Easy crochet popcorn granny square pattern

This is a beautiful popcorn stitch granny square motif with a central star shape. I’ll explain how you can crochet one just like it.

📏 Detailed Crochet Pattern for the Popcorn Stitch Granny Square

🧶 Materials

• Red yarn (center and border)
• Cream or off-white yarn (body & popcorn stitches)
• 2.5 mm crochet hook (as shown in your image)
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

🌸 Motif Instructions

Round 1 — Center (Red Yarn)

1. Magic Ring
2. Chain 2 (counts as first DC)
3. Work 11 double crochets (DC) into the ring.
4. Tighten the ring and join with a slip stitch to top of chain-2. (Total: 12 stitches)

Round 2 — Popcorn Base (Cream Yarn)

1. Attach cream yarn in any stitch.
2. [Make a Popcorn Stitch:
   • 5 DC into the same stitch.
   • Remove your hook from the loop, insert it into the first DC of the group.
   • Pick up the dropped loop and pull through.]
3. Chain 2.
4. Skip 2 stitches.
5. Repeat Popcorn Stitch + Chain 2 around. (You should have 4 popcorn stitches total, evenly spaced)
6. In remaining stitches between popcorns, work single crochet (SC) or half double crochet (HDC) to balance spacing.
7. Join with slip stitch to top of first popcorn.

Round 3 — Building Outward

1. In each chain-2 space, work:
   • 2 DC, chain 2, 2 DC (this starts forming the corners).
2. In the stitches along the sides:
   • Work double crochets (DC) between popcorn clusters.
3. Repeat around.
4. Join with a slip stitch to finish the round.

Round 4+ — Expanding the Square

1. In each corner space (chain-2 space):
   • 3 DC, chain 2, 3 DC.
2. Along sides:
   • Work 1 DC in each stitch from the previous round.
3. Repeat around.
4. Join with slip stitch.

Repeat this process until your square reaches your desired size.

Final Round — Red Border

1. Attach red yarn in any corner.
2. Single crochet (SC) in each stitch around.
3. In each corner space:
   • SC, chain 2, SC.
4. Join with slip stitch, fasten off, and weave in ends.

📌 Special Stitch:

Popcorn Stitch (PC)

• 5 DC in the same stitch.
• Drop loop from hook, insert hook into first DC.
• Pick up dropped loop and pull through.

📊 Finished Pattern Shape:

• 1 red circular center.
• 4 popcorn stitch “cross” arms.
• Filled out with DC rounds to form a square.
• Final clean red border.

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