This cheerful Santa granny square is a fun holiday project. A bright red hat with a fluffy white brim and pompom sits on top of a sweet round face with a curly beard, all framed in a classic granny square border. Use it on its own as a coaster or ornament, or join several squares to make a Christmas blanket, pillow, table runner, or stocking.
The diagram shows the square worked in rounds from the center outward. The face and beard are worked first, the square border is built around them, and the hat is worked separately and sewn on top for a raised, textured look.
Materials
Worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn in white, about 40 g
Worsted weight yarn in red, about 15 g
Small amounts of black and pink yarn, or two 8 mm safety eyes
Crochet hook 4.0 mm
Tapestry needle, scissors, and stitch markers
Optional: a little fiberfill for the pompom
Finished Size
About 15 by 15 cm (6 by 6 inches)
Stitches Used (US Terms)
ch chain
sl st slip stitch
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet
dc double crochet
tr treble crochet
sp space
picot chain 3 and slip stitch into the first chain
How to Read the Diagram
Start at the center of the chart and follow each round outward. Each small oval is a chain, each cross or plus sign is a single crochet, and each tall stitch with one bar across the post is a double crochet. The curved scallops around the lower half of the face show the beard shells, and the straight rows of tall stitches around the outside form the square frame.
Part 1: The Face (white)
Chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet), work 11 double crochet in the ring. Join to the top of the chain 3. You have 12 stitches.
Round 2: Chain 3, double crochet in the same stitch, then work 2 double crochet in each stitch around. Join. You have 24 stitches.
Round 3: Chain 3, work 2 double crochet in the next stitch, then work 1 double crochet in the next stitch and 2 double crochet in the following stitch. Repeat around. Join. You have 36 stitches.
Part 2: The Beard (white)
Mark the 18 stitches along the lower half of the face circle.
Round 4: Working only across the lower half, skip 1 stitch, work 5 double crochet in the next stitch, skip 1 stitch, and single crochet in the next. Repeat across the marked stitches to make 4 or 5 shells.
Round 5: Work a second row of larger shells below the first. In the single crochet between shells, work 7 treble crochet, then single crochet in the center of the next shell. Repeat across.
Across the top half of the circle, work single crochet evenly so the forehead stays flat under the hat.
Mustache
With white, chain 12. Work single crochet, half double crochet, 2 double crochet, half double crochet, and single crochet, then slip stitch in the center chain. Repeat the same stitches along the remaining chains so the mustache curls on both sides. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Part 3: The Square Frame (white)
Round 6: Now turn the circle into a square. Place 4 corner markers evenly around the face and beard.
At each corner, work treble crochet, chain 2, and treble crochet in the same stitch. Between corners, use double crochet on the sides, half double crochet where the edge is lower, and single crochet where the beard shells stick out, so the edge becomes straight.
Round 7: Chain 3, work double crochet in each stitch along the sides, and in each corner space work 2 double crochet, chain 2, and 2 double crochet. Join.
Round 8: Chain 4, skip 1 stitch, double crochet in the next stitch, and chain 1. Repeat along each side to make an open mesh round. In each corner space, work double crochet, chain 3, and double crochet. Join.
Round 9: Chain 3, work double crochet in each stitch and each chain 1 space along the sides. In each corner, work 2 double crochet, chain 2, and 2 double crochet. Join.
Round 10: Chain 1 and work single crochet evenly all around, with 3 single crochet in each corner. Join and fasten off.
Part 4: The Hat (red)
Chain 26.
Row 1: Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. You have 25 stitches.
Rows 2 to 12: Chain 1, single crochet 2 together at the start, work single crochet across, and single crochet 2 together at the end. Turn. Continue until 3 stitches remain.
Rows 13 to 15: Work 3 single crochet in each row so the tip of the hat droops slightly to one side. Fasten off.
Hat Brim (white)
Chain 30.
Row 1: Half double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn.
Row 2: Chain 2, work front post half double crochet around each stitch across for a thick, fluffy texture. Fasten off.
Pompom (white)
Chain 2. Work 6 single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook. Work 2 single crochet in each stitch around, then one round even. Add a little fiberfill, then work single crochet 2 together around until closed.
Part 5: Face Details
Eyes: With black yarn, chain 2 and work 6 single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook. Join and fasten off. Make 2. You can also use safety eyes placed before the frame is finished.
Nose: With white, chain 2 and work 8 single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook. Join and fasten off. Stuff lightly if you like.
Mouth: With pink, chain 4. Work single crochet, half double crochet, and single crochet across to make a small rounded mouth.
Assembly
Sew the hat to the top of the square so it covers the forehead area and the tip leans to one side.
Sew the brim across the base of the hat.
Sew the pompom to the tip of the hat.
Sew the eyes above the center, the nose in the middle, the mustache just under the nose, and the mouth below the mustache.
Weave in all ends on the back.
Blocking
Lightly dampen the square, pin it to a blocking mat so the corners are sharp and the sides are straight, and let it dry fully. Do not flatten the hat brim or pompom, so they keep their raised texture.
Ways to Use Your Santa Square
Join 20 or more squares with red and white squares between them for a festive blanket.
Sew two squares together over a cushion insert for a holiday pillow.
Make one square, add a hanging loop, and use it as a large tree ornament or wall decoration.
Join a row of squares for a Christmas table runner.
Attach one to the front of a plain stocking or gift bag.
Tips for Success
Keep your tension even in the face rounds so the circle stays flat.
If your beard shells ruffle, go down one hook size for those rounds.
Use stitch markers at the corners in every square round to keep your stitch counts right.
Choose a soft cream instead of bright white for a vintage look.
Final Thoughts
This Santa granny square is quick, cheerful, and perfect for using up leftover holiday yarn. Make one for a gift topper or a whole stack for a keepsake blanket your family can enjoy every Christmas. Share your finished Santa squares in the comments below. We would love to see your version!