Rainbow Granny Square Sweater – Free Beginner Crochet Pattern

This crochet Granny Square Sweater pattern is easy to make and even easier to wear! Simply make four granny squares and seam them together to create a stunning crochet box sweater that you will wear every season. 

Perfect for beginners, the rainbow granny square top offers endless colour possibilities so you can make yours unique. It’s great for yarn stash busting, and it’s also a quick and easy crochet project perfect for Pride!

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Scroll down for the free Granny Square Sweater pattern, or purchase an ad-free, printable PDF version here:

About the Rainbow Granny Square Sweater

If you’re anything like I was, crochet garments might scare you just a little bit.

I mean, it’s so much easier to make a blanket or scarf because it doesn’t really matter if they don’t come out the right size surely?!

Whilst I still love designing predominantly crochet blanket patterns and accessory patterns, I have found a new passion for garments over the last few years. I am really excited to bring this super duper, easy Rainbow Granny Square Sweater to you!

I guarantee that if you can make a granny square then you can crochet this sweater – it literally is 4 granny squares joined together (which also makes it a really fast crochet project too!).

If you’ve not made a granny square before, let me show you how in my granny square crochet pattern tutorial. Once you’ve cracked the technique, pop back here and we can make the sweater together!

If you’d also like to learn more about granny square crochet, you might like my post about the history of the granny square. I find it fascinating!

Yarn

To make this rainbow granny square sweater I used West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK Yarn which is 100% wool 225m/100g.

You will need 1 ball of each for all sizes: Crimson Red, Zesty Orange, Citrus Yellow, Pear Green, Thistle Purple, and Harbour Blue.

You’ll also need Natural Cream – the amount will vary for each size:

• XS/S = 2 balls
• M/L = 2 balls
• XL = 3 balls
• 2X/3X = 3 balls

I only used around 45g of each of the colour balls, so if you are raiding your yarn stash (which this pattern is perfect for!) then you’ll need around 400-500g of double knit yarn depending on the size you are making and the brand of yarn you choose.

I often get asked about ideas for alternative yarns. Here are some that I think would work really well for this sweater in various price ranges:

• £££: Capra DK yarn by WeCrochet is 85% fine merino, 15% cashmere, 123yds/50g and perfect for a luxurious garment to treat yourself to.
• ££: Cotton Bamboo Yarn by Lion Brand is 52% cotton, 48% Rayon from bamboo, 224m/100g and would make a beautiful, soft cotton sweater for Summer.
• £: Studio DK Yarn by Deramores is 100% acrylic, 250m/100g for an affordable but lovely yarn that comes in so many beautiful colours.

Tension and Sizing

Size Label	To fit bust (inches/cm)	Garment bust (inches/cm)	Sleeve length (inches/cm)	Back length (inches/cm)	Cream Yarn required (no. of balls)
XS/S	32-34/81-86	41/104	13.75/35	22.75/58	2
M/L	36-38/91-97	44.75/114	14.25/36.5	24.75/63	2
XL	40-42/102-107	48.5/123.5	15.25/39	26.25/67	3
2X/3X	44-46/112-117	52.5/133.5	15.75/40	28.25/72	3

4 rounds measures 10X10cm (4in x 4in) over granny square pattern using a 4.5 mm hook or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Materials

Along with your yarn, you will need the following:

• 4.5mm (US G+) crochet hook- my favourites are Furls Streamline Swirl crochet hooks or Clover Amour crochet hooks.
• Scissors
• Tapestry Needle
• Stitch Markers

Pattern Options

Get this granny square sweater pattern free in this blog post – just scroll down! You can also purchase an ad-free, printable PDF with added extras in my pattern stores: 

Don’t forget to join HanJan Crochet to receive regular discount codes (and more free patterns!) and Pin this granny square sweater crochet pattern to your crochet Pinterest board!

Glossary and Abbreviations (US Terminology)

• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• ch(s) – chain(s)
• ss – slip stitch
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• tog – together
• sk – skip
• rep – repeat
• fl – front loop
• bl – back loop

Granny Square Sweater Pattern Notes

If you are new to making wearables (or even if you’re not!) then I’d love you to read about how to make your perfect crochet wardrobe. Planning and preparation is key and there are loads of tips and tricks that will save you time (and frogging!) here.

The jumper is made up of 4 squares, one each for the front, back and sleeves.

Use the Granny Square pattern provided below when working the front, back and sleeves. Turn after each round to alternate RS and WS facing rows, this prevents the squares from twisting and will help keep stitches aligned for joining.

The Hem is added afterwards and is worked separately on Front and Back Panels, with a longer Back Hem.

Basic Granny Square Crochet Pattern

The jumper uses the following granny square pattern as the basis for the Front, Back and Sleeves. See instructions for details on colour sequencing, extensions and seaming. Instructions are in US terminology.

Make a magic loop.

Round 1 (RS): Ch5 (counts as dc and ch2 throughout), (3dc, ch2) 3 times into loop, 2dc, ss to third ch of beg ch-5 to join, ss into ch-2 sp. [4 3-dc groups]

Round 2: Ch5, (3dc, ch1) into same sp, (3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1) into next 3 ch-2 sps, 2dc into same sp as beg ch-5, ss to third ch of beg ch-5, ss into ch-2 sp. [8 3-dc groups]

Round 3: Ch5, (3dc, ch1) into same sp, *(3dc, ch1) into ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1) into ch-2 corner sp; rep from * twice more, (3dc, ch1) into next ch-1 sp, 2dc into same sp as beg ch-5, ss to third ch of beg ch-5, ss into ch-2 sp. [12 3-dc groups]

Round 4: Ch5, (3dc, ch1) into same sp, *(3dc, ch1) into each ch-1 sp to next corner, (3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1) in ch-2 corner sp; rep from * around, 2dc into same sp as beg ch-5, ss to third ch of beg ch-5, ss into ch-2 sp. [16 3-dc groups]

Repeat Round 4 as many times as indicated in pattern.

Fasten off.

Rainbow Granny Square Sweater Crochet Pattern

This free pattern is in standard US crochet terms. The printable PDF has both US and UK terms.

FRONT

Work 21 (23, 25, 27) rounds using the Granny Square pattern and the following colour sequence:

*Natural Cream, Crimson Red, Zesty Orange, Natural Cream Citrus Yellow, Pear Green, Natural Cream, Thistle Purple, Harbour Blue; rep from * until all rounds have been worked.

Fasten off.

BACK PANEL

Work 21 (23, 25, 27) rounds using the Granny Square pattern and the following colour sequence:

*Natural Cream, Harbour Blue, Thistle Purple, Natural Cream, Pear Green, Citrus Yellow, Natural Cream, Zesty Orange, Crimson Red; rep from * until all rounds have been worked.

Fasten off.

With RS facing, join Natural Cream into any stitch.

Next round Ch1, sc in each st and ch around, ss in beg st to join

Fasten off.

Repeat Natural Cream border on front Panel

SLEEVES (MAKE 2)

Sizes XS/S and M/L only.

Work 13 rounds using the Granny Square pattern and the following colour sequence:

Crimson Red, Zesty Orange, Citrus Yellow, Pear Green, Thistle Purple, Harbour Blue, Natural Cream, Crimson Red, Zesty Orange, Citrus Yellow, Pear Green, Thistle Purple, Harbour Blue.

Sizes XL and 2X/3X only.

Work 14 rounds using the Granny Square pattern and the following colour sequence:

Natural Cream, Crimson Red, Zesty Orange, Citrus Yellow, Pear Green, Thistle Purple, Harbour Blue, Natural Cream, Crimson Red, Zesty Orange, Citrus Yellow, Pear Green, Thistle Purple, Harbour Blue.

All sizes

Join Natural Cream into any st.

Next round Ch1 (does not count as a st throughout), *sc in each st and ch-1 to ch-2 corner, sc in next ch, ch1, sc in next ch: rep from * around, ss to beg ch. [212 (212, 228, 228) sts}

Work a further 0 (1, 1, 2) rounds of sc in bl only working (sc, ch1, sc) in each ch-1 corner sp. [212 (220, 236, 254) sts]

TO MAKE UP

You can seam your motifs however you would like but I have 3 favourite ways of joining crochet squares together that you might enjoy learning.

Place Front and Back Panel together with WS facing out. Ss the shoulders together working through the fl on the upper Panel and the bl on the lower Panel, leaving 37 sts across the centre unworked for the neckline.

Fold sleeve in half and pin fold-line to the shoulder seam. Join the Sleeves to the Front and Back Panels as you did for the shoulder seems.

Seam the underarm seam of the Sleeves and side seams of the Panels in the same way, beginning at the Sleeve and making sure all the sts line up.

HEM

The 3-dc group of the Hem are worked into the ch-1 sps on the final round of the granny square and NOT the edging.

With RS facing, join Natural Cream to bottom corner of Front Panel.

Row 1 (RS) Ch2, dc on st at base of ch-2, (3dc, ch1) in each ch-1 sp across, dc in final st, turn.

Repeat Row 1 another 1 (1, 0, 0) times.

Fasten off.

CUFFS

With RS facing, join Natural Cream to bl of stitch at Sleeve seam.

Round 1 (RS) Ch1, sc in bl of each st around, ss to beg st to join.

Round 2 (RS) As Round 1.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

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More Crochet Patterns You Might Enjoy

If you enjoy making granny squares here are a couple more patterns and tutorials you would enjoy crocheting!