This adorable granny square features a smiling little angel with a golden halo, curly hair, rosy freckled cheeks, and soft scalloped wings. She holds a red heart in her hands and wears a dress with a tiered ruffled skirt. The angel sits on a cream single crochet background with fans in each corner and a neat border. It is perfect for Christmas blankets, pillows, ornaments, nursery decor, and memorial gifts.
The square is made in two parts. First you crochet the cream background square with its corner fans and border. Then you make the angel, wings, halo, and heart and sew them on top for a raised, dimensional look.
Materials
Worsted weight cotton yarn in cream, about 35 g
Worsted weight cotton yarn in white, about 20 g
Small amounts of peach, golden yellow or brown for the hair, gold for the halo, and red for the heart
Black and pink embroidery thread for the face
Crochet hook 4.0 mm
Tapestry needle, scissors, and stitch markers
Finished Size
About 18 by 20 cm (7 by 8 inches)
Stitches Used (US Terms)
ch chain
sl st slip stitch
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet
dc double crochet
MR magic ring
FLO front loop only
fan 7 double crochet worked into the same stitch or space
shell 5 double crochet worked into the same stitch or space
loop st wrap the yarn around your finger, insert the hook, pull up both strands, and finish as a single crochet
Part 1: The Cream Background
With cream, chain 37.
Row 1: Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. You have 36 stitches.
Rows 2 to 40: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch across. Turn.
Do not fasten off.
Part 2: The Corner Fans and Border
Round 1: Chain 1 and single crochet evenly around the whole piece, with 3 single crochet in each corner. Join.
Round 2: Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet) and double crochet in each stitch along the sides. In the center stitch of each corner, work a fan. Join.
Round 3: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around, with 3 single crochet in the center stitch of each corner fan. Join.
Round 4: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around, with 3 single crochet in each corner. Join and fasten off.
Make 4 small fans to sew inside the corners: With cream, chain 4. Work 7 double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook. Fasten off. Sew one in each inner corner, pointing toward the center, as shown in the chart.
Part 3: The Angel Head
With peach, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Chain 1 and work 8 single crochet in the ring. Join.
Round 2: Work 2 single crochet in each stitch around. Join. You have 16 stitches.
Round 3: Single crochet in the next stitch and 2 single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat around. Join. You have 24 stitches.
Round 4: Single crochet in each stitch around. Join and fasten off. The head should measure about 6 cm across.
With black thread, embroider 2 curved closed eyes and a small smile. Add pink French knot freckles on each cheek.
Part 4: The Hair
With golden yellow or brown, chain 20.
Row 1: Work loop stitch in each chain across. Turn.
Row 2: Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch across. Fasten off.
Sew the hair across the top and sides of the head, leaving the face clear. Add a few short curls on the forehead with chain 6 strands.
Part 5: The Dress
With white, chain 10.
Row 1: Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn. You have 9 stitches.
Rows 2 to 6: Chain 1 and single crochet across, working 2 single crochet in the first and last stitch of every second row. Turn.
Rows 7 to 12: Chain 2 and half double crochet across, increasing at both ends of every row. Turn. You should have about 25 stitches.
Skirt ruffle 1: Working in the front loop only of Row 9, work a shell in every other stitch across, with a single crochet between.
Skirt ruffle 2: Working along the last row, chain 1 and single crochet in the first stitch. Skip 1 stitch and work a shell in the next stitch. Skip 1 stitch and single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat across. Fasten off.
These two rows of shells make the tiered scalloped hem shown in the chart.
Part 6: The Arms and Hands
Arms (make 2): With white, chain 9. Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and across. Turn and work 1 more row. Fasten off.
Hands (make 2): With peach, make a magic ring with 5 single crochet. Pull closed.
Sew a hand to the end of each arm.
Part 7: The Wings (make 2)
With white, chain 4 and join into a ring.
Row 1: Chain 3 and work 6 double crochet in the ring. Turn.
Row 2: Chain 3 and work 2 double crochet in each stitch. Turn.
Row 3: Chain 1 and single crochet in the first stitch. Work a shell in the next stitch and single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat across. Turn.
Row 4: Slip stitch to the center of the first shell. Chain 3 and work a shell in the center of each shell, with single crochet between. Fasten off.
The rows of shells make the layered feather look.
Part 8: The Halo and Heart
Halo: With gold, chain 22 and join into a ring. Slip stitch in each chain around. Fasten off.
Heart: With red, make a magic ring. Chain 3 and work 3 double crochet, 3 half double crochet, chain 1, double crochet, chain 1, 3 half double crochet, 3 double crochet, and chain 3 in the ring. Slip stitch in the ring and pull it closed. Fasten off.
Assembly
Place the dress in the lower center of the cream square and sew it in place.
Sew the head above the dress so it overlaps the top of the dress slightly.
Sew one wing on each side, tucked behind the dress so they spread outward.
Sew the arms over the front of the dress, curving inward so the hands meet at the center.
Sew the heart between the hands.
Sew the halo just above the head.
Weave in all ends on the back.
Blocking
Lightly dampen the square and pin it flat with straight sides and sharp corners. Do not press the angel, wings, or skirt ruffles so they stay raised.
Ways to Use Your Angel Square
Join several squares with plain cream squares for a Christmas or nursery blanket.
Sew two squares together over a cushion insert for an angel pillow.
Add a ribbon loop and hang it as a tree ornament or wall hanging.
Give a single square as a memorial or remembrance gift.
Use it as the center of a baby blanket for a christening or baptism.
Color Ideas
Pink dress and gold halo on cream for a sweet nursery square
Blue dress and silver halo on white for a frosty winter angel
Red dress and gold wings on green for a classic Christmas look
Lavender dress and white wings on cream for a soft memorial square
Tips for Success
Count your stitches on the dress increases so both sides stay even.
Embroider the face before sewing the head to the square. It is much easier.
Pin all the angel pieces in place before sewing to check the layout.
Use stitch markers at the corners to keep the square straight.
Final Thoughts
This sweet Christmas angel square is a heartwarming project that makes a lovely keepsake or gift. Pair it with the star flower square for a festive sampler blanket. Share your finished angels in the comments below. We would love to see your holiday makes!