Tangerine Grove Granny Square — A Bright Citrus Classic
A cheerful five-round granny square in tangerine, burnt orange, and cream, finished with a picot edge — easy enough for confident beginners to enjoy.
About this pattern
The Tangerine Grove Granny Square is a classic ring-style granny worked in five rounds that build from a tidy tangerine center out through burnt orange and cream, before finishing with a tangerine border and a burnt orange picot edging. What makes it special is how confidently the colors read together, warm and citrusy without ever feeling loud, so each square feels like a little sunbeam whether it stands alone or joins a whole batch.
You'll work this square using standard corner-chain construction: a magic ring start, corner ch-2 spaces that open up as the rounds grow, and a simple sc border finished with a picot edge for texture. It's an easy pattern, well suited to anyone who already has basic double crochet and single crochet down and wants a satisfying, fast project, or to a confident beginner ready to tackle a first granny square from start to finish.
Finished, each square measures about 6 by 6 inches worked in worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook, with the picot edging adding a soft, scalloped finish along every side. Make a handful for a set of coasters or a small pillow, or keep stitching squares in this same citrus palette to build toward a warm, cheerful throw.
Variations
Idea 1
I designed this square on a morning when I wanted something that felt like sunshine, and tangerine against cream just does that for me every time. What I love most is how forgiving it is, five rounds, each one ending in a stitch count you can check before moving on, so you're never stitching blind. The corner spaces open up generously, which makes every round easy to see and easy to correct if something looks off. And that picot edging at the end turns a simple square into something that looks like you fussed over it for hours, when really it's just a handful of confident stitches. It's become one of my go-to squares whenever I want a fast, happy win.
Common mistakes
Forgetting the ch-3 counts stitch
Remember the ch-3 at the start of a round stands in for the first double crochet, so don't work an extra dc into that same space or your stitch count will creep up.
Losing track of corner spaces
It's easy to stitch past a corner ch-2 space without noticing, especially in a busy color. Slow down at each corner and count your stitch groups before moving to the next side.
Skipping the stitch count check
Every round ends with a stitch count in parentheses for a reason. Check yours before starting the next round so a small mistake doesn't carry forward through the whole square.
Pulling picots too tight
If you cinch each picot down too firmly along the edging, the border can pucker instead of lying flat. Keep your tension relaxed so the scalloped edge stays soft and even.
Materials & abbreviations
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn in 3 colors (tangerine, burnt orange, cream) — about 25–40 g total per square
- 5.0 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- dc
- double crochet
- sc
- single crochet
- sl st
- slip stitch
- sp
- space
- st(s)
- stitch(es)
- rnd
- round
- MR
- magic ring
- picot
- ch 3, sl st into the 3rd ch from hook
Main pattern
How to Crochet the Tangerine Grove Granny Square — Round 1
With tangerine, in a magic ring: ch 3, 11 dc; sl st to top of ch-3 to join (12)
- Using tangerine yarn, in a magic ring: make 3 chain stitches, 11 double crochet; slip stitch to top of ch-3 to join.
Tip An original classic design — every round below carries its exact math-verified stitch count.
How to Crochet the Tangerine Grove Granny Square — Round 2
With burnt orange, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same st, ch 1, skip 2 sts, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next st, ch 1, skip 2 sts] 3 times; sl st to top of ch-3 to join (24)
- Using burnt orange yarn, make 3 chain stitches, (2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in the same stitch, make 1 chain stitch, skip 2 stitches, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in next stitch, make 1 chain stitch, skip 2 stitches] 3 times; slip stitch to top of ch-3 to join.
How to Crochet the Tangerine Grove Granny Square — Round 3
With cream, sl st to corner sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, ] 3 times; sl st to join (36)
- Using cream yarn, slip stitch to corner space, make 3 chain stitches, 2 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet in same corner, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, [(3 double crochet, make 2 chain stitches, 3 double crochet) in corner space, make 1 chain stitch, 3 double crochet, make 1 chain stitch, ] 3 times; slip stitch to join.
How to Crochet the Tangerine Grove Granny Square — Border
With tangerine, sl st into the corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, [3 sc in the corner sp, (sc in next 3 sts, sc in next sp) 2 times, sc in next 3 sts] 4 times; sl st to the first sc (56)
- Using tangerine yarn, slip stitch into the corner ch-2 space, make 1 chain stitch, [3 single crochet in the corner space, (single crochet in next 3 stitches, single crochet in next space) 2 times, single crochet in next 3 stitches] 4 times; slip stitch to the first single crochet.
How to Crochet the Tangerine Grove Granny Square — Edging
With burnt orange, sl st into the next st, ch 1, [sc in each of the next 4 sts, ch-3 picot] 14 times; sl st to the first sc (56)
- Using burnt orange yarn, slip stitch into the next stitch, make 1 chain stitch, [single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, picot (chain 3, slip stitch into the 3rd chain from your hook)] 14 times; slip stitch to the first single crochet.
Important notes
Gauge: the finished square is about 6 x 6 inches in Worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook. Tight crocheters can go up half a hook size; loose ones down half.
Color plan: the sample uses tangerine, burnt orange, cream in round order — change colors with a slip-stitch join in the first stitch of the new round.
🧶 Ch 3 at the start of a round counts as the first dc throughout.
🧶 Every round ends with an exact stitch count in ( ) — check yours before moving on.
🧶 A ch-3 picot: chain 3, then slip stitch into the third chain from your hook — a tiny decorative point that sits on top of the stitch you just made.
🧶 Work the picot edge in cream to mimic the white pith — it keeps the citrus feel bright without adding another color to juggle.
Weave in ends as you finish each color rather than saving them all for last, it keeps the back tidy and makes it easy to spot any skipped stitches early.
Block your finished squares lightly with steam or a damp cloth before joining several together; it squares up the corners and makes seaming much easier.
Frequently asked questions
This square is worked in worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook, which gives it a nice, sturdy drape without feeling stiff. Any smooth worsted weight yarn in your chosen colors will work well.
Once all the rounds and the edging are complete, the square measures about 6 by 6 inches. Your exact size can vary slightly depending on your tension and how tightly you crochet.
You can fasten off after each colored round and rejoin the next color in any corner space, or carry your yarn up the side if you'd rather avoid extra ends. Either method works fine here.
Yes, it's rated easy and every round gives you a stitch count to check your work against, which makes it a forgiving place to start. Just take it one round at a time.
Absolutely. The construction stays the same no matter what colors you choose, so feel free to swap in your own palette while keeping the same three-color, five-round structure.
