How to Crochet a Granny Rectangle

Granny squares are really common and very easy to make, but their shape may limit their use. There is a way to make rectangles from basically the same pattern. Here are the instructions.

Round 1
Chain 8, then join the last chain to the first with a slip stitch to make a ring. This ring will be bigger than the one you'd make for a square, but you're going to be putting more stitches in it, and you need that space to accommodate those extra stitches.

Chain 4 more stitches (to count as 1 double crochet and 1 chain).

Make 3 double crochets in the ring, then chain 1. Do this set (3 double crochets and a chain) 4 more times.

Make 2 double crochets in the ring right next to the "chain 5" loop. Then make a slip stitch to join that last double crochet to the first "chain 5." This will turn your last 2 doubles and the first 3 of those 5 chains into a block.

You've now finished round 1. You should have six blocks of 3 double crochets, each separated by a chain.

Round 2
Chain 5 (to count as 2 double crochets and 2 chains).

Make 3 double crochets and a chain in the space from the round below (right under where you just made the "chain 5"). This is the way you'll begin each round from now on.

Make 3 double crochets and a chain in the next space.

Then do a corner, consisting of 3 doubles, 2 chains, 3 more doubles, and 1 more chain, all in the next space.

In the next space make another corner.

In the space after that make 3 doubles and a chain.

Then make another corner (3 doubles, 2 chains, 3 doubles, 1 chain).

Finish the round by making 2 doubles next to the "chain 5" and then joining with a slip stitch to the "chain 5."

You've done only two rounds, but you should start to see the rectangle shape emerging. It will take another round for that shape to be really visible.

Round 3 and all successive rounds
Chain 5, then make 3 doubles and a chain in the space from the round below.

In every space that isn't a corner make 3 doubles and a chain. In the corner spaces make 3 doubles, 2 chains, 3 doubles, and 1 chain. (You should be able to see the corners fairly easily; they have 2 chains between the blocks, while the sides have only 1 chain between blocks.)