hook into that chain
24:38
Yarn over. Pull a loop through and through the loop on the hook
24:44
That joins your yarn and you've completed the squaring round and this was the most complicated round
24:52
So we have one more round to go. So we are now doing our last round and that would be round number five
25:00
And again we're going to use purple. So in order to not cut and have to rejoin, I want to work in this chain space here
25:08
We're going to do the same thing as we did before, inserting our hook into that chain
25:13
space, yarn over, pull up a loop and pull it through the loop on the hook
25:18
We've now slip stitched into the chain space where we can start
25:23
So we're going to go ahead and chain one and then work a single crochet in that same space
25:31
and then a chain one. Now we've reached the center stitch of our corner, which is the treble
25:40
This is the only time you're going to be working into an actual stitch as opposed to the chain spaces
25:45
Each corner you're going to work into the treble stitch to turn the corner
25:50
So what I want to do here is work into the top of that treble stitch going under both
25:55
loops of the stitch. You're going to work a single crochet, a chain two, and another single crochet into
26:04
that same stitch. So single crochet, chain two, single crochet into the top of the treble
26:13
Then we're going to chain one and continue across the top of our square
26:18
So back to working only in the chain spaces, work a single crochet and a chain one
26:27
And then next chain space, single crochet, chain one. And we're going to keep doing that in each of the chain spaces across, always putting
26:38
a chain one in between the stitches until you get to the opposite corner
26:47
So we'll count our stitches. We have one, two, three, four, five single crochet stitches after the corner
26:56
And we end with a chain one and we're back to the treble in the next corner
27:01
And we're going to work a single crochet into that treble stitch, chain two, and a single crochet
27:12
And we've turned our next corner. So what this round does is just gives a nice crisp edge to the squaring round that we did before
27:20
So making sure your yarn is nice and loose again. It likes to do this
27:25
It likes to do that. And it just gets itself into little tangles that you have to make sure aren't pulling
27:33
on your yarn. So we worked our corner into the treble and now we chain one and continue across in the
27:43
chain spaces. Single crochet, chain one. Single crochet, chain one. Continue into the chain spaces all the way across until you reach the next corner
28:00
And you want to do right until you reach that treble. So there's the treble stitch
28:06
You want to go into that treble stitch, single crochet, chain two, and single crochet
28:16
And there's your corner. So now again, we've done half the square
28:22
And now we're going to work our way across here and down here so you can work with me
28:26
Chain one. Into the next chain space, we work a single crochet, chain one
28:34
Then we work a single crochet, chain one. And keep on working like that
28:42
Chain one until we reach the next treble stitch. Almost there. And here we are back to the treble stitch
28:53
So we want to work in the top of that treble, single crochet, chain two, and a single crochet
29:04
And now all we have left to do is work across the top of our square
29:10
So we're going to chain one, work a single crochet in the next chain one space, chain
29:17
one, keep on working our way across, only in the chain spaces along the edges
29:25
And always a chain one in between. So here's my last chain space before where I actually worked and joined the yarn, started
29:33
the round I should say. So you want to work that single crochet and a chain one
29:41
And see, we're back here, you're not right to the corner because we actually started
29:44
in the chain space before the corner. So what you want to do is slip stitch in that single crochet, that first single crochet
29:54
If you ever have trouble finding your first single crochet, sometimes what I suggest to
29:57
people is to take a stitch marker of some kind, or it can be a paper clip, any kind
30:03
of little stitch marker, and put it in that first stitch when you make it
30:07
Then when you go all the way around, you'll come back to that stitch marker and you'll
30:11
know that's the first stitch. That helps if you have trouble finding that first stitch, which takes some getting used
30:18
to when you're first learning to crochet. So let's go ahead and we're going, we're in the stitch, kind of stopped halfway there
30:26
So I'm in the stitch and I'm going to slip stitch. So yarn over, pulling it through that first single crochet and the one on the hook
30:34
I've now slip stitched in my first stitch and I've completed my square
30:40
So I'm going to go ahead and cut my yarn four to five inches again
30:47
Pull your yarn through and there you are. You've completed the zippy square
30:54
I hope you enjoyed making this little guy and I hope it has you feeling more confident
30:58
in your crochet skills and that you're inspired to make a whole bunch of these squares
31:01
I do love making throws out of all my squares. So for this one, I thought I would give the join as you go method a try
31:08
No sewing, just crocheting them together. I loved it and I added my own twist to it by using my lacy join stitch
31:14
I will have a tutorial using this version of the join as you go to join these squares
31:19
So check the link to that in the description below. If you enjoyed this tutorial, please give it a thumbs up and remember to subscribe to
31:25
my channel so you're sure to catch all my tutorials as they come out
31:29
Thanks for joining me today. I'll see you in the next tutorial
#Fiber & Textile Arts
#Hobbies & Leisure