• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
moogly
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Patterns
  • Tutorials
  • MooglyCAL
  • Giveaways
  • Lives
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Patterns
    • Tutorials
    • MooglyCAL
    • Giveaways
    • Lives
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Moogly Crochet Along

    Get It Together: How to Join Crochet Squares 14 Ways!

    Published: Oct 23, 2014 · Modified: Nov 11, 2019 by Tamara Kelly · 59 Comments

    There are so. many. ways. to join crochet squares and afghan blocks! And I know that lots of you have been eagerly awaiting this list - the Moogly Afghan CAL for this year is winding down, and it's time to start thinking about how we're going to attach all of these blocks together to make one big blankie. So let's get started! I've linked to photo and/or video tutorials for each of 12 14 methods for joining afghan squares (I've added new ones!)!

    12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!

    12 14 Ways to Join Crochet Squares

    Click on the names of the methods you like to go to their pattern pages!

    1. Whip Stitch Seaming by Tamara Kelly, on Moogly:  This sewn seam is fast fast fast!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    2. Single Crochet Seaming by Tamara Kelly, on Moogly: You can also see this in action on Repeat Crafter Me! It creates a big ridge between squares, and definite grid look!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    3. Slip Stitch Seaming by Tamara Kelly, on Moogly: The least amount of yarn used, without actually putting down the hook!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    4. Mattress Stitch Seaming by Tamara Kelly, on Moogly: Sewn rather than crocheted, this stitch can be completely invisible!Mattress-Stitch-Cover
    5. Flat Braid Join by Carolyn Christmas, on Gourmet Crochet: One of my all time favorites - very forgiving when working with lots of squares with different stitch counts!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    6. Celtic Lace Join by Rachele, on Baby Love Brand: Very elaborate, and lovely! The newest one on the list I think!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    7. Join As You Go by Kara Gunza, on Petals to Picots: This has a great look - and love JAYG!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    8. Scallop Join by Carolyn Christmas, on Gourmet Crochet: Another lovely lacey look!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    9. Simulated Braid Join by Carolyn Christmas, on Gourmet Crochet: So many pretty joins, it's hard to choose!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    10. Dudessembly by The Crochet Dude: See the video in the free Amazing Crochet Textures Class on Craftsy!12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    11. Flat Zipper Method by Dedri Uys, on Look at What I Made: This creates such a great looking line, very clean.12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    12. Rag Quilt/Fringe Join by Amy Solovay, on About.com, via the Internet Archive: The opposite of the "clean" look, this one is full of texture.12 Great Methods for Joining #Crochet Afghan Square and Blocks!
    13. Tight Braid Join on Moogly - I used this to finish the Moogly Afghan CAL for 2014 (and 2015, and 2016)! And of course shared the pattern!
      Tight Braid Join for Afghan Squares: Video Tutorial on Moogly!
    14. Continuous Join CLUSTER Style Tutorial by Margaret MacInnis, on Ravelry - haven't tried it, just spotted it, but love the look!

      Continuous Join CLUSTER Style Tutorial by Margaret MacInnis

    Each of these methods has their own style and look, and not all of them will work for everybody. When joining a variety of squares in a sampler afghan, you might need to fudge a bit on the number of stitches you work (or skip!) on any given square, to make them all work. But that's all part of the challenge! One tip, the more "open" the join, the more room there is to play. I hope you've found a style here that appeals to you. If there's a method I missed, be sure to link it in the comments!

    Craftsy

    Thanks for reading! Get Moogly on your favorite social media sites:  Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr, and sign up for the free Moogly Newsletter at the top of the page!

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email
    Share450
    Pin5K
    Tweet
    Share
    Email
    Reddit
    6K Shares

    More Moogly Crochet Along

    • MooglyCAL2023 Block 19 - courtesy of Blankets With Heart
      MooglyCAL2023 - Block 19
    • MooglyCAL2023 - Block 18 by Mamas 2 Hands
      MooglyCAL2023 - Block 18
    • MooglyCAL2023 - Block 17 by Golden Lucy Crafts
      MooglyCAL2023 - Block 17
    • MooglyCAL2023 - Block 16 Courtesy of The Stitchin' Mommy
      MooglyCAL2023 - Block 16
    Share450
    Pin5K
    Tweet
    Share
    Email
    Reddit
    6K Shares
    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 1

      Zarnaz

      October 23, 2014 at 10:40 am

      Can we know what method you will be using? 😀

      Reply
      • 2

        Tamara Kelly

        October 23, 2014 at 10:52 am

        I'm still deciding! French braid is an old fave, but it's tempting to try something new too! 😀 I'll definitely share when I decide though!

        Reply
        • 3

          Zarnaz

          October 24, 2014 at 10:29 pm

          I like the flat braid method, easy enough to do and looks very sophisticated... But I'm confused about how I'd join the squares when there are four of them? I mean the part in the middle where each square's one corner will be connected with the other three's corners... :/ I know it sounds confusing... But it would be great if you can help with that!

          Reply
          • 4

            Tamara Kelly

            October 25, 2014 at 7:50 am

            Hi Zarnaz! It does get a little tricky there! There are a series of videos on youtube that will help: http://youtu.be/2qfBKZwqBgE 🙂

            Reply
      • 5

        joyce

        October 26, 2014 at 12:52 am

        Thank you very much for sharing these methods. Even an experienced crocheter can always learn new styles.

        My favourites are the joining methods of Carolyn Christmas!

        Reply
        • 6

          Tamara Kelly

          October 27, 2014 at 8:17 am

          She's fantastic, isn't she! Thanks Joyce!

          Reply
    2. 7

      Marrie

      October 24, 2014 at 12:39 am

      OMG! Thank you, Thankyou very much.. I was really searching for this!

      Reply
      • 8

        Tamara Kelly

        October 24, 2014 at 11:51 am

        😀

        Reply
    3. 9

      Kitty

      October 24, 2014 at 4:57 pm

      Thanks for sharing. Will you also be posting different boarder options? That would be awesome. I always like to put a border around my finished blankets and would love other options. Thanks

      Reply
      • 10

        Tamara Kelly

        October 24, 2014 at 5:07 pm

        I hadn't thought of it, but I like that idea! 😀 I'll add that to the todo list! 😀 Thanks Kitty!

        Reply
        • 11

          Kitty

          October 25, 2014 at 11:40 am

          Awesome thanks!

          Reply
    4. 12

      Eileen K

      October 25, 2014 at 10:56 am

      I haven't done this CAL because I had already started a big project with squares. I just started joining them (6 rows, 7 squares each), and I'm using whip stitch seaming, but back loops only. It creates a nice frame around each square. I saw it on Bunny Mummy -- http://bunnymummy-jacquie.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/sewing-granny-squares-together.html --and it's working perfectly for my project. She includes step-by-step photos. Some of the options you've shown look beautiful, and I'm marking this for my next project. I've also been bookmarking the squares you've shown. I'd love to try it with a variety of colors. But it might be a while before I do a squares project again! Thank you for all the posts and directions.

      Reply
    5. 13

      Sherika

      October 25, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      I'll be using the Single Crochet seam. I used it on a purse once & it seems easiest to me. I also like the raised look.

      Reply
    6. 14

      Robyn

      October 25, 2014 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you for this ...for all your great ideas...so very helpful

      Reply
    7. 15

      Angela Armstrong

      October 25, 2014 at 4:35 pm

      I'll be using the "Invisible Zipped Ladder Stitch (Tutorial)" by Linda Davie. It's free on ravelry.
      http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zipped-ladder-stitch-tutorial---invisible-join-technique
      xoxo

      Reply
    8. 16

      Patricia Seaton

      October 25, 2014 at 7:03 pm

      Thank you for posting all of these great looking joining choices, Tamara. It'll be hard to decide.

      Reply
    9. 17

      Cathy kenny

      October 26, 2014 at 2:45 am

      Thanks so much for posting these! I had originally planned to try the Celtic Lace,, but might want something less airy for this afghan. Decisions, decisions... 🙂

      Reply
    10. 18

      Smita

      October 26, 2014 at 9:12 am

      I do like the Celtic one, but this blankie is going to be so big anyway so I think I will stick with the single crochet raised one. May use the Celtic one on a smaller project x

      Reply
    11. 19

      Julie Schneider

      October 28, 2014 at 12:47 pm

      Great post! Thanks for sharing these techniques. I'm going to use them immediately! :>)

      Reply
      • 20

        Tamara Kelly

        October 28, 2014 at 7:03 pm

        😀 Thank you Julie!

        Reply
    12. 21

      Ashley

      October 28, 2014 at 6:33 pm

      i really love that Simulated Braid Join! i hope i can figure that one out for the afghan.... the only joining method i have ever used is the slip stitch and i am not very fond of it but have never been able to find a good joining post like the list you just made, Thanks!

      Reply
    13. 22

      Sande

      October 29, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      Tamara, My very favorite method of joining any squares with a chain edge (crochet or knit) is the weaving method. This is illustrated by Kathleen Sams in a Red Heart Video on You Tube. The "meat" of the lesson starts at about 2:10 in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYMzeOUCskk&index=9&list=PLmHg1kKGgmoxkSYvzCTLuwfT2eNzfSVUp

      I've used this on many afghans and the results are spectacular!

      Reply
      • 23

        Tamara Kelly

        October 30, 2014 at 11:03 am

        Ah, slip stitch through the FLO and BLO from behind! Another great option, thank you Sande!

        Reply
        • 24

          Sande

          October 30, 2014 at 2:39 pm

          Excuse me, Tamara, that's not a slip stitch at all. It's woven with a yarn needle. No ridges and very invisible from either side. Here's a photo of the front side of an afghan: http://images4-d.ravelrycache.com/uploads/sandeleh/116562853/good_cause_7_medium2.JPG and here is a photo of the back side: http://images4-d.ravelrycache.com/uploads/sandeleh/116563607/good_cause_wrong_side_medium2.JPG You can see the seams on the back in this photo, but after my friend washed it, she says the seams have disappeared!

          Reply
          • 25

            Tamara Kelly

            October 31, 2014 at 9:08 am

            How strange, in the video I watched she was using a hook. Oh well, very nice either way!

            Reply
            • 26

              sandeleh francis

              August 09, 2018 at 2:42 pm

              I think you may not have gotten far enough into the clip to see the method I like. it's at 2 mins, 10 secs in. She's weaving with a tapestry needle.

    14. 27

      Ana

      December 28, 2014 at 6:27 pm

      Thank you for posting these! I've always been afraid of joining and have always just sewn my squares together which always takes forever. The last afghan I made was explained as a join as you go project and it was SSSOOO much easier! Tell me . . what is the difference between the flat braid join and the join as you go? They look the same to me.
      Ana

      Reply
    15. 28

      Margaret Loignon

      July 27, 2015 at 11:34 am

      I'm just finishing up CAL 2014 and used the Flat Braid Join for joining the squares. It was good since all of the squares were not the same stitch count. I used Aran for the color. Using this color for the braid separated each square so they weren't running into each other. It was one of the four colors in the afghan, too. I used a simple border around the finished afghan.

      Thanks for your great patterns and helpful hints.

      Reply
      • 29

        Tamara Kelly

        July 27, 2015 at 1:25 pm

        Sounds lovely Margaret! Thank you for participating in the CAL! 😀

        Reply
    16. 30

      shazia

      October 29, 2015 at 4:26 pm

      Very nice

      Reply
      • 31

        Tamara Kelly

        October 30, 2015 at 10:12 am

        Thank you! 🙂

        Reply
    17. 32

      Beth Graham

      January 14, 2016 at 3:20 pm

      Thanks so much for -- heh! -- assembling this list!

      Reply
      • 33

        Tamara Kelly

        January 14, 2016 at 4:01 pm

        Heheh! 😀 Thank you!

        Reply
    18. 34

      Mary Christensen

      March 04, 2016 at 8:19 pm

      Is there an easy way to calculate the amount of yarn you will need for a join? I am working on a baby blanket and am trying to come up with a math kind of equation to estimate the amount of yarn needed.

      Reply
      • 35

        Tamara Kelly

        March 06, 2016 at 9:56 pm

        There are so very many variables, the best way is to work a foot or two of the join, then measure how much yarn that used. Then you'd need to figure out how many feet of join you'll need to make for your blanket, and do the math! 🙂

        Reply
    19. 36

      valerie

      May 16, 2016 at 4:00 pm

      Is there anyplace on the web that shows you how to join different size squares? I mean DIFFERENT sizes. I have been making squares from different artists patterns that I have fallen in love with. Some are 9 inch, some are 12 inch and a lot are 6 inch. I love them all and I want to put them into one large afghan. Help would be highly appreciated.

      Reply
      • 37

        Tamara Kelly

        May 17, 2016 at 11:33 am

        Hi Valerie! In this case, you'll want to play with the layout quite a bit - an example of what I mean is the Babette Blanket: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/babette-blanket After you've got a layout you like (filling in with more squares as needed!) I would recommend a join with a lot of flexibility, such as the flat braid join (shown above). You can "fudge" the stitches you work into as needed. 🙂 I hope that helps!

        Reply
    20. 38

      Andrea

      June 20, 2016 at 6:22 pm

      Tamara, My question is not about joining specifically, but about making a granny square blanket: I've made my blanket and joined the squares but when I use it, the yarn ends keep popping out! Some are just woven in and some are knotted but they all seem to pop out. Obviously, I don't want to trim them too closely but what can I do to keep this from happening? I feel like I'm missing something as I've never noticed anyone mentioning this issue but I can't be the only one to have this problem. Please help, you're my crochet guru 😉 Thank you

      Reply
      • 39

        Tamara Kelly

        June 26, 2016 at 7:07 pm

        Hello Andrea! Thank you! ♥ Well, weaving them in is important for sure, but how you weave them in can make a big difference. I have a video tutorial for how I do it (click here), but I think the real key takeaway is to make sure that you go in several directions, using several inches of yarn, and that you try to "split" the yarn as you go, going "through" the tail itself as you weave it in. Then cut it close to the finished project, and it should be "locked in." I hope this helps!

        Reply
        • 40

          Andrea

          June 26, 2016 at 10:05 pm

          Oh, thanks so much, I haven't been using the tapestry needle either, just the crochet hook. Your way looks so much more secure.
          Thanks again!

          Reply
    21. 41

      TigerKIm

      December 03, 2016 at 9:26 pm

      Awesome collection of joins! Thanks for sharing > PINNED!

      Reply
      • 42

        Tamara Kelly

        December 05, 2016 at 10:38 am

        Thank you! 😀

        Reply
    22. 43

      Pam Hemenway

      March 12, 2017 at 10:07 pm

      This is just perfect timing i have a few more pieces to do for my graphghan. I'm not sure which one i will use. OH BTW did you realize #2 + #3 are the same thing not complaining just letting you know.

      Reply
      • 44

        Tamara Kelly

        March 15, 2017 at 10:23 am

        Hi Pam! Thank you, I'm so glad to hear it! They do link to the same tutorial, but that tutorial demonstrates both of the methods, which are different. 🙂

        Reply
    23. 45

      Renee

      May 01, 2017 at 10:05 am

      Using the lattice join technique with granny squares. At corners .... what do I do next ?

      Reply
      • 46

        Tamara Kelly

        May 01, 2017 at 11:09 am

        Hi Renee! I don't see that one here and I'm not sure which technique you are referring to?

        Reply
    24. 47

      Cheryl

      May 04, 2017 at 11:29 am

      Thank you for sharing these techniques! Now I can't decide which one, but at least I have some options! 🙂

      Reply
    25. 48

      Melissa Preble

      June 23, 2017 at 10:52 pm

      Hello there, I have two questions. First, do you block your squares? If yes, have you ever worked a big project without blocking? Secondly, will these methods work on round motifs? Thank you in advance for any help ☺️

      Reply
      • 49

        Tamara Kelly

        June 29, 2017 at 9:21 am

        Hi Melissa!

        I do block my squares. I use a blocking board by Chetnanigans - click here for more info on that - though you can substitute a foam board and pins as seen here: click here.

        I have made large projects without blocking, it certainly optional. However, some projects just look better blocked, and since a pattern's success starts with the photos, I always try to make them look their best!

        You can block round motifs for sure! I recommend using a ruler to make sure it's the same diameter all around before it dries for a perfect finish. 🙂

        Reply
    26. 50

      Gloria

      January 16, 2018 at 10:15 pm

      My first granny square project! I have made granny squares with a skirt in mind. I am at the point of putting them together. I keep going back to the drawing board. What method would you recommend that wouldn’t be too stiff, allowing for softness and closer to flat then raised? Thanks, Gloria

      Reply
      • 51

        Tamara Kelly

        January 17, 2018 at 9:14 am

        Hi Gloria! For a skirt, I might try sewing them together (Mattress Stitch) through the BLO of each square, or the Flat Zipper method shown above at #11! 🙂

        Reply
    27. 52

      Laurie McKee

      August 08, 2018 at 4:04 pm

      Hi, one of my favorite joins is just to slip stitch on one piece, then slip stitch in corresponding stitch on the other piece, and continue alternating. It is like the flat braid, but less. It leaves a zigzag line of the chain stitches. If you do only back loop on one piece and front loop on the other, you also get the line of strand loops on each side of the zigzag. A very nice and easy join.

      Reply
      • 53

        Tamara Kelly

        August 09, 2018 at 11:16 am

        Nice, thank you for sharing Laurie! ♥

        Reply
    28. 54

      Beverly Robinson

      October 14, 2019 at 3:42 am

      I'm crocheting a bedspread with crocheting cotton. I have just finished my first row. My question is....is it bbetter to block and join as I go or wait until all of my blocks are crocheted.

      Reply
      • 55

        Tamara Kelly

        October 14, 2019 at 10:33 am

        I find it a lot easier to block the squares as I go, individually. It's just a lot easier in terms of space needed and wrangling all the fabric! 🙂

        Reply
    29. 56

      Beverly

      October 15, 2019 at 2:40 am

      Thank you

      Reply
    30. 57

      Sarah

      November 10, 2019 at 10:18 am

      I do not see any directions on how to do the rag quilt / fringe join for granny squares. I only see a picture of it but no directions. I would love to try it.
      Any help would be appreciated

      Reply
      • 58

        Tamara Kelly

        November 11, 2019 at 9:36 am

        Oh dear, looks like that page has come down! I did find the instructions on the Internet Archive though, and have updated the link (you do have to scroll down quite a bit)! Thank you for letting me know!

        Reply
    31. 59

      Sarah

      November 11, 2019 at 9:55 am

      Thank You so much. I am going to try this and see if I can make it a very secure join that no one has to worry about. I love the looks and so does my granddaughter. Will keep you posted.
      THANK YOU

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Courtesy of The Studio Chicago

    Moogly is world-famous for fresh. modern, and approachable crochet designs - as well as a little knitting and crafting here and there. On Moogly, you'll find several new free patterns every month, top quality video tutorials, giveaways, and more!

    More about Moogly →

    Popular

    • Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo Speckle Giveaway - Win 4 Skeins on Moogly!
      Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo Speckle Giveaway
    • Plush Pumpkin Basket - free crochet pattern and video tutorials on Moogly
      Plush Pumpkin Basket Tutorial
    • Plush Pumpkin Basket - free crochet pattern on Moogly
      Plush Pumpkin Basket
    • Loop Scoop 70 - Moogly
      Loop Scoop 70: Our Last Yarny Link Party

    See Moogly's Best Recommendations on Amazon!

    I'm a Craftsy Instructor. Click to see my classes.
    Free Wrap Up Afghans

     

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    Sign up for our weekly newsletter!

      Contact

      Email Moogly

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2023 Mooglyblog.com