This cheerful granny rectangle features a happy snowman with a black top hat, an orange carrot nose, a cozy red scarf, three black buttons, and little brown stick arms. He stands on a bright sky blue granny background framed with a cream border, giving the whole piece a fresh, wintery look. It is perfect for winter blankets, pillows, wall hangings, and Christmas decorations.
The rectangle is made in two parts. First you crochet the blue granny rectangle with its cream border, then you make the snowman, hat, scarf, buttons, and arms and sew them on top for a raised, dimensional look.
Materials
Worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn in sky blue, about 45 g
Worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn in cream or white, about 30 g
Small amounts of black, red, orange, and brown yarn
Crochet hook 4.0 mm
Tapestry needle, scissors, and stitch markers
Finished Size
About 18 by 24 cm (7 by 9.5 inches)
Stitches Used (US Terms)
ch chain
sl st slip stitch
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet
dc double crochet
inc 2 single crochet in the same stitch
MR magic ring
FLO front loop only
cluster 3 double crochet worked into the same space
Part 1: The Blue Granny Rectangle
A granny rectangle starts from a short row of clusters instead of a ring, so it grows longer than it is wide.
With blue, chain 18.
Round 1: Double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook. Skip 2 chains and work a cluster in the next chain. Repeat to the last chain. In the last chain, work 2 clusters with chain 2 between them, then chain 2 and work another cluster in the same chain to turn the corner. Now work along the other side of the foundation chain, placing a cluster in the same chains you used before. In the first chain, work a cluster, chain 2, and a cluster for the last corner. Join. You have a long oval of clusters with 4 corners.
Round 2: Slip stitch into the corner space. Chain 3 and work 2 double crochet, chain 2, and 3 double crochet in the same space. Along the sides, work a cluster in each space between the clusters of the previous round. In each corner, work a cluster, chain 2, and a cluster. Join.
Rounds 3 to 8: Repeat Round 2. The background should measure about 15 by 21 cm. Fasten off blue.
Part 2: The Cream Border
Round 1: Join cream in any corner space. Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch and space around, with 3 single crochet in each corner space. Join.
Round 2: Chain 2 (counts as a half double crochet) and half double crochet in each stitch around, with 3 half double crochet in the center stitch of each corner. Join.
Round 3: Chain 1 and single crochet in the first stitch. Skip 1 stitch and work 3 double crochet in the next stitch. Skip 1 stitch and single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat around to make small scallops, working 5 double crochet in each corner stitch. Join and fasten off.
Part 3: The Snowman Body
With cream, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Chain 1 and work 6 single crochet in the ring. Join. You have 6 stitches.
Round 2: Chain 1 and work 2 single crochet in each stitch around. Join. You have 12 stitches.
Round 3: Chain 1, then single crochet in the next stitch and 2 single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat around. Join. You have 18 stitches.
Rounds 4 to 8: Continue increasing 6 stitches in each round, working 1 more single crochet between increases each time. You have 48 stitches.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. This flat circle is the body. It should measure about 10 cm across.
Part 4: The Snowman Head
With cream, work Rounds 1 to 6 of the body. You have 36 stitches.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. The head should measure about 7.5 cm across.
Part 5: The Top Hat
With black, chain 11.
Row 1: Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. You have 10 stitches.
Rows 2 to 8: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch across. Turn. This is the crown.
Row 9 (brim): Chain 4. Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and in the next 2 chains, then single crochet in each stitch across. Chain 4, then turn and single crochet back along the chain. Turn.
Row 10: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch across the brim. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
For a hat band, work a row of red surface slip stitches across the crown just above the brim if you like.
Part 6: The Scarf
Wrap piece: With red, chain 21. Half double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. Work 1 more row of half double crochet. Fasten off.
Hanging ends (make 2): With red, chain 13. Half double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. Work 1 more row. Fasten off.
Cut short pieces of red yarn and knot them along the bottom of each hanging end for the fringe.
Part 7: The Nose, Buttons, and Arms
Carrot nose: With orange, chain 6. Slip stitch in the 2nd chain from the hook, single crochet in the next chain, half double crochet in the next 2 chains, and work 2 double crochet in the last chain. Fasten off.
Buttons (make 3): With black, make a magic ring. Chain 1 and work 8 single crochet in the ring. Join and pull the ring closed. Fasten off.
Arms (make 2): With brown, chain 14. Slip stitch in the 2nd chain from the hook and in the next 5 chains. Chain 4, slip stitch in the 2nd chain from the hook and in the next 2 chains to make a twig. Slip stitch in the remaining chains of the arm. Make one more twig near the end if you like. Fasten off.
Assembly
Place the body near the bottom of the blue rectangle, centered from side to side.
Place the head above the body so it overlaps the body slightly.
Sew the body and head in place with the cream tails and small whip stitches around the edge.
Sew the hat to the top of the head so the brim sits across the head, as shown in the photo.
Sew the scarf wrap piece across the neck where the head and body meet. Sew both hanging ends under the right side of the wrap so they fall down over the body.
Sew the carrot nose to the center of the face, pointing to the right.
With black yarn, embroider two French knot eyes above the nose and a row of small French knots for the smile.
Sew the three buttons down the front of the body.
Sew one arm to each side of the body, angled upward.
Weave in all ends on the back.
Blocking
Lightly dampen the rectangle and pin it flat with straight sides and sharp corners. Do not press the snowman, hat, or scarf so they stay raised and dimensional.
Ways to Use Your Snowman Rectangle
Join several rectangles with plain blue and cream granny rectangles for a winter blanket.
Sew two rectangles together over a cushion insert for a snowman pillow.
Add a dowel and a ribbon at the top for a small winter wall hanging.
Use one rectangle as a hot pad or a gift topper.
Join a row of rectangles for a winter table runner or mantel banner.
Color Ideas
Snowman on a navy background with a green scarf for a winter night look
Snowman on a red background with a plaid style scarf for a classic Christmas square
Snowman on a light gray background with a pink scarf for a soft, modern style
Snowman on a green background with a blue scarf for a cozy cabin feel
Tips for Success
Count your stitches after each increase round so the head and body stay flat and round.
If the circles start to ruffle, go down one hook size or skip an increase round.
Pin all the snowman pieces in place before sewing to check the layout.
Use stitch markers at the corners to keep the rectangle straight.
Final Thoughts
This snowman granny rectangle is a quick, cheerful project that brings winter fun to anything you make. It pairs beautifully with other winter squares, such as snowflakes, mittens, and Christmas trees, for a festive sampler blanket. Share your finished snowmen in the comments below. We would love to see your winter makes!