How to turn an appliqué into a granny square

To turn an appliqué into a granny square, follow these steps:

1. Complete Your Appliqué

First, ensure your appliqué (whether it's a flower, shape, or motif) is finished and securely fastened off.

2. Prepare for the Granny Square

You’ll need to add a round of stitches around your appliqué to convert it into a square shape. Choose a yarn that complements or contrasts with your appliqué, and use a hook that matches the yarn size.

3. Attach Yarn to the Appliqué

Start by attaching the yarn to any stitch of the appliqué. You can do this with a slip stitch. Make sure you're working on the outermost edge of your appliqué.

4. Crochet Around the Appliqué

Begin working a round of single crochet (sc) or half-double crochet (hdc) stitches evenly around the edge of the appliqué. If the edges of your appliqué are curved or uneven, work extra stitches in those areas to help the piece lay flat.

5. Square the Shape

On the next round, you’ll need to start "squaring" your appliqué. For this, you’ll work into four evenly spaced points where the corners of your square will be. At each corner, work the following: 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc. This creates a sharp corner.

Continue working double crochets (dc) along the sides between the corners.

If your appliqué is large, you may need to add more rounds of granny square stitches (dc stitches with 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc at the corners) until the square is the desired size.

6. Fasten Off

Once your square is the size you want, fasten off the yarn and weave in any loose ends.