The Stellar Evolution Granny Square is a burst of color and texture. You can choose to stop at 2 1/2″, 6″, 8″ or 12″ to make your project truly unique.
“Stellar Evolution Granny Square” free crochet pattern by Kim Guzman, © Mar. 2026 All rights reserved.
Technique: Regular Crochet
Skill Level: Intermediate
Crochet Pattern At A Glance
Stellar Evolution Granny Square
Designer: Kim Guzman © 2022-2026. All rights reserved.Rate the Pattern
Yarn
- JoAnn “Big Twist Value” yarn, size 4 weight, 100% acrylic, 380 yds/347m per 6 oz skein: 1 skein each of ivory and eggplant. A combined total of about 130-145 yds used.
Other Materials
- Suggested Crochet Hook Size K-10 1/2 (6.5mm).
- Yarn Needle for weaving ends.
Instructions
- Using the color Eggplant, begin the first round from the center of the square.
- Changing colors throughout, work according to the pattern to round 9. If you are making a 6" square, fasten off after round 9 is completed.
- If you are making a 12" square, complete all 15 rounds. Alternatively, working through round 11 makes a nice 8" square, if you prefer.
- Fasten off and weave in ends securely.
Full Free Crochet Pattern Below
This is a free crochet pattern and the written instructions are below. If you prefer a printable download, a PDF is also available for purchase.
My Crochet Pattern Notes
This square is designed from the center and is worked in joined rounds. For convenience, the unused color of each round is dropped after use and then picked up when needed further up. For texture, there are post stitches worked in several different ways. Forming the “starburst” is the basis for the name, Stellar Evolution.
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Finished Size
12″ x 12″.
Yarn
JoAnn “Big Twist Value” yarn, size 4 weight, 100% acrylic, 380 yds/347m per 6 oz skein: 1 skein each of ivory and eggplant. A combined total of about 130-145 yds used.
I’ve used the eggplant color in this Grandma’s Vintage Ripple Afghan. The afghan shows the truer color. For some reason, I couldn’t get a true color in this square and it looks more cranberry.
The yarn I’ved used in this pattern is Big Twist Value and I purchased it from JoAnn. When JoAnn closed, Michaels purchased the intellectual property. You can now purchase Big Twist Value at Michaels directly. I believe it’s the same weight and yardage.
Other Materials
Suggested Crochet Hook Size K-10 1/2 (6.5mm).
Yarn Needle for weaving ends.
Gauge
After round 9, the square measures 6″ x 6″.
Working at a different tension may require additional materials.
Special Stitches
Beginning Double Crochet: When there is a double crochet at the beginning of a round, use your favorite method. It could be a chain 2 or a chain 3, stacking single crochet or standing double crochet. The pattern will indicate only a double crochet for the beginning stitch and you make the one you prefer.
Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yarn over, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] 2 times. The instructions will indicate to skip the stitch behind this one since this already represents the stitch in that position.
Front Post Treble Crochet (fptr): Yarn over twice, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] 3 times. The instructions will indicate to skip the stitch behind this one since this already represents the stitch in that position.
3 Front Post Double Crochet Cluster (3fpdc-cl): Yarn over, insert hook around indicated single crochet as for a front post stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook, [yarn over, insert hook around same indicated single crochet, yarn over, pull loop through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops hook] 2 times, yarn over, pull through 4 loops on hook. As with other post stitches, the instructions will indicate to skip the stitch behind this one.
2 Front Post Treble Crochet Cluster (2fptr-cl): *Yarn over twice, insert hook to the side of the indicated post stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] 2 times. Repeat from * once more, yarn over, pull through 3 loops hook. The first part of this stitch is worked around the first post stitch and the second part of this stitch is worked around the next post stitch. It forms a little “tent”. As with other post stitches, the instructions will indicate to skip the stitch behind this one.
Other Abbreviations
This crochet pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
ch=chain; dc=double crochet; hdc=half double crochet; lp(s)=loop(s); rep=repeat; sc=single crochet; sc=single crochet; sk=skip; sl=slip; sp(s)=space(s); st(s)=stitch(es); tr=treble crochet; yo=yarn over.
All numbers after the colon at the end of an instruction are stitch counts. Use the stitch count to check your work.
Changing Colors
Since this square changes colors on every round, I dropped the colors to the back when not in use then picked them up on the next round.
When the instructions say to drop the unused color, pull up a loop or place a stitch marker so you don’t lose the stitch. When you get ready to use the new color, you can either pull up the loop to the height of the next round like the back of “fair isle knitting“. Or, you can make 2 or 3 chains in the back of the work to reach the height of the next round. You can see in this photo where I have “snaked” the chains up to the next rounds.
There’s nothing wrong with a traditional cut for each round, if you want to do that. But, it will involve a lot of ends to weave later. It’s up to you.
The only place I don’t suggest carrying up the yarn is during the 3 rounds where there is a mesh opening. You would be able to see the color behind it. I cut off for those three rounds.
You’ve Got Options Crochet Along
The Stellar Evolution Granny Square crochet pattern is released as part of the You’ve Got Options Crochet Along. Included are 12 free crochet square patterns designed by your favorite designers. Each pattern is written for a 12-inch granny square with an option to stop at a 6-inch square.
Every Monday from January 5 through March 23, 2026, CAL Central Crochet will share a new free square pattern. You can chat and crochet along with others in the CAL Central Facebook group or Ravelry group, share your projects, and enter the end-of-CAL giveaway featuring six different prizes. Giveaway entries close on Sunday March 29, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Enter at Underground Crafter.
New Pattern Free PDF Download Weekend
This pattern is made free through ad support below, but the PDF download for the Stellar Evolution Granny Square pattern is available for free during its debut only. This promotion ends at 11:59pm CST, Tuesday, March 10.
This promotion is concluded. Please sign up for the email newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any weekly promotions. Scroll down for the free online pattern.
Free Crochet Pattern Instructions
Note: See text above for Color Changing. Since the rounds change almost every round, you can either decide to drop the unused color or cut off. It’s your preference, although the pattern indicates my choice of dropping the unused color. When joining the other color, I like to join it on the opposite side to make it easier to weave in the ends without all of them being in the same spot.
Round 1: With eggplant, ch 2, in second ch from hook: [sc, ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook] 4 times, sl st to first sc, drop eggplant.
Round 2: Join ivory with sl st in any sc, *3 dc (see Special Stitches above for beginning dc of first repeat here and throughout), ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first dc, drop ivory.
Note: Turn over so the back is facing you, pull the ivory ch-5s through the eggplant ch-5s, so the ivory ch-5s are back on the top current round.
Round 3: With eggplant, join with sl st in any ch-5 sp of ivory, ch 1, *[2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc] in ch-5 sp, fpdc (see Special Stitches above) around center dc of 3-dc group, 3 sc in the top of same center dc, fpdc around same center dc, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop eggplant.
Round 4: With ivory, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sc in next 9 sts, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop ivory.
Round 5: With eggplant, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sc in next sc, fptr (see Special Stitches above) around next fpdc in 1 round below, sk sc on current round, sc in next 7 sc, fptr around next fpdc in 1 round below, sk sc on current round, sc in next sc, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop eggplant.
Round 6: With ivory, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sk sc, sc in next 5 sts, 3fpdc-cl (see Special Stitches above) around post of sc 2 rounds below (the indicated sc will be in eggplant), sk 1 sc, sc in next 5 sts, sk sc, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop ivory.
Round 7: With eggplant, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sc in next 6 sc, 2fptr-cl (see Special Stitches above) with one leg around first fptr and the other around the second fptr, sk 3dc-cl, sc in next 6 sc, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop eggplant.
Round 8: With ivory, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sc in next 15 sts, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop ivory: 17 sc on each side with ch-2 sp at 4 corners. Note: At this point, you can cut off ivory, if you like. The next 3 rounds are in eggplant and chaining up the back will show. Ivory is rejoined on round 12.
Round 9: With eggplant, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sc in next 8 sts, fpdc around 2fptr-cl from round below (going around both legs of the cluster at the same time), sk sc from current round, sc in next 8 sts, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc and sl st in ch-2 sp: 19 sts on each side with ch-2 sp at 4 corners.
Fasten off for 6″ square. Continue below for 12″ square.
Round 10: Still with eggplant, *[dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc] in ch-2 sp of corner, [ch 1, sk st, dc in next st] to first sc of corner, ch 1, sk sc, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first dc, sl st in next ch-1 sp and sl st to next dc: 48 ch-1 sps total.
Round 11: Still with eggplant, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in center dc of corner, [sc in ch-1 sp, sc in dc] to first ch-1 sp of corner, sc in ch-1 sp, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop eggplant: 25 sts on each side with ch-2 sp at 4 corners.
Round 12: Join ivory with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sc in next sc, [hdc in next sc, dc in next sc, tr in next sc, dc in next sc, hdc in next sc, sc in next sc] 4 times, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop ivory.
Round 13: With eggplant, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, *[2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in ch-2 sp of corner, dc in next 2 sts, [hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st (loosely) in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st] 4 times, dc in next st, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first dc, drop eggplant.
Round 14: With ivory, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, ch 1, *[2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc] in ch-2 sp of corner, sc in next 31 sts, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first sc, drop ivory: 35 sc on each side with ch-2 sp at 4 corners.
Round 15: With eggplant, join with sl st to any ch-2 sp of corner, *[2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in ch-2 sp of corner, dc in next 35 sc, rep from * 3 times more, sl st to first dc: 39 dc on each side with ch-2 sp at 4 corners. Fasten off both colors.
Finishing
Weave in all ends securely. A little bit of steam blocking really makes this square shine.
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I hope you enjoy this square that I designed for the #OptionsCAL. Please let me know if you have any questions.