DanDan Square Pattern

Many moons ago I put The Sunroom’s "Grandad Square" pattern in my Ravelry basket to purchase... at some point. That point came a few weeks ago, but, to my dismay, the pattern is no longer available for purchase.

I decided to try to recreate it as I really liked the effect and was hoping to use it for blankets for our local cat rescue (little 2’x2’ pads to go in the residents' beds, so they have something familiar to take with them to their forever homes).

I didn’t want to appropriate the “Grandad" name but wanted to honour the original intent. Our granddaughter couldn’t say “grandad" when she was little, and even now, at the age of 15, she still calls him DanDan.

As the pattern is no longer available, I’ve had to recreate it from photos. I think the only change I’ve made is to work the first round in hdc rather than dc so it doesn’t “pooch” in the middle.

US crochet terms used 

Special stitches:

fpdc = front post double crochet   How To

fptr = front post treble   Just like the fpdc (see How To above) but work a treble.

Note - The fpdc is only used in the last round

Use whatever yarn+hook combo works for you. For this sample, I used DK and a G hook, and it came out 4¼” (just under 11 cm).

Rnd 1 – Ch4, join with slst in 4th ch from hook to form a ring (if you work over your 'tail' you can use that to pull the loop tight, or start with a magic ring - my preference), ch2 (for 1st hdc), 11 hdc, join.  12 st

Rnd 2 – Ch3 (for 1st dc, here and throughout), fptr around same hdc, *dc in next hdc (NB. hdc lean right, so the top of the next hdc will be almost behind the fptr just made), fptr around same hdc, repeat from * around, join with slst to 3rd ch of beg ch3.  24 st

Rnd 3 – (Ch3, tr, dc) in same st, *fptr around fptr, 2dc in dc, fptr around fptr, 2dc in dc, fptr around fptr, (dc, tr, dc) in dc, repeat from * around, ending on last fptr, join with slst to 3rd ch of beg ch3.  40 st

Rnd 4 – Ch3, (tr, 2ch, tr) in tr, dc, *fptr around fptr, 2dc, dc, fpdc (not tr) around fptr, dc, 2dc, fptr around fptr, dc, (tr, 2ch, tr) in tr, dc, repeat from * around, ending on last fptr, join with slst to 3rd ch of beg ch3, finish off.  52 st

As always, please let me know if I've messed up the pattern anywhere 😊 or if you have any questions.