Hello my fellow crocheters! Celebrate strength, and freedom with this Year of the Horse Granny Square. This textured crochet design features a beautifully detailed horse motif set within a classic granny square frame. From the layered muzzle and expressive eyes to the textured mane and ears, every element adds depth and personality to the piece. Whether you’re creating a themed blanket, a nursery décor project, or a unique addition to your animal-inspired collection, this square is a fun and rewarding. Make sure to stand out in any crochet project.
Overview:
- Skill level: Intermediate.
- Instructions style: written instructions + charts.
Puppy | Frog | Koala | Chick | Kitty | Chicken | Mouse | Bunny | Ox | Tiger | Duckling | Piggy | Turkey | Monkey | Dragon
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Materials:
- Suggested yarn: YarnArt Jeans, 1.76 oz (50 g), 175 yards (160 m), or any similar cotton yarn in the following colors and quantities: one skein each of brown, off-white, dark brown, and beige, plus a few yards (meters) of white and black yarn.
- Black thread.
- Two pearly colored beads, 4 mm in diameter.
- Crochet hook, size D/3 (3 mm).
- Tapestry needle.
- Fiber filling.
- Stitch marker.
Measurements of the square: 6" x 6" (15 cm x 15 cm) approx.
Gauge: 22 stitches and 12 rounds = 4"x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in double crochet.
Yardage: 62- 66 yards (57- 60 m).
Crochet terms (US):
- ch: chain.
- st: stitch.
- sts: stitches.
- sl st: slip stirch.
- sc: single crochet.
- blsc: back loop single crochet.
- hdc: half double crochet.
- dc: double crochet.
- tr: treble crochet.
Instructions:
Granny square base:
Note: ch 1 and ch 3 at the beginning of rounds count as sc and dc, respectively.
With brown yarn, make a magic circle, work as follows:
Round 1: ch 1 into the magic circle, sc 7, sl st into the first ch. (8 sts).
Round 2: ch 1 and sc in the first st, sc 2 in each st, sl st into the first ch. (16 sts).
Round 3: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st, *dc 2 in st, dc in st, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (24 sts).
Round 4: repeat row 3. (36 sts).
Round 5: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st twice, *dc 2 in st, dc in st twice, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (48 sts).
Round 6: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st three times, *dc 2 in st, dc in st three times, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (60 sts).
Cut off brown yarn and weave in loose ends. With off-white yarn make a knot and at the eighth st after the end of last round, then work as follows:
Round 7: (ch 4, tr, ch 2, tr 2) in the first st, *tr in st, dc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, sc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, dc in st twice, tr in st, (tr 2, ch 2, tr 2) in st, repeat from * 3 times, tr in st, dc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, sc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, dc in st twice, tr in st, sl st into the fourth ch of the first ch4.
Round 8:ch 3 in the first st, dc in st, *(dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to next ch 2 space, repeat from * 3 times, (dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to last st, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3.
Rounds 9 and 10: ch 3 in the first st, dc in each st to the first ch 2 space, *(dc 2, ch 2, dc 2) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to next ch 2 space, repeat from * 3 times, (dc 2, ch 2, dc 2) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to last st, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3.
Cut off off-white yarn and weave in loose ends.
Eye (make two):
With black yarn, make a magic circle, then work as follows:
Round 1: ch 1, sc 2, hdc 1, ch 1, dc 1, ch 1, sc 3, hdc 1, ch 1, dc 1, ch 1, hdc 1, sl st into the first ch. Leave 4" (10 cm) yarn to sew in place.
Muzzle:
With beige yarn, make a magic rind, then work as follows:
Round 1: ch 1 and sc 6 into the magic ring, (crochet in spiral rounds, and don't slip st at the end of rounds. Use a stitch marker at the end of rounds). (6 sts)
Round 2: sc 2 into each st to end. (12 sts)
Round 3: sc 1, sc 2 in st, repeat to end. (18 sts)
Round 4: sc 1, *sc 2 in st, sc in st twice, repeat from *to last 2 sts, sc 2 in st, sc in st. (24 sts)
Round 5: sc 1 in st three times, sc 2 in st, repeat to end. (30 sts)
Round 6: sc 1 in st twice, *sc 2 in st, sc 1 in st four times, repeat from * to last 3 sts, sc 2 in st, sc 1 in st twice. (36 sts)
Round 7: sc 1 in each st to end. (36 sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) long tail to sew the mouth in place.
Right ear:
Row 1: with dark brown yarn, make a knot and ch 7, sl st into the second ch from the hook, sc into ch twice, hdc into ch three times. Cut yarn and weave in loose ends.
Row 2: with brown yarn, *hdc 2 into the first ch of row 1, hdc into next ch, repeat from * twice more, hdc 3 into ch, blsc into st to end. Cut yarn, leaving a 4" (10 cm) long tail to sew ear in place.
Left ear:
Row 1: with dark brown yarn, make a knot and ch 7, sl st into the second ch from the hook, sc into ch twice more, hdc into ch three times. Cut yarn and weave in loose ends.
To work next row, flip the piece over
Row 2: with brown yarn, blsc into first st of row 1, and repeat to last st (6 times), *hdc 3 into ch, *hdc into ch, hdc 2 into ch, repeat from * twice. Cut yarn, leaving a 4" (10 cm) long tail to sew ear in place.
Assembly:
-
Eyes
Position the eyes as shown in the reference photo and sew them securely in place. Using black thread, attach the beads to eye as shown. -
Muzzle
Sew the muzzle to the lower half of the face. Before closing it completely, lightly stuff with fiber filling to create dimension, then finish stitching it closed. -
Nostrils
Using black yarn, embroider the nostrils evenly on the muzzle. -
Ears
Position the ears symmetrically at the top of the head and sew them securely in place. -
Forehead Marking
With white yarn, embroider or surface crochet the white marking on the forehead as shown in the photo. -
Forelock (Mane)
Cut eleven strands of dark brown yarn, each measuring 4" (10 cm).
Insert each strand along the upper head line between the ears, attaching them with a lark’s head knot (or by pulling through and knotting securely).
Comb the strands gently and trim evenly to shape. -
Weave in loose ends.
Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.
Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.
