This festive granny square features a bright red gift box tied with a golden ribbon and a raised bow, set on a cream center with a white shell border and a deep green frame. It is a cheerful project for Christmas blankets, pillows, coasters, and holiday decor, and it pairs beautifully with other seasonal squares.
The square is made in two parts. First you crochet the gift box and the cream background as one piece, then you add the shell and green border rounds. The ribbon and bow are made separately and sewn on top.
Materials
Worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn in red, about 12 g
Worsted weight yarn in cream, about 20 g
Worsted weight yarn in white, about 15 g
Worsted weight yarn in dark green, about 20 g
Worsted weight yarn in golden yellow, about 8 g
Crochet hook 4.0 mm
Tapestry needle, scissors, and stitch markers
Finished Size
About 16 by 16 cm (6.5 by 6.5 inches)
Stitches Used (US Terms)
ch chain
sl st slip stitch
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet
dc double crochet
sc2tog single crochet two together
Part 1: The Gift Box (red)
Chain 15.
Row 1: Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. You have 14 stitches.
Rows 2 to 14: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch across. Turn.
You now have a square block of red. Fasten off.
Part 2: The Cream Background
Round 1: Join cream in any corner of the red block. Chain 1 and work single crochet evenly around all four sides, with 3 single crochet in each corner. Join.
Round 2: Chain 1 and work single crochet in each stitch around, with 3 single crochet in each corner stitch. Join.
Rounds 3 and 4: Repeat Round 2. The cream frame should now be about 2.5 cm wide on each side.
Tip: To match the photo, add 1 extra round of cream along the top edge only, so there is more space above the box for the bow.
Fasten off.
Part 3: The White Shell Border
Round 5: Join white in any corner. Chain 1 and single crochet in the same stitch. Skip 1 stitch, then work 5 double crochet in the next stitch. Skip 1 stitch and single crochet in the next. Repeat around.
At each corner, work 7 double crochet in the corner stitch instead of 5.
Adjust the spacing on each side so the shells are even. You should have about 6 shells on each side.
Join and fasten off.
Part 4: The Green Frame
Round 6: Join green in the center stitch of any corner shell. Chain 3 and work 2 double crochet, chain 2, and 3 double crochet in the same stitch to make the corner.
Along the sides, work double crochet in each single crochet between shells, and chain 2 over the top of each shell.
Repeat for all four corners. Join.
Round 7: Chain 3 and work double crochet in each stitch and 2 double crochet in each chain 2 space along the sides. In each corner space, work 3 double