Airy Granny Square

materials:
any color yarn
any size hook

notes:
--to those more experienced with granny squares, this square is worked the same as a regular granny square, except that the middle double crochet of each group is replaced with a chain stitch
--to work corner: sk next ch sp, in next ch sp (dc, ch 1) 3 times, dc in same sp

pattern:
ch 6, join with sl st to form ring, sl st in ring (optional)
Rnd 1: ch 4, (dc, ch 1) 7 times in ring, join to 3rd beg ch; 8 ch-sps
Rnd 2: ch 3, work corner 3 times, sk next ch-sp, (dc, ch 1) 3 times in next ch-sp, join to 3rd beg ch
Rnd 3: sl st in sp, ch 4, dc in same sp, [work corner, sk next dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) between next 2 dc] 3 times, work corner, sl st in 3rd beg ch
Rnd 4: ch 3, [between each side by side pair of dc (no ch in between), dc, chain 1, dc, repeat to corner, work corner] 4 times, (dc, ch 1, dc) bet each pair of adjacent dc to space with beg ch, (dc, ch 1) in this sp, join with sl st to 3rd beg ch
Rnd 5: sl st after beg ch (before next dc) ch 4, dc in same sp work same as Rnd 4 around, at beg ch-join to beg ch with sl st after last dc-ch 1-dc group
Repeat Rnds. 4 & 5 until square is desired size
Finish off
Weave in ends.

Corner Granny

materials:
any size hook
any color yarn

notes:
--Square is worked in rows, rather than rounds
--This pattern is more suitable for smaller squares than one large one if you plan to use it for an afghan.

pattern:
ch 4
Row 1: (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in 4th ch from hook; beg ch counts as 1st dc, now and throughout
Row 2 and after: ch 3, turn --1st dc-- , dc in each dc across to ch-sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-sp, dc in each dc the rest of the way across
repeat row 2 to desired size

optional border: sc around square, placing 3 sc in each corner

Diagonal 2-Color Granny Square

materials:
any size hook
two colors of yarn

notes:
this square is basically made the same as a single color granny square, but with a color change in the 1st and 3rd corners. this change is made in the last yo of the 3rd dc in the corner.
beg ch-3 of each round counts as dc

special instructions:
to work corner: (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in ch-1 sp
to work 1st change corner: (3 dc -- in last dc join new color and pull it up for last yo of st, ch 1, 3 dc) in ch-1 sp
to work 2nd change corner: (3 dc -- changing back to first color in last yo of 3rd st, ch 1, 3 dc) in ch-1 sp

pattern:
ch 7-10 (if your chain tends to be tight, ch 10)
join with sl st to form ring
(sl st in ring--optional)
Rnd 1: ch 3, 2 dc in ring -- changing to new color in last yo of 2nd st, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc -- changing back to first color in 3rd st, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, join to beg ch with sl st
Rnd 2: ch 3, work 1st change corner in next ch-1 sp, work corner in next ch-1 sp, work 2nd change corner in next ch-1 sp, work corner in last ch-1 sp, allowing beg ch-3 to become last dc

continue as with a regular granny square, using 1st change corner to make 1st corner of ea Rnd, and 2nd change corner to make 3rd corner of ea Rnd
finish off

Granny Daughter

materials:
any size hook (usually "H" or "I" give a good size)
small amount of any yarn (worsted or sport weight probably best)

notes:
also known as Granny's Daughters, this is basically the first round of a granny square

pattern:
ch 6, sl st in 1st ch to form ring
Rnd 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times, join to 3rd beg chain with sl st
finish off
weave in ends

Traditional Granny Square (Technique)

materials:

any size hook
any amount, any color, any weight yarn

notes:

For those of you who are unaware, granny square afghans may be made from one large square, or many smaller squares--joined together by crochet or some other means.

special instructions:

to work corner: (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in corner ch-1 sp
in general, sp refers to the sp created between groups of 3 sts
beg ch-3 of each Rnd. counts as dc
join all round with sl st in 3rd ch

pattern:

ch 7-10 (depending on how tight you crochet, if your chain tends to be loose, use 7)
join with sl st to form ring
(sl st in ring -- optional)
Rnd 1: ch 3, [2 dc, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) 3 times] in ring; 4 corner sps -- you may wish to crochet over starting tail with this round
Rnd 2: ch 3, skip to corner sp, work corner 3 times, in last corner sp (3 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) join with sl st allowing beg ch to form 3rd dc of group; 4 sps, 4 corner sps
Rnd 3: (sl st in sp -- optional), ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, (work corner, 3 dc in next sp) 3 times, work corner, join; 8 sps, 4 corner sps
Rnd 4: (sl st in sp -- optional), ch 3, skip to next sp, (3 dc in each sp to corner, work corner) 4 times, 3 dc in each sp with last group formed by 2 dc + beg ch-3
Rnd 5: (sl st in sp -- optional), ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, (3 dc in each sp to corner, work corner) 4 times, 3 dc in each sp to beg ch, join
repeat Rnds. 4 & 5 until square is desired size (number of rounds, or measurement)
finish off.
add border if desired
weave in end if desired. if you are adding a border or joining with other squares, end may be worked in later.