Crochet has always been a medium not just for creativity, but for expressing love and warmth. Among the myriad of granny square designs available, the Large Heart Granny Square stands out as a heartfelt emblem, combining classic crochet structure with a bold, symbolic centerpiece. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or just picking up your first hook, learning about and creating this square can add emotional charm to your projects.
What is a Large Heart Granny Square?
A Large Heart Granny Square is a crochet motif that incorporates a heart design within the traditional square shape of a granny square. The heart is usually prominent and centered, often made using color changes or texture techniques to stand out from the background. The rest of the square surrounds the heart, grounding it within the geometric framework of the granny square style.
It blends visual appeal with symbolic meaning, making it perfect for:
- Baby blankets
- Valentine’s Day gifts
- Memory quilts
- Decorative pillow covers
- Personalized afghans
Structure & Design Features
The typical Large Heart Granny Square consists of two major components:
1. The Heart
- Placement: Center of the square.
- Shape: Formed using increases, decreases, and shaping techniques such as puff stitches, bobble stitches, or color changes.
- Color: Often done in red, pink, or any contrast color to make the heart stand out.
- Techniques: Some designs use appliqué, where the heart is crocheted separately and then sewn onto a plain granny square. Others incorporate the heart directly into the square using tapestry or intarsia crochet.
2. The Granny Square Border
- Rounds: Built around the heart, expanding outward in the traditional granny square fashion.
- Stitch Style: Often uses double crochet clusters (classic granny style), but variations exist.
- Finishing Touches: Can include decorative edging, scallops, or lacy rounds depending on the intended look.
Popular Variations
- Solid Granny Heart Square: A solid background with a heart in the center, great for beginners.
- Lacy Heart Granny Square: Uses openwork or lace stitches to give a delicate appearance.
- Tapestry Crochet Heart Square: The heart is created by changing colors within rows or rounds, requiring more advanced colorwork skills.
- Appliqué Heart Square: A heart made separately and stitched onto a plain square, ideal for bold contrast and customization.
🧶 Materials Needed
- Worsted weight yarn in two colors:
- Color A: For the heart (e.g., red or pink)
- Color B: For the granny square background (e.g., white or cream)
- Crochet hook: Size H/8 (5.0 mm) or as recommended for your yarn
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors
🧵 Stitches Used (US terms)
- CH = Chain
- SC = Single Crochet
- DC = Double Crochet
- TR = Treble Crochet
- SL ST = Slip Stitch
- SP = Space
- ST = Stitch
❤️ Heart Motif (Worked in the Round with Color A)
Start with a magic ring or chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1 (Heart Shape)
Inside the ring, work all of the following:
CH 3 (counts as DC),
3 TR,
3 DC,
CH 1,
1 TR (this is the bottom point of the heart),
CH 1,
3 DC,
3 TR,
CH 2,
SL ST into the ring.
Pull the ring tight to close the center. This creates the heart shape.
🔲 Turning the Heart into a Square (With Color B)
Join Color B in any stitch around the heart.
Round 2 (Shaping into a Square)
This round turns the heart into a square. You’ll be filling out the curves and forming corners.
CH 3 (counts as DC),
2 DC in same ST,
[Skip 1 ST, 3 DC in next ST] repeat around, placing:
- (3 DC, CH 2, 3 DC) in 4 spots evenly around the heart to form corners
- 3 DC groups (clusters) between corners
SL ST to top of initial CH 3 to join.
Note: You may need to improvise slightly with stitch placement around the curves of the heart. The goal is to get four corners evenly spaced.
🧱 Granny Square Expansion (Optional: Rounds 3–5)
Now that your heart is squared off, you can continue building out the granny square with Color B or alternate colors.
Round 3 and Beyond
Standard granny square technique:
In each corner space: (3 DC, CH 2, 3 DC)
In each space between clusters: 3 DC
Join each round with SL ST
CH 3 to start each round
Repeat until your square reaches the desired size (usually 5″–8″ per square).
📌 Finishing
- Fasten off and weave in all loose ends.
- Block your square to ensure it’s flat and neat.
- Dampen the square slightly and pin to a blocking board, shaping the edges into a perfect square.
- Dampen the square slightly and pin to a blocking board, shaping the edges into a perfect square.
Tips for Success
- Use stitch markers to track the corners as the square grows.
- Practice your color changes to avoid uneven edges or loose joins.
- Keep your tension consistent, especially when switching colors or stitch types.
- Experiment with different yarn types and colors to personalize your heart square.
Where to Use Large Heart Granny Squares
Once you’ve made one (or many), you can incorporate them into:
- Blankets or Throws: Combine several squares for a love-themed afghan.
- Pillows: Use a single square as the front panel of a decorative pillow.
- Wall Hangings: Frame a square or stitch onto canvas for handmade wall art.
- Scarves: Join multiple squares end-to-end for a heartwarming accessory.
- Baby Items: Soft yarn heart squares are perfect for infant blankets or toys.
Final Thoughts
The Large Heart Granny Square isn’t just a crochet motif — it’s a message of care woven into fabric. Whether gifted to a loved one or added to your own home décor, each stitch speaks volumes. It’s a satisfying project that combines creativity, craftsmanship, and sentimentality, making it a favorite among crocheters of all levels.
Ready to try it yourself? There are countless free and paid patterns available online tailored to every skill level — and once you master one, you’ll likely be hooked on making more!
Video tutorial:
